Quick Review: Sweet by Emmy Laybourne

Standalone (+ short story prequel)

Publication: June 2015 by Feiwel & Friends
Acquisition:

Goodreads

4 / 5 Stars

All of my assumptions about Sweet were 100% wrong.

The things I thought I would love, fell flat and the things I thought would be cringe worthy were actually pretty fantastic.

Sweet is a bit weird. It's a little fluffy but it's also pretty horrific and it's very relateable and it's totally implausible. It's like one of those House of Mirrors attractions at a sketchy road side carnival. You're apprehensive about entering, startled and feel silly while you're inside and terrified when you realize you can't find your way out.

OMG and the ending! It was perfect!

I was like, yadda yadda, closing bits, loose ends, got it got it...wait, what the hell just happened!

Sometimes I love being wrong ;)

Next time you're browsing your local bookstore and you see this one - scoop it up, bring it home and enjoy the ride!

Book Review: And I Darken by Kiersten White

Book #1 in The Conquerors Saga series
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Publication: June 2016 by Delacorte Press
Acquisition: read a free eARC via NetGalley

Synopsis:

No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets.

Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend—and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion.

But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against—and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point.

(from Goodreads)

4 / 5 Stars

And I Darken is a loooong story and I'm not just talking about page length. It's basically Lada's entire life - from birth to...late teens, early 20s...ish? There are time jumps - days, weeks, years but all in all it's pretty much Lada's complete story.

Some folks I think were put off by this, cause...yeah...it's really, really dense - at times feeling more like a history book then a fiction story.

I, however, really liked it. Maybe not all the time and maybe, a few times, I felt bogged down by the depth of it all and more then once I couldn't remember where the characters were or had been or why they were there or needed to go somewhere else...

Also, I think I was expecting more horror? The whole premise is, what if Vlad the Impaler was a girl - not the Dracula we all know. And maybe I've got that premise wrong but it's what I went into the book thinking and it wasn't the case. In fact, now, I can't find this description anywhere...so...maybe I made it up? No, I must have read it somewhere.

Anyway!

In any case, I was expecting something much more horror filled and messy. Not overly historic and messy. Vlad is Lada's father and now, knowing that And I Darken isn't a standalone (like I thought it was) I can see how maybe Lada gets more impaler like in subsequent books?

I really don't know.

What I do know is, I dove into And I Darken thinking one thing, enjoyed myself while mucking around in it all and was happy to have read it in the end.

And yes, if there is another book, I will be reading it. The history is dense but so are the characters, in a spectacular way. Lada has a long way to go, her brother Radu is such an interesting person and I can't wait to see where he ends up and Mehmed - yeah, maybe I could have done without him but he adds so much to the story and I'm very curious to see where he stands in book 2.

Summing it up!

YA historical fiction with lots of details, and fabulous characters!

Book Review: The Girl I Used To Be by April Henry

Genre: YA Mystery
Publication: May 2016 by Henry Holt and Co.
Acquisition: read a free eARC via NetGalley

Synopsis:

Fourteen years ago, a three-year-old girl was the only survivor at a horrific murder scene. Now she’s determined to search for the truth—and the killer is even more determined to stop her.

When Olivia’s mother was murdered and her father disappeared, everyone suspected her father had done it. Fast-forward fourteen years. New evidence now proves Olivia’s father was actually murdered on the same fateful day her mother died. That means there’s a killer still at large. Can Olivia uncover the truth before the killer tracks her down?

(from Goodreads)

4 / 5 Stars

I love April Henry's YA thrillers. They remind me of the hoards of Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine books I devoured as a teen.

The Girl I Used To Be is no exception.

It's a little neat and clean and this worked for me. Loved how independent Olivia is, even if her circumstances are a bit unrealistic. Loved the subdued romance. Love how I didn't guess who the 'bad guy' was before it was revealed. The mystery was pretty standard but there were a few twists.

I thought the whole 'emancipated teen' route bugged me bit as I see it as an excuse to write young characters who can act 100% like adults because the parents have been taken out of the equation. For Olivia though, it worked.

April Henry has been fast becoming an auto read author for me.

The Girl I Used to Be is a quick, fun mystery with some thrilling parts that make a lasting impression.

Book Review: The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle

Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication: August 2015 by Kathy Dawson Books
Acquisition: bought

Synopsis:

Every October Cara and her family become inexplicably and unavoidably accident-prone. Some years it's bad, like the season when her father died, and some years it's just a lot of cuts and scrapes. This accident season—when Cara, her ex-stepbrother, Sam, and her best friend, Bea, are 17—is going to be a bad one. But not for the reasons they think.

Cara is about to learn that not all the scars left by the accident season are physical: There's a long-hidden family secret underneath the bumps and bruises. This is the year Cara will finally fall desperately in love, when she'll start discovering the painful truth about the adults in her life, and when she'll uncover the dark origins of the accident season—whether she's ready or not.

(from Goodreads)

4 / 5 Stars

The Accident Season wasn't what I thought it would be but I don't think I'm disappointed by that.

I don't want to give too much away but I did have some assumptions and I wasn't quite right about any of them.

The story is fabulous though and I loved the characters.

Here's the thing -- The Accident Season is a very deep book. It's a book, to quote the dust jacket that "captures that time in our lives when our hearts crack open and the raw secrets of our true selves burst forth" -- yeah...can't say that has ever happened to me. Raw secrets and hearts cracking open? That's not really my style.

Even with all the feelings and really deep meanings behind a lot of things, The Accident Season isn't just a contemporary and even with the touch of strange and unknown, it isn't just a mystery. I think that's why it worked for me. Honestly, if raw, hearts cracking, feelings everywhere was all that it was, I would have passed it over in a heart beat cause...yeah...

Overall though, I was surprised and glad that I stuck with it.

I do have to say, don't let the synopsis fool you (like it did to me!). The Accident Season is pretty much 100% a contemporary story and if you're looking for something a little more, it may not be for you. What I did love though was that it's the type of book that isn't going to be the same thing for everyone.

Book Review: Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin

Genre: YA Contemporary Coming of Age
Publication: February 2016 by Balzer + Bray
Acquisition: received an ARC at ALA Midwinter 2016

Synopsis:

The first thing you’re going to want to know about me is: Am I a boy, or am I a girl?

Riley Cavanaugh is many things: Punk rock. Snarky. Rebellious. And gender fluid. Some days Riley identifies as a boy, and others as a girl. The thing is…Riley isn’t exactly out yet. And between starting a new school and having a congressman father running for reelection in uber-conservative Orange County, the pressure—media and otherwise—is building up in Riley’s so-called “normal” life.

On the advice of a therapist, Riley starts an anonymous blog to vent those pent-up feelings and tell the truth of what it’s REALLY like to be a gender fluid teenager. But just as Riley’s starting to settle in at school—even developing feelings for a mysterious outcast—the blog goes viral, and an unnamed commenter discovers Riley’s real identity, threatening exposure. Riley must make a choice: walk away from what the blog has created—a lifeline, new friends, a cause to believe in—or stand up, come out, and risk everything.

(from Goodreads)

4 / 5 Stars

So very good. On so many levels.

I love the way Riley is portrayed. "Am I a boy, or am I girl?" It's the question a lot of people in Riley's life ask and it's a question, I found myself asking as well. Not because it matters but more because in my misguided way, I thought I needed to know in order to understand.

I was wrong because by the end of Symptoms of Being Human Riley's gender didn't play any part in my understanding at all.

This is a powerful book and one I hope a lot of people get their hands on and devour.

For me, it was a fantastic look into the life of a gender fluid teen. A teen who has questions and is afraid, just like so many of us.

If anything, it was maybe a little too full of information? I think the story and the plot might have suffered a little because of all the information that needed to be shared.

But!

I don't think that's a bad thing.

If you're curious about what being gender fluid means or if you have someone if your life that is gender fluid and you're looking for some insight into what they might be or have gone through, I think Symptoms of Being Human is a great book to pick up.

Book Review: Read Bottom Up by Heel Shah and Skye Chatham

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Publication: April 2015 from Dey Street Books
Acquisition: received a copy from the publisher

Synopsis:

A charming novel about falling in love (or like) in the digital age—the never-before-seen full story

Madeline and Elliot meet at a New York City restaurant opening. Flirtation—online—ensues. A romance, potentially eternal, possibly doomed, begins.

And, like most things in life today, their early exchanges are available to be scrutinized and interpreted by well-intentioned friends who are a mere click away.

Madeline and Elliot's relationship unfolds through a series of thrilling, confounding, and funny exchanges with each other, and, of course, with their best friends and dubious confidants (Emily and David). The result is a brand-new kind of modern romantic comedy, in format, in content, and even in creation—the authors exchanged e-mails in real time, blind to each other's side conversations. You will nod in appreciation and roll your eyes in recognition; you'll learn a thing or two about how the other half approaches a new relationship . . . and you will cheer for an unexpected ending that just might restore your faith in falling in love, twenty-first-century style.

(from Goodreads)

4 / 5 Stars

Adult contemporary rom-coms are very much not my thing. When this one showed up in my mail box I was thinking - thank you so much Dey Street Books for thinking of me but oh man, what am I going to do with this now!

It sat near my computer for a bit then one day I went to move it to a more convenient location and flipped through it a little.

The format of emails and text messages was intriguing and then I read the Author's Note and saw how it was written basically in real time - with each author in the dark about a lot of what the other was writing.

Color me more intrigued!

I read the first page, then the second and before I knew it was throwing my bias to the wind and I finished it in pretty much one sitting.

Read Bottom Up was a really fun. The dual perspective, the realistic relationships, the unexpected but welcomed outcome - all of it fit so well together.

A very surprising and enjoyable read!

Book Review: Strangelets by Michelle Gagnon

Genre: YA Mystery Sci-fi Paranormal
Publication: April 2013 by Soho Press
Acquisition: bought

Synopsis:

17-year-old Sophie lies on her deathbed in California, awaiting the inevitable loss of her battle with cancer…

17-year-old Declan stares down two armed thugs in a back alley in Galway, Ireland…

18-year-old Anat attempts to traverse a booby-trapped tunnel between Israel and Egypt…

All three strangers should have died at the exact same moment, thousands of miles apart. Instead, they awaken together in an abandoned hospital—only to discover that they’re not alone. Three other teens from different places on the globe are trapped with them. Somebody or something seems to be pulling the strings. With their individual clocks ticking, they must band together if they’re to have any hope of surviving.

Soon they discover that they've been trapped in a future that isn't of their making: a deadly, desolate world at once entirely familiar and utterly strange. Each teen harbors a secret, but only one holds the key that could get them home. As the truth comes to light Sophie, Declan, Anat, and the rest must decide what to do with a second chance at life—if they can survive to claim it.

(from Goodreads)

4 / 5 Stars

This book was weird - in a good way! And it takes place on Long Island! Not in Long Island!

("On" being 100% correct and "In" being 100% wrong -- it's the little things like this that make me happy cause I'm ridiculous - Ha!)

Anywho!

Yes! This book is good!

Seriously though, I really really enjoyed Strangelets.

Right from the start it pulls you in. It's a fantastic ride and for the most part you can't tell which way is up. The characters were interesting. The setting was detailed, which helped set the tone, and it was also a little vague, which helped fuel my imagination.

We get some small insights into the lives of the team of characters before they are all thrown together in an impossible situation. As a reader, you don't know any more then they do. They are trying to figure things out and you're right there with them. Love when suspense stories work this way.

On - and the ending? I'm still not sure I really know what it all was. But! I love this aspect of the book! It wasn't a frustrating ending, rather, it was the type of ending that left things open for a lot of possibilities. I don't think there is a second book planned, which means your imagination is free! Kinda love when standalones do this.

If anything, I wish it were longer - I was craving a bit more details and maybe more explanations. As a thriller / mystery it's great but there isn't as much closure as I would have liked.

It's still a pretty fantastic standalone that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

Book Review: After the End by Amy Plum

Book #1 of the After the End series
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publication: May 2014 by HarperTeen
Acquisition: gift

Synopsis:

She’s searching for answers to her past. They’re hunting her to save their future.

World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness. They've survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there.

At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.

When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact. Everything was a lie.

Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she's trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past.

(from Goodreads)

4 / 5 Stars

Dystopian pretext with out the actual dystopia. How in the world was Juneau and her clan secluded from the rest of the world for so long! Needing an answer to this question was the main reason I read After The End.

Did I get my answer? Yes - but I also got a whole lot more!

I absolutely loved Juneau. She is the epitome of the strong female character. What makes her so perfect is her sense of herself. She knows who she is, she knows her strengths and weaknesses and even when she doubts herself she never looses who she fundamentally is. She doesn't let people tell her what she can and can't do - and she doesn't need to argue the point, or push back . She is 100% confident in her abilities and when faced with something she knows she can't handle she doesn't turn into a whinny mess. She figures it out and she gets it done!

Seriously - I love her!

Some of the science stuff was a little off - and the logistics of some other things didn't really mesh together for me. Overall though, I really enjoyed After the End and I started reading book 2 pretty immediately after finishing.

There is something about Juneau's story that seriously propels you forward - wanting more and more answers. And again, maybe the answers themselves weren't neat and clean but the journey was what was important -the driving force of Juneau needing to save her tribe and searching for answers.

A great dystopian pretext story (new genre here? ;) -- highly recommended!

Book Reivew: Amity by Micol Ostow

Genre: YA Horror Thriller Paranormal
Publication: August 2014 by EgmontUSA
Acquisition: read a free eARC via NetGalley

Synopsis:

Here is a house of ruin and rage, of death and deliverance.

Here is where I live, not living.

Here is always mine.

When Connor's family moves to Amity, a secluded house on the peaceful banks of New England's Concord River, his nights are plagued with gore-filled dreams of demons. destruction, and revenge. Dreams he kind of likes. Dreams he could make real, with Amity's help.

Ten years later, Gwen's family moves to Amity for a fresh start. Instead, she's haunted by lurid visions, disturbing voices, and questions about her own sanity. But with her history, who would ever believe her? And what could be done if they did?

Because Amity isn't just a house. She is a living force, bent on manipulating her inhabitants to her twisted will. She will use Connor and Gwen to bring about a violent end as she's done before. As she'll do again. And again. And again.

Inspired by a true-crime story, Amity spans generations to weave an overlapping, interconnected tale of terror, insanity. danger, and death.

(from Goodreads)

4 / 5 Stars

Amity was good, predictable and creepy.

The good -- the writing, the characters, the setting -all very solid and all very well developed and laid out. I'm one of those, movie in my head, types of readers and the imagery in Amity was fabulous. Even now, after having finished it a while ago, I can still clearly see it all - the house, the river, the backyard, the second floor hallway, the basement - it's all still there.

So, predictable? Yeah. I mean, I knew there was a haunted house, and bad things happened, and were going to happen. I knew there were 2 sets of characters and they had some type of horrible connection. There isn't much surprise in Amity but at the same time, there doesn't need to be. A horror story without any twists isn't any less horrific.

Oh - and creepy, let's not forget creepy! I love love love a good haunted (or cursed or dammed or what have you) house (or location or person). It's sometimes a crap shoot though because haunted house + evil doesn't = automatic great thriller. Amity, however, packed a punch - actual cliche 'chills running down my spine' moments.

So yeah, If you like YA thrillers, you'll really enjoy Amity. And if you don't like thrillers Amity is a good one to try if you're looking to be pushed out of your comfort zone!

Book Review: The Detour by S.A. Bodeen

Genre: YA Contemporary Thriller
Publication: October 2015 by Feiwel and Friends
Acquisition: bought

Synopsis:

Livvy Flynn is a seventeen-year-old bestselling author whose YA fiction has sold all over the world. People in the industry kiss up to her. She’s rich, she’s famous, and she’s full of herself.

When she’s invited to an A-list writers’ conference, she decides to accept so she can work on her next book and enjoy the admiration—and envy—of the writer wannabes. Plus, she has a new, cute sports car, and it’ll be fun to drive there by herself.

And then she hits the detour. Before she knows it, the car is wrecked, she’s hurt, and she’s trapped in a basement, with no idea where she is. A woman and her apparently manic daughter have kidnapped her. And they have no intention of letting her go.

(from Goodreads)

4 / 5 Stars

This one was weird! Sort of a Stephen King's Misery meets...angsty teen after school special.

So...I really shouldn't have liked it. I mean, I'm all for a good, scary, strange King like read but I tend to stay far away from whiny teenage angst.

Oh, and Livvy is a whiner! And she's obnoxious and conceited and a bit ridiculous. But, that's kinda the point - we aren't suppose to like her. So, when she hits that detour and gets kidnapped - I didn't really care what happened to her.

Except, I did! I really really wanted to know what was up with this crazy women and her crazy daughter. I wanted to know why Livvy was the way she was and how everything fit together.

In a world, this book really was thrilling -- a true thriller from start to end.

It's a quick read too, and pretty realistic - disturbing sure, but realistically so.

If anything I wish Livvy didn't....yeah - not gonna spoil it for you ;)

I highly recommend this one!

Book Review: My Second Life by Faye Bird

Genre: YA Paranormal Mystery
Publication: January 19, 2016 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Acquisition: read a free eARC via NetGalley

Synopsis:

A pacy pageturner that asks: Can you be held responsible now for something you did in a previous life?

Fifteen-year-old Ana has a good life--she has friends and a boy she likes and a kind mother--but still, she's haunted by her past; she knows that she lived once before as a girl named Emma, and she still misses her old family. When, by chance in her life now, Ana meets a woman she knew in her previous life, a terrifying memory flashes through her mind of a young girl drowning. Was Emma responsible? And should Ana pay the price? Consumed by guilt, Ana sets out to find out as much as possible about the person she was before and what she had done, only to discover that the family she misses so deeply had dark secrets of its own. To come to terms with her life now, Ana must figure out how to let go of the past.

(from Goodreads)

4 / 5 Stars

Very good!

Not my usual read - take away the past life strangeness and it's a teen angst filled contemp and those don't always do it for me.

Add back in that strange past life business and the story takes on a whole different turn.

I love that Ana isn't consumed by her past life - rather, it's just a part of her that she has to deal with. She doesn't tell anyone, she doesn't try to figure it out - it just is.
Sure, her relationships have been affected, but Ana is the only one who knows why. And she just sorta goes with it.

Until! Things happen! Ana's view on her past life changes and all hell breaks loose...in a teen angsty sort of way but still, in a very real life sort of way.

At no time did I question Ana's convictions and at no time did I question why she was doing what she was doing. Emma is a very real part of Ana's life and Emma needs answers.

The paranormal elements is what drew me to My Second Life and the underlying mystery of Emma's life is what kept me reading.
Me = very happy reader.

Book Review: Sanctuary Bay by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz

Genre: YA Contemporary Sci-fi Mystery
Publication: January 19, 2016 by St. Martin's Griffin
Acquisition: read a free eARC via NetGalley

Synopsis:

In this genre-bending YA thriller, will Sarah Merson's shiny new prep school change her life forever or bring it to a dark and sinister end?

When Sarah Merson receives the opportunity of a lifetime to attend the most elite prep school in the country-Sanctuary Bay Academy-it seems almost too good to be true. But, after years of bouncing from foster home to foster home, escaping to its tranquil setting, nestled deep in Swans Island, couldn't sound more appealing. Swiftly thrown into a world of privilege and secrets, Sarah quickly realizes finding herself noticed by class charmer, Nate, as well as her roommate's dangerously attentive boyfriend, Ethan, are the least of her worries. When her roommate suddenly goes missing, she finds herself in a race against time, not only to find her, but to save herself and discover the dark truth behind Sanctuary Bay's glossy reputation.

In this genre-bending YA thriller, Sanctuary Bay by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz, Sarah's new school may seem like an idyllic temple of learning, but as she unearths years of terrifying history and manipulation, she discovers this "school" is something much more sinister.

(from Goodreads)

4 / 5 Stars

I'm a total sucker for a good boarding school mystery. And creepy abandoned asylums? Yep, love those too. Oh! And secluded secret islands? Yeppy yep!

Sanctuary Bay basically has all these things - so, even though the story irked me a bit here and there, overall, I was a very happy reader.

What didn't I like?
The implausibility of certain things...the way the characters developed...Sarah, our MC didn't quite do it for me at times...
It was all very minor though.

What did I like?
Pretty much everything else. Yeah Sarah annoyed me but I loved the way her brain worked and I love how even though I was so so sure of what was going on, because she had doubt, I had doubt. It very much felt like I was living Sarah's life with her. So, maybe not very plausible scenarios but still very realistic ones.

The mystery was kind of predictable but also a bit unique. The romance(s) was great! It wasn't over the top or eye roll worthy and all of the relationships felt very genuine.

Contemporary fans, sci-fi fans, mystery fans - I think a lot of different readers could enjoy this one and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it!

Book Review: These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

Genre: YA Historical Mystery
Publication: October 27, 2015 by Random House Delacorte
Acquisition: read a free eARC via NetGalley

Synopsis:

Set in gilded age New York, These Shallow Graves follows the story of Josephine Montfort, an American aristocrat. Jo lives a life of old-money ease. Not much is expected of her other than to look good and marry well. But when her father dies due to an accidental gunshot, the gilding on Jo’s world starts to tarnish. With the help of a handsome and brash reporter, and a young medical student who moonlights in the city morgue, Jo uncovers the truth behind her father’s death and learns that if you’re going to bury the past, you’d better bury it deep.

(from Goodreads)

4 / 5 Stars

This is a good book and I really wasn't sure it was going to be. Me = pleasantly, happily, surprised.

Reasons I was worried:

1. Josephine was going to be a snooty self absorbed rich girl I would have a hard time relating to
2. Everyone would be a stereotype (rich / poor - well breed / working class trash - proper ladies / dashing young gentlemen)
3. The mystery would be predictable
4. The setting would get boring

I WAS WRONG ABOUT ALL OF THESE THINGS!

So yes, Josephine is a rich, well breed proper lady whose has a seemingly predictable mystery thrust into her life and must navigate through it in the set in its ways gilded age of NYC.

BUT!

It was so easy and downright fun relating to Josephine. She's knows her place in her world and in her family but it doesn't stop her from listening to and following her heart.

The characters didn't feel like stereotypes - more like true representations of people from this time period which duh, I'm sure it what Donnelly was going for but yes, I was still worried it wasn't going to work.

The mystery was...ok...it was predictable - but not in the ways I thought it would be. There were a lot of layers and details that I wasn't expecting.

New York City's gilded age, while diverse, if portrayed through the wrong light, could get tedious to read about. Not so in These Shallow Graves. A lot of different places, cultures and people were incorporated into the story in very real ways. It was never boring.

So really, there is only 1 thing that brought this down to a 4 start read.

It was the ending.

I didn't like it.

I mean, the outcome of it all? It was good...not great and not really what I would have wanted but it was ok.

But the details? So many coincidences and a lot of it felt rushed. I could see how all the pieces fit together...it just didn't feel very believable.

In the end though - a pretty good read and one that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

Book Review: Glitch by Brenda Pandos

Book # 1 in the Lost In Time series
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian, Sci-fi, Time Travel
Publication: January 2014 by Obsidian Mountain Publishing
Acquisition: NetGalley

Synopsis:

Perfect world. Lies. Blue eyes.

When a mysterious guy from the forbidden zone sneaks an illegal slip of paper to a beautiful young girl from Brighton, she must decide if she should turn him in or follow what the note says.

Eighteen-year-old Abigail has no trouble following Brighton’s rules. For one, she’s OCD about checking her Date of Death clock latched to her wrist, making sure her decisions never shorten her timeline, and two, she enjoys the peace Brighton has to offer. In no way would she bring on another attack that destroyed earth’s inhabitants. But when her best friend returns from her Advice Meeting--a glimpse into the future--shocked and won’t tell Abby what’s happened, Abby is worried what awaits her glimpse. The stranger with blue eyes knows something, but does Abby dare enter the forbidden zone to get answers? Or is she doomed to live the life set in her glimpse?

(from Goodreads)

4 / 5 Stars

Requested this one from NetGalley because I've always enjoyed Brenda's books. Happy to report that Glitch didn't disappoint.

A bit different from what I expected, a bit hard to follow at times, but overall a really cool story. Some dystopian, some time travel, some romance - it all really worked for me.

The ending had me a little confused and I can't say I loved Abigail all that much but I was pulled into the story pretty hard core - every page had me looking forward to the next.

In my opinion Brenda did a fab job blending the dystopian feel with the perils of messing with time. But! Oh man! Major cliffhanger! Annoyed me a first but I got over that quirky when I realized what awaited me in book 2.

I will for sure be picking up Switch!

Origins: The Fire by Debra Driza

E-novella / Short Story

MILA 2.0 #0.5

January 2013 from Katherine Tegen Books

free download

Kindle / Nook

Synopsis:

Mila can't remember anything before the fire that took her father's life. It's normal to have some memory loss after traumatic events, but Mila doesn't remember if she's ever learned to ride a bike, or if she's ever been in love. Nothing.

What she doesn't know is that she isn't supposed to remember—that she was built in a computer science lab and programmed to forget. Because if she remembers, she might discover her true identity.

The question is: If she relived the fire, what would she see?

(from Goodreads)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A very quick, very fast and very frightening read. I'm not a fan of fire - or reading about being trapped in a fire - or escaping a fire - or surviving a fire and...that's pretty much all this short story is!

Although it is short and not much (besides fire!) happens, I did fell like I got a sense of who Mila is. I liked what I saw and I would very much like to read more of her.

Felt sort of like a first chapter - where we get a little tease as to what's to come without a whole lot of background or details. Very much made me want to run out and buy MILA 2.0 as soon as I was done! (UPDATE: I did! It's sitting on my shelf now begging to be read!)

Without having yet read MILA 2.0 I can't say how 'crucial' this short story is to the plot but it's an enjoyable read none the less. If you're on the fence about starting this series, this short might help you make up your mind.

Rating:

4 / 5 Stars

Book Review: Blood Moon by Alyxandra Harvey

Blood Moon (Drake Chronicles #5)

Alyxandra Harvey

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication: June 2012 from Walker Childrens
Pages: 320
Format: paperback
Acquisition: bought

Synopsis:

When the vampire tribes convene for the rare Blood Moon ceremonies, Solange Drake is plunged into a battle with her feral nature. The Drake brothers have been raised knowing they had to protect their younger sister at all cost. But forbidden magic and a mysterious stranger have put all of them in terrible danger.

Nicholas is going to have to make a difficult choice: between his girlfriend, Lucy, and his little sister, Solange - blood or love?

Goodreads

My Thoughts
With only 1 more book in the series to go, Alyxandra didn't pull any punches with Blood Moon!

The Drake Chronicles have always been a character driven series and book 5 is no exception. Unlike previous books in this series, Blood Moon isn't focused on a new set of potential romantic partners within the Drake family. Instead we get the point of view of 3 central characters - Lucy, Nicholas and Solange. Since these 3 have always been my favorite, I was very happy :)

If you know this series you know that the Drake's are always getting themselves in trouble one way or another. Although this is central theme to each book, it doesn't get old. The Drake's and their world are both a uniquely wonderful and grounded in enough traditional vampire lore to make for a hell of a story line - no matter what the specific focus is.

Without giving too much away -- if you're gotten this far with the series book 5 is a must read! (after the mini cliff hanger of book 4). The last tale in the chronicles is already on shelves and I recommend gobbling up books 5 and 6 in quick succession!

Will I continue the series?
Yes! With only 1 more book to go I'm really curious how things turn out for the Drakes.

Rating

4 / 5 Stars

The Drake Chronicles
#0.1 Corsets and Crossbows
#0.5 Lost Girls
#1.0 Hearts at Stake
#2.0 Blood Feud
#3.0 Out For Blood
#3.5 A Killer First Date
#4.0 Bleeding Hearts
#4.5 A Field Guide To Vampires
#5.0 Blood Moon
#6.0 Blood Prophecy

Book Review: Wander Dust by Michelle Warren

"loved [the time travel] aspect of the book."

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: November 2011
Pages: 374
Series: 1st in a series
Format: e-book
Acquisition: Free download

Synopsis:

Ever since her sixteenth birthday, strange things keep happening to Seraphina Parrish.

The Lady in Black… burns Sera’s memories.

Unexplainable Premonitions… catapult her to other cities.

The Grungy Gang… wants to kill her.

And a beautiful, mysterious boy… stalks her.

But when Sera moves to Chicago, and her aunt reveals their family connection to a centuries old, secret society, she is immediately thrust into an unbelievable fantasy world, leading her on a quest to unravel the mysteries that plague her. In the end, their meanings crash into an epic struggle of loyalty and betrayal, and she’ll be forced to choose between the boy who has stolen her heart and the thing she desires most.

Wander Dust is the breathtaking fantasy that will catapult you through a story of time, adventure, and love.

(from Goodreads)

Overall Feelings:
Happy with a little bit of wonder thrown in.

My Thoughts:
Going into Wander Dust, I really didn’t know what to expect. My sister, who is 16 absolutely loves this book and she desperately wanted me to read it. She also told me she didn't think I would love it as much as her - she knows me so well :)

Did I enjoy Wander Dust? Absolutely! Did I love it to pieces? Not really but I can see why my sister does.

There is a very light hearted feel to this story. Not a lot of over burdening explanations for actions and events. Things kind of move along at their own pace and seem to happen naturally. Which, the more I think about it, shouldn't really work considering the main story is about time travel!

And yeah? Time travel? Awesome subject and one that you don't see all that often. I loved this aspect of the book.

Then there is Seraphina who I have to say I really liked. She didn't wine or complain when life flipped itself over her head (literally) and she doesn't doubt herself. She is a character I can really see young girls looking up to and that can sometime be a rare trait in YA heroines these days!

Will I continue the series?:
Yes! My sister has already read book 2 and she said it was even more fabulous then the first.

Rating:

4 / 5 Stars

The Seraphina Parrish Trilogy:
#1 Wander Dust
#2 Protecting Truth
#3 Untitled (2013?)

The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #2) by Michelle Hodkin

** SPOILER FREE ** ** SPOILER FREE ** ** SPOILER FREE **

"Where Mara Dyer is concerned, NEEDING to know how everything ends amounts to a type of obsession. "

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: October 2012
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 544
Series: 2nd in the Mara Dyer series
Acquisition: I won an ARC from the publisher

Summary:

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next? (from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS:
Wow. Ok. This is a hard one.

So...um...yeah…

VERY hard to review this one without giving away anything and believe, me you do not want this one spoiled for you. No worries though - I'm giving nothing away!

After the dramatic, traumatic, manic, panic, heart in your throat roller coast ride that was Mara Dyer book 1 you would expect nothing less from book 2 - correct? I know I didn't. While by the end I was (mostly) satisfied it wasn't all butterflies and rainbows for me while reading. In fact, I was pretty pissed off for large chunks of this book.

I had TONS of theories as to what exactly was going on with Mara. Some, I'm happy to say, I was right about. Others I was completely wrong about. AND THEN! Hodkin's threw in some total what-the-f-ery. Starting with chapter 16. OMG chapter 16 almost brought about a cold freeze -- literally, as books that piss me off tend to end up in my freezer (don't ask...really...just don't).

So, I was confused, I was upset, I was mad but what's really important is that at no point did I ever consider giving up on Mara because again - OMG WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING HERE!?

Did I like the turn(s) of events? I think so….

Do I agree with the things that happen(ed) and why? Not sure…

Did The Evolution of Mara Dyer make me feel all the feelings? Most defiantly.

FINAL VERDICT:
Despite some pissiness caused by the story line, my exclamations of "OMG that doesn’t make a lick of sense! ...ok...so maybe a little… *grumble* *grumble* ok, I get it now" and some cringe worthy scenes (romantic? disgusting? Way too unbelievable? --- not telling!) -- all in all I would have to say that I very much enjoyed this book.

If anything though, I almost feel like too much was revealed. Book 1 had so many possibilities floating around and book 2 kind of throws them all in your face at once. Some might say that there is still a lot left to discover and a lot left to flesh out both character and plot wise and while this is true, I also feel like some of the mystery is gone.

BUT! On the flip side of this, if NOTHING was revealed I don't know that I would have enjoyed it as much as I did.

WILL I CONTINUE WITH THIS SERIES?: Um - YES! Even if I hated this book (which I very much didn't) I would have to read book 3.

Where Mara Dyer is concerned, NEEDING to know how everything ends amounts to a type of obsession.

Overall Rating:

4 / 5 Stars

Books in the Mara Dyer Series:
#1 The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
#2 The Evolution of Mara Dyer
#3 The Retribution of Mara Dyer (2013)

Author's website / Goodreads / IndieBound

Book Review: Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: February 2011 (Paperback August 2012)
Publisher: Hyperion
Pages: 336
Series: no
Acquisition: ARC from BEA 2010

Summary:

Being only half-vamp in a high school like Carpathia Night makes you a whole loser. But Danny Gray manages to escape the worst of the specists at his school. Thanks to genetic treatments he had as an infant, most people assume Danny's other half is human. Which is a good thing.

Ever since the development of synthetic blood – SynHeme – vamps have become society’s elite, while wulves like his father work menial jobs and live in bad neighborhoods. Wulves are less than second class citizens; once a month they become inmates, forced to undergo their Change in dangerous government compounds.

For Danny, living with his vamp mother and going to a school with a nearly all-vamp student body, it’s best to pretend his wulf half doesn’t even exist. But lately Danny's been having some weird symptoms fantastic night vision; a keener-than-usual sense of smell; and headaches, right around the full moon.

Even though it's easy to be in denial, it's hard to ignore evidence. There's only a month until the next full moon, and Danny's time is running out.

Peter Moore speaks to adolescents in a voice that will have them laughing, set in a world that will get them thinking. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
I had Red Moon Rising for a while before getting the chance to read it and I'm very glad I did. Peter has created a paranormal lover's dream world. It's very much like our own except for a few additions. Namely species H. vampyros and H. lupus. Thanks to a mutation, humans (H. sapiens), share the earth with vampyres and wulves. About 99% identical genetically but worlds apart culturally and socially.

I absolutely love when paranormal elements are integrated so fully into a storyline. I also love when I can connect right away to a character, as I found myself doing with Danny. Before starting high school, Danny has had a pretty easy life, even if he is half-vamp and half-wulf. His mom and step dad are well off, he has good friends and thanks to genetic treatments he doesn't have to worry about Changing ever full moon….or so he thought. When strange things start to happen to Danny, he goes to his father, a full blooded wulf for help.

Final verdict:
Danny's journey through the first half of the book was a little slow moving, or rather predictable but it didn't take away anything from the story for me. Even if I had known every fact of Red Moon Rising before picking it up, I still would have enjoyed it. I never felt like I was racing towards some type of finish, rather like I was engaged in someone's actual life. More like a documentary then a blockbuster thriller.

Fans of vampire and werewolf YA books, you're in for a treat with this one! Highly recommended for those seeking something a little different - something you haven't seen 100x already.

Overall Rating:

4 / 5 Stars

Goodreads / IndieBound

*The cover is shown is from the paperback which comes out on August 7th. I personally like it a lot more then the original hardcover (show to the left).
What do you guys think?

Book Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: April 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 293
Series: 1st in a series
Acquisition: NetGalley

Summary:

EVERY GIRL WHO HAS TAKEN THE TEST HAS DIED.

NOW IT'S KATE'S TURN.

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear that her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride and a goddess.

IF SHE FAILS… (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
I wasn't quite sure what to expect at first from The Goddess Test. I really love Greek mythology but I was worried it would either be too heavy and not very well explained or too unimportant and irrelevant. Thankfully, The Goddess Test was neither of these things! The mythology was represented really well and it was easy to get wrapped up in the story without feeling overwhelmed with facts.

I loved the natural flow of the story and it's characters -nothing felt rushed. I did find myself shaking my head a few times. Mostly over the romance and at times a few of the supporting characters were a little over the top. For the most part though, I really enjoyed everything.

Final verdict:
The entire story and really the entire world of these characters takes place in a sort of bubble. You have to suspend your grasp on reality a bit to get the full experience. In that respect it reads more like a fantasy novel then a paranormal one. I happen to love fantasy so I didn't have a problem with this but I can see how those who were hoping for a fun YA paranormal romance might be a little disappointed.

Overall I was pretty captivated by Kate's journey and I know Goddess Test is going to be a series I finish. I'm a little surprised because the romance did have hints of insta-love, which I normally can't stand. I guess in this case, I really wanted Henry to be happy and I really felt invested in Kate, that I was able to overlook the less then perfect aspects of their relationship.

Overall Rating:

4 / 5 Stars

Books in the Goddess Test Series:
#1 The Goddess Test
#1.5 The Goddess Hunt
#2 Goddess Interrupted
#2.5 The Goddess Legacy - July 2012
#3 The Goddess Inheritance - April 2013

Author's website / Goodreads / IndieBound