Review: The Iron Daughter, by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Daughter, by Julie Kagawa.
Published: August 1, 2010
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
ISBN: 9780373210138
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 359
Source: Bought
Series: Iron Fey #2

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—ironbound 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 stuck 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.

Goodness these covers are absolutely gorgeous.

I'm so in love with the world Julie Kagawa has created. The Winter, Summer, and Iron Fey are all so unique in their appearance, actions, and abilities. I can't help but crave more of the world.

I'll warn you now, while I like both Ash and Puck, I am absolutely Team Puck. I simply do not understand the romance between she and Ash. When they aren't making googly eyes at each other, or making out, he's telling her they can never be together. It gets old. Quickly. Maybe because I prefer Puck's character, who is the NICE guy. Dammit, for once, I want the nice guy to get the girl. But we know this isn't going to happen. So I'm wondering, how do you push forward in a series, knowing the protagonist will not end up with the one you want her with?

Speaking of the protagonist. Meghan annoyed the bloody hell out of me this time around. I don't know why, if she changed or if I did, because I adored her in the first book. This time I just wanted to tell her to shut the hell up and focus on what was most important. Because the fate of the fey weren't on the line or anything, so thinking about Ash every damn second definitely made more sense.....

Did I mention I loved the story? Because hotdamn, I love the story. I was drawn in, anxiously flipping pages to find out what happens next, simultaneously fighting the urge to throw the book any time love came into the equation. Whether it was Puck or Ash, I didn't want to read it. Because in the end of a love triangle, someone always gets hurt. I loath a love triangle.

I love the story, so I'll continue reading the series. But dammit I wish there wasn't a love triangle.

4/5 Stars

Review: Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler
Published: October 18, 2010
Publisher: Harcourt
ISBN: 9780547341248
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 177
Source: NetGalley
Series: Horsemen of the Apocalypse #1

“Thou art the Black Rider. Go thee out unto the world.” 

Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? 

Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home: her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power — and the courage to battle her own inner demons?

Hunger was not was I expected. Not in the least. In some ways this is a good thing, in other ways, not so much.

Death was a fascinating character, but unfortunately, he's the only secondary character who really stood out to me. Lisa was a great protagonist, if only because she was so flawed you couldn't help but feel for her. When I first realized that a girl with anorexia was going to be Famine, I found it ironic. (As did some characters in the story) But now that I've finished reading it, it makes perfect sense, and I loved the way Kessler intertwined mythology and real life, serious issues. 

Lisabeth didn't just fall into the role of famine out of a case of back luck, nor was she born into the role. Her actions and her choices in life lead her to that position, and I think that's something that sets Hunger apart from your typical paranormal/fantasy.

My only real issue with the story is the lack of action. Even if I hadn't gone in expecting action out of the apocalypse (I admit, I totally did) there still wasn't much action for a story about anything. It is beautifully written, and well paced, so perhaps the short length is what created this problem for me. 

I don't really understand the apocalypse aspect of the story, either. I assume the world must be in the middle of the apocalypse, but Lisabeth doesn't seem to address this issue in any way, whatsoever. Which I guess is understandable in a way, considering the real issue in Hunger was her struggle with an eating disorder, which I think Kessler captured perfectly. Still, I can't help but feel as though the story was lacking something, plot wise. 

4/5 Stars

Language: Mild
Sexual content: References to sex

Review: My Sparkling Misfortunate, by Laura Lond

My Sparkling Misfortune, by Laura Lond and Alla Alekseyeva (illustrator)
Published: April 28, 2010
Publisher: Dream Books LLC
ISBN: 9781616580834
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 164
Source: Provided by author for an honest review
Series: The Lakeland Knight Series

Lord Arkus of Blackriver Castle readily admits that he is a villain and sees no reason why it should stop him from being the protagonist of this book. After all, Prince Kellemar, an aspiring hero, has defeated him in a rather questionable way. Bent on revenge, Arkus attempts to capture a powerful evil spirit who would make him nearly invincible, but a last-minute mistake leaves him with a sparkling instead a goody-goody spirit that helps heroes, watches over little children, and messes up villains plans. Bound to Lord Arkus for five years of service and sworn to act in his best interests, the sparkling is not easy to get rid of, and of course his understanding of best interests is quite different from what Lord Arkus has in mind.

I almost didn't accept My Sparkling Misfortune for review. Complete with illustrations, this book seemed to lean too far into the MG category for my liking, but the blurb drew me in and I just had to give it a shot. I am so glad I did. Having read it, I would have been missing out on an absolutely adorable story!

This book won me over in the first few pages. I had already smiled numerous times, and let me tell you, it's rare for a book to genuinely make me smile. Lord Arkus is a self-proclaimed villain, but despite his best efforts to stay that way, deep down it just isn't who he is--not completely. We start to see this in these small deeds that he does along the way, though he himself just brushes them off as a rare moment of kindness. Those "rare" moments being to pile up, however, and Lord Arkus' realization and subsequent denial is hilarious.

This book is aimed at younger readers, that much is clear. But it's so much fun, I recommend everyone to give it a try if you're looking for a lighthearted, enjoyable read. Because My Sparkling Misfortune does not disappoint in that regard.

First memorable line: "Hmm...perhaps Korvaleus was right, writing a book is not so easy as it seems, and I shouldn't have, uh....Oh well. He'd deserved it anyway." This was in the second paragraph, and I was already smiling.

My only complaint is that it was too short. Classic MG length, but I'd have loved to have more.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Review: The Goddess Test, by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Test, by Aimee Carter
Published: April 19, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
ISBN: 9780373210268
Genre: YA fantasy
Pages: 297
Source: NetGalley
Series: Goddess Test #1

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 now 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 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..

I honestly have no idea how to review The Goddess Test. I enjoyed it, but there were things that annoyed me. I'll start with those things.

Watering down badass creatures. It started with vampires....werewolves....fairies....zombies.....now Greek Gods and Goddesses? I think this is where my biggest problem lies. I imagine all of the gods and goddesses acting like, well...gods. Henry is not only a god, but he's Hades. If I imagine any of them as a monster, it would be him. But he isn't. None of them are, not really. This seems like the thing to do now. Soften the monsters. I want to read a story where a girl falls in love with a monster despite the fact that he acts like the monster he is.

Second, some of the scenes just felt silly. The scene by the river (that's all I'm saying) that gets this all started was kind of laughable.

I don't understand why Kate felt the way she felt about any of them. I'm not sure how she fell in love with Henry, who hardly opened his mouth. I don't understand her friendship with Ava, the girl who started it all. The only loyalty I can understand is the loyalty for her mother.

Despite all of that, I enjoyed the story. I was able to get lost in it and look past the things that annoyed me, fairly easily. I love the story of the gods and goddesses, but if I sit and think about this as a separate story, I loved it. If I completely ignore the fact that Henry is supposed to be the Hades, it was a great read!

I'm afraid I don't know what else to say about The Goddess Test. I enjoyed it, some things annoyed me but regardless, it's still a definite four-star for enjoyment.

4/5 Stars 

Review: Unearthly, by Cynthia Hand

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Published: January 4, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 9780061996160
Genre: YA paranormal/fantasy
Pages: 435
Source: Netgalley
Series: Unearthly #1

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.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

**This review may contain slight spoilers regarding Tucker Avery. You've been warned!**

I'll start with the first thing we all I notice about a book. That gorgeous cover. It's absolutely stunning, as are many YA paranormal releases this year, and last year. I'm developing an issue with that. The problem is, I need to stop judging a book by its cover, but that's a difficult thing to get over. This cover, along with many others, have given me the impression that the books would be dark, poetic even. While this was a great one (as were the others) it just isn't what I expect going in.

Anyway. I love that Unearthly opened with Clara knowing she was part angel. It isn't something we have to wait for her to discover, and then deal with her reaction before we can get to the gist of the story. She knows from the first page, and that's uncommon. Loved it.

The characters stood out to me above all. The story, her purpose, none of that stood out to me the way the characters did. From the first time we meet Tucker Avery, I was hooked on him. I kept asking myself, "how does she not see the hottie cowboy right in front of her?" (okay so maybe I don't normally find the cowboy thing attractive. Perhaps I make exceptions for fiction.) I loved her friends and brother and mother as well. Even Christian, whom I suspected would give me a reason to detest him at some point down the line. But he didn't. There's really no definitive love triangle in this book. There's a shadow of one, but not really. I liked that because I am so sick of love triangles. For Clara, it was never "I have feelings for them both but who do I love more?" It was more true love vs her angelic predetermination.

In the end, Clara is forced to make a decision. A very, very difficult one, but I do believe she made the right one. Regardless of what the outcome would have been, I think she made the right choice. I was a little annoyed by the ending. The whole cliffhanger thing is getting old. Unearthly is no doubt one of those, but it wasn't really one that leaves me dying for the next book. It was just...okay. (Tucker leaves me dying for the next book, for the record.) The ending aside, I loved Tucker Unearthly. I'll definitely be anticipating the next installment.

4/5 Stars

Review: Bumped, by Megan McCafferty

Bumped by Megan McCafferty
Published: April 26, 2011
ISBN: 9780061962745
Genre: YA dystopian
Pages: 336
Source: NetGalley
Series: Bumped #1

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. 

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job. 

Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her that “pregging” for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from. 

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

I read the last sentence of Bumped and continued reading into the Acknowledgements before I realized that that was actually the ending. What the hell? *looks around* *crickets* WHAT THE HELL?! Did it really just end that way?! Did I get a bunk galley copy that cutoff before the end was truly there?

No. It totally ended that way.

I loved the world McCafferty built. While I'd never want to imagine a world in which teenagers were the only ones able to have children, there seem to be enough teen pregnancies in today's society for the concept of Bumped to not be too far off. We're fascinated with it, even if we believe we aren't. We must be fascinated with it, because who else is watching Teen Mom? We claim to want to fix this problem, but in reality, we're encouraging it.

The dialogue and futuristic slang was fantastic. I'm a huge fan of the Jessica Darling series, and I had hoped McCafferty would bring that witty edge to Bumped as well. She definitely didn't disappoint.

Bumped is told from alternating perspectives which is something I absolutely love if done correctly. I do think McCafferty pulled it off, and I definitely felt the difference between the two girls, as well as their similarities. But I wish there had been more development for each of them, because at times I felt like the story was moving too quickly for us to get a real feel for each of them. We know their basic characteristics and beliefs, but not much beyond that.

I have so many unanswered questions, and I'm sure they'll be answered in the following installments, but it doesn't erase the frustration I'm left with at this point. What caused the virus? How does Jondoe really feel? Why do they have to actually have sex? Why is artificial insemination no longer a possibility? Where the hell are the parents who still actually care about their children in a way that isn't encouraging premature sex and pregnancies, or in stark contrast, forced marriages. Where's the middle ground?

Basically it all boils down to the fact that I want more. I enjoyed the writing because (duh) it's Megan McCafferty. I'm pretty much dying to know what happens next at this point, and I need to muster up some patience--pronto.

4 Stars

Review: Vampire Crush, by A.M. Robinson

Vampire Crush, by A.M. Robinson
Published: December 28, 2010
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 9780061989711
Genre: Paranormal YA
Pages: 416
Source: Paperback copy provided by author for an honest review.
Series: n/a.

I swear, my life was always totally normal.

Normal house, normal family, normal school. My looks are average, I don't have any superpowers, no one's showing up to tell me I'm a princess—you get the picture. But when my junior year started, something not normal happened. There were new kids at school . . . new kids with a wardrobe straight out of a 19th-century romance novel, and an inexplicable desire to stay at school until sundown.

And on top of that, James Hallowell showed up. James, who stole my sandwiches in fourth grade and teased me mercilessly through middle school. James, who now seems to have the power to make my heart race any time he comes near.

But something weird is going on. Because James rarely goes out during the day. And he seems stronger than your typical guy. And he knows the new kids, all of whom seem to be harboring some kind of deep secret. . . .

I think you would have to be delusional to not see the similarities between the blurb and a certain popular teen vamp story that shall remain unnamed. But ignore those possible similarities, because they hardly exist at all once you start reading Vampire Crush. 

Starting with the cover--I love it. It has a simple beauty, but I will admit that I have no idea how it plays into the story, other than the old fashioned bat&vampire connection. 

I'm beyond over the vampire craze, but since I'll be one of the stops on the Vampire Crush blog tour (keep an eye out for her stop here, on March 16th) I wanted to have an opportunity to read it beforehand. I was pleasantly surprised with Vampire Crush, and so glad it didn't resemble that other vampire series that shall still remain unnamed. 

I believe the majority of the characters were well developed. I liked the heroine, although she irked me from time to time with her editor-in-chief determination when there were far more important things going in her life. James was adorable, and I particularly loved Violet. 

Vampire Crush had an edge to it that was fun and witty. I found myself smiling on numerous occasions, and even laughing out loud a few times. It never once lost my attention, and I devoured it from front to back without feeling the slightest sense of boredom. The only negative thing I would have to say about it is the ending. I wish it had packed a bigger punch, but I'm still pleased with the book as a whole. 

Overall, it was a lot of fun to read, and I'll definitely be looking out for anything else A. M. Robinson writes!

4/5 Stars

Review: The Family That Wasn't by Gene Twaronite

The Family That Wasn't, by Gene Twaronite
Published: August 24, 2010
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 9781450245173
Genre: MG/YA Fantasy
Pages: 128
Source: Provided by author for honest review
Series: n/a-?

The Family That Wasn't is a humorous fable of how our families live inside us. It will appeal to both teen and adult readers. The 13-year-old narrator, John Boggle (whose real name is John Bazukas-O'Reilly-Geronimo-Giovanni-Li Choy-Echeverria), finds his family so impossibly crazy that he cannot stand living with them another moment. He invents a new perfect family so convincing that he suddenly finds himself living inside this imaginary world.
But John finds that he too has changed. He sees his too perfect image in the mirror and begins to wonder if it is all some kind of mistake. Only trouble is, now he can't remember who he is. He only knows that he must leave this family at once. His sole clue is the name, John Boggle.
To find his true family he embarks on a cross country quest. Along the way he encounters other characters who have also lost touch with their families. Together they must find a way to reconstruct the connections to bring back the family that once was.

There's such a thin line between middle grade and young adult that I'm not so sure there's a definitive line at all. I realized by the blurb that this was more middle grade than the young adult I typically enjoy, so I wasn't sure if I wanted to take the chance. However, the concept and the cover drew me in, so I decided to give it a shot.

I'm glad I did. It started off a little slow as we are introduced to how John's crazy family came to be, but it soon picks up and the action doesn't stop from that point on. Each of the characters had these quirks that would drive any child crazy, and a few of them reminded me of people in my life.

While it was geared toward younger readers and I normally don't enjoy such a thing, it definitely drew me. I felt like I was in the middle of a Tim Burton movie. It had that dark humorous feel to it, and I could definitely see it as a movie. A fun read!

Aside from being fun, it makes you think about how fragile families truly are, and the fact that there is usually one person who is the rock of every family. I have many branches of family and have witnessed this myself numerous times; the death of the family rock causes the family to fall apart. It--for lack of a better word--sucks. Nevertheless, it's definitely a reality and a clear parallel in The Family That Wasn't. I encourage you to read this one if you get the chance!

4/5 Stars

Review: Darkness Becomes Her, by Kelly Keaton

Darkness Becomes Her, by Kelly Keaton
Published: February 22, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
ISBN: 9781442409248
Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy YA
Pages: 288
Source: Simon & Schuster's galley grab
Series: Gods & Monsters

Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.

Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

Darkness Becomes Her took me by surprise. I read it because a few people recommended it, but I'll be honest--I hadn't even read the synopsis. Right? I know. I just delved right in without a thing to go on!

I was immediately drawn to the heroine, Ari. To put it plainly, she kicks ass. With a foul mouth and a no bullshit attitude, I connected with her from the first page.

It's difficult to talk about the story, and what I enjoyed about it, without giving too much away. I loved the mix of gods and paranormal creatures. It felt like a genuinely fresh concept, though the individual elements were far from original. Keaton managed to pull these things together in a way that felt original. Unique. It was fantastic.

About two thirds through the book, there was a brief moment when I had a fleeing feeling. Ari does something that felt so out of character, I was nearly turned off to the point of DNFing it. Was it really that extreme? Probably not. I'm not sure why it resonated with me in such a negative way, but it did. I pushed forward, though, determined to find out what happens with her story. Luckily, she snapped out of it quickly, realized her own stupidity, and turned back into the girl I loved. I'm glad she snapped back, but I'm left wondering what the hell the scene did the for the story. I'm still baffled by it. I don't think it was necessary to move the story along at all, and it pulled us away from her character. Even if it was brief, I just wish it wasn't there.

I think Keaton did a great job painting the picture. It had a gothic feeling that I fell in love with. I'll definitely be keeping tabs on what comes next in this series! I'd recommend it to YA paranormal junkies everywhere.

*Small note. There's a lot of cursing. If you're turned of by excessive foul language, be prepared, because Darkness Becomes Her is littered with it!

4 Stars

Review: Zan-Gah, A Prehistoric Adventure

Zan-Gah, A Prehistoric Adventure, by Allan Richard Shickman
Published: July 15, 2007
Publisher: Earthshaker Books
ISBN: 9780979035708
Pages: 148
Source: Provided by Earthshaker Books for review
Series: Zan-Gah #1

Zan-Gah, seeking his lost twin brother in a savage prehistoric world, encounters adventure, suffering, conflict, captivity, and final victory. In three years hero passes from an uncertain boyhood to a tried and proven manhood and a position of leadership among his people. Themes include survival, brotherhood, cultures, gender roles, psychological trauma, and nature's wonders and terrors. This is the electronic version of Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure, which has been awarded Mom's Choice Gold Medal for Series, the Eric Hoffer Notable Book Award, and was a finalist for ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year.

Okay, I realize I'm being ridiculous when I nit-pick on this specific aspect of the novel, so I'm getting it out of the way first. There were a lot of exclamation points. I mean---a lot. I don't know about you, but when I see an exclamation mark, I hear yelling in my head. So I constantly felt like the narrator was yelling at me. Like I said, ridiculous, I know. :p


Moving on to the important stuff:
Zan-Gah is a powerful story about a boy who goes on a treacherous journey in search of his twin, who has been missing for some time. Along this journey, Zan-Gah is forced to fight for survival on many different occasions. There is action from beginning to end, though for a middle grade novel, I would have liked to see more dialogue. But given his circumstances, it wasn't really a possibility.


When Zan-Gah finally reaches his destination, I was saddened by the story. Dael is clearly affected deeply by what he has gone through, and my heart ached for him. This was the only time in the entire story that I felt any emotion, which is most likely a problem that lies within me, not the book. I'm curious to see how the next novel plays out, because I'm sure it will be centered around Dael and the issues he's suffering now. 


I read a lot of this aloud to my 2 and 4 year olds, and they seemed to really enjoy it. A lot of times, I'll read whatever book I'm reading at the time to them, and they look at me like "Where are the pictures?" With Zan-Gah, they genuinely listened. I think this would be a fantastic novel for a parent to read and discuss with their children.  Or a middle grade teacher to read and discuss with their students. The story is powerful, and engaging.


I'm unsure of whether or not I'll be reading the sequel. I'd like to see where Dael's story goes, but I think this is better suited for my little brother than myself. It's difficult for me to read and review middle grade novels with the targeted audience in mind. Which is why I generally don't accept MG. I don't regret accepting this one though, and I think people of all ages could appreciate it in some way!

4 Stars

Review: The Dark Divine, by Bree Despain

The Dark Divine, by Bree Despain
Published: December 22, 2009
Publisher: Egmont USA
Pages: 372

A Prodigal Son

A Dangerous Love

A Deadly Secret 

Grace Divine—daughter of the local pastor—always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared and her brother Jude came home covered in his own blood. 

Now that Daniel's returned, Grace must choose between her growing attraction to him and her loyalty to her brother. 

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, she learns the truth about that mysterious night and how to save the ones she loves, but it might cost her the one thing she cherishes most: her soul

Cover: I love the covers for this series. They're absolutely stunning, but I have no idea how they have anything to do with the story. Unfortunately, this is often the case for me with young adult novels. These cover artists create the most beautiful covers, but it doesn't seem as though they're creating that cover for the specific novel. 4/5

Plot & Pace: I really enjoyed this story! There were times when I felt that it was moving a little too slowly, and I was pretty far into the book without really feeling like much had happened, but there was never a time when I felt like putting it down because of this. It flowed easily, and I think we were given just enough information to make this world seem real.  4/5

Characters: Grace was a pastor's daughter, and she definitely had that good girl thing going on. She was extremely caring, and was constantly trying to better the lives of those around her. One specific thing I loved about Grace, was how she was the complete opposite of most paranormal female characters. **SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT** Grace wasn't the type to say, "I know you're a monster and you could kill me, but I love you anyway, and I'm not going anywhere!". With her, she was more like "I love you, but dude, I don't want to die. Stay away from me." Of course I'm paraphrasing because Grace would never use the term "dude". :p
I liked Daniel. He was a great person, given all he had been through. He was good for Grace, even if she didn't realize it.
Don was a sweet character, who reminded me a lot of Lennie from Of Mice and Men.
The other characters in the novel were interesting enough to be memorable, but there are few of them I cared enough about to look forward to in the next novel. I'm anxious to see where Grace and Daniel's story goes, as well as her brother Jude's. 4/5

Ending: There were moments throughout the novel that I was just kind of, ehh about it. But the last few chapters really redeemed it for me, and I was quite happy with the way things ended. There were just enough loose ends left to leave me wanting the next book. I'm really looking forward to The Lost Saint. 5/5


Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Review: Claire De Lune, by Christine Johnson

Claire De Lune, by Christine Johnson
Publish Date: May 18, 2010
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 336
Overall Rating: 4/5

Torn between two destinies?

Claire is having the perfect sixteenth birthday. Her pool party is a big success, and gorgeous Matthew keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she's the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all sense of normalcy: she's a werewolf.

As Claire is initiated into the pack of female werewolves, she must deal not only with her changing identity, but also with a rogue werewolf who is putting everyone she knows in danger. Claire's new life threatens her blossoming romance with Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt. Now burdened with a dark secret and pushing the boundaries of forbidden love, Claire is struggling to feel comfortable in either skin. With her lupine loyalty at odds with her human heart, she will make a choice that will change her forever?.

Claire De Lune pulled me in from the first page. This book completely skipped any werewolf cliches, and it truly felt like a world all its own. The werewolf concept in this novel, and the difference between that and society's perceptions, was fascinating.

The characters were well developed and I liked Claire a lot. She was strong willed, and accepted her fate rather quickly. Matthew, the love interest, was about as perfect as they come.

Unfortunately the story started to fall flat for me about midway through. I didn't feel as though anything was really happening, so it went slow for a while.. I had actually considered giving up and moving onto another book, but I decided to go ahead and push through it, hoping it would get better. I'm glad I did, because once the story picked back up, I was pulled into it again.

The ending was tied up rather nicely. I was actually kind of surprised at the ending, because most paranormal novels these days have a cliffhanger. They rarely feel so--complete, in just the one book.  I'm wondering where the sequel will take us, because I believe there is one in the works.

Overall, I enjoyed Claire De Lune most of the time, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys paranormal YA.

Cover: 4/5

Plot: 4/5

Pace: 3/5

Characters: 4/5

Ending: 4/5

Writing Style: 4/5

Review: Evernight, by Claudia Gray

Evernight, by Claudia Gray
Published: June 1, 2008
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 327
Overall Rating: 3.5/5

She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in. 

Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him. 

"I couldn't stand it if they took it out on you," he tells Bianca, "and eventually they would." 

But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

I'm going to try really really hard to review this without including any spoilers. This may be a challenge.

Evernight started out kind of slow for me. This could be due in part to the fact that I knew going in, that it was about vampires. (I'm kind of sick of vampires.) However, after a few chapters, it slowly pulled me in.

This book had a few surprises. I won't say what they are, but I will say that one of them bothered me. A lot. When we first discovered this twist, I thought, "Hmm, nice plot twist". Then we slowly discover the fact that Bianca knew all along. This really wasn't a surprise to her, so it's shock value was lost in me at that point. The shock turned into annoyance. Evernight is written in first person, and I personally felt like I should have known everything Bianca knew. Or at least had clues to what she knew. I like being taken by surprise, and I like for a book to keep me guessing. But I don't like it when a character acts oblivious to what is going on around them, leaving you oblivious, only to find out they knew all along. They knew EVERYTHING, all along...? No. Third person, that works sometimes. First person? It doesn't. In my opinion.

That problem aside, I enjoyed the novel. I did find myself thinking, "What is wrong with you, girl?!" quite frequently, but I still liked her character. I liked Lucas, but honestly...I kind of prefer Balthazar (GASP!) The nice guy wins my heart in this one. Lucas is sweet, but he packs too much baggage. Perhaps the sequels will change my mind?

Unfortunately, I didn't really get a unique feeling from this novel. I didn't feel as though there was anything to set it apart from other vampire novels. However, both her mom and dad are in the story, and very much in love. This is a rarity in young adult novels, both contemporary and paranormal. Thumbs up on that note.

All in all, I enjoyed Evernight. It kept my attention, and I'm definitely anxious to see where the next installment in the series takes us.

Cover:
3/5
Plot:

4/5

Pace:

3/5

Characters:

4/5

Ending:

3/5

Writing Style:

4/5

Review: Crescendo, by Becca Fitzpatrick.

Crescendo, by Becca Fitzpatrick
Published: October 19th, 2010
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pages: 432
Source: ARC, courtesy of Barnes and Noble
Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5

Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described as anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away, and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch, or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

Crescendo was quite an emotional roller coaster. It was vastly different from Hush, Hush, in the sense that it was more about Nora and her heritage, than her relationship with Patch.

I enjoyed reading about Nora's family, and the rolls everyone in the story played.  There were a few surprises involved, and while some of the story proved to be predictable, there were definitely things I did not see coming.  I like a book that can keep me guessing.

The one thing I didn't like, was the way Nora and Patch handled their relationship. Both of them had me so infuriated, I wasn't even sure how to absorb it. I don't want to say much because I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, but let's just say they both had their issues.

Did this stop me from reading? Absolutely. Not. I still very much enjoyed the story. There is action in every chapter. Doors are being closed, while two more seem to open.

I still wasn't much of a fan of Vee. There were a few chapters where she redeemed herself, but then she'd do something that made her look so, so gullible. That girl will believe anything out of a guy's mouth, I tell ya. As long as it isn't Patch.

The ending wasn't necessarily a huge surprise, but it definitely opened us up to a world of possibilities. And boy oh boy what a cliffhanger! I can honestly say I have absolutely no idea where Fitzpatrick could possibly be taking this story, because there seem to be so many options. I cannot wait to find out!!

Cover:

5/5

Plot:

4/5

Pace:

5/5

Characters:

4/5

Ending:

4/5

Writing Style:

5/5

Review: Paranormalcy, by Kiersten White

Paranormalcy, by Kiersten White
Published: August 31, 2010
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 352
Overall Rating: 4/5

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie's always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, 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 still. Normal. 

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures. 

So much for normal. 

This is one of those summer releases, debut author, paranormal romance, young adult. Mix it all together and you have a novel that creates loads of hype before anyone even gets to read it. This hype never fails to make me nervous about picking up a book. This one was definitely no execption.

I really enjoyed Paranormalcy. I think it definitely lived up to the hype. The story feels completely unique, which is rare these days.

This is one of those stories in which you can completely get lost in their world. It feels so real, you don't really find yourself questioning it. As long as you keep reading, you're in Evie's world.

Evie was an interesting character. At times I thought she was a little bit over the top, what with little pink Tasey and all. But she's a teenage girl so I guess that isn't anything out of the ordinary. Her best friend, Lish, was a fun character and I do wish we would've gotten to see a little more of her. Lend was just plain adorable.

I recommend Paranormalcy for anyone who is a fan of paranormal young adult. It was fun, unique, and adorable. I'm ready for book two!!

Cover:

4/5

Plot:

5/5

Pace:

5/5

Characters:

4/5

Ending:

3/5

Writing Style:

5/5