Parallel Words Young Adult

Release Day Blitz - The Angel Killer by Lisa Voisin

2015-01-04T22:27:00.001-08:00

We are super excited to celebrate the release of Lisa Voisin's THE ANGEL KILLER, the second book in The Watcher Saga, with an awesome excerpt from the book and a giveaway!

And if you haven't yet heard about this exciting series, there's also some information on the first book, THE WATCHER, along with its book trailer, a bit further down in this post.

First up, here's some information about THE ANGEL KILLER.

THE ANGEL KILLER

Title & Series: THE ANGEL KILLER (The Watcher Saga #2)
Author: Lisa Voisin
Release date: January 5, 2015
Publisher: InkSpell Publishing
Pages: 286
Formats: Paperback

Description

Now that she’s found him again, all Mia Crawford wants is some downtime with her fallen angel boyfriend, Michael. But the call of duty keeps him away—from school and from her—with more demons to smite than ever.

When Michael is mortally wounded by a cursed sword, Mia must perform an ancient blood ritual to save him. But the spell exacts a price. Haunted by visions of war, torture, and despair, Mia discovers the world is in more danger than she ever imagined. Behind the scenes, an evil adversary pulls all the strings.

After redemption, there’s Hell to pay.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO | AMAZON CA | GOODREADS

About Lisa Voisin

A Canadian-born author, Lisa Voisin spent her childhood daydreaming and making up stories, but it was her love of reading and writing in her teens that drew her to Young Adult fiction.

Lisa is also a technical writer, a meditation teacher, and the leader of the Young Writer’s Club, a local writing group for teens in her home town. A self-proclaimed coffee lover, she can usually be found writing in a local café. When she's not writing, you'll find her meditating or hiking in the mountains to counteract the side effects of drinking too much caffeine!

Though she’s lived in several cities across Canada, she currently lives in Vancouver, B.C. with her fiancé and their two cats.

The Excerpt

I found Michael waiting on the stone path outside his basement suite. He greeted me with a brush of his lips, lacing his fingers through mine, and led me into a large back yard, bordered by evergreens. The center of the soft, moist grass featured a rocky pond, complete with a trickling stone fountain and two Adirondack chairs. Though the yard was well kept, leaves from a giant maple lay strewn about like reddish-brown confetti, glistening with raindrops in the late afternoon sun.

Michael tugged off his old, gray hoodie and slung it over one of the chairs. Underneath was the white tank top he normally wore flying. Goose bumps raced along the length of his bare arms. Turning to face me, he shook out his shoulders, the muscles rolling as he gave them a shrug.

“Ready?” he asked.

“For?”

“Combat training.” He stretched an arm across his chest and cracked his neck as though he were warming up. Was he expecting a workout?

“Combat training? Don’t you think that sounds a bit intense?” I swallowed. My voice sounded tight and high. “Violent, even?”

“What did you expect? Origami?” Stretching his other arm now, he cocked an eyebrow at me. “You wanted me to teach you, right?”

“No—yes.” I cleared my throat. “I mean no, I didn’t expect origami and yes, I want to learn.”

“Good.” He smiled. Was he enjoying my awkwardness? I tuned into his energy, attempting to get a feeling off him, but hit a wall. Was he blocking me? His expression became neutral too.

Above our heads, flyers hovered at the edges of the sigils that surrounded the yard, circling a constant threat, like giant vultures. I motioned to the sky. “Can’t they see us?”

“Not really. They can’t see or hear anything inside the protected space.” Changing the subject, he turned to me and winked. “Ready for your origami lesson? I thought we’d start with escapes.”

I folded my arms across my chest. The idea of fighting Michael felt like a joke—a David and Goliath joke. “Escapes?”

“Yeah. We’re gonna start with the basics. Teach you how to get out of that stranglehold the soldier demon had you in yesterday.” His feet shoulder-width apart, he motioned for me to come closer. “But we can’t do it if you’re all the way over there.”

I took a hesitant step toward him. Though I’d asked for this, the reality of it sounded painful. “Combat training,” I muttered disdainfully.

“I won’t hurt you.”

“I know,” I said, but I wasn’t so sure.

The Giveaway

The release day blast includes an awesome giveaway to ONE WINNER for a print copy of THE WATCHER (US/CA/UK) OR THE ANGEL KILLER (US/CA/UK) AND a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Enter in the Rafflecopter below...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About The Watcher

Series: The Watcher Saga #1
Release date: March 4, 2013
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Pages: 556
Formats: Paperback, eBook

DESCRIPTION

Millennia ago, he fell from heaven for her.

Can he face her without falling again?
Fascinated with ancient civilizations, seventeen-year-old Mia Crawford dreams of becoming an archaeologist. She also dreams of wings—soft and silent like snow—and somebody trying to steal them.
When a horrible creature appears out of thin air and attacks her, she knows Michael Fontaine is involved, though he claims to know nothing about it. Secretive and aloof, Michael evokes feelings in Mia that she doesn’t understand. Images of another time and place haunt her. She recognizes them—but not from any textbook.
In search of the truth, Mia discovers a past life of forbidden love, jealousy and revenge that tore an angel from Heaven and sent her to an early grave. Now that her soul has returned, does she have a chance at loving that angel again? Or will an age-old nemesis destroy them both? Ancient history is only the beginning.

The Trailer

Cover Reveal - The Angel Killer (Book 2 in The Watcher Saga) by Lisa Voisin #theangelkiller

2014-11-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

I am super excited to reveal the awesome cover for THE ANGEL KILLER, the second book in Lisa Voisin's The Watcher Saga, and to share an excerpt from the book.

There is also an amazing giveaway included with the reveal for a copy of THE WATCHER, the first book in the series, or a pre-order copy of THE ANGEL KILLER and a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

The Cover Revealed

Coming January 5, 2015

Description

Now that she’s found him again, all Mia Crawford wants is some downtime with her fallen angel boyfriend, Michael. But the call of duty keeps him away—from school and from her—with more demons to smite than ever.

When Michael is mortally wounded by a cursed sword, Mia must perform an ancient blood ritual to save him. But the spell exacts a price. Haunted by visions of war, torture, and despair, Mia discovers the world is in more danger than she ever imagined. Behind the scenes, an evil adversary pulls all the strings.

After redemption, there’s Hell to pay.

Add to Goodreads

About Lisa Voisin

The Excerpt

Michael leaned against the building’s stucco wall and rested his hands on my hips. Light from the store cast a warm gleam in his crystal blue eyes. He leaned in, and the draw to be close to him was a gravitational force. “Hello,” he said.

“Hello.” I had to get a grip. It’d been so long since we’d talked, I tried to focus on all the things I wanted to tell him. “We went to see Fatima.” His fingers caressed the sides of my waist, sending happy tingles through me. “You know, in her store…” To my own ears, my voice sounded raspy. I trembled.

“Cold?” He drew me closer, his mouth crooking into a grin.

Lost in him, I forgot all about Fatima. “You know damn well that’s not it.” I twined my arms around his back and touched the spot between his shoulder blades where his wings connected. Its warmth thawed my fingers.
He leaned in and brushed his lips along my jaw line. “Thought that was just me,” he whispered, and his breath tickled my neck. “I’ve wanted to do this for three days.”

Our lips met, and I melted into him, not caring that we were on the sidewalk, outside a deli with families shopping inside. Nor did I care that, being an angel, he had to follow very strict rules about contact with humans—especially contact of the relationship variety. Angels had the ability to enthrall humans with their touch, something Michael had to constantly keep in check. But I didn’t have to be enthralled to want to kiss him. That was my own doing. All that mattered right now was that he was here. With me.

He pulled me closer and the buzz of his energy filled me heart and soul, blocking out the rest of the world. My hands sought warmth under his leather jacket and found bare skin. I could feel the shiver from my touch surge through him. His mouth pressing more firmly against mine, he brushed a hand along my cheek and tangled it in my hair.

A dreamlike blur of light and color filled my thoughts. But then the image shifted to blood. His.

The Giveaway

The reveal includes an awesome giveaway to ONE WINNER for a print copy of THE WATCHER (US/CA/UK) OR a pre-order copy of THE ANGEL KILLER (when available) AND a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Enter in the Rafflecopter below...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About The Watcher

Series: The Watcher Saga #1
Release date: March 4, 2013
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Pages: 556
Formats: Paperback, eBook

DESCRIPTION

Millennia ago, he fell from heaven for her.

Can he face her without falling again?

Fascinated with ancient civilizations, seventeen-year-old Mia Crawford dreams of becoming an archaeologist. She also dreams of wings—soft and silent like snow—and somebody trying to steal them.

When a horrible creature appears out of thin air and attacks her, she knows Michael Fontaine is involved, though he claims to know nothing about it. Secretive and aloof, Michael evokes feelings in Mia that she doesn’t understand. Images of another time and place haunt her. She recognizes them—but not from any textbook.

In search of the truth, Mia discovers a past life of forbidden love, jealousy and revenge that tore an angel from Heaven and sent her to an early grave. Now that her soul has returned, does she have a chance at loving that angel again? Or will an age-old nemesis destroy them both? Ancient history is only the beginning.

The Trailer

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

2013-09-24T18:27:00.000-07:00

Blurb:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

From Goodreads.

My Review:

This is a difficult review to write, because I LOVED THIS BOOK so much, it's hard to be objective. In fact, when a book is this
thought-provoking, this well written, and this emotionally satisfying,
I kind of froth at the mouth a bit and squee like a total fangirl.

Right from the first sentence, I was gripped by Hazel's view of the world. She looks at life with the view of someone who knows she could die, thus giving her a sense of universality, of courage and poignancy, that most adults don't even have.

Augustus, for all his looks and ironic charm, is still a boy. He's a beautifully crafted, fragile, multi-dimensional, and unforgettable character.

These two young adults fall in love in the most sensitive and beautiful way. It's a delightfully tragic love story, one which readers-young and old- will never forget.

I can't believe it took me so long to read this book. My only complaint is that it's taking forvever to come out in paperback, so I can afford to buy a copy!

My Rating: 5/5 Stars!
Reviewed by: Lisa

Review: The Watcher by Lisa Voisin

2013-04-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Millennia ago, he fell from heaven for her.

Can he face her without falling again?

Fascinated with ancient civilizations, seventeen-year-old Mia Crawford dreams of becoming an archaeologist. She also dreams of wings—soft and silent like snow—and somebody trying to steal them.

In search of the truth, Mia discovers a past life of forbidden love, jealousy and revenge that tore an angel from Heaven and sent her to an early grave. Now that her soul has returned, does she have a chance at loving that angel again? Or will an age-old nemesis destroy them both?

Ancient history is only the beginning.

Jessica's Review:

If I had to describe The Watcher in one word it would be luscious! Thankfully, I can use so many more words to describe it. One might think that luscious is a strange word to be describing a paranormal romance that is filled with tension and excitement but it isn’t. Every sentence on every page is luscious and full. Here’s a small passage from the book that exemplifies what I mean:

“Instead of saying more, he brushed his fingertips along my cheek, and his halo glimmered. I could hear the waves slapping the rocks behind us, the wind whipped against my skin, but the touch of his hand on my face was all I could think about. It sent a current through both of us and filled me with longing for something I wasn’t sure I understood.”

I melted when I read that paragraph; it conjured up so much for me – love, longing, acceptance and of course lusciousness. The Watcher is filled with such imagery and draws you into a vivid and engaging world. With every turn of the page I am further drawn into the poeticness that Lisa Voisin brings forth. I am emotionally invested in the characters of Mia, Michael and even Damiel and I want to know and see and feel everything that they are doing and Lisa provides all of those answers.

The Watcher is a magically crafted novel with such incredible writing. Sentences jump off from the page; the book has become a movie in my mind that I can revisit anytime I like. It is alive and full and I fully recommend it.

Now one might say that I am a little bias with my review because I know Lisa and have known her for over a decade, and we are friends. Well I am bias! But let me be clear, my friendship with Lisa did not change how I felt about the book. Had I not known Lisa and had read this book I still would have been totally engrossed and entranced with the world that she had built. It is excellently written and so well presented. I just hope that I can aspire to write as beautifully as Lisa has.

Rating: 5 Stars

Blair's Review

I wholeheartedly agree with Jessica: this book is luscious! It's beautifully written, vivid, and sensual. The words seem to rise up out of the page and mold themselves into a new world around you, one that you can smell and taste and wholly inhabit. But the book doesn't rest on beautiful writing - there's enough tension to keep the pages turning well after bedtime! I loved it from the first sentence to the spectacular, jaw-dropping ending.

There are books out there with beautiful writing but no tension. There are books with high tension but mediocre writing. I like both those sorts of books. They have their place in my (cluttered) bookshelf. But The Watcher manages to hit that magic balance between beautiful writing and high tension, sacrificing neither for the sake of the other. It is an absolute pleasure to read. And the romance is intense. Romance isn't what typically attracts me to books, but I had to see how this one played out. Especially after a certain hiking scene early on...

I loved this book, and I fully recommend it. I do have to make the same disclaimer as Jessica - that Lisa and I are friends. We met about a year and a half ago, right around the time that Lisa was submitting. I read a draft early on in our friendship, before I knew Lisa well, certainly before I knew her well enough for our friendship to color my opinion of her book. So I also want to be clear that our friendship did not change how I felt about this book. Even if I'd never met Lisa before in my life, I still would have blazed through this book and been left wanting more.

Rating: 5 Stars

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon |Amazon.CA |B&N | Indie Bound | Inkspell | Kobo

About the Author:

A Canadian-born author, Lisa Voisin spent her childhood daydreaming and making up stories, but it was her love of reading and writing in her teens that drew her to Young Adult fiction.

When she's not writing, you'll find her meditating or hiking in the mountains to counter the side effects of drinking too much coffee.

She lives in Vancouver, B.C. with her fiance and their two cats.

Find her: Twitter | Facebook | Website | Blog

The Trailer:

http://youtu.be/ukoCDlW05-Y

The Giveaway:

Lisa Voisin and Inkspell Publishing are giving away print (US/Canada/UK) and eBook (INT) copies of The Watcher as well as this lovely angel wing necklace.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

April Giveaway: Kindle Fire

2013-04-03T13:37:00.000-07:00

Kindle Fire HD 7" Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HD (US Only)

Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)

Sponsoring Bloggers & Authors

Giveaway Details
1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire 7" HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International). Ends 4/30/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Prize value $199 US.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: The Obvious Game by Rita Arens

2013-03-14T17:28:00.000-07:00

Blurb:

“Everyone trusted me back then. Good old, dependable Diana. Which is why most people didn’t notice at first.”

"Your shirt is yellow."
"Your eyes are blue."
"You have to stop running away from your problems."
"You're too skinny."

Fifteen-year-old Diana Keller accidentally begins teaching The Obvious Game to new kid Jesse on his sixteenth birthday. As their relationship deepens, Diana avoids Jesse's past with her own secrets -- which she'll protect at any cost.

My Review:

I know this book was written for teens, and it's perfect for them, but it's also perfect for adult survivors of the teen years! Though the book is set in the early nineties, its story is timeless.

Diana is a young girl facing the anguish of her mother's illness and her own eating disorder. It was handled with brilliant sensitivity. I found myself relating to Diana on such a deep and emotional level. I too grew up with a mother who had cancer, and I also had an eating disorder that I kept hidden. So reading Diana's story had me like this at some points:

And I LOVED it!

Diana's symptomology was so spot on that I didn't notice the signs of the disorder at first, much like any who was ill wouldn't. But then, things evolved. The story is beautifully written with character development that was so rich and genuine that I couldn't put the book down.

I don't want to say much more or reveal any spoliers, but I will say this book wasn't just a wonderful read. I haven't been so emotionally impacted by a book in a long time. So much so that it was a healing experience for me. And for that, Rita Arens, I must truly thank you.

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Reviewed By: Lisa

Release Day Party - The Watcher

2013-03-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

Millennia ago, he fell from heaven for her.

Can he face her without falling again?

Fascinated with ancient civilizations, seventeen-year-old Mia Crawford dreams of becoming an archaeologist. She also dreams of wings—soft and silent like snow—and somebody trying to steal them.

Ancient history is only the beginning.

Book Details:

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Format: eBook and Paperback

Length: Super Novel

ISBN: eBook: 978-0-9856562-1-8

Paperback: 978-0-9856562-2-5

Price: US $14.99 (Paperback)

US $4.99 (eBook)

About the Author:

A Canadian-born author, Lisa Voisin spent her childhood daydreaming and making up stories, but it was her love of reading and writing in her teens that drew her to Young Adult fiction.

When she's not writing, you'll find her meditating or hiking in the mountains to counter the side effects of drinking too much coffee.

She lives in Vancouver, B.C. with her fiance and their two cats.

Find her: Twitter | Facebook | Website | Blog

The Giveaway:

Inkspell Publishing is offering a chance to win the following:

One of 2 Paperback copies of THE WATCHER (US, UK, and Canada-only)
One customizable eBook sleeve (US, UK, and Canada-only)
One of 5 eBook copies of THE WATCHER (Worldwide)

Note: The eBook sleeve giveaway is customizable. The winner will get to choose from a lot of designs and the name will be sewed in too if they wish. The designs are absolutely beautiful and the image below is only a sample.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Trailer Reveal - The Watcher

2013-02-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

Author Lisa Voisin’s THE WATCHER will be releasing exactly one month from today, on March 4th, 2013 and we’re super excited to be able to share with our blog’s readers a short excerpt from the book and to be a part of the book’s awesome trailer reveal!

There is also a giveaway for a pre-order copy of THE WATCHER for US/Canada residents. So be sure to enter below.

THE WATCHER is author Lisa Voisin’s debut novel and is a book Eileen Cook says, “…is sure to keep readers turning the pages late into the night.”

And after having read both the excerpt and the book’s description, we couldn’t agree more! But we’ll let you decide for yourself. They’re both included below.

As is the book’s wicked cool trailer!

The Video

With some gothic techno beats, super cool images and a description that is meant to tease, this trailer totally sets the mood for this story. What do you think?

This video was created by none other than Parallel Words YA's own Elinor Svoboda. Some little-known trivia about this trailer is that Elinor Svoboda, who created it, directed Tegan and Sara's documentary "India" as part of the Get-Along video that has been nominated for a Grammy.

Find The Watcher on: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Inkspell | Kobo

About THE WATCHER

Millennia ago, he fell from heaven for her.

Can he face her without falling again?

Fascinated with ancient civilizations, seventeen-year-old Mia Crawford dreams of becoming an archaeologist. She also dreams of wings—soft and silent like snow—and somebody trying to steal them.

When a horrible creature appears out of thin air and attacks her, she knows Michael Fontaine is involved, though he claims to know nothing about it. Secretive and aloof, Michael evokes feelings in Mia that she doesn’t understand. Images of another time and place haunt her. She recognizes them—but not from any textbook.

In search of the truth, Mia discovers a past life of forbidden love, jealousy and revenge that tore an angel from Heaven and sent her to an early grave. Now that her soul has returned, does she have a chance at loving that angel again? Or will an age-old nemesis destroy them both?

Ancient history is only the beginning.

The Excerpt:

Instead of saying more, he brushed his fingertips along my cheek, and his halo glimmered. I could hear the waves slapping the rocks behind us, the wind driving them in. That same wind whipped against my skin, but the touch of his hand on my face was all I could think about. It sent a current through both of us and filled me with longing for something I wasn’t sure I understood.

“I’m sorry.” He stepped back and shoved his hands into his pockets as the light around him faded. “You don’t know what it’s like. Being near you now, remembering those moments we had…” His hair blew into his eyes, but this time he didn’t move. I wanted to brush it back, but I didn’t know how he’d react. Would touching him be bad?

“You want to know who you were?” he asked. “You may look different, but you’re the same. I look into your eyes and see you.” He took in a deep breath, fixing his attention on the horizon. I’d seen and heard so much now that the logical part of my brain had long since given up arguing with me. I could feel what he was saying was true.
All of it.

Find it on: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Inkspell | Kobo

About the Author:

A Canadian-born author, Lisa Voisin spent her childhood daydreaming and making up stories, but it was her love of reading and writing in her teens that drew her to Young Adult fiction.

When she's not writing, you'll find her meditating or hiking in the mountains to counter the side effects of drinking too much coffee.

She lives in Vancouver, B.C. with her fiance and their two cats.

Find her: Twitter | Facebook | Website | Blog

Giveaway details:

ONE pre-order copy of THE WATCHER by Lisa Voisin open to US/Canada.
Must be 13 or older to enter.
ONE entry per household.

Winner will be announced in the Rafflecopter and contacted by email.

Winner will have 48 hours after notification to respond or another winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: A Vision of Green: L.H. Cosway

2013-01-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

Synopsis

Since moving to Chesterport Flo has discovered new friends and a hidden world.

After spending seventeen years as an Empath, thinking she was either delusional or very, very different, she has found others who are different too. She helped battle a coven of dark witches and watched as their leader got sent to her judgement. All now seems peaceful in her new town, but it's not going to last.

For one, Flo's dad is back on the scene and has taken over her dead grandmother's house with his new girlfriend. Dealing with him makes Flo think that maybe everyday people can be monsters too, as he blackmails her into giving up the one person she needs the most. Secondly, Flo hears a story about strange goings on in the nearby forest, and becomes obsessed with the magical things that might lie in its green depths.

A Vision of Green is the second instalment in the Florence Vaine trilogy, where Flo finds herself yet again immersed in mystery, romance and things that are just a little bit scary. She will come across new adversaries, supernatural and otherwise, discover more about her own identity and grow in ways she had never anticipated.

Review

I have an admission. I actually read this book several months ago. I had emailed L.H. Cosway to let her know that I had read the first of the Florence Vaine trilogy and had posted a review of it on this blog. She was so gracious as to send me book two to read. I gobbled up the book in just a few short hours. It was thoroughly amazing. Now for the reason why I waited this long to review it. Well, it was because I didn't want the book to end, and so, by not reviewing it earlier, it felt like I was still enmeshed in Florence's world. I was also a little embarrassed about my review of the first book, A Strange Fire, where I mentioned that I didn't think it necessary that Florence was portrayed as an abused teen. I was so wrong. So my apologies.

In book two, we are further brought into Florence's life where she is dealing not only with the horror that comes from being abused, but also furthering her relationship with Frank. And really that is the least of it. I was so upset that the book ended and couldn't believe that I would have to wait until summer 2013 for book three to come out. But wait I must. I totally recommend reading the Florence Vaine Trilogy. It is fast paced, exciting and riveting.

I can't say enough about L.H. Cosway. She is an incredible writer that takes you on a journey and brings you so vividly into the world that she has created. You cry when the characters cry, wince when they do, laugh with them and feel like you are really there. Her books are rich with detail and imagery that flows brilliantly with the story. L.H. Cosway is fast becoming one of my favourite YA authors.

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rated by: Jessica

Review: Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness

2013-01-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

Story Synopsis

Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee -- whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not -- stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden -- a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives.

But how do you escape when your pursuers can hear your every thought? (from Goodreads)

My Review

I'm cheating a little today. I'm going to review the trilogy as a whole. I know, I know, that's three books at once, so each book gets only a third of the attention, but it had to be done this way. I read through the trilogy so fast, there was no stopping between books to do something so down-to-earth as a review. These books transported me to another world - one that was at times beautiful, at times heart-wrenching, and at times infuriating - but always fascinating.

I won't say much about the plot, because I'd much rather let you discover it for yourself, but it's fantastic. Like all good sci-fi, the futuristic setting is disguises contemporary themes, so that what you get is a thought-provoking reflection of our world...but with spaceships. It's a fast and fun read, and when the characters drove me crazy, they did it in a good way, because I had to keep turning pages to find out what would happen.

The first book is told from a single POV, the second from two, and the third from three. All first person. Oh eff, was my thought, as soon as I hit that second POV in the second book. (Except, as the main character would say, I didn't think, "eff".) Not now, not when I'm so into it. My least favorite POV is multiple first-person. I find it confusing. I don't like the way I have to twist my brain to accommodate several different voices, all calling themselves "I". But I was in for a surprise. Ness did such an excellent job of creating unique voices for his three POV characters that I had no problems slipping into the different mind-sets. It probably helped that each voice was in a different font. My un-twisted brain thanks whoever had that brilliant idea.

I loved these books. Think Hunger Games, or Harry Potter. I read them with that level of page-turning obsession. I can see why it won loads of awards. When my cousins are old enough, I'm buying them these books. They're that good.

Rating: 5 stars

Rated by: Blair

Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

2012-12-17T11:21:00.001-08:00

Story Synopsis:

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her. (From Goodreads)

My Review:

I really enjoyed this book. Sophie Mercer is a funny, engaging character who has you rooting for her from the first page. The world Rachel Hawkins created is fun, intriguing and filled with awesome characters. Hex Hall itself is like a school for paranormal delinquents, filled with witches, vampires, shifters, werewolves, and fairies.

Though it took me a little while, I was completely hooked by the half way point and devoured the second half of this book. I loved Sophie, her friends and though Archer was a compelling love interest. I enjoyed the twists and themes, and while I suspected things may go a certain way, I found the plot twists entertaining.

For those of you who like a sassy main female character and the paranormal genre, this book is an excellent read. If you read and enjoyed Paranormalcy, by Kiersten White, you'll enjoy Hex Hall. I cannot wait to get my hands on book two.

My Rating: 4 Stars

Rated by: Lisa

Review: Glimmer by Phoebe Kitandis

2012-12-03T14:58:00.000-08:00

Story Synopsis:

When Marshall King and Elyse Alton suddenly wake up tangled in each other's arms with zero memory of how they got there or even who they are, it's the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future.

Terrified by their amnesia, Marshall and Elyse make a pact to work together to find the answers that could restore their missing memories. As they piece together clues about their lives, they discover that they're in the idyllic mountain resort town of Summer Falls. Everyone seems happy there, but as Marshall and Elyse quickly learn, darkness lurks beneath the town's perfect facade. Not only is the town haunted by sinister ghosts, but none of its living inhabitants retain bad memories of anything--not the death of Marshall's mom, not the hidden violence in Elyse's family, not even the day-to-day anguish of being a high schooler.

Lonely in this world of happy zombies, Marshall and Elyse fall into an intense relationship founded on their mutual quest for truth. But the secrets they're trying to uncover could be the death of this budding love affair--and of everyone, and everything, they love in Summer Falls. (from Goodreads)

Blair's Review:

Holy cow!

This book just came out of nowhere, and it's so good. Lisa got it for free at a sci-fi conference we both went to (cause we're geeks), and we both read it, and let me reiterate: holy cow.

Best free book ever. But I would have happily paid for it.

I'll admit that when I was reading it, I wasn't thinking many review-y type thoughts, because I was too engrossed in the mystery. Books which begin with a memory wipe can be a little cliche (Oh...the character doesn't remember anything...where have I heard that before? Only everywhere.), but Kitandis weaves such a gripping mystery around the memory loss that the trope seems fresh and new. I especially loved the disconnect between the characters' real selves and the selves they presented to the world, because it felt so true.

I've been asked to give my professional opinion on the memory loss. The truth is, I don't have one. When books try and pass off their neurological phenomena with a quasi-scientific explanation, I'm much more likely to huff and puff and pick holes and complain. Nothing suspends my disbelief quite as effectively as bad science. But it's pretty obvious within the first five pages that we're dealing with magic here. Magic's okay. Magic doesn't exist within my scientific world. I can suspend my disbelief for magic. Ironically though, the fact that the characters lose their names along with their histories actually makes this magical story more scientifically plausible than all the 'I-only-remember-my-name' stories.

Lisa's Review:

I'll reiterate Blair's "Holy Cow" statement. Yes, I was totally thrilled to score this awesome read at a sci-fi conference. Not because it was free and hardcover (and that doesn't affect my review, by the way). But I found this world and the plight of Marshall and Elyse so engrossing I couldn't put this book down. Seriously. I need to make a new category for this sort of book, like the "sleep-lost-reading-this" rating or "useless-the-next-day-at-work" rating or the "I-even-took-reading-breaks-at-work" rating. Because when all those things happen, the book is clearly five stars for me.

Is that subjective? I guess so.

Blair's Rating: 5 stars

Lisa's Rating: 5 stars

Review: Eon's Door by J.G. McKenney

2012-11-20T10:08:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:

A 2012 Reviewers Choice Award winner and Eric Hoffer Award finalist!

The Dark Forest is moving and a horde of bloodthirsty monsters is on the hunt. For the peaceful denizens of Erla, time is running out.

Two thousand years have passed since the three clans fled the world of humans through Eon’s Door to find sanctuary in a realm called Erla, and now a prophecy left to them by the ancient race that created the tree portal is coming true. A trusted sage has stolen the portal’s key and is using the awesome power that separated the worlds to tear apart the very soul of Nature. The key must be taken back and Eon’s Door closed—before it’s too late.

Hope lies with a “child of doubt” from the world the clans left behind and the courageous young Erlan who’s been sent to find him. Together they must retrieve the key and close Eon’s Door. It won’t be easy. Abominations of beasts and trees stand between them and their goal. Even worse, the sage knows the prophecy and is expecting them.

EON'S DOOR is a fantasy adventure recommended for readers age 12 and up.

Jessica's Review:

One of the first books I was ever given to read was a fantasy book. It took me on a journey to unknown lands and created a vision of possibilities. That book gave me an understanding that there is so much more to this world than just what we see. Eon's door is very much like that. J.G. McKenney's ability to describe a world so much and so unlike our own is impressive.

Eon's door is a classic fantasy adventure story that faces off between good and evil. Strange and delightful characters fill the novel creating a well rounded story. I was so immersed in the world that J.G. McKenney had created that I didn't want the story to end. I thoroughly enjoyed going on the adventure with Bobby and Scotty to save another world and perhaps in some ways our own.

Eon's Door reminds me of an epic fantasy and I found myself wanting to spend more time in this world and learn more about the people and the places. Perhaps there is or will be a second book and if there is I will look forward to continuing the journey through the lands of Erla.

Rating: 4.0 stars
Rated by: Jessica

Our Top Halloween Reads 2012

2012-10-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

This week, in honor of Halloween and #allhallowsread, we've chosen our favorite Halloween reads. Here's some information about All Hallow's Read, sponsored by Neil Gaiman.

If you want to give a young adult in your life (or anyone who love YA books) a fun Halloween read, check out some of these.

Lisa's Picks:

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan - This book takes place in the not-too-distant future after the zombie apocalypse. The world is creepy, and yet well done. For more information, read my review.
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake - This is a Great Halloween read. Just your average "boy meets girl. Girl kills people" story. It reminded me a lot of the TV show, Supernatural, as well (which I love). Cas is a witty and engaging main character. The story is well-paced and fun, as it builds to a surprising blockbuster ending. I especially liked that it was set in Canada.
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong - (part of The Darkest Powers Trilogy - it's all great) Is set in a creepy institution where "troubled teen" Chloe discovers she is really a Necromancer. This book has it all, creepy ghosts, werewolves. See Blair's review for more.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - Though probably written for a middle grade audience, this book has all sorts of great creepy and both YA and adult appeal.
The Sandman - The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman - This series of classic comics is available as a graphic novel (somewhere). This was my first introduction to Neil Gaiman (of so many years ago) and I have been a huge fan ever since. An escaped nightmare, called simply "The Corinthian" made me sleep with the lights on.

Blair's Picks:

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - I love this story about a boy who grows up in a graveyard. LOVE IT. It's the sort of book I wish I could write. It has the bonus of appeal to both YA and middle grade.
Mort, Reaper Man, Soul Music, Hogfather and Theif of Time, all from the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett - Ha! I bet you thought that it would be the Tiffany Aching books, didn't you? She's witchy and YA. But no. If I had to pick a Halloween-y Discworld sub-series, it's the Death books. Why? Because how can you get more Halloween-y than Death? That' right, you can't. Plus, he's my favorite Discworld character of all time. Best Death ever. The characters Mort (Death's apprentice) and Susan Sto Helit (Death's granddaughter) give the books some YA appeal.
Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts - Because zombies. Every Halloween countdown needs zombies. Okay, this book's creatures aren't really zombies, but they do come in apocalyptic, world-eating hordes.
The Passage by Justin Cronin - More apocalyptic hordes. This one isn't technically YA, but neither is Stephen King, and a lot of teenagers read him. If you're one of those teens, give this vampire romp a try. It has the added bonus of no added sparkles.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman - Apparently my weaknesses include spooky Neil Gaiman books that cross the line between middle grade and YA. This fantastically creeptactuar story about a girl who discovers another world behind a locked door is well worth the read, at any age.

Jessica's Picks:

The Dark Tower Series - Stephen King - Hello. Stephen King the epidemy of fright.
Running with the Demon (Book 1) - Terry Brooks - A fight between good and Evil and a teenager that must make the choice between the word and the void - what more could one want.
A Knight of the Word (Book 2) - Terry Brooks - A little bit about voids, evil, fallen knights and a college girl who must still save everything (There is a third book too but Nest Freemark has transitioned from teen to adult.)
Earthsea Trilogy - Ursula K. Le Guin - Magic, dragons, demons and the prices paid
City of Beasts - Isabel Allende - although not technically scary in the sense of ghosts and ghouls it is about the destruction of things not understood.

The Messenger (Mortal Beloved #1) Tour by Pamela DuMond

2012-10-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Parallel Words YA is delighted to participate in the The Messenger book tour, sponsored by AToMR tours! Check out the gorgeous cover and description. We can't wait to give it a read! There's even a giveaway at the bottom of the page.

Book Description:

Infinity. Life. Death. Rebirth. Some souls are meant to be together, but pursuing true love can be dangerous and often deadly. When sixteen-year-old Madeline falls in love with Samuel, a boy who lives hundreds of years before she is even born, she will risk her very existence to be with him.

Madeline’s from present day Chicago when she is pushed onto the train tracks, and accidentally time travels to a bloody war between the Natives and the colonists. She falls in love with a Native boy, Samuel. But, she’s living in the body of a colonial girl and their romance is a crime that carries harsh punishments.

Madeline discovers that she is meant to be a Messenger, a traveler who if properly trained, can slip through time's fabric at will. The Medicine Woman mentors her. But Madeline doesn't fit in this world. She’s different from the other colonists. Rumors of witchcraft and spying arise. Deadly Hunters, dark-souled predators as well as skilled time travelers, crave Madeline's powers. Can Madeline find the way back to her future? And will that future include her one true love, Samuel?

Excerpt:

A low-pitched droning penetrated my ears and rattled my bones. Being a city girl, I usually didn’t care about a little noise. Could be an el train whistling nearby outside my bedroom window, a bus chugging down the street, or a garbage truck picking up trash on any normal day. But it wasn’t any of those, ’cause this day definitely wasn’t normal.

I tore through a thick wood, my breath ragged, as skinny tree branches whipped across my face and body. One slapped my forehead and something warm trickled into my eye. I wiped it away and saw that my hand was bloody. I should be used to that by now.

But I flinched, and tried not to cry out in pain because he was hunting me. If he heard he would calculate how far away from him I was. Then he would know how quickly and easily he could catch me. And if he caught me, he would kill me.

But I didn’t want to die, yet. Not here, not now. I had to find a way to be with my Samuel.
I started running again but this time shielded my face with my arms. My feet kicked up some dirt as well as a few yellow and orange leaves blanketing the ground.

I fled past ancient pine trees with thick round trunks and branches covered with needles that towered over me like a canopy when I tripped on the hem of my skirt. I heard a loud rip as I fell toward the forest floor. My arms pin wheeled and momentum, possibly the only thing on my side right now, jerked me upright.

I stopped for a few seconds to catch my breath. The droning had grown louder. Good. I was closer to that place where desire, action, a little bit of luck and magic would join forces. I’d find that moment to slip through time’s fabric, travel hundreds of years back to present day and warn or even save people. Especially my Samuel.

Then I heard his voice, muffled, but close by. And his words chilled my soul. “Stop running, Messenger,” he said. “You cannot save him or yourself. You cannot save anybody.”

I’m sixteen years old and cop to the fact that in terms of life wisdom, people think teenagers have been through next to nothing. But I’ve recently learned the hard way that I’m not your average teenager, and wisdom cannot be measured in birthdays.

Buy the book here:

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheMessengersHandbook?fref=ts

Pamela Dumond's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pamela.dumond

Twitter: Pamela DuMond @CupcakesNovel

Website: www.pameladumond.com

Giveaway - US

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Giveaway - International

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Check out these other sites on the tour:

Review: A Strange Fire (A Florence Vaine Novel) L.H. Cosway

2012-10-15T16:46:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Flo has always had problems. Her stammer prevents her speech and her dad’s abuse makes her life a living hell. Not to mention she sees colours other people don’t. When her dad decides to ship her off to live with her grandma in the sleepy town of Chesterport, thinks that this is her chance for a better life. But on her very first day at her new school she is ridiculed and laughed at for having a stammer. One student sticks up for her and his name is Frank. Frank’s body is surrounded by an aura of fire, but Flo is the only one who can see it. He lives in a foster home for troubled teenagers. Flo is drawn to him because he’s different and so is she. Things are about to get scary, because Chesterport is not your ordinary suburban town. It’s infested by a coven of dark witches who prey on the young and the elderly. Soon Flo discovers that she’s next on their list of victims, and finds herself fighting a battle she never would have imagined possible.

My Review:

I think one of the things that I like most about reading, (especially a good book) is that they can suspend time; transport you to an entirely different place or event; evoke emotions in you and allow you to become apart of something different than your own existence. The only thing that I don't like is that when it is done I am back once again in my own reality and the pleasure that kept me so engrossed in the novel is now just a memory.

This book was like that. I got so lost in it that I was almost late for work and couldn't wait until work was done so that I could pick it up again. I thoroughly enjoyed the way L.H. Cosway brought the characters to life in a rich texture of suspense and intrigue. I'm a huge fan of the paranormal but haven't read a lot of romance novels feeling that the romance took away from the essence of the book. Here however, it enhanced it. It was a pleasant surprise that brought me back to my own youth and the emotions and entanglements that went with being a teen and as I put down the book I was almost saddened that I wasn't one still.

I would say that the only thing that wasn't so great for me was the portrayal of the main character Flo as an abused teen. I didn't think she got deep enough into the pain and trauma of how that would feel and the repercussions of that kind of abuse. Aside from getting Flo to Chesterport, it really didn't lend to the story. She could easily have made her background more of a mystery eluding to the fact that she had been abused, keeping the readers in a little more suspense about who and where she came from. Fortunately, it really only is talked about in the first couple of chapters and then only slight references made to it later on. So in the end, it didn't detract too much from the story.

I loved the book, I totally gobbled it up and read it in less than a day and would highly recommend it to anyone who likes paranormal romances.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Rated by: Jessica

Review: The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong (Darkest Powers #2)

2012-10-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

Story Synopsis:

If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl — someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I’m as far away from normal as it gets. I’m a living science experiment — not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a sinister organization call the Edison Group. What does that mean? For starters. I'm a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control: I raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever.

Now I’m running for my life with three of my supernatural friends - a chaming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch - and we have to find someone who can help us before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying. (from Goodreads)

My Review:

A couple of weeks ago, I reviewed The Summoning, the first book in the Darkest Powers trilogy. I liked that book. A lot. On to the sequel, The Awakening. Guess what? I liked this one, too!

Armstrong once again delivers a story that's fun, quirky and filled with pulse-pounding suspense. The characters are just as interesting as before. A mega-bonus (from my point of view) is that Armstrong again devotes a couple of pages to pointing out how NOT to treat people with mental illness, and for that she gets my applause and virtual hugs.

The plot is not quite as gripping as the first book, and a lot of it involves getting the characters from Point A to Point B. That said, I can't really fault a book for focusing on moving the characters from one place to another, since my all-time favorite trilogy is Lord of the Rings, and that's about 70% walking, as one does not simply walk into Mordor. Some of the best stories out there are journey stories. But with The Awakening, I got the distinct feeling that the book's real job was to set me up for the third book. Part of this was because a lot of scenes followed a patten: Chloe is, intentionally of unintentionally, testing out her powers. Let's see what happens! Readers, take note.

Even with this business-time aspect, Armstrong still manages to create a fun, page-turning addition to her Darkest Powers trilogy. Next stop: The Reckoning.

Rating: 4 stars

Rated by: Blair

Review: Fire by Kristin Cashore

2012-10-01T16:33:00.000-07:00

Story Synopsis:

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.

This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she had the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.

Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City, The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom.

If only she weren't afraid of becoming the monster her father was.

Lisa's Review:

Kristin Cashore's ability to weave a world, filled with unique and interesting characters always makes her stories worth reading. I enjoyed Graceling, the previous story written in this world, and I truly enjoyed Fire, but not in the way I expected. Cashore has a way of pulling you into her world so that the story and its characters stay with you. However, while I enjoyed this story and found it compelling, I am not convinced it should really be categorized as Young Adult. This book is fantasy, pure and simple. Truly enjoyable fantasy. Not really YA.

Before you get mad at me for saying this, please hear me out. It's not that the these books were overly complex or that anything addressed in these books wasn't suitable for young adult (or even some middle grade) readers. It's about the Young Adult fiction category itself. I still believe the story to be very good.
Young Adult fiction is usually characterized as follows:

First person narrative: Generally, young adult fiction is written in first person and Fire is written in third. There are always exceptions: the later Harry Potter books (though the series started as middle grade) as well as The Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series come to mind.
Protagonist is high-school aged: The idea behind YA versus regular fiction or even the upcoming "New Adult" category is that the main character in YA fiction is experiencing things that relate to being that age in some way. I've even heard that stories set the summer after graduation no longer qualify the story for Young Adult. While Fire is seventeen at the start of the book, she is treated like an adult woman in all aspects.
Story takes place over a short time frame: The idea is that the stories are faster paced and events take place closer to real time than adult books. However, Fire takes place over the period of a year or more, with many major events happening.
Written in scenes, more than summaries: This gives a sense of immediacy to the story. Most YA fiction is written in scenes where characters interact. Fire is not written in as many scenes, so there's less immediacy to some of the events, giving the story more of an 'adult' pace or feel.

In fact, the only thing making this story young adult is the fact that Fire is seventeen when the book begins (18 when it ends) and that any sex scenes are written in a completely fade-to-black kind of way. Otherwise, her publishers and promoters have stretched the genre to bring a good story to young readers.

This book is a strong work of fantasy and could just as easily thrive on the adult shelves. Marketing it as YA, however, made this book, and Graceling, truly stand out, and made it available to readers of all ages. It's an argument in favor of adults reading fiction that's classified as "Young Adult".

While I truly enjoyed the book, I can't help but feel a little manipulated when good stories are cut to fit a YA genre simply because it's a "hot" genre. While it's true that there are always exceptions to any rule, sometimes the exceptions outnumber the rules.

If we based a book's YA status on the age of the characters alone, Game of Thrones could be added to the YA shelves because there's a few young characters in there. Just sayin'.

Blair's Review:

I think Lisa covered this pretty well so I won't add much, except to say that I agree. I enjoyed reading this book, but it didn't feel YA. As for the reasons why, I didn't have as many as Lisa - she knows a lot more about the rules and trends of YA than I do. For me, it was Fire's age that made the difference. She could have been 20-something and it would have been the exact same book.

That said, I really liked the book. What I love about Kristin Cashore's writing is that her made-up world is so detailed that it feels real. At no point does the world feel like it exists solely as a setting for the story; it bursts with a life of its own. I can imagine all sorts of stories taking place behind the scenes. Cashore opens the door to the world and invites us in, and I'm more than happy to enter. (And it's got a map. I love books with maps. Maps are like invitations. Dear Reader, please enter this fantasy realm. A map is provided for your enjoyment and convenience.)

Similar to Graceling, the pacing is a bit uneven. There's a reveal about 2/3 through the book which feels artificial - Fire knew this detail which is critical to her character, and we're in her head, so why didn't we know it too? The "A ha!" moment felt tacked on for effect. And there's the whole it-doesn't-feel-like-YA-thing. It feels like its been jammed into the YA mold.

Well-developed characters and a rich world make this book worth reading. But it should be marketed to adults as well. I'm sure there are adults out there who would enjoy this book, but won't come across it because its only on the YA shelves. That's kind of a shame.

Our Ratings:

Lisa's Rating: 3.5 or 4 stars
Blair's Rating: 4 stars

Review: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong (Darkest Powers #1)

2012-09-24T18:53:00.002-07:00

Story Synopsis

My name is Chloe Saunders and my life will never be the same again.

All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys, and keep on being ordinary. I don't even know what that means anymore. It all started on the day that I saw my first ghost - and the ghost saw me.

Now there are ghosts everywhere and they won't leave me alone. To top it all off, I somehow got myself locked up in Lyle House, a "special home" for troubled teens. Yet the home isn't what it seems. Don't tell anyone, but I think there might be more to my housemates than meets the eye. The question is, whose side are they on? It's up to me to figure out the dangerous secrets behind Lyle House...before its skeletons come back to haunt me. (from Goodreads)

My Review:

I have a confession to make. When I first heard about this book, I thought it was going to be a paranormal romance along the lines of a certain other series which I hate and which will remain unnamed. So I wrote it off my book list and forgot about it...until my fellow blogger Lisa recommended it to me. Lisa's recommendations tend to be spot-on, so I swallowed my skepticism and picked up this book. And guess what? Lisa was right. This book is great. Lesson learned.

The main character, Chloe, is full of endearing quirks, including a stutter and a tendency to see the world from behind the lens of an imaginary film camera. All the secondary characters are well flushed out, especially the awkward, intelligent Derek. The plot is gripping, the pacing excellent, and the writing is clean and fun.

All of these are reasons why you should read this book. But none of them are the main reason why I loved this book.

That came in the form of a five-page scene between Chloe and the psychiatrist Dr. Gill. I've mentioned before that in my real life, I'm a neuroscientist. WARNING: I'm about to nerd-out. Okay? Here we go.

The set-up for the scene is that Chloe has just had a run-in with a dead janitor that no one else could see. Dr. Gill is telling Chloe that she might be schizophrenic. What follows is one of the most honest discussions of schizophrenia I've ever seen in a fiction book, let alone a YA paranormal. While Chloe freaks out over the possibility of being "schizo", Dr. Gill calmly and concisely lays out what schizophrenia is, what it is not, what is myth, and what is real. In our society, schizophrenics are subjected to a stigma that is undeserved. That Armstrong devoted a chunk of her book to pointing out and responding to that undeserved stigma is amazing. As soon as I read that scene, I knew that it didn't matter what happened after in the book, I was going to like it. This book gets a big, fat, Neuro Seal of Approval.

But if you don't base your opinions of books on five-page scenes that actually have little to do with plot or character development, that's okay, because there's lots of other reasons why this is a fun and gripping read. It's several years old now, and paranormal is drifting out of the YA market, but if you missed this one when it was first released, I highly recommend you pick it up now.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Rated by: Blair

Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner (Maze Runner #1)

2012-09-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

Story Synopsis:

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

My Review:

Do you ever read a book, and you know it isn't great literature, or even great writing, but you're willing to overlook the technical faults because it's a fast-paced mystery that's easy to get in to and fun to read? That's what I felt when I read The Maze Runner.

This book follows a group of boys, and one girl, who are trapped in a maze with no memory of how they got there. Escape attempts are often deadly. The mystery behind the maze got me into the book; tiny hints of a broken outside world kept me gripped. I was drawn into the story and the action, and dying to know what happened. The pages flew beneath my fingers, but not so fast that I didn't find faults.

The writing is cliche-ridden and choppy, with some weird phrasings that made me go, "huh??" I'm not as anti-adverb as some people, but this text is drenched in -ly to the point where even I noticed. On the plus side, the description of the memory loss was not outside the realm of scientific plausibility, and I appreciate that. Another plus is a story and writing style appropriate for both older middle grade readers as well as teens, so there's a wider range of appeal.

If you like strong female characters, this probably isn't the book for you. It features one single female character, and she is, for one reason or another, absent for most of the book. Once she does start taking part, she mostly limits her interactions to the main character. They question of why there was only one girl bothered me a lot, especially once I reached the ending. There's two more books in the series, so maybe that question will get answered. But I tend to be less fond of books that don't provide a strong female character in at least a secondary role, so for me this one one of the book's more glaring issues. How you respond to it will likely depend on your own personal tastes.

The Maze Runner is a fast-paced, action-packed mystery. It's not fantastic prose, but that's okay. It's the sort of book you read when you want fun and entertainment; the quick pleasure of a good summer read. And who doesn't need that sort of book from time to time? I certainly do.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Rated by: Blair

Review: Matched by Ally Condie

2012-09-10T12:28:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

From Goodreads.

My Review:

Matched is a hard book for me to review, because I really, really loved it. At first, I picked it up to get over another book I read (which shall remain nameless) that truly upset me, and I was delighted by how quickly I got into it.

Cassia lives in a world that is perfectly organized by the data that been collected about people their entire lives. In this world, disease has been prevented and people know exactly how long they will live. Even their mates are chosen for them, and behavior is predicted based on probability. Everything is sorted and accounted for, leaving nothing to chance. In the Society's world, creativity is not an option.

As the synopsis suggests, Cassia, the main character is presented with not one, but two possible matches: one sanctioned by the state, and the other an 'error in the system'. The idea that a perfectly structured world could have errors opens Cassia's eyes to new possibilities and the idea that the world she lives in is not in everyone's best interest after all.

Condie creates a remarkable world, one whose presence I felt through the characters. The dilemmas she brings up are universal: how much can data predict behavior? are we being watched? is it wrong to question authority? and what is the essence of creativity?

To some, this story is evenly paced. However, with this pacing, Condie gives us time to feel the experiences and breathe the air of Cassie's world, while I fell in love with the characters. As a writer, I greatly admire Condie's writing style. Her pacing gave me time to stop and admire the scenery, without bogging me down in the slightest. I found the story, its characters and the adversarial world they live in, strong and compelling enough to draw me in. It kept me engrossed from start to finish.

My rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by: Lisa

Review: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

2012-09-04T12:31:00.003-07:00

Story Synopsis

The New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments continues—and so do the thrills and danger for Jace, Clary, and Simon.What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

My Review:

I have to admit that going into this 5th book of the Mortal Instrument series, I didn't have high hopes. A devout fan of the first 3 books, I was enchanted by the Shadowhunters and their bittersweet world fighting demons and Cassandra Claire fast pace with equal amounts of action and romantic tension. Once the 4th book came along, I was already distanced; I actually think I put it down for a few months before finishing it. I was hoping to be refreshed by City of Lost Souls, and while it had some great conflict and story development, overall, I found it lacking intrigue.

Not to say it wasn’t fun, Claire gives new pieces to the parameters of the world, the evils of Sebastian and the various romantic plotlines of the story. Her writing continues to be engaging and wise, but the pacing at times seemed off, with some slow periods that would then speed into action that lacked a proper build up. I wonder if it’s the absence of “the real Jace” in this novel, which made me appreciate how a smart-ass bad-boy can take a story from good something special (fellow writers, take note).

Perhaps it’s because I’ve been loving the prequel series, Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince so much, that City of Lost Souls felt a little watered down. And while the book feels loyal to its progressive, modern take all the way through, I admit the cheese factor of the ending made me want to rip open the book and throw in some hot sauce. But maybe that’s a good thing, maybe that means I care so much about the characters and their realization that I wanted more.

And I will get it - we all will. I know I will not hesitate myself to read the final book when it comes out despite my less-than-romance with the last two. If you are a fan of the series, I don’t doubt you will enjoy City of Lost Souls, if anything to keep you in the loop for how the epic series will close.

Review by: Elinor

3 out of 5 stars

Back to the Books Giveaway Hop

2012-08-31T11:35:00.000-07:00

September 1st-7th 2012

Welcome to Parallel Words YA! This is a family-friendly young adult book review site where we review great young adult books in the fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal and science fiction genres (including dystopian fiction).

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Review: Red Glove by Holly Black (Curse Workers #2)

2012-08-27T19:23:00.002-07:00

Story Synopsis:

Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.

That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.

When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?

Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose. (from Amazon.com)

My Review:

I know the traditional thing to do when reviewing a sequel is to compare it to the original. I think, in this case, that won't work. I read White Cat two years ago while curled up fetal on my bed, trying to distract myself from food poisoning. I'll say this much about it: My brain now associates that book with extreme abdominal discomfort, yet I still think it was a good read, which should tell you something about how fantastic a read it truly is.

On to Red Glove, which I read during a lightning weekend trip across the continent. I was tired, a little hungover (wild weddings will do that), and being accosted by arm-rest hoggers, crying babies, tight connections, other people's loud headphones, and an evil woman who crumpled my garment bag. Bitch. Red Glove took all that madness and made it bearable.

One of these days, I'm going to read Holly Black's books for pleasure alone and not as a distraction from pain and irritation, because they're worth much more attention than what I'm giving them.

What I'm getting at, with all this venting about flights, is that Red Glove is a fantastic book. I blazed through it. Granted, I didn't have much else to do, now that it costs $6.71 to watch a movie on a plane. But I would have kept reading even if the movie had been free. Cassel is a great main character - unique and compelling. The secondary characters are also engaging and well-developed. The writing is both descriptive and casual; the story dark and disturbing with frequent bursts of humor. It sucks you in and doesn't let go. Black's ability to take our world, add one magical twist, and still keep things completely relatable, is impressive; the fact that her magical twist has very real implications for the real world is even more so.

As with White Cat, the central mystery is a little predictable, but in Red Glove it took me a bit longer to crack it. Also, I don't know Lila's character very well, even though she's the romantic interest and a driving force in the plot. In White Cat she's a cat, in Red Glove she's cursed. We almost never see her as her true self, so who is she? I hope that the third book gives readers the chance to know her better.

Overall, highly recommended, especially if you're sick or facing a flight.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Rated by: Blair

Review: UnLunDun by China Melville

2012-08-21T10:52:00.000-07:00

Synopsis

‘UnLondon is at war. We’re under attack. And it’s been written, for centuries, that you – you – will come and save us.’

Stumbling through a secret entrance, Zanna and Deeba emerge in the strange wonderland of UnLondon. Here all the lost and broken things of London end up, and some of its people, too – including Brokkenbroll, boss of the broken umbrellas and Hemi the half-ghost boy. UnLondon is a place where Routemaster buses have legs, where Librarians are ‘bookaneers’, intrepid adventurers dedicated to hunting down lost books, and postmen spend years tracking the mobile addresses of the ever changing Puzzleborough. But the girls have arrived at a dangerous time – UnLondon is under siege by the sinister Smog; it’s a city awaiting its hero.

China makes extraordinary use of the ordinary is this wildly inventive fantasy adventure. ( From Goodreads)

Review

UnLunDun or 'UnLondon,' is a young adult fantasy named after the alternate realm where the book is set. I read this book because my niece told me that “I had to read it!” All the while I was reading she would come up to me every few hours and hover over my shoulder saying, “what part are you on?” “couldn’t you just die?” “and then he... and isn’t it so amazing?” That alone would make me give this book five stars seeing the excitement and joy from her but the book also stands on its own.

Un Lun Dun is a fabulous, fast-paced story of an unexpected hero who comes into her own. It’s filled with loveable yet strange characters who take you on a journey of discovery and adventure where you meet even stranger characters and situations. The main characters compassion and genuine concern for those around her gives her the ability to problem-solve in unique and practical ways, showing that sometime the best solution is usually the simplest.

The writing is impeccable and the languaging flows so well that you are fully engulfed in the book. I was quite surprised several times when I looked up and was not in UnLondon.

My rating on this book is five stars, definitely one that is not to be missed.

Parallel Words Young Adult

Release Day Blitz - The Angel Killer by Lisa Voisin

THE ANGEL KILLER

Description

About Lisa Voisin

The Excerpt

The Giveaway

About The Watcher

DESCRIPTION

The Trailer

Cover Reveal - The Angel Killer (Book 2 in The Watcher Saga) by Lisa Voisin #theangelkiller

The Cover Revealed

Coming January 5, 2015

Description

About Lisa Voisin

The Excerpt

The Giveaway

About The Watcher

DESCRIPTION

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Blurb:

My Review:

My Rating: 5/5 Stars!Reviewed by: Lisa

Review: The Watcher by Lisa Voisin

Synopsis:

Jessica's Review:

Blair's Review

About the Author:

The Trailer:

The Giveaway:

April Giveaway: Kindle Fire

Review: The Obvious Game by Rita Arens

Blurb:

My Review:

Rating: 5/5 StarsReviewed By: Lisa

Release Day Party - The Watcher

The Giveaway:

Trailer Reveal - The Watcher

The Video

Find The Watcher on: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Inkspell | Kobo

About THE WATCHER

The Excerpt:

About the Author:

Giveaway details:

Review: A Vision of Green: L.H. Cosway

Synopsis

Review

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rated by: Jessica

Review: Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness

Story Synopsis

My Review

Rating: 5 stars

Rated by: Blair

Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Story Synopsis:

My Review:

My Rating: 4 Stars

Rated by: Lisa

Review: Glimmer by Phoebe Kitandis

Story Synopsis:

Blair's Review:

Lisa's Review:

Blair's Rating: 5 stars

Lisa's Rating: 5 stars

Review: Eon's Door by J.G. McKenney

Synopsis:

Jessica's Review:

Rating: 4.0 stars Rated by: Jessica

Our Top Halloween Reads 2012

Lisa's Picks:

Blair's Picks:

Jessica's Picks:

The Messenger (Mortal Beloved #1) Tour by Pamela DuMond

Book Description:

Excerpt:

Buy the book here:

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheMessengersHandbook?fref=ts Pamela Dumond's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pamela.dumond Twitter: Pamela DuMond @CupcakesNovel Website: www.pameladumond.com

Giveaway - US

Giveaway - International

My Rating: 5/5 Stars!
Reviewed by: Lisa

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Reviewed By: Lisa

Rating: 4.0 stars
Rated by: Jessica

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheMessengersHandbook?fref=ts

Pamela Dumond's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pamela.dumond

Twitter: Pamela DuMond @CupcakesNovel

Website: www.pameladumond.com

Lisa's Rating: 3.5 or 4 stars
Blair's Rating: 4 stars

My rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by: Lisa