Off My Bookshelf

Review: Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman

2011-07-28T22:34:00.000-04:00

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
Release Date: December 26th, 2008
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Summary: "Sixteen-year-old Eon has a dream, and a mission. For years, he's been studying sword-work and magic, toward one end. He and his master hope that he will be chosen as a Dragoneye-an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune.
But Eon has a dangerous secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been masquerading as a twelve-year-old boy. Females are forbidden to use Dragon Magic; if anyone discovers she has been hiding in plain sight, her death is assured.
When Eon's secret threatens to come to light, she and her allies are plunged into grave danger and a deadly struggle for the Imperial throne. Eon must find the strength and inner power to battle those who want to take her magic...and her life."

Review: Eon: Dragoneye Reborn was published quite a while ago, so it's been out there for some time. I never got around to reading it - or rather, I wasn't reading much YA in 2008. I think I picked it up now because I found the sequel, Eona: The Last Dragoneye (which was published in April of this year). I will be superficial for a moment and say that it was the cover that initially attracted me to the book, but what I discovered inside Eon: Dragoneye Reborn was wonderful! I think a lot of the time, YA paranormal can be poorly written and well, cheezy. Neither one of those things can be said for Ms. Goodman's book.
The premise of the story is incredibly unique. It centers around a young girl (who masquerades as a young boy) living in a magical world (literally "magic"al). In this world, dragons exist. There are twelve of them, and each has their own Dragoneye - a man who has a special, magical connection to their own dragon. Rat Dragon, Horse Dragon, Tiger Dragon, Rabbit Dragon, etc. For the past 500 years, one of the twelve dragons has been missing - the Dragon Dragon (or Mirror Dragon). But the Mirror Dragon has resurfaced...and connected with Eona. It's definitely original, and I love that. Honestly, where else in YA paranormal fiction will you find transsexuals, warrior eunuchs, and mystical dragons all in one?
One thing really impressed me in this book: I feel like YA paranormal fiction tends to be unrelatable, but I related Eona! She's trying to find her place in the world, struggling to come to terms with her identity. So many teenage girls can relate to that feeling. This is why I think Ms. Goodman accomplished something great with Eon: Dragoneye Reborn. She's made a seemingly unrelatable genre relatable.
On a last note, I wanted to point out something that makes this book stick out amongst others in its category. There is no romance. In a genre where so much of the audience is teenage girls, authors almost always try to attract readers with romance and bad boys. I actually, at the moment, cannot recall a single case where the main character of a novel did not have some sort of love interest. In fact, the main character usually has more than one love interest! That is why Eon: Dragoneye Reborn impressed me. With no love interest holding her back, Eona is the epitome of a strong female lead character. I will play devil's advocate, though, and mention that it would have been nearly impossible for Ms. Goodman to incorporate a love interest for Eona in this book, with Eona masked as Eon for over 350 of the 500 pages.
Though it is not a difficult read, it is a pretty thick book, so be prepared to spend a few hours diving into this one. In my humble opinion, it's worth it. Personally, I am excited to read Eona: The Last Dragoneye.
P.S. It is probably worth mentioning that lovers of Tamora Pierce's work will undoubtedly love Ms. Goodman's Eon. Both are great writers, and both clearly have a penchant for mystical tales.

Grade: A (I will say that I'm not giving it an A+ because 200 of those 500 pages could have been cut without damage to the story. There was much too much description for my taste, but I'm sure plenty of readers love that kind of detail. Once I hit more than two sentences of description and adjectives, I tend to skim over...)

Reviews: Sirensong by Jenna Black and Supernaturally by Kiersten White

2011-07-26T13:50:00.002-04:00

I have a rather large stack of unread books on my bedroom floor. On the top of that stack are two books: one sequel and one trequel (I may have just made that word up. Definition: trequel [tree-kwuhl] –noun; a literary work that is complete in itself but continues the narrative of a sequel; i.e. the third book in a series). I read both of these pretty quickly, thanks to the time on the metro it takes me to commute to work. The sequel is Supernaturally by Kiersten White, which follows Paranormalcy. And Sirensong is a trequel – the third book in the Faeriewalkers Series by Jenna Black. Sadly, neither one of them really blew me away.

Sirensong: A Faeriewalker Novel by Jenna Black
Released: July 5th, 2011
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Summary: "When Dana is invited to Faerie to be officially presented at the Seelie Court, it’s no easy decision. After all, everyone knows Titania, the Seelie Queen, wants her dead. But Titania claims not to be the one behind the death threats; and her son, Prince Henry, makes the decision a whole lot easier when he suggests Dana might be arrested for (supposedly) conspiring with her aunt Grace to usurp the Seelie throne. So she and her father better do as they're told.

The journey through Faerie is long—and treacherous. Dana thought it would be a good idea to have friends along, but her sort-of-boyfriend, Ethan, and her bodyguard’s son, Keane, just can’t seem to get along, and Kimber’s crush on Keane isn’t making things any easier. When a violent attack separates Dana from their caravan, the sexy Erlking saves her just in the nick of time . . . and makes it clear that he hasn’t given up on making her his own." ....read the rest here!

Review: After Shadowspell ended with such an intense plot twist, I was interested in seeing where Ms. Black was planning on going with Sirensong. The first hundred pages or so held my interest, but by the time I got to the last couple chapters, I felt like putting the book down. The ending wasn't bad, per se, but I was disappointed with the way Ms. Black diffused the plot twist. That plot twist was what made me buy Sirensong, but I was let down! It all works out in the end, the plot twist no longer an issue. I wanted fireworks, but all I got was sputtering sparks and smoke.

There are, however, two redeeming qualities: 1) Dana is a pretty strong female lead and 2) the covers for this series are really well done. I’m not positive if Ms. Black is planning on writing a fourth novel for this series, but I don’t think I’ll buy it if she does. I sincerely hope that this is not the direction YA paranormal fiction is going in – I mean, three possible love interests? How realistic.

Grade: C+

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Release Date: July 26^th, 2011

Publisher: Harper Teen

Summary: “Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.
But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.
So much for normal.”

Review: There are certain parts of Supernaturally that I liked, and certain parts that made me cringe a bit. I’ll start with the parts I liked. The ending was the best part of this book, in my opinion. That’s mainly because it was a surprise (and I love surprises!). Jack, a new, interesting character, was introduced at the beginning of the book. With Lend and Evie’s relationship getting kind of rocky, Ms. White had me convinced that Jack would be a new love interest for Evie. Without spoiling it too much, I will say that I was pleasantly surprised by the ending of Supernaturally. Unfortunately, that was one of the only things I liked about the book. I feel it’s necessary to just bullet point the things I “cringed” at.

· Lend, Evie’s boyfriend, was mysterious and fascinating in Paranormalcy (the first book in the series). Although I will say that their relationship progressed at a believable rate, Lend was just too sweet for my tastes. He lost the spice that he had in the first book. (I’m partial to bad boys.)

· I have to address the fact that this series is supposed to be about monsters, and yet…it’s not scary at all. Evie is like a sparkly Buffy! Her character does not have much depth, and the monsters act like humans. Even the so-called frightening Reth, a faerie and Evie’s ex-boyfriend, acts like a fluffy puppy! I think the problem with this series is that it is half YA paranormal and half YA fiction. The cover insinuates that the story inside is chilling, but really a cover that matches the story would have a Barbie-doll looking teenage girl holding a pink, bedazzled taser. The background would be an electric pink, with Comic Sans used for the title. All I can say is…yuck.

· Lastly, I was disappointed that Reth didn’t play a big role in Supernaturally. This comment sort of goes along with my previous two comments, about being partial to bad boys in the YA books I read. Come on Ms. White, just give me a little more Reth in the next installment.

In the end, I have to give Ms. White props for not going along and writing another story filled with your run-of-the-mill vampires, werewolves, and faeries. Her supernatural/paranormal characters are more creative and unique. Plus, middle books are hard. I can’t imagine being an author who writes a fantastic debut novel that receives a lot of positive critiques, only to end up having to deal with the pressure of following through with an equally fantastic sequel. It’s a difficult job, and I have respect for authors who choose to put themselves through that.

Grade: B/B-

And finally, I should explain why I’ve been absent (and why I haven’t posted any new reviews since May). The short answer is that I have been busy. Honestly, I haven’t had time to read much of anything. I started an internship a few weeks ago, which requires huge chunks of my time – which I spend editing, writing, and reading non-fiction. On top of that, I decided to make a new blog, where I record my experiences and thoughts about this internship. That takes daily upkeep, but I currently have a stack of books on my bedroom floor that I’m gearing up to tackle (thank you, Borders, for going out of business and having a 40% off everything sale this past week!).
So, these first two books I picked to tackle did not "wow" me. I'm starting to think that I'm just falling out of love with this genre. However, I have recently began reading Eon by Alison Goodman (which is not a recently published book, but has been in my stack for a while now) and so far I’m impressed. Ideally, I’ll be able to publish a review of Eon by next week. :)

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

2011-05-13T19:08:00.000-04:00

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Released: May 3rd, 2011

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Summary: "In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her."

Review: I absolutely loved this debut novel! Divergent was a spectacular adrenaline rush, full of twists and turns that kept me up late into the night reading. I was blown away by the whole premise of the story - a world where people are separated into factions based on a specific virtue that they possess. Intriguing, to say the least. Except, as it is with most dystopian novels, corruption runs rampant within the society. Beatrice (or Tris as she quickly becomes known as) starts off the book as a weak character, but by the end, she becomes a very strong female lead. Tris becomes this strong character as a result of grueling trials and exercises, which take up the majority of the book. All of the exercises Tris is put through are unique, imaginative, and the main reason why I loved reading Divergent.

Recently, dystopia has exploded in the YA fiction world. Wither, Matched, and Delirium are just a few of the big names. All have elements of romance, adventure, and excitement - and all are suspiciously reminiscent of a certain very popular book series (and soon to be movie series!) we're all familiar with. Despite the fact that this new trilogy by Veronica Roth was clearly written and published to be the next Hunger Games trilogy (SPOILER: I mean, come on! Tris ends up gearing up to fight a war against corrupt officials in the last pages of the book, just like a certain Girl on Fire... END SPOILER), I have no objections or complaints. I'm looking forward to reading Divergent's sequel!

Grade: A+

Review: Wither by Lauren DeStefano

2011-04-16T15:38:00.001-04:00

Wither (Chemical Garden, #1) by Lauren DeStefano

Released: March 22nd, 2011

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Summary (courtesy of Goodreads.com): "Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out. When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home. But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limited time she has left."

Review: I'll begin by saying that I'm truly happy with the recent increase in dystopia, a sub genre of YA fiction that has exploded since the success of The Hunger Games. Interestingly enough, The Hunger Games and Wither share an overarching plot line: teenage girls fighting for their lives. However, I wasn't blown away by Wither (though admittedly, it's hard to compete with The Hunger Games). I'll cut Ms. DeStefano some slack because this is her debut novel. The biggest problem I had with Wither was the characters. Rhine, the main character, was forced into a marriage with a man whom she didn't love, only to end up having to share him with two other girls. But Rhine is no Katniss Everdeen. Sure, she fights back against her oppressors, but it's a slow fight that builds and builds until the very end. Cecily, the youngest of the "sister wives," (when I say young, I mean practically preteen young) was predictably naive and complacent. Jenna, the oldest of the "sister wives," was complicated and resigned to her fate. I wanted a stronger main character.
On the flip side, I love that Wither brings up a topic that has it's roots in reality. In the story, which takes place in the not-too-distant future, a virus has ravaged the world and made it so that men die at age 25 and women die at 20. It's entirely possible that something similar will happen in the next few decades. Those sort of predictions/reflections on future possibilities fascinate me!
In the end, the story didn't give me the sitting-on-the-edge-of-my-seat feeling that I was looking for. Granted, there were plenty of shocking moments, but I don't know, I suppose I just wanted more intensity.

That said, I'll be keeping an eye out for the next installment in Ms. DeStefano's Chemical Garden series.

Grade: B+/A-

New YA Covers! 3/10/11

2011-03-10T12:49:00.000-05:00

Since I'm super busy and I don't have the time to write a review...let's take a look at some beautiful new covers that have been released!

Witches of East End (The Beauchamp Family, #1) by Melissa de la Cruz

Publisher: Hyperion

Release Date: June 21st, 2011

"The two novels will follow the lives of the Beauchamp girls, who live in the fictional town of North Hampton, as they struggle to stop an arch nemesis and restore the delicate balance between good and evil. De la Cruz will weave characters from her best-selling Blue Bloods young adult series into this new paranormal series for adults."

My thoughts: The covers of Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods series are beautiful, so it's no surprise to see that her new spin-off series with have similarly gorgeous covers.

Frozen, Shattered and Torn (Cold Awakening Series) by Robin Wasserman
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: October 25th, 2011 (all of them!)
"It's two months after the end of Crashed, and Lia is right back where she started: home, pretending to be the perfect daughter. But nothing’s the way it used to be. Lia has become the public face of the mechs, BioMax’s poster girl for the up-and-coming technology, devoting her life to convincing the world that she—and the others like her—deserve to exist. Then Jude resurfaces, and brings some scandalous information with him. Is BioMax really an ally to the mechs? Or are they using the technology for a great evil...and if so, can Auden really be a part of the plan? Meanwhile, Lia also learns a shocking truth about the accident that resulted in her download...a truth that forces her to make a decision she can never reverse."

My thoughts: Love, love, love the covers of this series! And their all coming out on the same day! It's like Christmas two months early!

Uncommon Criminals (Heist Society, #2) by Ally Carter
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Release Date: June 21st, 2011

"Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life. Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she’s simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That’s why Kat isn’t surprised when she’s asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners. There are only three problems..."

My thoughts: This cover is beautiful in a different way...it may not have the kind of sophistication that the other new covers have, but there's just something about the cover of Uncommon Criminals that is eye-catching. I'm excited for this sequel - the first book was wonderful!

Vanish (Firelight, #2) by Sophie Jordan
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: September 6th, 2011

"To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone. Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s...When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?"

My thoughts: I'm not completely in love with this cover, but I do think that the eyes are amazing. The first book, Firelight, was sweet - I hope Vanish is the same!

Well....that's what I got! Hopefully, I'll have some time to put a review up after I take the SAT on Saturday. :)

Review: Awakened by P.C. and Kristin Cast

2011-01-21T19:47:00.000-05:00

Awakened (House of Night, #8) by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Release Date: January 4th, 2011
Publisher: Atom Books

Summary: "At the start of Awakened, the pulse-pounding eighth installment of the bestselling House of Night series, Zoey has returned, mostly whole, from the Otherworld to her rightful place as High Priestess at the House of Night. Her friends are just glad to have her back, but after losing her human consort, Heath, will Zoey—or her relationship with her super- hot Warrior, Stark—ever be the same? Stevie Rae is drawn even closer to Rephaim, the Raven Mocker with whom she shares a mysterious and powerful Imprint, but he is a dangerous secret that isolates her from her school, her red fledglings, and even her best friends. When the dark threat of Neferet—who is coming closer and closer to achieving her twisted goal of immortality—and Kalona returns, what will it take to keep the House of Night from being lost forever, and what will one desperate girl do to keep her heart from being irreparably broken?"

Review: I was, at one point, a huge fan of the HON series - "was" being the operative word in that sentence. Plain and simple: I'm falling out of love with this series. The cons outweigh the pros. The biggest con of them all is the language, which is HORRIBLE. I know that the characters are supposed to be from the South (Stevie Rae), but it was way too exaggerated. Too many words like "'cuz" and "bullpoopie." I hate when people write "cuz," and if I have to read the word "bullpoopie" one more time, I may chuck the book across my room. The plot was really what interested me in the HON series in the first place, but Awakened was sorely lacking in action. The only action happens at the very end, and while there are a few shocks, this book was definitely not one of the more action packed. Zoey is a weak female lead and the romance between her and Stark is cute, but Stevie Rae and Rephaim stole the show. Also, suddenly Erik is a big cry-baby? What is that about? The cliffhanger ending, though, is commendable and will probably be my reason for picking up the next book.

I sincerely hope that the language changes in the last four books because I think sales are going to drop considerably if all of this bullpoopie continues. The first HON books were interesting and full of pizazz! Let's bring that spark back! When it comes down to it, with an addictive series like this one, I wouldn't be surprised if I find myself keeping a look out for Destined, the next book, in May. I just hope some adjustments are made.

Grade: B-/C

P.S. Was I the only one who noticed the ridiculous number of product placements/pop culture references in Awakened?

Mini-Reviews: My Soul to Steal, Shadowspell, and Tyger Tyger

2011-01-16T11:34:00.001-05:00

I'm really behind on my reviews...which is not a happy way start to the new year, but I'm going to try to use my four day weekend to catch up! So, here are some mini-reviews:

My Soul to Steal (Soul Screamers, #4) by Rachel Vincent

Release Date: January 4th, 2011 by Harlequin

Summary: "Trying to work things out with Nash—her maybe boyfriend—is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can't just pretend nothing happened. But "complicated" doesn't even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back. See, Sabine isn't just an ordinary girl. She's a mara, the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people's fears—and craft them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives. And Sabine isn't above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever—and whoever—she wants."

Review: I love this series. The first three books were fantastic, and My Soul to Steal was no exception. The originality is so precious (especially seeing as YA fiction/fantasy is becoming extremely unoriginal - all I see these days are books about vampires falling in love with humans or vice versa and werewolves going through identity crises). The Soul Screamers series is, I think, one of the more unique series of the genre. My Soul to Steal is angsty, but that comes with the territory, and a greater portion of the book is spent on the romance. The action doesn't really kick in until towards the end. Honestly, I think I'll love anything Ms. Vincent comes up with. I would recommend that you read Reaper, Tod's novella (if you haven't already), because it gave me a whole new perspective on Tod's character. Yep, I'm rooting for him.
Grade: A

Shadowspell (Faeriewalker, #2) by Jenna Black

Release Date: January 4th, 2011 by St. Martin's Press

Summary: "On top of spending most of her time in a bunkerlike safe house and having her dates hijacked by a formidable Fae bodyguard, Faeriewalker Dana Hathaway is in for some more bad news: the Erlking and his pack of murderous minions known as the Wild Hunt have descended upon Avalon. With his homicidal appetite and immortal powers, the Erlking has long been the nightmare of the Fae realm. A fragile treaty with the Faerie Queen, sealed with a mysterious spell, is the one thing that keeps him from hunting unchecked in Avalon, the only place on Earth where humans and Fae live together. Which means Dana’s in trouble, since it’s common knowledge that the Faerie Queen wants her – and her rare Faeriewalker powers – dead. The smoldering, sexy Erlking’s got his sights set on Dana, but does he only seek to kill her, or does he have something much darker in mind?"

Review: I enjoyed the first book in the Faeriewalker series, Glimmerglass, so I though I'd give Shadowspell a try. I was right to pick it up! One of my favorite things about this series is that Dana is a strong female character. Even though there is an abundance of hot Faerie guys in Dana's life, she doesn't drool over them. She fights her own battles (or tries to, at least), and she has a maturity that is somewhat difficult to find in this genre these days. There is a frightening twist in Shadowspell and I am very interested in seeing what happens next. Sirensong, the next book in the series, will be released July 5th of this year.

Grade: A/A- (I can't really decide)

Tyger Tyger (Goblin Wars, #1) by Kersten Hamilton

Release Date: November 15th, 2010 by Clarion Books

Summary: "Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems. Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming."

Review: I was hesitant to read this one at first, but for the life of me, I cannot remember why. Tyger Tyger is great! Ms. Hamilton creates this whole new world and describes it in such a way that makes it easy to imagine the goblins and other creatures. Tyger Tyger has the perfect mixture of action, adventure, and romance. The book is nicely executed, and the characters are believable despite the fact that it's very clearly fantasy. I love it when that happens. I'll be looking for the sequel, In the Forests of the Night, which should be released some time later this year.

Grade: A

Okay, so those were not as "mini" as I was expecting. Hopefully in the next couple days, I'll be able to post a review of I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore, and some others. :)

(A Few of the) Pretty Covers of 2011

2010-12-24T09:19:00.000-05:00

There's no denying that the YA fiction market is heavily focused on book covers. After all, the covers are the first thing that the audience sees when they peruse the aisles in the bookstore, right? ...Or is that just me? I'm sad to report that honestly, I gravitate towards pretty covers more often than I do pretty summary blurbs. 2011 is looking to be a great year for beautiful covers. Here are just a few to feast your eyes on!

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Release Date: January 4th, 2011

Publisher: HarperTeen

"In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy..."

Read more here!

Wither (Chemical Garden, #1) by Lauren DeStefano

Release Date: March 22nd, 2011

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

"What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out..."

Read more here!

The Iron Witch (The Ironbridge Chronicles, #1) by Karen Mahoney

Release Date: February 8th, 2011

Publisher: Flux

"Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma..."

Read more here!

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

Release Date: March 7th, 2011

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's

"It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him..."

Read more here!

City of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments, #4) by Cassandra Clare

Release Date: April 5th, 2011

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

"City of Fallen Angels is the fourth book in the bestselling series The Mortal Instruments. [The book] takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace..."

Read more here!

Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Release Date: July 26th, 2011

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

"Ashline Wilde never received an instruction manual on how to be a 16-year-old Polynesian volcano goddess. If she had, it might have contained helpful warnings such as: 1) Dreaming about your (thankfully) mortal boyfriend may cause your bed to spontaneously combust 2) Oven mitts should be worn at all times during heavy make-out sessions. Instead, Ash has to learn these life lessons the hard way as her dormant powers erupt at the most awkward times. In the wake of a hometown tragedy, Ash transfers to Blackwood Academy, a boarding school nestled in California’s redwoods, where a group of fellow gods-on-earth have mysteriously convened..."
Read more here!

Review: Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

2010-12-17T19:55:00.000-05:00

Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy, Book 6) by Richelle Mead

Release Date: December 7th, 2010

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)

Summary (from Goodreads): She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir’s Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir Princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardian to come. Now the law has finally caught up with Rose- for a crime she didn’t even commit. She’s in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She’ll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir. But the clock on Rose’s life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back… and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your life is about saving others, who will save you?

WARNING: This review contains spoilers!

Review: I felt like crying - CRYING - when I reached the last page of Last Sacrifice. It's hard to see such a great series come to an end. Of the six books in the Vampire Academy series, Last Sacrifice is the best. The most emotional. The most surprising. The most hold-your-breath-waiting-to-know-how-it-all-ends. Throughout the entire series, I became so emotionally invested in the lives of Rose, Dimitri, Lissa, and friends. Their stories came to a definite ending, and it was a perfectly established ending at that. Ms. Mead's writing style is extremely smooth and the dialogue is very realistic. Each scene was expertly crafted. Some things that happened were slightly predictable, but I had no problem with that. For example, when Rose managed to escape from Dimitri in the hotel room by surprise-kissing him (this was my favorite scene!), I knew instinctively that they were going to end up together. The last book, Spirit Bound, left me leaning towards Team Adrian, but Last Sacrifice effectively threw me onto Team Dimitri. I truly believe that they were always meant for each other. Also, when Lissa was entered into the candidacy for Queen, I had a feeling that by the end, that's what she would be: the Queen. The identity of the Queen Tatiana's killer was, however, a huge twist, and very un-predictable. Adrian and Rose's last scene together was heart-breaking, but it wouldn't have worked if they had decided to be "just friends." That would be too clean of an ending. In general, I really don't have any actual criticisms for Last Sacrifice. It was the perfect ending to a tremendously unique series.
Congratulations, Ms. Mead, on the completion of a FANTASTIC series!

Grade: A+

Review: Matched by Ally Condie

2010-12-12T17:41:00.000-05:00

Matched by Ally Condie

Release Date: November 30th, 2010

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Summary (from Goodreads): Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Review: Matched was... fresh. The majority of the books in the dystopian genre seem to have this effect. However, it is painfully clear that there are pieces of Condie's story that are not necessarily new. The idea of the Big Brother-esque society can be seen in so many places (TV shows, movies, other books, etc.). Matched is the first book in a trilogy, for which Condie has received a $1 million deal. So it must be something amazing right? Sadly, the most original thing about this book was its cover. The freshness was a result of the world Condie managed to create. It's difficult to invent an entirely new world, but the world of Matched was perfect for a dystopian novel: futuristic, yet realistic. It was enjoyable, the writing was wonderful, the characters were well-built, but something was missing. I suppose what I was looking for was more darkness. The romance over-fluffed the story, and all the pain was on the surface. I didn't feel it.
Matched was very predictable, but overall, it was well-written and held my attention. I'm just not sure it lived up to all it's hype.

The title for the sequel has been released, and it is....drum roll please... Crossed. The release date is set for November 2011.

Grade: A-/B+

...I'm a Winner!

2010-11-27T15:40:00.000-05:00

I feel on top of the world. Like I can do anything.

I achieved my NaNoWriMo word count goal! Woooohooooooo! I never thought I'd see the day.

For those of you who don't know what NaNoWriMo is, I'll try to explain: NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, takes place in November each year. From November 1st-30th, millions of people decide that they're going to sit down and write a novel. In one month. An entire novel! Why? Just for the fun of it.

I participated in the Young Writers Program, so I didn't have to use the 50,000 word count minimum. I thought that since this is my first time doing NaNoWriMo, a 15,000 word count goal would be more suitable for me. My final count was...

15,491 words!

It may not seem like a lot, but believe me, I have never written a document that large in my entire life. 46 pages, single-spaced. Sure, it's no Harry Potter, but it's a novel - a complete and lucid (well, for the most part) novel. And sure, maybe it's chalk-full of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. But who cares! I get to tell people that I wrote a book.

I think a celebration is in order!

Review: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

2010-11-20T13:19:00.000-05:00

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Release Date: August 31st, 2010
Publisher: HarperTeen

Summary: "Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours. But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures. So much for normal."

Review: I wasn't expecting much from Paranormalcy - but, it turned out to be a nice surprise. The plot itself is unique. The romance between Evie and Lend is sweet and adorable. The world of the story is well-developed, and the good-evil dynamics is spot on (even though the villain wasn't all that scary...). Overall: Well done, Ms. White. My only complaint is that Evie's character seemed extremely immature at certain points. The "I've never seen a locker before!" attitude was slightly over exaggerated, but helped provide a basis for Evie's personality.

Side Note: As I've been getting older, I less and less enjoy reading YA stories where the characters are so young and foolish. In fact, I was reading a book the other day where the main character was a freshman in high school. Sure, that was me three years ago, but I can't really connect as well anymore. Instead, I just feel like yelling at those characters for their stupidity.

But you know, Paranormalcy wasn't that bad in terms of maturity. It's merely my tastes that are changing. I'd still recommend Paranormalcy to all those who are looking for a light read, and enjoy this genre (YA paranormal romance).

If a sequel to Paranormalcy is released, I will probably pick it up.

Plus, I'm a sucker for a pretty cover - even though it's completely inaccurate. This is not a dark story people! How could it be, when the main character named her pink, rinestoned taser "Tasey"?

Grade: A-

Review: Alpha by Rachel Vincent

2010-10-24T18:11:00.000-04:00

Alpha (Shifters Series, Book 6) by Rachel Vincent

Release Date: October 1st, 2010

Summary: "The unscrupulous new Council chair has charged Jace, Marc, and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder, and treason. Yeah, we've been busy. But now it's time to take justice into our own hands. We must avenge my brother's death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council. It's not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride, no matter what. With a target on my back and Marc at my side, I'm heading for a final showdown that can--that will--change everything forever. A showdown I'm not sure I'm ready for. But life never waits until you're ready."

Review: This was an amazing roller coaster ride of a series, and I'm sad to see it come to an end. The love triangle was one of the biggest reasons why I was reading this series, and because Alpha is the last book, the triangle most exist no longer. Faythe had to pick one of the guys - Marc or Jace. Without giving away spoilers, I will say that I was happy and completely satisfied with the final three pages. I think that she made the right choice. Another great thing about this series is that Faythe is not perfect! Of course, if she was perfect, then there would be no story because Faythe is the one who always creates the mess. She never gave up! Faythe came out kicking and screaming, which is true to her character. Some parts of this book made me intensely angry - namely, the fact that Calvin Malone decided to make it his mission to de-claw and breed Faythe with one of his sons. SPOILER I really wish Calvin's death would have dragged out more... END SPOILER Also, bad things kept happening to Faythe. The "challenge" might have been a little much. Nonetheless, I couln't help but love reading every word of Alpha.
True, Alpha may not be a the next Pride and Prejudice, but it holds its own in its genre. It's an incredible read, and I'm greedy enough that I would plead for an extra two books if I could. But sadly, that won't happen. It was great while it lasted.

Grade: A+

Review: Mistwood by Leah Cypess

2010-09-01T17:48:00.000-04:00

Mistwood by Leah Cypess
Release Date: April 27th, 2010

The Summary: "The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwood. But when she is needed she always comes. Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have. Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty--because without it, she may be his greatest threat. Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them. Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew."

The Review: I wasn't very impressed by Mistwood. In some ways, it reminded me of Kristin Cashore's Seven Kingdoms Trilogy, but...Graceling and Fire were 10x better than Mistwood. The premise is promising, but the execution flailed. I'm a sucker for romance in fantasy novels, but the romance here was just lackluster. I didn't see the connection between Prince Rokan and Isabel. If you're going to put romance in a novel like this, make it special! Another complaint of mine is that Mistwood is supposed to be a magical forest, but the imagery wasn't there. It didn't feel magical. It felt like a plain old forest. We didn't see enough of the kingdom. Plus, I didn't really care for the big twist at the end. *Sigh* I just wanted to get so much more out of this book. It could have been amazing. The writing is pretty good, the plot is okay, and there wasn't quite enough "shifting" for my tastes, but overall: Mistwood was okay. But...there shouldn't be a sequel.
What I can say is that the cover is very nice! Beautiful, in fact.

The Grade: B-/C

Review: Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

2010-09-01T17:22:00.000-04:00

Only the Good Spy Young (Gallagher Girls, Book 4) by Ally Carter

Release Date: June 29th, 2010

The Summary: "When Cammie Morgan enrolled at the Gallagher Academy, she knew she was preparing for the dangerous life of a spy. What she didn’t know was that the serious, real-life danger would start during her junior year of high school. But that’s exactly what happened two months ago when she faced off against an ancient terrorist organization dead set on kidnapping her. Now the danger follows her everywhere and even Cammie “The Chameleon” can’t hide. When a terrifying encounter in London reveals that one of her most-trusted allies is actually a rogue double-agent Cammie no longer knows if she can trust her classmates, her teachers—or even her own heart. In this fourth installment of the New York Times best-selling series, the Gallagher Girls must hack, spy, steal, and lie their way to the truth as they go searching for answers, recognizing that the key to Cammie’s future may lie deep in the past...."

The Review: I'm a huge fan of the Gallagher Girls series. Anything having to do with espionage always makes me excited. Alias, Covert Affairs, even Veronica Mars. All these TV shows are my definition of happiness. For the Gallagher Girls series, I found myself going back and re-reading the three previous books in order to remember what happened before Only the Good Spy Young. It was almost like finding a series for the first time because I didn't remember a thing. It's wonderful! I loved every second. Ally Carter's writing is sweet and funny. She makes you fall into Cammie's world, feel what Cammie feels, and want to be there too. I think Only the Good Spy Young is my favorite of the books in the series so far because there's more spying, more excitement, and more Zach! In my opinion, the mark of a good book (or at least one that's in the middle of a series) is when some questions are tied up, more take their place, tons of action takes place, and it ends with a bang. Only the Good Spy Young is spectacular - the ending left me in absolute awe. I will definitely be on the look-out for updates about the next book in the series!

The Grade: A

News in the YA Book World

2010-08-09T17:32:00.000-04:00

Cassandra Clare is one of my favorite authors and a great deal of the reason for that is the Mortal Instruments series. Sadly, the release date for the next book in the series, City of Fallen Angels, is pretty far away. But, to keep us satiated, there has been news about some very interesting things having to do with the series...

First, Simon & Schuster has signed on two new books in the Mortal Instruments series! Book Four, City of Fallen Angels will be released April 2011. The two new titles are: City of Lost Souls (May 2012) and City of Heavenly Fire (September 2013)! This news is both exciting and depressing. Exciting, because the series is going to continue! But depressing, because 2012/13 is far, far from now. And I thought City of Fallen Angels was far away! I'm a junior in high school now, and City of Heavenly Fire is going to be released when I'm in my second year of college! That's quite scary actually.
You can an article detailing the signing at Publisher's Weekly here.

Second, (not exactly new news but...) a Mortal Instruments movie is in the works! On her website, Ms. Clare has informed us that: "Now, a book series being optioned doesn’t mean a film is being made right now or is definitely going to be made at all — it means that the studio or production company in question is developing the books as a film project — right now they’ve nailed down financing and a screenwriter (Jessica Postigo) and are working towards the next stages in the development project. It is, however, an important step in the movie-making process, so I feel like it’s okay to be excited about it."
You can find further information about the movie on Ms. Clare's website here.

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In other news, Mockingjay (the third book in the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins) will be released August 24th of this month! Just a little while away! I found this very cool video at a blog that I frequent, Page Turners. It's a Hunger Games cover of Hey, Soul Sister!

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And finally... some COVERS!

Entice: A Need Novel by Carrie Jones

Release Date: Dec. 7, 2010

Darkest Mercy: A Wicked Lovey Novel by Melissa Marr

Release Date: February 22, 2011

Friday Book Blogger Hops!

2010-08-06T15:55:00.001-04:00

It's Friday, and although I'm slightly behind on my reviews (the stack is growing rapidly!), I thought it would be nice to participate in a couple weekly memes! Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View and the Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy-for-Books. Both are similar in that the objective is to hop around and visit new blogs and meet new bloggers. This is my first time participating in Follow Friday, and my third time participating in the Book Blogger Hop!

This Weeks Question (from the Book Blogger Hop @ Crazy-for-Books):
Do you listen to music when you read? If so, what are your favorite reading tunes?

My Answer:
I tend not to listen to music when I read, mainly because the lyrics distract me. I would have to be listening to music that I either don't know the lyrics to, or that doesn't have lyrics at all. :) I'm more of a nighttime reader - when all I can hear is silence.

If you found my blog through either one of the hops, I would love it if you left a comment! I will make sure to return the visit!

Review: The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

2010-08-01T11:51:00.000-04:00

NOTE: I haven't posted a review (or anything, for that matter) in a long time because I've been out of the country for the past 5 weeks. Just after school got out, I was on a plane and then landing in Paris, France. Combining busy days studying at the Sorbonne, a lack of free WiFi, and only 4 hours of sleep left me completely unable to read or post reviews. But now I'm back - with a large pile of books waiting to be reviewed sitting by my bookshelf - and I'm thinking that these next few weeks will be packed with new reviews and updates about the happenings of the YA book blogging world.
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The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey, Book 2) by Julie Kagawa

Release Date: August 1, 2010 (first published July 27, 2010)

The Summary: "Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron Fey, iron-bound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's alone in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart."

The Review: Sequels are a difficult thing to pull off. However, Ms. Kagawa seems to have no problem at all with sequels as is evident with The Iron Daughter - which is possibly the best sequel I've read in a long, long time. I was blown away by The Iron King (the first book in the Iron Fey series) and The Iron Daughter did not let me down. Both books have been stuffed with such vivid imagery that you can picture yourself there with the characters despite the fact that it's a fantasy world. Meghan is a very strong main female character and in my opinion, she vies with Katniss from The Hunger Games for the title of "Strongest Female Lead in a Young Adult Series." She's stubborn, yet emotional. Fiesty, yet loving. Because this is a book where there are two competing male love interests, the ending can only satisfy half the readers. I LOVED the ending. It felt like an ending, but at the same time, there are loose ends that will most definitely be tied up in the third book, The Iron Queen (February 2011). Like the first book in the series, The Iron Daughter is a faced-paced ride that will make you fall in love. I recommend that if you haven't already read The Iron King... go get it now! Then, prepare yourself for The Iron Daughter - it is a must read for this summer.

The Grade: A++

Favorite Quote: Ash speaking about Meghan: "Ash was still for a moment. "Yes," he murmured, his voice so low I barely caught it. "She's worth it." - pg. 93

Review: Spells by Aprilynne Pike

2010-06-12T10:01:00.000-04:00

Spells (Sequel to Wings) by Aprilynne Pike

Release Date: May 4th, 2010

The Summary: "Six months have passed since Laurel saved the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Now she must spend her summer there, honing her skills as a Fall faerie. But her human family and friends are still in mortal danger--and the gateway to Avalon is more compromised than ever. When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable?"

The Review: Spells is a new type of novel - it's a romantic fantasy and coming of age story, with an extremely original plot. Wings, the first book in the series, introduced us to Laurel and her discovery that she is a plant-like faerie sent to the human world to protect some land from trolls. Spells is about Laurel's studies in Avalon and her triangular relationship with David (a human boy who she's dating), and Tamani (a faerie guy who works at the gate between the worlds). The writing is not poetry, but it's good. The thing I got most frustrated with was Laurel's relationships with David and Tamani. She kept going back and forth between the two guys! Some decisions were made, but I'm sure new problems will arise in the next book of the series. As far as the guys go, I for one am hoping that she will pick Tamani. As a character, I do not see the attraction to David. Sure, he's Laurel's connection to the human world, but most of the time it seems like he is using her to satisfy his curiosity about faeries while Tamani seems to actually love her and care about her. I would even say that some of the scenes Laurel has with David are unnatural and don't give off the goosebumps effect that Pike was probably going for. So, it's safe to say that I'm on TEAM TAMANI. Klea, a new character introduced in Spells, is the stereotypical leather-clad hunter of all that is evil in the world - namely, trolls. As a character, I was not wow-ed by her.
Overall, the idea behind Spells is a good one, but I think the characters were a little off. We will see in the final two books of the series what will happen with Laurel and the tough decisions that she will make.

The Grade: B+

Favorite Quote:

"I can’t just storm in and proclaim my intentions. I cant 'steal' you away. I just have to wait and hope that, someday, you’ll ask," Tamani said.

"And if I don't?" Laurel said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Then I guess I’ll be waiting forever."

Review: Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

2010-05-30T22:28:00.001-04:00

Spirit Bound: A Vampire Academy Novel by Richelle Mead
Released: May 18th, 2010

The Summary: "Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong… After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and he's out there, somewhere. She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her...forever."

The Review: It is ridiculously challenging to write a review of Spirit Bound sans spoilers. I'll try anyway, but I recommend that you pick up the first four books of the series before you read this one. Spirit Bound begins at the Academy and the only thing standing in the way of Rose's graduation is The Trials. But this is the least of Rose's worries. Dimitri is out there in the "real world" waiting for Rose - waiting to kill her. In this fifth installment of the series, Rose is using any means possible (even illegal ways!) to save Dimitri and turn him back into a dhampir. Love, Treason, Passion, Grief. All of these words describe Spirit Bound. I fell in love with this series way back with the first book, and Ms. Mead hasn't let me down yet. Spirit Bound shows us a whole new side of Adrian - a side that I adore. I may have switched teams somewhere in the midst of this book, and I think I may now be on Team Adrian. Spirit Bound ends in a cliffhanger and leaves us hanging on the edge until December 2010, when the next book, Last Sacrifice, comes out.
I really hope Rose gets her happily-ever-after in Last Sacrifice :)

The Grade: A

Click here for an excerpt of Spirit Bound!

Book Blogger Hop - May 28-31

2010-05-29T08:56:00.000-04:00

This is the second time I've participated in the Book Blogger Hop hosted by Jennifer at Crazy for Books!

From Crazy for Books: "In the spirit of the Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list!"

If you found my blog through the hop, I would absolutely love it if you left a comment! Also, leave your link so that I can visit your blog too!

Review: White Cat by Holly Black

2010-05-28T21:30:00.000-04:00

White Cat: The Curse Workers by Holly Black
Released: May 4th, 2010

The Summary: "Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago. Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen. Holly Black has created a gripping tale of mobsters and dark magic where a single touch can bring love -- or death -- and your dreams might be more real than your memories."

The Review: White Cat was truly an unexpected joy to read. The premise is so different from Holly Black's other books, and yet the originality is what shines in White Cat. I'm a huge fan of Holly Black - she writes such fantastic books! White Cat's plot is fast paced and the characters are believable despite the fact that they can work magic. There were times when I figured out the answer to the mystery before the protagonist did, and that can sometimes annoy me - but it also made me more anxious to reach the end of the book. The gloves that the "workers" wore throughout the novel were key to reminding the reader that the world of White Cat is not the same world as ours. The worlds are very similar, with the exceptional difference of the presence of magic workers. White Cat does something very special - it makes magic seem slimy and creepy. This is definitely a book I would recommend.
The second book, Red Glove, has already been announced and will be released in 2010!

The Grade: A

Cover Art!

2010-05-15T19:18:00.004-04:00

Misguided Angel (A Blue Bloods Novel) by Melissa de la Cruz

Release Date: October 5th, 2010
"After inheriting the dark Van Alen Legacy, Schuyler fled to Florence--with her forbidden love, Jack. Now the two of them must embark on the mission Schuyler was destined to complete: to find and protect the seven gates that guard earth from Lucifer."

Unraveled (A Intertwined Novel) by Gena Showalter

Release Date: August 31st, 2010

"With three human souls living inside his head, Aden has always been “different” himself. These souls can time travel, raise the dead, possess another’s mind, and, his least favorite these days, tell the future. The forecast for Aden? A knife through the heart."
Blood Feud (A Drake Chronicles Novel) by Alyxandra Harvey

Release Date: June 22nd, 2010

"This second adventure in the Drake Chronicles has all the same butt-kicking action, heart-pounding romances and snarky humor that readers loved in Hearts at Stake, as well as exciting new revelations about the vampire dynasties to keep readers coming back for more."

Wired (A Skinned Novel) by Robin Wasserman

Release Date: September 14th, 2010

"The final book in the sci-fi trilogy Scott Westerfeld calls "spellbinding."

Twelfth Grade Kills (A Chronicles of Vladimir Tod Novel) by Heather Brewer

Release Date: September 21st, 2010

"In this epic finale to Heather Brewer’s heart-stopping Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, dark secrets will be revealed, old friends will become enemies, and warm blood will run cold. Just be careful it isn’t yours."

Last Sacrifice (A Vampire Academy Novel) by Richelle Mead

Release Date: December 14th, 2010

"Murder. Love. Jealousy. And the ultimate sacrifice. Now, with Rose on trial for her life and Lissa first in line for the Royal Throne, nothing will ever be the same between them."

Review: Burned by P.C. and Kristin Cast

2010-05-11T19:50:00.000-04:00

Burned (Book 7 in the House of Night series) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Release Date: April 27th, 2010 by ATOM

The Summary: "Y’all need to get yourselves together. Here’s a newsflash from the only High Priestess you have left at this dang school: Zoey isn’t dead. And believe me, I know dead. I’ve been there, done that and got the fricken tee-shirt. Zoey Redbird is the youngest High Priestess in House of Night history and is the only person – vamp or fledgling – that can stop the evil Neferet from raising all kinds of immortal trouble. And she might just have a chance if she wasn’t so busy being dead. Well, dead is too strong a word. Stevie Rae knows she can bring her BFF back from her unscheduled va-cay in the Otherworld. But it’s going to take a lot more than hoping to bring Zoey back. Stevie Rae will have to give up a few secrets of her own..."

The Review: This book is the definition of AMAZING [ah-mayz-ing]. The only problem is that Burned is a very difficult book to review because it's the seventh book in the series - but I'm going to try anyway. P.C. and Kristin Cast have outdone themselves on this one. Burned is told from multiple perspectives (much like the previous book in the series) and it works so, so well. All of these characters have changed so much over the span of the seven books. Zoey, who is our strong female heroine, shows her delicate and feeble side in Burned. She is essentially falling apart and needs to find a way to put herself back together, but of course, she is not without the help of her Nerd Herd, the prophetic Aphrodite, and her strong red-fledgling warrior Stark. Where as Erik played such a huge role in the first couple books of the series, in Burned, he is of very little importance. Instead, we see the emergence of Stark. I have always been rooting for Stark, and the ending of Burned was one of the best I've read of the entire series.
Without giving too much away, I can say that Burned is a very impressive addition to the House of Night series. There is no telling where the Casts will go with the next five books in the series, but I have faith that the wait will be worth it. My advice is to definitely read the first six books in the series if you haven't already, then read Burned. The beautiful cover and story make this one a great book to add to your bookshelf.
And a head's up for all the House of Night lovers out there: Awakened is the title of the eighth book, and it will probably be released in January of next year...

The Grade: A+

Trailer:

Review: Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey

2010-05-07T22:41:00.000-04:00

Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey
Release Date: May 3rd, 2010

The Summary: "Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents’ rules – especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father’s office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship. To better her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen’s sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill’s accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything – even Tristen’s love – just for the thrill of being… bad."

The Review: I was excited for Jekel Loves Hyde because Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side was absolutely amazing. I loved that one. But...Jekel Loves Hyde didn't raise the goosebumps I was hoping for after reading Jessica's Guide. Besides the originality that Fantaskey spun into the old Jekyll/Hyde story, Jekel Loves Hyde is written with alternating chapters from either Tristen or Jill's perspective to stir something interesting into the pot. However, this made me feel slightly less connected with either character - it was especially hard to get into Tristen's head even though he should have had the most interesting thoughts because of the "beast" within him. Also, the story moved really slowly. The high intensity scenes (scenes with lots of emotion) should have kept my eyes glued to the pages, but I found myself kind of disconnected from the emotions that the scenes should have created. The chemistry parts to the story were fun, and there were some plots twists. The story itself was a little dark, with few funny moments, and that paired up with the length of the book caused me to become disappointed in Jekel Loves Hyde. Nonetheless, fans of the classic Jekyll and Hyde novel may enjoy Beth Fantaskey's dark take on the tradition story.

The Grade: C+