She Has A Knack For It

Book Review: You Are Mine

2013-08-25T14:12:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful summer. I know I did. Lots of family fun, mostly camping. Today I'' be reviewing You Are Mine by Janeal Falor. The author contacted me and offered me a copy of the book in return for my honest review. This in no way effects my final review of this book.

Title: You Are Mine

Author: Janeal Falor

Series: Mine #1

Publisher: Chardonian Press LLC

Original Publication Date: May 6, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Fantasy

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:
Serena knows a few simple things. She will always be owned by a warlock. She will never have freedom. She will always do what her warlock wishes, regardless of how inane, frivolous, or cruel it is. And if she doesn't follow the rules, she will be tarnished. Spelled to be bald, inked, and barren for the rest of her life—worth less than the shadow she casts.

Then her ownership is won by a barbarian from another country. With the uncertainty that comes from belonging to a new warlock, Serena questions if being tarnished is really worse than being owned by a barbarian, and tempts fate by breaking the rules. When he looks the other way instead of punishing her, she discovers a new world. The more she ventures into the forbidden, the more she learns of love and a freedom just out of reach. Serena longs for both. But in a society where women are only ever property, hoping for more could be deadly.

Wow! I loved this book. I found it to be exemplary. The description sounded good and I sampled the first chapter before agreeing to read for review. When I was done, I was floored. I really don't know exactly how the author found me, but she really had me pegged. This book was almost perfect for me. There was really only one thing that I didn't understand, but if I were to pick out an ideal type of book that I love to read, this book would be one of them. I am looking forward to seeing where the author goes with this series.

This entire book is from Serena's POV. She lives in a society where women are owned. Their value is based on how much magic there is in their blood. The higher the magic, the more they are worth. Women are basically used to breed more warlocks. Boys are tested early on in their childhood to see how much magic is in their blood. Girls are only tested after they have reach the eligible age for marriage and want to be put in the marriage pool. People without magic or that break the rules are tarnished, which basically means you are really low on the totem pole and have even less rights.

Whether Serena wants to or not, her father enters her into the marriage pool and she is bought by a man at least as cruel as her father. He wants to meet her and her family, so they all travel to watch a tournament. Warlocks compete to see who is best. Those who die during the tournament have ALL of their possessions given to the warlock who beat them. Serena's intended does pretty good in the tournament until he goes up against a barbarian from Envadi, Zade, where he dies.

Serena is clearly stressed out by being won by a barbarian and her father is not happy either. He works to try to get her back so he can sell her off to the next highest bidder. Serena is sent to one of the new homes that Zade has won. Like the description states she skirts and breaks the rules expecting to be punished, like her father does constantly, only for him to look the other way. Zade is not the barbarian she thought he was and he and the follow people from Envadi just might be more civilized than the one she lives in.

I really liked it, there was some predictable romance, a little coming of age and finding out who you really are, learning how to stand up for yourself, etc...The world the author came up with I thought was pretty interesting. I hope in the next book that Serena gets to go visit Envadi and see the country first hand. That could be interesting reading about her discovering the world beyond her country.

The only thing that I don't quite understand is how the magic works. Clearly boys are trained on the use of magic, but I didn't hear of any girls accidentally discovering how to use their own magic. I would assume it would happen at least occasionally. I can also see the men in the country wanting to keep that secret from the women to make sure they stay in line. In the next book I would also love to see Serena actually being trained in how to use her magic. That could be interesting too.

I also could probably have went for a touch bit more romance, but I think for that to have really worked, we would have also needed Zane's POV and that might have ended up giving away too much of the plot. He wouldn't have been the mystery guy anymore.

If you find your tastes in books is similar to mine, than you will really like this book. You might even love it. I definitely recommend. I look forward to reading more of this series.

My Rating:

Fun, Busy Summer

2013-08-03T11:20:00.002-04:00

Hello, everyone! I just want to apologize for not being very active on my blog this summer. My family has been very busy camping and enjoying other activities. Once fall rolls around, I plan on being more active again. In the meantime, if you want to check out my reviews, you can find them on Goodreads and on Amazon. Feel free to follow me or add me as a friend.

I hope you are enjoying your summer as much as I am :)

Book Review: Becoming a Legend

2013-07-07T14:22:00.000-04:00

I loved the first book, The Legend of the Blue Eyes by B. Kristin McMichael, so much that the author graciously supplied me with a copy of the second book in the series. This in no way effects my final review of this book.

Title: Becoming Legend

Author: B. Kristin McMichael

Series: The Blue Eyes #2

Publisher: Lexia Press

Original Publication Date: June 6, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:
Arianna Grace is about to turn seventeen and her life has been very complicated lately. She is the leader of four clans of night humans: dearg-dul, baku, tengu, and lycan. While the four clans seem to get along better with each other, there is internal conflict on both sides of her family, not to mention the three boys vying for her attention.

Edward Lucan is making a chase for the power to lead the baku clans and is playing his cards by using his nephew Andrew to lure Arianna into a trap. Unfortunately for Lucan, Andrew has his own plans. He has spent the last year waiting for Arianna to see him as more than a friend, and he now finds it necessary to make a move for her affection, despite his uncle.

In the dearg-dul estate, Arianna discovers that the ambitious Lord Seeger has been laying his own strategies for power and is slowly poisoning her. After getting away with her grandfather's murder, he is setting his sights on her. Luckily for Arianna, her team is on to all of the plans and is making some plans of their own. Will it be enough to keep Arianna safe? Several people close to Arianna have been keeping secrets. If Arianna is to take power and control of the night, she will need to know the truth. Will someone finally tell her what it truly means to become the legend everyone is waiting for, before it is too late to turn back?

This book picks up about a year later from the first book. For most of the book Arianna remains just as ignorant about the world of night humans as she did in the first book, except it's a year later. I felt like she should have known a little more at the beginning of this book. I felt like she should have been training both physically and mentally during that year to truly be the leader of the four clans. But clearly she hasn't.

While I liked it, I did not like it as much as the first book. For me, it felt like it suffered a little bit from The Middle Book Syndrome. The entire time I was reading it, I felt like it was just setting me up for the final book in the series. Which I do have to say based on where book two ends, sounds like it will be an awesome end to the series. Plot-wise though, I didn't really feel like this book had it's own individual story arc in the series. Maybe I missed it? That's not to say that you don't continue to learn new things about the world McMichael created, you do. It's a whole lot bigger than we are lead to believe in the first book. You also learn a little bit more about the legend and there is some plotting from various bad guys on how they can either kill Arianna or use her to get the power they crave.

With all of that being said, I'm still looking forward to the third book, Winning a Legend.

My Rating:

Book Review: Hex Hall

2013-07-03T20:53:00.000-04:00

Good evening everyone! Today I'll happily be reviewing Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins. It is the first book in the Hex Hall series.

Title: Hex Hall

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Series: Hex Hall #1

Publisher: Hyperion Books

Original Publication Date: March 2nd 2010

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:

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.

I've been wanting to read this book for a while now as it kept popping up everywhere with a few places even suggesting it might be the book for me, based on other books I've read. Boy were they right! I really liked this book, it might even be love. I'm sure part of it is because Rachel Hawkins clearly grew up around the same time I did and shares the same wonderful sense of humor I do.

Like the description states, you follow Sophie, who does quite have a handle on her magic. She discovered she was a witch at the age of 13. She's gotten into trouble a few times, but so far her absent father has been able to get her out of it. But, on prom night when Sophie tries to help out a girl by pulling off a little spell, it goes off a little TOO well. The fall out is that her father can no longer protect her and she is sent off to live at Hex Hall until she is 18.

However, once Sophie arrives she quickly realizes exactly how woefully unprepared she is to live at such a place and just how ignorant she is about her powers and the world of witches, warlocks, faeries, and shapeshifters. She quickly ends up being the target of mean girls and bumbles her way into trouble. Thankfully, she has one refuge, her room and her roommate, Jenna. Jenna herself is an outcast, the only vampire student at the school.

This isn't just your regular school book though, there is more to the story. There is a mystery as a few of the students have ended up dead, appearing to have been drained of their blood. Who is there number one suspect? Why Jenna, of course. Sophie just knows that Jenna wouldn't do such a thing, so she works to try to figure out who really did it.

There is also some budding romance, a ghost, some awesome pop culture references, as well as some surprising twists and turns to the story. It is a pretty fast read, although that could have been because I was so into the story, that I just kept reading, and reading, and reading...

I highly recommend checking out this book and I think Rachel Hawkins has just added herself onto my list of go-to authors. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

My Rating:

Novella Review: Dark Child: Episode Three

2013-06-25T22:59:00.002-04:00

Good evening everyone! Today I'll be reviewing Dark Child: Episode Three by Adina West. It is the third book in the Dark Child series. I received a copy of this book for free in return for my honest review, through the Never Too Old For Y.A. Books Group on Goodreads. However, I received a copy of the book directly from the author's publisher. This in no way effects my final review of this book.

Title: Dark Child: Episode Three

Author: Adina West

Series: Dark Child #3

Publisher: Momentum Books

Original Publication Date: April 1, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from the publisher:

Dead? Kat clenched her fists, her stomach a writhing tangle of knots. Her pulse thundered in her ears.

Had this all been an elaborate ruse to trap her? The platelet study; the offer to come and work at the Hema Castus Research Institute; the special attention from Director Norris … Surely they’d have had no way of knowing who she was. Still, if the Directorate controlled Hema Castus, and the Directorate wanted her imprisoned, even dead, everything took on a much more sinister light. And anyway, why did the Directorate want her dead?

Kat has always known she’s special. Different. But finding out why is still a shock, especially when she discovers the malevolent Directorate, a clandestine organization of untold power, have put a price on her head.

Forced into hiding in the remote White Mountains, Kat’s life is suddenly in the hands of the wild and dangerous unalil. But trusting her new protectors isn’t easy, since they seem almost as terrifying as the killers who pursue her . . .

This is a novella-length episode of Dark Child. This is part three of five.

This novella picks up where the last one left off. Kat is still processing the fact that Char has told her she is not human. So, we finally get into the nitty gritty with this episode a bit with Kat finally no longer being clueless about the world around her. In this episode Kat also has to flee to New York to get away from those that are hunting her. Things definitely are getting more intense too.

Like with the first two episodes as time goes on our list of characters continues to grow. My favorite of the new characters we meet is Akilina. She is a very old Dark Child, who can craft metal into amulets with protective runes specific to each person after reading them.

Overall, I liked this episode the same as I liked the first two. I have come to two conclusions at this point though, 1) I would just go ahead and by the complete Omnibus edition and skip buying the individual episodes and 2) At this point I'm not sure how everything is going to get resolved in two more episodes.

I feel I should also comment that according to the publisher, this series of episodes would be great for fans of The Mortal Instruments. I'm going to have to say I don't necessarily agree with that assumption. Yes, it is an urban fantasy series and yes there are vampires or night children, but I feel that is a completely different world with a completely different writing style. I feel a more accurate statement would to just say that this series would be great for urban fantasy or paranormal readers and call it good at that.

So, if you are a fan of urban fantasy or paranormal books, I would recommend maybe giving this series a try, but I would recommend just getting the omnibus edition or picking up all five episodes at one time. I look forward to seeing what the next two episodes bring. Happy Reading!

My Rating:

Novella Review: Dark Child: Episode Two

2013-06-24T10:39:00.000-04:00

Good morning everyone! Today I'll be reviewing Dark Child: Episode Two by Adina West. It is the second book in the Dark Child series. I received a copy of this book for free in return for my honest review, through the Never Too Old For Y.A. Books Group on Goodreads. However, I received a copy of the book directly from the author's publisher. This in no way effects my final review of this book.

Title: Dark Child: Episode Two

Author: Adina West

Series: Dark Child #2

Publisher: Momentum Books

Original Publication Date: March 1, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from the publisher:
A crawling unease stirred deep within Kat. She shifted a little further away from Char. Finally she spoke, her voice fracturing the tense silence.

“Who are you, Char?”

Kat doesn’t want to question her luck too closely when she lands a fabulous Manhattan apartment only blocks from her new job, even if cab drivers do have a funny habit of driving right past her antiquated apartment building without seeing it.

But the quiet building hides a deadly secret, and when Kat meets Char from down the hall, she’s drawn into a hidden world where humans aren’t welcome, populated by beings as dangerous as they are beautiful. Soon Kat’s neck-deep in trouble and on the run, and discovering the truth about her own unique heritage might just make things worse.

This is a novella-length episode of Dark Child. This is part two of five.

This novella picks up almost where the last one left off. Kat has accepted her new job and is in New York looking for a place to live that is within easy walking distance to work. While she initially has trouble she eventually lucks out. Although there does seem to be something strange about her new apartment building.

Besides Kat, you are introduced to a few new characters in this episode. I found these new characters to be interesting. I normally don't care for more than two or three POVs in a story, but so far the multiple POVs are working for me in this one. I am amused that as I reader I know more about what is happening to Kat than she does.

One of the new characters we meet is Char, who immediately realizes there is something different about Kat. She calls it in to the big guys and is immediately tasked with protecting her until they can send someone over to investigate.

I'm really hoping to find out more in the third episode, as this one ended a little abruptly. Thankfully, I am in possession of the third episode, that I plan on reading ASAP.

My Rating:

Novella Review: Dark Child: Episode One

2013-06-23T13:23:00.004-04:00

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far. Today I'll be reviewing Dark Child: Episode One by Adina West. It is the first book in the Dark Child series. I received a copy of this book for free in return for my honest review, through the Never Too Old For Y.A. Books Group on Goodreads. However, I received a copy of the book directly from the author's publisher. This in no way effects my final review of this book. Over the next couple of days I'll be posting reviews for the first three episodes.

Title: Dark Child: Episode One

Author: Adina West

Series: Dark Child #1

Publisher: Momentum Books

Original Publication Date: February 1, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon (free as of this posting)

Find on Goodreads

Description from the publisher:
Kat can run a marathon without breaking a sweat. Catch anything you throw at her. Differentiate blood types by smell alone. And she’s spent years hiding the fact. But secrets from the past have a way of slipping out when least expected, and a simple blood test is enough to turn her quiet life in the shadow of the Appalachian Mountains upside down forever.

Kat’s been craving raw meat. When she visits a psychic she’s told her life is about to change forever. Kat isn’t so sure change is a part of her plan, but when a fabulous job offer to work for a research organization comes her way, she’s tempted to say yes and make the move to New York. It just might be her chance to find out if there are others in the world like her.

Will her dream job bring answers to her questions or will it lead her into more trouble than she could ever imagine?

This is a novella-length episode of Dark Child. This is part one of five.

In this novella or episode you are introduced to Kat. She lives in South Charleston and works as a pathologist. She hasn't been feeling well lately, so she sneaks a peak at her own blood-work. What she finds isn't normal, but then again she has a bunch of other strange quirks. What does this mean? Well, for Kat her strange blood work just might be the ticket to moving up in her organization with a great job offer in New York.

In the beginning and the end of this novella, you are also briefly introduced to Amarok. A man who has been secretly keeping an eye on Kat all these years to keep her safe. He thinks she is the one they have been waiting for to save them and bring about peace.

I have to say, I am intrigued about both of these characters. I have read a few different novella/episode types of books and this is a pretty good start to one. You get to see what Kat's current world is all about, her family, her job, her friend, etc...You know a little bit less about Amarok and his family, but you do get a glimpse and I'm sure there will be more in the upcoming episodes.

Even within this short novella a fair amount of the mythology is revealed to the reader while still leaving plenty of mystery for the future episodes. You don't fully know what's going on, but want to know more. I look forward to reading more episodes of this story.

My Rating:

Book Review: Reaper's Novice

2013-06-04T21:59:00.005-04:00

Good evening, today I'll be reviewing, Reaper's Novice by Cecilia Robert. It is the first book in the Soul Collector series. I received a copy of this book for free in return for my honest review, through the Never Too Old For Y.A. Books Group on Goodreads. However, I received a copy of the book directly from the author. This in no way effects my final review of this book.

Title: Reaper's Novice

Author: Cecilia Robert

Series: Soul Collector #1

Publisher: Self-Published

Original Publication Date: January 8, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase on Amazon: paperback / kindle (can borrow for free with Amazon Prime)

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:
17- year- old Ana Maria Tei’s life has always been perfect: loving parents, good grades, and a future so bright it outshone the sun. But now words like “separation” and “divorce” are sending her world plummeting to hell. Determined to keep her family intact, Ana plans a family-bonding trip from Vienna to Tuscany. Except fate has other plans. Ana’s parents and siblings are killed in a car accident on their way to pick Ana up from school.

Enter Grim, aka Ernest. He promises to relinquish the four souls if Ana agrees to trade her soul for theirs and serve a lifetime as his novice. In order for Ana to graduate from her Reaper’s Novice station to a Soul Collector graduate, Grim puts her to test. To her horror, she finds out becoming a Reaper’s Novice didn’t happen by chance. It was preordained, and she is forced to make a choice: save her family’s souls or come to terms with who she really is and complete the task set for her.

I have to say that I'm a little conflicted with this book, so I'm going to break it down by what I liked and didn't like.

What I liked:

1. The cover. Isn't it pretty? I love the position the girl is standing in, how she is holding the violin, and even how you can see her soul/aura wisping around her.

2. The premise of the story (read the description).

3. The characters. I felt that all of the characters were pretty well rounded and fleshed out. They are all very believable with both their behavior and dialogue between one another.

4. Some of the writing and descriptions. I like how all of the different soul colors are described. I also really liked the death scenes and how the taking of the souls is described as well as all of the scenes describing where the souls are put afterwards, etc...

5. The setting of the book. This is the first book I've read that takes place in Vienna.

What I didn't like:

1. The pacing of the book. It is painfully slow and made it easy for me to put the book down. It took me about a week to read this book, when normally it takes me about 2 days to read a book like this.

2. How the author constantly withholds information that would help move the plot along. It gets pretty tedious and old after a while. I really feel the story could have benefited better with the author giving us more information sooner. I know this is the first book in the series, but not everything needed to be withheld until almost the end of the book. It was especially annoying with characters constantly pointing out that they can't give Ana that information yet.

3. Information overload. While the plot moves along slowly you are overloaded with a bunch of information. About how there are different races of people from different worlds. A war brewing. A complicated backstory as the reasoning behind the war. Worrying about friends and family and why they may be acting strange. It goes on and on. Especially towards the end when a lot of the information that the author had been holding back comes out.

4. No map. I would have really liked if this book had a map of Vienna in the beginning with some of the frequented areas marked. I really think it would have been nice.

To summarize:

I really liked the idea behind the story, but think it could have been executed better. Maybe an overall outline of the entire series and then breaking up the story a little different. I would have been okay with the first book ending before it ended with the information being discovered over time (not constantly put off until later). I'm clearly not a professional editor, but one might be able to help adjust the story to make it better.

Overall, I might check out the second book in the series. Especially, since I finally got answers towards the end of the first book. I would certainly expect for the second book to start off running with better pacing and with less information being purposely withheld.

My Rating: (Mainly because the ending finally picked up)

Book Review: Unbreakable

2013-05-27T09:15:00.001-04:00

The finale book I'll be reviewing today is Unbreakable, the final book in the Unraveling duology.

Title: Unbreakable

Author: Elizabeth Norris

Series: Unraveling #2

Publisher: Balzer & Bray / HarperCollins

Original Publication Date: April 23, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from the publisher:
Four months after Ben disappeared through the portal to his home universe, Janelle believes she'll never see him again. Her world is still devastated, but civilization is slowly rebuilding, and life is starting to resume some kind of normalcy—until Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay shows up, asking for Janelle's help. Somebody from an alternate universe is running a human-trafficking ring—kidnapping people and selling them on different Earths. And Ben, with his unique abilities, is the prime suspect. Now his family has been imprisoned and will be executed if Ben doesn't turn himself over within five days. When Janelle learns that someone she cares about—someone from her own world—has become one of the missing, she knows that she has to help Barclay, regardless of the danger.

Now Janelle has five days to track down the real culprit. Five days to locate the missing people before they're lost forever. Five days to reunite with the boy who stole her heart. But as the clues begin to add up, Janelle realizes that she's in way over her head—and that she may not have known Ben as well as she thought. Can she uncover the truth before everyone she cares about is killed?

In this heart-pounding sequel to Unraveling, author Elizabeth Norris explores the sacrifices we make to save the people we love and the worlds we'll travel to find them.

I have to say, after reading the first book, Unraveling, I wasn't sure what Elizabeth was going to write for the second book in the series. She could have very easily just left the first book open ended or tweaked the ending a little and been done with the story. Overall, I'm glad she didn't. I enjoyed the second full length novel, although, not quite as much as the first book.

The sudden jump from the last story to human trafficking was a little bit of a stretch for me or at least a change of pace. Nevertheless, I could easily see where there are multiple universes how people could take advantage of that. Elizabeth Norris even managed to write a good story about it. On the other hand, I could have more easily seen a book strictly about Janelle and everyone trying to rebuild after the disaster at in the first book and Ben coming back to help, with some universe travel thrown in. I think that could have been an equally entertaining novel.

One of the things I really liked about this novel is the evolution of Agent Barclay. I enjoyed learning about his character, he really grew on me. I also like how much stronger Janelle becomes through out the book. Knock the girl down, give her a really hard task, and she manages to rise up and overcome the problem.

I think anyone who enjoyed the first book and maybe the novella, would most likely enjoy the conclusion in this series. I look forward to seeing what Elizabeth Norris comes up with next.

If you liked the Unraveling series, you might also like The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (4 Stars) or Slide by Jill Hathaway (3 Stars).

My Rating:

Book Review: Undone: An Unraveling Novella

2013-05-27T09:12:00.002-04:00

The second thing I'll be reviewing today is Undone. I picked this novella up after reading Unraveling and was not disappointed.

Title: Undone: An Unraveling Novella

Author: Elizabeth Norris

Series: Unraveling #1.5

Publisher: Balzer & Bray / HarperCollins

Original Publication Date: March 5, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from the publisher:
Riveting and romantic, Undone: An Unraveling Novella contains three short stories set in the world of Unraveling, the first book in the gripping sci-fi duology by Elizabeth Norris.

Before Ben Michaels saved Janelle Tenner's life, Janelle saved Ben when he stumbled through an interuniverse portal into a completely new world. That day, he fell in love with the girl of his dreams. And he never forgot her.

Through three stories told from Ben's point of view, learn how Ben and his friends discovered their ability to travel between worlds, how Ben first met Janelle, and how he pined for her for years before he actually got the chance to meet her, save her life, and capture her heart. And find out what happens to Ben between the cliff-hanger conclusion of Elizabeth Norris's Unraveling and the beginning of its heart-stopping sequel, Unbreakable.

Since this is a novella, this will be short. I LOVED seeing Ben's point of view. Each little story is a short little gem. Not only do you learn more about Ben; how he got to Janelle's world, how he pinned for Janelle for years, as well as his perspective on when he saved her; through his eyes you learn more about Janelle too! I enjoyed every minute of it.

My Rating:

Book Review: Unraveling

2013-05-27T09:09:00.000-04:00

I want to thank all of the men and women, who have fought and died to make sure our country is still free. Happy Memorial Day!

Today I will be reviewing BOTH books in the Unraveling duology, as well as the short novella that goes along with them.

I was really looking forward to reading Unraveling and I was not disappointed.

Title: Unraveling

Author: Elizabeth Norris

Series: Unraveling #1

Publisher: Balzer & Bray / HarperCollins

Original Publication Date: April 24, 2012

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from the publisher:
Like The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Elizabeth Norris’s Unraveling blends realistic coming-of-age issues with a gripping science fiction world.

Unraveling’s heroine, sixteen-year-old Janelle Tenner, is used to having a lot of responsibility. She balances working as a lifeguard in San Diego with an intense academic schedule. Janelle’s mother is bipolar, and her dad is a workaholic FBI agent, which means Janelle also has to look out for her younger brother, Jared.

And that was before she died…and is brought back to life by Ben Michaels, a mysterious, alluring loner from her high school. When she discovers a strange clock that seems to be counting down to the earth’s destruction, Janelle learns she has twenty-four days to figure out how to stop the clock and save the planet.

I really liked this book. I found the ideas to be very interesting. The very basic concept made me reminisce about watching Sliders years ago (I know this dates me). I found the story-line to be a very believable science fiction story. It's possible, if you are a hardcore science nerd, you might find some fault, but I was easily able to go along with the story.

One of the things I found most interesting about this novel is the point of view. You follow Janelle's point of view. Janelle does not have any special powers. She is just a girl who was brought back to life by Ben. Ben is the one with a special power or ability. Normally with these types of books you follow the person with the special ability's point of view. That is not the case here. However, it works. You get to discover what is happening at the same time that Janelle does.

I not only liked Janelle, I liked all of the main characters in the book. They are all very realistic characters, people that could very easily exist in real life just a few doors down from you. I eagerly anticipate the further novels in this series.

If you liked Unraveling there is a pretty good chance you will also like Undone: An Unraveling Novella and Unbreakable, the next books in the series currently available. You might also like The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (4 Stars) or Slide by Jill Hathaway (3 Stars).

My Rating:

Book Review: The Legend of the Blue Eyes

2013-05-26T22:50:00.001-04:00

Good evening, today I'll be reviewing, The Legend of the Blue Eyes by B. Kristin McMichael. It is the first book in The Blue Eyes Trilogy. I received a copy of this book for free in return for my honest review, through the Never Too Old For Y.A. Books Group on Goodreads. However, I received a copy of the through through Smashwords using a special coupon code from the author. This in no way effects my final review of this book.

Title: The Legend of the Blue Eyes

Author: B. Kristin McMichael

Series: The Blue Eyes #1

Publisher: Lexia Press

Original Publication Date: March 7, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:
Arianna Grace liked her boring, Midwestern, teenage life where she ignored the many unanswered questions of her childhood. Why were her parents dead? Why did she not have family? Where was she raised until she was five? When someone offers to explain it all, Arianna thinks she’s just getting answers. Instead, she is thrown into a world of night humans who drink blood.

On Arianna's sixteenth birthday, her world is thrown upside down when she changes into a vampire. Night humans, or demons, as some call them, live in normal society. Learning all of the new rules of a world she didn’t know existed might be hard enough, but it's further complicated by two former-friends that now want to help her take her role as the successor to her grandfather.

There is a war going on between the night humans. Sides have been taken and lines are not crossed. Four main clans of night humans are struggling for control of the night. Divided into two sides, clans Baku and Tengu have been at war for centuries with the clans Dearg-dul and Lycan. That is, until Arianna Grace finds out the truth; she’s the bridge of peace between the two sides. But not everyone wants peace. With the night humans divided, Arianna is now a pawn in the war between them. She must choose a side—her mother’s family or her father’s—and for once in her life, decide her own fate.

In the Acknowledgements the author thanks her husband for pushing her to go further with this novel. It would seem she originally wrote it two months before Twilight came out. We all know how that went down with crazed girls, sparkly vampires, and a slew of similar books. So, before we go into what I thought of the book, I just want to thank the author for listening to her husband and taking a chance in publishing this book.

Aah, the world/creature building in this book is wonderful! I love the four different types of night humans the author came up with. We all know about vampires, lycans, and the such, but Mrs. McMichael manages to put her own unique spin on them. I will admit the whole warring races in this book, did remind me a little of Underworld, but I was okay with that.

Basically, you have this "hidden" world filled with four different races of night humans, that live among us regular folks. You have the Dearg-duls, who are basically vampires. They need to feed on blood and are sensitive to sunlight, mostly between the hours of 10am-2pm. The Lycans or werewolves who are sided with the Dearg-duls. They look a little different than other versions of werewolves that we know. They can travel during the day time. Then there are the Baku, who can only fully manifest at night. They turn into these big pale creatures with long hair. In my head I picture a cross between the Castithan and Biomen on the Syfy show Defiance. Aligned with them are the Tengu. They are a night human with bat like wings. Both the Dearg-duls and the Baku need blood to survive and the Lycans and the Tengu are more of raw meat eaters. The disagreement between races originally started over their food sources.

Now poor Arianna, on her sixteenth birthday gets thrown into this whole mess. She never really knew a whole lot about her parents, but it appears they had a whole Romeo and Juliet type of relationship going on. At the age of sixteen she manifests as a vampire or Dearg-dul, but that's not all she is...What side will she ultimately chose?

I really liked this book. I'm actually quite sad that the author didn't manage to get this published BEFORE Twilight. Mrs. McMichael's world is so much richer and intriguing than the one Stephenie Meyer's created. I would rather see young adults read this book over that one. While Arianna does tend to get rescued in this book I can see her coming into her own in future books and being more than able to take care of herself and even do some of her own rescuing (of herself and others).

I look forward to reading the rest of this trilogy and recommend that you check it out too!

My Rating:

Book Review: Post Mortem

2013-05-10T09:41:00.000-04:00

Last month I was given the opportunity to read for review, Parish Mail by Kira Snyder. I liked it, so when an opportunity to read for review Post Mortem, the second book in the Parish Mail series came up, I jumped at the opportunity. I received a FREE copy of Post Mortem from Coliloquy in return for my honest review. This in no way effected my final review.

Title: Post Mortem

Author: Kira Snyder

Series: Parish Mail #2

Publisher: Coliloquy

Publication Date: February 7, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal, YA Crime Mystery

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from the publisher:
Celia Macarty is back in Post Mortem, the second installment in the Parish Mail saga.

Autumn in New Orleans means Homecoming, romance—and murder. When a friend vanishes, Celia believes a desperate letter about an unsolved Civil War-era murder holds the key to unraveling the mystery.

As she searches for answers, Celia enlists the help of quirky witch Tilly, and either all-American boy Donovan or, enigmatic Luc–you get to choose.

As the gang follows the missing girl’s trail, danger turns up on all fronts. A vicious stranger threatens Celia’s family. Celia’s nightmares–about a shadowy, ominous villain–get worse. And a new ghost has appeared: beautiful Angelica, who shares a past with Luc.

It will take all of Celia’s will and wit, and the faith of her friends, to solve an unspeakable crime. And no matter which path Celia takes, she will discover that sometimes the past can come back to haunt you.

What’s Cool from Coliloquy: Throughout the Parish Mail series, readers decide which clues to follow to help Celia unravel each mystery. You’ll even get to cast a vote for your favorite love interest. But remember: Choose carefully, or else the killer might just get away.

Post Mortem is another Active Fiction book. I have to say I really liked it. I liked it even better than the first book. One of the reasons for this is all of the character setup is out of the way and I was able to get right down to the story and the mystery to solve.

You continue to follow Celia along with her friends Tilly, Donovan, and Luc. If I bookmarked all of the choices on my Kindle Fire correctly, I was given a choice on four separate occasions on where to take the story. And unlike in the first book, I liked all of the choices I was given. The book starts off pretty much where the last one left off with Celia discovering even more letters in the "mailbox." She is not sure which one to start with, so she just continues on with her normal life until she decides what to do. Through her continued nightmares of the man with the green crown, a break-in, and a friend's disappearance, Celia finds a letter with a similar situation she wants to investigate. However, there are some differences: the girl in the letter dies, but Celia's friend reappears after a few days (even if she is acting strange). Was Celia's intuition off about it being the correct letter?

I found this book to be even more exciting that the first one. At this point, I'm a little sad there isn't a third in the series for me to read. If there was, I would probably be reading it right now. I liked the mystery that they are trying to solve in this book. Although, I did have some things figured out way before Celia did, I still had fun watching her figure it out. She never frustrated me to the point of wanting to hit her over the head to "figure it out already." The story has a nice progression through to the ending. I didn't notice any out of place information, i.e. something that I would have learned from picking a different option than the one I actually picked. I felt the bad guys seemed to have had proper bad guy motivation. Although, I do wonder more about what the really big bad green crown guy's ultimate goal is and how all of the little bad guys fit into the picture. I think what will develop more through future books, which is a good thing. Celia doesn't understand it all yet, so neither should I.

I feel that I could easily reread this story again in the future. The option to pick different options, really increases the readability. I'm curious, way more so than with the first book, what would happen if I picked the other options while reading the book.

I highly recommend you check out this book. I found it to be a completely enjoyable read and think most young adults (including younger teens and the young adult in all of us), that love a fun paranormal mystery book, would most likely love this book too. And while I think you might have a little trouble with this book if you haven't read the first in the series, I think you could easily pick up this book and figure out who's who and the basics of what is going on. It would be a great book to bring along to the beach this summer as well.

My Rating:

Book Review: Lucid

2013-05-03T09:32:00.000-04:00

I don't know about you, but that week went by quickly. Before I head off to my grandfather's 80th birthday party this weekend, I'll be reviewing, Lucid, the second book in the Brightest Kind of Darkness series. I received a copy of this book for free in return for my honest review, through the Never Too Old For Y.A. Books Group on Goodreads. However, I received the actual kindle copy direct from the author.

Title: Lucid

Author: P.T. Michelle

Series: Brightest Kind of Darkness #2

Publisher: Patrice Michelle

Original Publication Date: July 7, 2012

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:
Once Nara combines her prophetic ability with Ethan’s power to outsmart Fate at his own deadly cat-and-mouse game, she’s more determined than ever to help Ethan learn the meaning behind the raven sword tattoo that suddenly appeared on his back after their confrontation with Fate.

During her quest to uncover the tattoo’s secrets, Nara enlists the help of some new friends and discovers her own surprising connection to Ethan

While Nara digs deeper into the mystery, her desire for answers leads her down a dangerous path full of powerful and ruthless enemies. Swept into an age-old battle, Nara quickly learns that keeping one’s enemies close can be a necessary evil, making an intangible enemy she can control far more preferable to the human enemies she can’t.

I started reading this book almost immediately after finishing up the first book of this series. In Lucid Ethan is away for most of the book trying to mend things with his parents. Nara and Ethan's relationship is reduced to phone calls and text messages. In an effort to stay close to Ethan, Nara sets out to discover the meaning behind Ethan's tattoo.

Nara gets some help from a new friend, Drystan from Wales. I know some people might say, "why, oh why, did the author take Ethan out of a lot of the story and add Drystan," and I say, "because it works and I liked his character." Who else would help save Nara when she needs it while Ethan is away? Who knew researching ravens could be dangerous?

Not only do I like Drystan, I also like the strange little raven Nara named Patches that visits Nara everyday and tries to warn her of danger.

This book is not only about Nara's search to find out more about the raven tattoo, but she is also trying to search for more information on her Dad that walked out on her family years ago. During this time her friends are getting ready for the big school dance and they all insist Nara attend even though Ethan won't be able to make it.

Everything in this book fits together nicely. With Nara researching the raven tattoo as the main focus of this book, it has a little bit slower, but rhythmic pace that builds up to the end. And wow what an ending! I immediately wanted to see if I could get my hands on the third book after finishing this one, but it doesn't come out until the end of this month. I'm really excited to see what happens next in this series.

I liked this book a little bit better than the first book and would definitely recommend it. I would even be more than willing to pay $2.99 (the currently Amazon price as of this posting) to buy the kindle book on my own.

My Rating:

Book Review: Brightest Kind of Darkness

2013-05-02T21:45:00.001-04:00

We're a little over half-way through the week! For your enjoyment today, I will be reviewing Brightest Kind of Darkness, by P.T. Michelle.

Title: Brightest Kind of Darkness

Author: P.T. Michelle

Series: Brightest Kind of Darkness #1

Publisher: Patrice Michelle

Original Publication Date: June 27, 2011

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:
Nara Collins is an average sixteen-year-old, with one exception: every night she dreams the events of the following day. Due to an incident in her past, Nara avoids using her special gift to change fate…until she dreams a future she can’t ignore.

After Nara prevents a bombing at Blue Ridge High, her ability to see the future starts to fade, while people at school are suddenly being injured at an unusually high rate.

Grappling with her diminishing powers and the need to prevent another disaster, Nara meets Ethan Harris, a mysterious loner who seems to understand her better than anyone. Ethan and Nara forge an irresistible connection, but as their relationship heats up, so do her questions about his dark past.

I picked up this kindle book on Amazon for FREE last November (still free as of this posting). It is a self-published novel, although I think it is more than good enough to be a mainstream published novel, if the author chose to do so. I finally got around to reading it recently as I agreed to read and review a copy of the second book in this series from the author (review for book #2 to post tomorrow). In preparation for reading the second book, I thought I should finally getting around to reading the first one. I was NOT disappointed. I'm actually kind of sad it too me this long to read the book. I devoured it in about a day.

The entire book is from Nara's point of view. Nara has dreamed the entire next day of her life (unless her sleep is interrupted) since she was seven. She is now sixteen. Nara usually avoids trying to change the events of her day, but does try to go out of her way to avoid hearing unpleasant conversations, etc...Dreaming about her entire next day also helps her avoid studying for tests/assignments as she already knows what's coming. It also makes her the star goalie of her soccer team as she knows ahead of time which way the ball is going to go. EVERYTHING is very predictable for Nara. She wishes for once she would live her day like a normal teenager, not knowing what is going to happen next. Fortunately or unfortunately, one day that happens. Shortly after calling in a bomb threat to school (it was just too big for her to ignore and let it happen), Nara stops dreaming her next day.

Imagine that. You know your entire next day and have for almost the last ten years of your life. Whether you want to or not, you come to rely on the information you gain in your sleep and suddenly one day it's gone. You have no idea why. You suddenly aren't do so well in school and as far as being that star goalie...yeah, not so much anymore.

However, all of this does come with an upside. The upside? Ethan. Ethan is fairly new to the school, he is a loner that tends to walk around with the "no one cares, why should I give a shit" look. Rumor also has it he was kicked out of his old school. Nara had previously tried to say hi to him before, but he always ignored her or didn't hear her, until after the bomb that is. Ethan's locker is moved right next to Nara's. Come to find out, maybe Ethan is just misunderstood. He does seem to be showing up where she is lately and helping her out.

I have to say I really liked both Nara and Ethan. They felt like very real people to me. I felt Nara did a pretty good job transitioning into going through the day like a normal teen (as her power goes spotty), well as much like a normal teen when people start getting hurt at a high rate and Nara keeps hearing strange whispers and shocks whenever she tries to prevent anyone from being hurt. Who is hurting everyone? What is up with Ethan? And can they solve the mystery before someone close to Nara gets hurt?

A pretty good start to a series. I would recommend this novel to family in friends. It is very well written and has a great story. I started the second book almost immediately after I finished this one.

My Rating:

Book Review: Tiger's Destiny

2013-04-29T09:19:00.001-04:00

Happy Monday! Today I'll be reviewing, Tiger's Destiny, the fourth book in The Tiger Saga by Colleen Houck.

Title: Tiger's Destiny

Author: Colleen Houck

Series: The Tiger Saga #4

Publisher: Splinter Publishing

Original Publication Date: September 4, 2012

Format Read: ebook

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from the publisher:
With three of the goddess Durga's quests behind them, only one prophecy now stands in the way of Kelsey, Ren, and Kishan breaking the tiger's curse. But the trio's greatest challenge awaits them: A life-endangering pursuit in search of Durga's final gift, the Rope of Fire, on the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal.

It's a race against time--and the evil sorcerer Lokesh--in this eagerly anticipated fourth volume in the bestselling Tiger's Curse series, which pits good against evil, tests the bonds of love and loyalty, and finally reveals the tigers' true destinies once and for all.

It only took me a couple of days to completely devour Tiger's Destiny. I enjoyed every minute of it. This book is one great adventure. Of course with the climatic conclusion (almost conclusion as there is a 5th book coming out) of any quartet there are great losses and sacrifices that come along with the prize. You will probably laugh, cry, smile, and be amazed at various times while reading this book.

While Tiger's Voyage with the dragons is my favorite book in the series, this one comes in a very close second. You start off right where that last book left off, with Kelsey being taken by Lokesh. But don't fear, she is quickly rescued (obviously), so we can get on with the adventure of completing the fourth prophecy so Kelsey's Tiger's can become men 24 hours a day.

This time the adventure takes them into a world of fire and heat to collect Durga's final gift, the Rope of Fire. And it is a strange world indeed filled with strange beings. They team must work quickly though, they must collect all of Durga's gifts and prepare to defeat Lokesh once and for all.

Tiger's Destiny is pretty fast-paced. Almost too fast-paced in some parts. It seems like the characters just get to one part and then BAM! they are already done and onto something else. For instance, in the other books, like Tiger's Voyage, their journey to gather gather the item(s) needed to break the next part of the curse, takes up a good portion of the book. In this last book their journey into the fire world seemed relatively short in comparison. Although, I'm sure what else they could have done there.

I would say the biggest portion (or at least it seemed that way when I was reading), was of our troops preparing for battle against Lokesh. Will they be able to defeat him? Will everyone survive? Will Kelsey still choose to be with Kishan?

If you enjoyed the rest of The Tiger Saga, you will enjoy this book. I am curious as to what the fifth book will be about, as pretty much everything gets wrapped up at the end of this book.

My Rating:

Book Review: Clockwork Angel

2013-04-26T11:08:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday! Today I'll be reviewing Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. It is the first book in The Infernal Devices series.

Title: Clockwork Angel

Author: Cassandra Clare

Series: The Infernal Devices #1

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Original Publication Date: August 31, 2012

Format Read: paperback

Genre: YA Paranormal, YA Steampunk

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from publisher:
Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

The Infernal Devices is a prequel series to The Mortal Instrument Series, but you do NOT need to read The Mortal Instruments before delving into this series. It works just fine as a stand alone series. Part of the reason for this is Tessa. As an outsider who is naive to the Shadowhunter world, Cassandra Clare does an excellent job of using Tessa to introduce any new reader to what they need to know about the Shadowhunter world. As someone who has read the first three The Mortal Instruments, I did not find this information to be bothersome.

There are three main characters that you follow: Tessa, Jem, and Will. Tessa is unwillingly draw into the world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders, when she is forced to discover her ability to transform/shape-shift into any person that she holds a person item from. Jem, a slightly reclusive Shadowhunter who has a love for books and music, but also happens to be sick. And Will, a Shadowhunter, who hides his true feelings and acts like a jerk to keep anyone from getting close to him.

I liked all of the good main characters and side characters. Although, I have to say my least favorite good character is Jessamine. Then you have a wide variety of bad guys, the main one being the mysterious Magister.

The above description of the book is an excellent one. We follow Tessa, Jem, and Will as Tessa is kidnapped, tortured, rescued, goes on a search to find her brother, and helps the Shadowhunters try to locate and defeat the Magister. The book is full of lots of twists and turns and a ton of action. You might guess some of the mysteries and not others. I had one figured out and missed the mark on another. Also, you WILL find out what Jem's sickness/disability is in this book (early in the book it was driving me crazy not knowing, but you will find out).

I liked this book enough to continue with the series at somepoint. I also would recommend it to friends and family, if this type of book was their thing.

My Rating:

Book Review: Sapphire Blue

2013-04-24T20:07:00.000-04:00

I just fell in love with Ruby Red when I read it, so I knew I needed to read Sapphire Blue to see where the story was headed. I did and here is what I thought.

Title: Sapphire Blue

Author: Kerstin Gier, Anthea Bell (translator)

Series: The Ruby Red Trilogy #2

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Original Publication Date: December 1, 2009 (by Henry Holt and Company October 30, 2012)

Format Read: hardcover

Genre: YA Science Fiction, YA Fantasy

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:
Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean.

At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And of course there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s pretty much destined to find out.

Well, after reading the first book I already decided that I need to learn German, so I can actually read the last book in this series (just kidding, that would take me longer than the wait for the third book). After reading the second book, I still feel that way. I can't believe I have to wait until October 8th for the English translation of the third book, Emerald Green. It took me less than 24 hours (counting sleep, housework, etc...) to get through this book. It is a fairly fast-paced, quick read (or maybe that was just me wanting to know what was going to happen next). Sapphire Blue also contains the same little useful tidbits of information between chapters. I enjoyed them in the first book and continued to enjoy them here.

This book seems to fit very nicely in the middle of the trilogy (I haven't read the third, so I can't tell you will 100% certainty). You really need to read the first book before diving into this one, as it continues to build on the mystery from the first book. In this book we still have not gotten to the part where Gwen sees herself (in the first book). Plus more mysteries have been added in and Gwen is sent on more official missions back in the past. I just love the world Kerstin Gier has created. I also really like Xemerius that has been added into the story, I can see him continuing to be useful in the third book. You also find out a little bit more about Lucy and Paul and what they are up to. Not everything is answered though.

I once again completely enjoyed my time escaping into Kerstin Gier's world. I can't wait to find out where this little gem of a series is heading and look forward to getting my hands on the final book later this year. If you liked the first book in the series you will like this one too!

My Rating:

Book Review: Guardians of Stone

2013-04-22T15:25:00.001-04:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Today I'll be reviewing Guardians of Stone by Anita Clenney.

Title: Guardians of Stone

Author: Anita Clenney

Series: The Relic Seekers #1

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Original Publication Date: December 4, 2012

Format Read: kindle

Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Thriller, Adventure

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Amazon:
In the tradition of Indiana Jones, a feisty heroine with a sixth sense, and two sexy heroes, a dark, reclusive billionaire and a mercenary bodyguard are on a hunt for four powerful relics that could change their lives…and the course of history. But relics aren't Kendall’s only quest. Eventually, she’ll have to choose between her sexy boss and her badass bodyguard.

Kendall Morgan is a human bloodhound. Spending her childhood hunting relics with her ambitious archaeologist father, she knew the two of them shared a sixth sense for the history and location of objects—sometimes even people. What she didn't know was that their paranormal gift could ultimately be their undoing.

After the tragic plane crash that killed her father as well as her childhood best friend, Kendall dedicated her life to finding and protecting relics. When mysterious, sexy billionaire Nathan Larraby hires her for his latest expedition—the search for four powerful relics—she’s thrown into a world of high-octane danger. He sends brooding mercenary Jake Stone to watch Kendall’s back, but he may have created danger of a different kind.

As the team chases down clues, a man called the Reaper makes a play for the artifacts and will stop at nothing to put them to his own sinister use. What’s worse is that Nathan hasn't told the whole story, and the dark secrets he’s keeping could cost them the mission…and their lives.

Our heroine is touted as being a paranormal female Indiana Jones. I can see where they get that idea. She is a relic hunter, she has a special paranormal gift, and she is female. But is the story groundbreaking? Not in my opinion. The story still is a pretty fast-paced, interesting read. It took me less than 24 hours, counting sleeping and breaks to do other things, to read the entire book and I did enjoy it.

The above description, pretty much explains the storyline of the book, so I won't go into that. I will just say that I liked the storyline and thought it read pretty good. I could see this story easily being made into a movie. I also liked all of the good guys and could see where there is room for further development for them in future books. I also enjoyed the tension between Jake and Kendall. It's definitely one of those boy hates girl (even though he thinks she's hot), then boy decides he love (or at least lusts after girl). Jake doesn't like the fact that he's assigned to guard Kendall at all and it doesn't help that Kendall keeps sneaking away from him (she is use to hunting treasures on her own) or getting into trouble anyways. Then of course there is Nathan who is not telling his treasure hunting team the whole story. It all leads to confusion and who can you trust? Who are the real bad guys?

I also think having Nathan a super rich backer (with an endless supply of money and toys) certainly helped the author with her story. Because she wrote him that way, it made it real easy to give her heroes all the cars, money for hotels, as well as any gear they could possibly need. Oh, and the ability to easily track them down and find out where they are at, at any given moment. For the most part, I didn't have problem with it, I just think was almost a crutch that prevented the author for coming up with more creative and interesting ways to progress the story.

Overall, I liked the story, but it didn't really impress me. I would recommend it to friends as a nice, quick, easy adventure read. I do plan on checking out at least one more book in the series too, when it finally comes out.

My Rating:

Book Review: World of Shell and Bone

2013-04-19T17:24:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday! Today I'll be reviewing a book with a very pretty cover.

Title: World of Shell and Bone

Author: Adriana Ryan
Series: World of Shell and Bone #1

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Original Publication Date: December 12, 2012

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Dystopia, YA Post-Apocalyptic

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:
In a world ravaged by a nuclear holocaust, Vika Cannon knows there are no guarantees: no guarantees of safety, no guarantees that your neighbor is not actually a spy for the government, and no guarantees you'll be allowed to emigrate to a new life in China.

New Amana is dying. Food and water are scarce, and people suffering from radiation-caused mutations--the Nukeheads--are the new class of homeless.

Vika has just one purpose: to produce healthy progeny using a Husband assigned by the Match Clinic. Unhealthy children are carted away to Asylums to be experimented on, just as Vika's little sister Ceres was, eight years ago. Parents incapable of producing healthy progeny are put to death in gas chambers.

When she's assigned a Husband shortly after her twentieth birthday, Vika expects him to be complacent and obedient. But Shale Underwood has a secret. He is a member of the Radicals, the terrorist group intent on overthrowing the government. And Shale has information about Ceres.

As she learns more about the Rads's plan, Vika finds herself drawn to Shale in ways she'd never imagined. When freedom calls in the way of a healthy pregnancy, will she betray her government and risk death for Shale and Ceres?

The description sounds intriguing, doesn't it? That combined with that pretty cover enticed me to read this book (still not sure how the cover relates to the book).

I really liked the first half of the book. I did find some parts a little far fetched. Basically there was a really big war, a nuclear war. Lots of men went off to fight and most of them died. New Amana is made by "feminist" women rising up to take the lead. I say feminist lightly because what is a feminist?

A feminist is an advocate for social, political, legal, and economic rights for women equal to those of men.

And that is clearly NOT what is happening in this book. In this book men are inferior to women, partially because it was men and testosterone ways that brought about the war. The women in this book are not any kinder though.

Also in this book China has become the new super power. Clearly they somehow managed to stay out of the war and all of the nuclear pollution managed to stay away from the air over China. So, China has the cleanest air in the world. This is partially explained by saying they have new technology to help clean up the air and keep it clean.

This technology is suppose to be in use slowly cleaning up the air over New Amana which will take years. In the meantime, people are left to breathe horribly polluted air. And the population is dwindling. I should say healthy population. Because in this new world they institutionalize or murder (via gas chambers) anyone who is not genetically healthy or cannot produce a child within a given time frame.

If you are a good little citizen and manage to produce children or meet specific fitness guidelines, you have a chance of getting a boat ticket to immigrate to China to live while New Amana is cleaned up. Those left behind will continue having dwindling safe food and water and will most likely die. Oh, and if you turn in fellow citizens that break the law, you get extra special brownie points with the government. These "law breakers" tend to be immediately sentenced to death with no chance to defend themselves.

Not necessarily all believable, but interesting nonetheless. We follow Vika, one of the sheep of New Amana who blindly follows what the government expects of her. As a character she starts out pretty flat but develops okay over the course of the story. She is given a Husband, who is suppose to keep house (think 1950's role reversal), help Vika conceive a child (via boring and clinical sex), and if Vika chooses, stay home and help raise the child. Vika is assigned Shale. Now Shale is an interesting character. I really liked him. Shale is really part of the rebel underground who was given the task (he volunteered) to be Vika's Husband and try to get information from Vika's work that will help the rebels. Vika works for a government agency who sorts coded data related to the movement of people to and from the asylums and gas chambers.

Vika slowly comes to realize that the government is bad and decides she wants to help the rebels free children from the asylums, including her little sister. All while this is happening her relationship with Shale develops. And they are off on their mission. So far so good. I was really liking it at this point and was even discussing it with my family and friends. And then the story goes down hill (for me anyways).

SPOILER ALERT

Which also happens to be around the time that Shale disappears from the story. When you have such an interesting character, why oh why did the author feel the need to drop him from the story. I kept waiting for him to reappear, but he never does. I REALLY hope if the author gets around to writing the sequel that she puts SHALE back in.

Anyways, at this point in the book, things just go down hill. Vika is treated horribly by a man that felt she was to blame for him being kicked out of the rebels. I didn't really feel what happened to her was necessary for the story. Then we have wandering and wandering and finally finding a camp of asylum refugees and her sister (SORRY). And then there is waiting, and waiting and more waiting for the sympathetic government officials to show up to transport the children via a special boat to China.

END SPOILER ALERT

Overall I feel the author started out with a 4-5 star book. Definitely would have been 5 if she had thrown in chapters from Shale's POV. I would LOVE to have his POV of the whole situation. Then about halfway through you drop the most interesting character from the book. The second half was a 1.5-2.5 star book. This leaves me with having to give this book a 3 star rating. It definitely has potential, but I think it needs to be reworked. Maybe pick up a professional editor or rework the story a little.

My Rating:

Book Review: Dead Letter Office

2013-04-18T11:57:00.000-04:00

Recently I was given the opportunity to get my hands on Dead Letter Office for FREE in return for my honest review. While I came across the opportunity through the Never Too Old For Y.A. Books Group on Goodreads. However, I received the book from Coliloquy.

One of the reasons I agreed is because this book is an Active Fiction title.

What is Active Fiction?

""Active fiction" is a new type of e-reading experience that allows the reader and the author to interact with each other and the text in new and different ways." - per book description on Goodreads.

Basically you read part of the book, then you come to an either or question (sometimes there are more than two choices). You pick where you want to go. What you pick doesn't impact the overall storyline (you still end up at the same ending).

Title: Dead Letter Office

Author: Kira Snyder

Series: Parish Mail #1

Publisher: Coliloquy
Publication Date: February 11, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal, YA Crime Mystery

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:
When Celia’s father is killed in Afghanistan, she moves with her mother to New Orleans, the city where her father grew up. Struggling to adjust and haunted by troubling dreams, Celia finds comfort in new friends like Tilly, a practicing witch, and Donovan, the son of police detective. On Halloween, bizarre supernatural occurrences rock the city. Celia meets the mysterious Luc and finds a letter, over a hundred years old, addressed to her.

The paranormal repercussions continue when Celia learns that Luc is the restless spirit of a young man murdered in 1854, only able to assume solid form at night. And then, to her shock, Celia finds that the letter, which describes the suspected murder of a man in 1870, contains uncanny parallels to the present-day death of Abel Sims, a homeless veteran.

With help from Luc, Tilly, and Donovan, Celia races to solve the murder—and the mystery of the letter—using both magical and forensic clues.

I found this book to be a nice, fun, quick, and easy read. A few parts were a little creepy, but it wasn't a scary story. Example: Celia is in the cemetery and feels someone put a hand on her shoulder, but when she turns around no one is there.

The above description from Goodreads explains the basic storyline, so I won't go into that. I will tell you that I liked all of the characters in the book. Celia seemed the most developed. While I felt like I needed to know a little more about Tilly and Donovan. I think some of that is related to the choose where you go. I think it cut down on some of the usual character building. I fully expect to get to know them better as the series goes on. I also liked Luc. As I knew this was a paranormal type of story, I had no problem believing in the ghost aspect of it. The mystery as a whole could have been thought out a little better and I'm still not sure what the connection was between the old murder and the present day one (did I miss that somewhere?). I once again wonder if some of the simplicity/missing/jumps were part of the drawback to the choose where you go.

I definitely hope there is further information in the next book of the series. I could tell there was clearly more going on with Celia's family (her grandfather, clearly knew more than he was telling). I felt the author did a pretty good job with the struggles between Celia's Mom and Celia's Paternal Grandparents.

This was the first "choose where you go next" type of story that I've read. Overall, I liked my options, but it was still a little limiting. Sometimes I wanted a third option that was a combination of the two or a completely different third option. These choices do give you more options for readability later on. You could easily re-read the story and pick a different option on where to go. Even though it's suppose to get you to the same end, there was one part near the end that I pretty sure was more in reference to an option other than the one I picked. It was related to Tilly.

Overall I was amused and I wouldn't mind reading this type of story in the future and possibly further into this series itself. A Solid 3 Stars, as it definitely has potential.

My Rating:

Book Review: Ruby Red

2013-04-17T08:14:00.001-04:00

Happy Wednesday! We're halfway through the week! Today I'll be reviewing a book I picked up at a Scholastic Book Sale a while back. It's been sitting in my to-read pile for so long I forgot what the book was about, which is really sad. It's has a gorgeous cover with and even more wonderful story contained within.

Title: Ruby Red

Author: Kerstin Gier, Anthea Bell (translator)

Series: The Ruby Red Trilogy #1

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Original Publication Date: January 6, 2009 (by Scholastic October 2012)

Format Read: paperback

Genre: YA Science Fiction, YA Fantasy

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description on Goodreads:
English book series: Ruby Red Trilogy

Although I had never seen him before, I recognized him immediately. I'd have known his voice anywhere. This was the guy I'd seen on my last journey back in time.

Or more precisely, the one who'd kissed my doppelganger while I was hiding behind the curtain in disbelief.

Sixteen-year-old Gwen lives with her extended - and rather eccentric - family in an exclusive London neighborhood. In spite of her ancestors' peculiar history, she's had a relatively normal life so far. The time-traveling gene that runs like a secret thread through the female half of the family is supposed to have skipped over Gwen, so she hasn't been introduced to "the mysteries," and can spend her time hanging out with her best friend, Lesley. It comes as an unwelcome surprise when she starts taking sudden, uncontrolled leaps into the past.

She's totally unprepared for time travel, not to mention all that comes with it: fancy clothes, archaic manners, a mysterious secret society, and Gideon, her time-traveling counterpart. He's obnoxious, a know-it-all, and possibly the best-looking guy she's seen in any century . . .

First of all I clearly need to learn German STAT. I managed to get a copy of the 2nd book from my library, but the 3rd book doesn't come out in English until OCTOBER! OCTOBER! That is clearly way too long to wait.

This book was originally published in German, not that you could tell. The translator did an excellent job. So far the book has been translated into multiple languages (seventeen according to the back of my copy) and has been on the German best sellers list for about 2 years or so. AND apparently a movie just came out (see trailer below). Now I need to figure out how to get a European film with English subtitles on it.

Awesome, right? You can see a few more scenes if you watch this music video from the film.

Anyways, I'm not here to talk about the movie, but the book. The writing works well for the slightly younger crowd. The publisher recommends 12 and up. I would be more than okay letting a 12 year old read this and possibly even a 10 or 11 year old, depending on their level of maturity.

The book starts off with a short prologue and then you are off into the story. If you are anything like me, then it won't take you very long to get sucked into the story. My copy was a little over 300 pages, so it took me less than a day to read, counting stopping to do things (only when I had to).

I really liked the main character, Gwen. After her father died, her family (Mother, Brother, Sister and Gwen), moved in with the Montrose family, which is also Gwen's mother's family. Their family has a secret. They have a time-traveling gene that runs in the family. Not every generation time travels. It was believed that Gwen's cousin Charlotte had inherited the gene. Gwen and Charlotte are the same age. Since it was always been believed that Charlotte had the gene, she was treated as the better member of the family and had been introduced into the secret ways of time-traveling. They are both at the age, when the gene becomes active. They are on the lookout for certain symptoms to appear.

The following is an excerpt from the book from between the prologue and chapter one:

"Uncontrolled time travel usually announces itself a few minutes in advance, but sometimes hours or even days ahead. The symptoms are sensations of vertigo in the head, stomach, and/or legs. Many gene carriers also speak of a headache similar to a migraine.

The first journey back in time ̶ ̶ also known as the initiation journey ̶ ̶ takes place between the sixteenth and seventeenth years of the gene carrier's life.

From The Chronicles of the Guardians, Volume 2: General Laws of Time Travel"

Unfortunately for Gwen, she starts to experience these symptoms, but complete dismisses them, because she is NOT suppose to have the gene. She dismisses it all the up until she time travels for the first time. She is obviously confused. AND her family, especially her cousin is NOT happy with her at all.

Besides the whole time-traveling thing, Gwen can also see ghosts. I wasn't prepared for this part of the story, but I was quite amused with the school ghost. We follow Gwen as she adapts to her new found role. Not only to be a time-traveler, but also a time-traveler with a specific purpose or task she is suppose to complete with her time traveling partner (who is a slightly misunderstood hottie). As she is not completely trusted we don't find out fully what that task is in this book.

In between each chapter is a little tidbit from one of the time traveling books that Guardians have or a quote related to time travel, etc...these were all interesting to me. Well, the whole book was really. I found this book to be a thoroughly enjoyable read and I think you will too.

If you want more time travel fun, you might want to consider checking out Waterfall (River of Time #1) by Lisa Tawn Bergren.

My Rating:

Book Review: Hunted

2013-04-16T14:06:00.003-04:00

Good Afternoon Everyone! I will be posting several reviews this week. First up is Hunted by Cheryl Rainfield.

Title: Hunted

Author: Cheryl Rainfield

Series: N/A

Publisher: WestSide Books

Original Publication Date: December 15, 2011

Format Read: hardcover

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:
Caitlyn is a telepath in a world where having any Paranormal power is illegal. Caitlyn is on the run from government troopers, who can enslave, torture, or even kill her, or make her hunt other Paranormals. When Caitlyn settles down in a city, she falls for Alex, a Normal (someone without Paranormal powers), which is dangerous because he can turn her in. And she discovers renegade Paranormals who want to destroy all Normals. Caitlyn must decide whether she's going to stay in hiding to protect herself, or take a stand to save the world.

I really liked this book. There was definitely a theme to the story about standing up for what's right.

This book reminds me of other books I've read about the way Jews were treated leading up to and during WWII, how the Japanese were treated in the USA during the same time, as well as many other times where we have stood up for basic human rights.

In Cheryl's world, some people have special powers; telekinesis, mind reading, etc...(think like the people on the Heroes TV show from a few years back or X-men, etc...). In this world, the government is aware of these Para's. They are frightened of them. There is a big anti-Para campaign and ALL para's are supposed to be registered and licensed. At the same time the government enslaves Paras and forces them to do their bidding or face torture.

In this book we follow Caitlyn, she is a very powerful mind reading Para and she is on the run with her mom. They have been on the run since riots broke out and her father was killed. During this same riot her brother also went missing. Caitlyn and her mom have been moving from town to town using the Underground safe-houses. However, lately it seems they are being found sooner and sooner. There is clearly a mole in the Underground. They decided to go off the radar of the Underground, everything, and try to make it on their own.

The town they end up in has a very big Anti-Para population as well as a pretty good portion of Para-Supporters. Tensions start to rise as more and more terrorist types of attacks are blamed on the Paras. Everyday more and more Paras are picked up by the government. But not only does Caitlyn have to worry about that, there is also a Para serial killer on the loose that drains the energy from Paras, with a particular appetite for powerful Paras, and he has his eyes set on Caitlyn.

It's a really wonderful book where you follow a world that is just on the cusp of change. Will everyone get on board with the government to catch all of the Paras? Or will people start to realize they are really like us (special abilities or not)?

I recommend.

My Rating:

BONUS
If you are still undecided on whether or not to check out Hunted, you can read, PinPoint: A HUNTED Short Story. Along with the short story, you can also read the first six pages of Hunted.

Title: PinPoint: A HUNTED Bonus Short Story

Author: Cheryl Rainfield

Series: N/A

Publisher: Sun and Rain Press

Original Publication Date: November 9, 2011

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:
Teen telepath Caitlyn "overhears" someone planning to set another student up as a Para--something that could cost that student their home, their family, and even their life. Caitlyn is in a race against time to help protect another student, who might, after all, be a Para. Enjoy this free bonus short story for readers of HUNTED that gives you a glimpse into Caitlyn's world

This VERY short story reads like a deleted scene from Hunted. I thought it was okay. Could have been longer though. I picked up this short story for FREE on Amazon back in September 2012, as of today, April 16, 2013, it is still listed as FREE.

My Rating:

Book Review: Into the Dark Volumes 1-4

2013-04-10T17:03:00.000-04:00

Recently I was given the opportunity to get my hands on Into the Dark Volumes 1-4 for FREE in return for my honest review. While I came across the opportunity through the Never Too Old For Y.A. Books Group on Goodreads. However, I received the volumes directly from the author herself.

Title: Into the Dark, Vol. 1

Author: Milly Silver

Series: Into the Dark #1

Publisher: White Hot Books

Original Publication Date: November 16, 2012

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Fantasy, YA Romance

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:

Love the fast-paced action in The Hunger Games Trilogy?
Want to relive the romance of The Twilight Saga?

This new Young Adult series is for you!

"The only three people in the world who I truly loved were my best friend, Ben, my Uncle Spencer and his fiancee, Irene. I am now grateful for what I didn't know on that sunny afternoon. One of them would soon be lost to me. The other two, I was destined to kill without hesitation or remorse.
It wasn't premeditated.

It was what needed to be done.

So I did it."

Success means love. Failure a death sentence.

When seventeen-year-old Oxford student Emily Baxter steps forward to become part of the search and rescue team for her kidnapped family member, she sees it as her last chance to put things right. Despite her seizures and being ripped between parallel universes, Emily is determined to get back to living a normal life. But first Emily has to join forces with the mysterious Gifted & Talented set and the darkly beautiful Henry Seadon. And survive. Killing the Misery-Makers who get in their way is a necessary evil.

INTO THE DARK SERIES #1-4 by Milly Silver is a YA fantasy romance series. It's a story of family, love, loss, and being uniquely gifted.

This is an exciting brand-new four-part YA action adventure series by British YA author, Milly Silver.

My thoughts on Volume 1:

When I started reading this book, I didn't bother to go back and read the description and I didn't remember exactly what it was about, only that the description sounded interesting when I signed up for the Read 4 Review. Let me say this straight off MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL FOUR VOLUMES BEFORE YOU START READING!!!

The beginning of the book manages to suck you right in. You start out learning about what happened three and half years ago. We start out with Emily in someplace very dark and hiding from the Misery-Makers. I think they could be named better, but can't think of something off the top of my head. Anyways, if they get a hold of you they basically torture you very slowly and painfully.

After the incident, we find out that in the real world Emily has blacked-out and had a seizure. Only, she doesn't really black-out when she has a seizure, she really travels to different parallel universe. Sometimes, it's one she has been to before and sometimes not.

I like how the author shows us the differentiates between when Emily is in a parallel universe or in the real world by using a bold font when she is blacked out and regular font for the real world. It helped me keep track of where I was when one of my kids would distract me.

We find out that for an unknown reason, the blacking out has been happening to Emily since she was thirteen and have slowly been happening for a longer period of time. We also find out that Emily was basically abandon by her parents shortly after she started blacking out and having the incidents. She lives with and is home-schooled by her Uncle Spencer. She is also very close with Uncle Spencer's girlfriend Irene and her best friend Ben. They are the only ones who know what really happens when Emily blacks out. I feel the author does a pretty good job of establishing their close connection all within the first 15% of volume one before our story really kicks off. With one last black-out three and half years ago Emily accidentally drags Irene with her into the world of the Misery-Makers. We don't know how it happens, but it does and Emily panics and Irene is taken by the Misery-Makers.

Fast forward three and half years. Emily walks around feeling guilty all the time for what happened to Irene. However, Irene is NOT dead. She is merely in an unresponsive coma. With only a short period of time before Irene's family is planning on pulling the plug. Can Emily find a way to bring Irene back before time runs out?

Emily is also trying out university and is attending her first year at Oxford. On her very first day she visits Irene and heads off to school on her bike only to almost get ran over by a mysterious hot guy in a fancy sports car. While yelling at him she is also drawn to him. You also meet quite a few more people in first volume that sets up the story.

Needless to say, the first installment in this four volume series that adds up into one full length novel really manages to suck you in. It ends on a little bit of cliffhanger. I thoroughly enjoyed it and went directly from volume one into reading volume two.

Title: Into the Dark, Vol. 2

Author: Milly Silver

Series: Into the Dark #2

Publisher: White Hot Books

Original Publication Date: November 30, 2012

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Fantasy, YA Romance

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:

In this second installment, Emily becomes dangerously close to the intriguing Henry Seadon and his elite G&T group. As Emily tries to piece together what is happening in her life, she begins to see Henry as the key to saving Irene... and herself.

My thoughts on Volume 2:

I immediately started this volume after reading the first volume. In this part Emily continues making friends and is drawn into a relationship with the mysterious Henry Seadon. She also finds out a little more of the teen who she has been helping her when she is in the parallel universe. She also meets a little girl who tells her that Henry and The Logician are the key to helping Irene. Who is Henry really? Who is the Logician? And how can the two of them help Emily get Irene back?

This part is also a really quick read and is filled with a fair amount of budding romance/I'm instantly in love with you. I devoured it all in a very short period of time and moved onto volume 3, as volume 2 also ended on a cliffhanger.

Title: Into the Dark, Vol. 3

Author: Milly Silver

Series: Into the Dark #3

Publisher: White Hot Books

Original Publication Date: December 10, 2012

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Fantasy, YA Romance

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:

In this third installment, Emily learns from Henry how she is to become a crucial member of the G&T team. And that she is not alone in the quest to save Irene. As pieces of the twisted jigsaw fall into place, will Emily and Henry find a way to be together?

My thoughts on Volume 3:

Yea! I finally found out more about the G&T Team and what they do. All very interesting information. Lots of good stuff in this volume. I don't want to spoil, but you will want to read it one sitting if you have the time. I, unfortunately, I to go to bed in the middle of reading this. I started right back up the next day as soon as I could. Emily gets a seizure dog in this part and is recruited to be on the G&T team. I like the dog, Laisa. Although, she doesn't predict Emily's seizures a whole lot sooner than Emily feels one coming on herself.

Title: Into the Dark, Vol. 4

Author: Milly Silver

Series: Into the Dark #4

Publisher: White Hot Books

Original Publication Date: December 27, 2012

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Fantasy, YA Romance

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:

In this final installment, Emily discovers Henry is not all that he seems. With her world crashing down around her, how will she rescue Irene? And as she faces the biggest decision of her life, will she have the strength to do whatever needs to be done? Find out how the exciting story ends!

My thoughts on Volume 4:

Overall, I liked the final installment in the series. I did feel that the whole fight with Henry was very contrived. I think a little more creativity could have been used to get where the author was trying to go. I was surprised to find out who the Logician really was. I wasn't expecting it to be the person it was.

My Thoughts on the Series as a Whole:

I felt this was a very good book. I do wish the author would combine all four volumes into ONE ebook that people could purchase though. It is a very quick and engrossing read. If you do pick it up, you might want to try to have enough time to read it all in one sitting. It is a hard one to put down. The book is written by a British author, so you do have all of the British spellings, like colour, favourite, realise, etc...I find myself reading the British versions slightly different in my head, but it's not too distracting from reading the story.

I thought Volume 3 was definitely the most exciting. Like I mentioned on my thoughts about volume 4, I was surprised about who The Logician really was.

THIS happens, just like the author said it would: "The only three people in the world who I truly loved were my best friend, Ben, my Uncle Spencer and his fiancee, Irene. I am now grateful for what I didn't know on that sunny afternoon. One of them would soon be lost to me. The other two, I was destined to kill without hesitation or remorse.

It wasn't premeditated.

It was what needed to be done.

So I did it."

I like how the book didn't have a love triangle like almost every other YA book. Although, at the very end, it seems like it was opened up for one. You do end up with a nice conclusion, even though the story is left open enough for a sequel. I would recommend this book to others and definitely enjoyed reading it.

My Rating:

Book Review: Encalve

2013-04-03T13:45:00.002-04:00

I've had this book on my to-read list for about a year now and have had a copy on my Kindle Fire since August 2012. The Clean Your Shelf Challenge finally encouraged me to read it.

Title: Enclave
Author: Ann Aguirre
Series: Razorland #1
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Original Publication Date: April 12, 2011
Format Read: kindle
Genre: YA Dystopia, YA Post-Apocalyptic, YA Zombies
Purchase: Amazon
Find on Goodreads

Description from the publisher:

New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters--or Freaks--who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight--guided by Fade's long-ago memories--in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs.

Ann Aguirre's thrilling young adult novel is the story of two young people in an apocalyptic world--facing dangers, and feelings, unlike any they've ever known.

Ann Aguirre has managed to put together an intriguing post-apocalyptic world. I like how she was inspired by the Mole People that lived in the underground tunnels of New York. In her world a great disaster has happened and everyone is evacuated from New York (or so the rest of the world thinks). Instead some of the poor have been left behind. Some of the poor retreated into the underground tunnels and formed the Enclave. The Enclave is just one of many "towns" in the underground tunnels. They have their own set of rules that create a "perfect" society. In this society brats are unnamed. If they survive until 15 they are given a naming ceremony where they bleed on a pile of scavenged objects. Where ever their blood first falls is what they are named.

Our heroine is named Deuce. She has chosen and was picked to be a Huntress. It is her responsibility along with other hunters to bring back food to the Enclave. Any, ANY infraction in the community will get you sent on the long walk. You are exiled and left for dead among the tunnels and "zombies."

As the book description leads you to believe Deuce and her hunting partner, Fade, are both exiled. They decide to leave the tunnels where Deuce sees that there still is a world living above ground. As they fight gangs and "zombies" while trying to head North hoping to find the people who original left the city, they learn more about themselves.

Ann's version of "zombies" is an interesting one. They are like zombies as in they like to eat flesh, they swarm, etc...but they also have very sharp teeth and claws. They also bleed and can be killed just like you and me. I do not believe them to be true zombies, but they are a fun foe nonetheless.

The story itself is a bit of a slow one, even though the reading is fast. Overall, I liked the book and plan on reading further into the series.

If you liked this book, it's possible you might like Born by Tara Brown (even though the writing could use a little polishing). Other possible books you might like are:
Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien
Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

My Rating: