ARC Review: Wake by Amanda Hocking + US Giveaway

Title: Wake
Story Arc: Series, Book 1
Publication: August 7, 2012 by St. Martin's Press
Hardcover: 320 pages
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Mythology
Age Group: Teen, Young Adult
Content: Kissing, Violence, Murder
Source: St. Martin's Press | Quote(s): No

Even over the sea, Thea could smell the blood on her.

ARC Review: This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

Title: This Is Not a Test
Story Arc: Standalone
Publication: June 19, 2012 by St. Martin's Griffin
Paperback: 322 pages
Genre: Apocalyptic, Paranormal, Thriller, Sci-Fi, Contemporary, Horror, Zombies
Age Group: Young Adult
Content: Profanity, Sexual Scenes, Blood, Gruesome Deaths
Source: St. Martin's Griffin via NetGalley | Quote(s): Yes

Lily, I woke up and the last piece of my heart disappeared. I opened my eyes and I felt it let go.

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self.

To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live.

But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside.

When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

This shizz is FOR SERIOUS

Courtney Summers is honest and up-front about her shizz. Her writing is brutal and poetic and cutting, but never once do you feel as if she’s beating around the bush. She writes ON THE REAL. This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers is all about REAL characterizations, actions, feelings, and issues. Every word is like a brass-knuckled punch to the heart. It exposes you, it wounds you. Each word knocks those pretty rose-colored glasses right off your face and now you’re seeing the world for what it really is—a place gone cold, hellish where only the tiniest glimmers of hope survive to tantalize those struggling to reach for it. I’ve never encountered a writer quite like Summers, a shaper of words so beautiful and impactful that tell the story of a disturbing girl ready to let the world go at the same time it falls apart, crumbles beneath the feet of five other teenagers oblivious to the true meaning of pain, of inescapable imprisonment.

Summers’s prose is telling, insightful, and gorgeously dark, uncovering a world in which fate has dealt some a cruel hand. The zombieness? That’s only the HALF of it. They’re thudding and moaning outside the school, sending chills and things down all of our spines, but there aren’t as many close-ups as you might think. AND THAT’S OKAY. If The Breakfast Club had been about kids stuck at school because of ZOMBIES as opposed to detention, it would’ve escalated so fraking much on the coolness scale. Which I had, before This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers, thought utterly impossible. These characters Summers shoves us into meeting come face-to-face with dizzying suffering and critical, harsh loss in a way no one should. They’re without parents, without hope, without freedom. They are entombed in the school, in their rage, in their agony, in their fear, and are forced to endure the suffocating, maddening reality of it.

At the end of the day, each of them want to survive what seems to be the end of all days.

May I remind you

Grace, Trace, Harrison, Cary, Sloane, and Rhys? They’re just KIDS, for crying out loud. One character later says something about teenage ingenuity, and that’s EXACTLY it. These six kids manage to escape the zombie population devastating their small town and fortify their hiding place all on their own. The fact that they even came up with the high school on their own? Serious braniac points. God knows I would’ve been slaughtered sometime around page zero on account of my lack of BRAINS, or rather my ability to use them, because the fact that I HAVE THEM and THEY WORK RIGHT is what would drive the zombies bananas for my body.

If it wasn’t bad enough that we’re talking about six teenagers stranded at their local high school as they await rescue, there’s all this crazy interpersonal stuff between them. Starting with the fact that the group started as eight. And in between that and the tail end of it is drowning guilt, mourning, suicidal tendencies, and unbelievable loss. Each of these six people have so many emotions locked up inside of them, all these secrets and horrific thoughts, that it’s no wonder there’s so much DRAMA. Although I’m not talking about angsty teen television show drama but HOLY FRAK THERE ARE ZOMBIES OUTSIDE AND PEEPS ARE DEAD, DYING, OR UNDYING EVERYWHERE drama. The sort of bulletin you pay attention to, the sort that keeps you engrossed and appalled and tense all the way through.

Death, and how the HELL romance?

Ya’ll, some goose-bumpy TERRIFYING things go down in This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers. And not all of those things are about the zombies gnawing at metal and throwing themselves bodily at all the exits to get inside the building. There’s a lot of bad blood mingling into the group, carrying over more toward the testosterone end of said group. Poor Sloane, who has suffered immense and unimaginable physical and verbal abuse all of her life, is stuck amongst a bunch of loud criers and even louder yellers. The arguments, the punching, the GUN WAVING, all of it, makes for a very tense, be-on-your-guard sort of atmosphere, because every shaky second you have to wonder who’s willing to pull the metaphorical and literal trigger. Who’s crazy and is slowly going crazy, who’s being eaten alive by guilt and by sheer terror. Which is what makes This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers so thrilling and eerie. Because on the human scope, some of these characters are more vicious than the zombies.

BUT LET’S NOT FORGET ABOUT THE ZOMBIES. Because you will get eaten and ripped apart. And DIE. There are SO many close calls that the shakes take over, the shock, and the panic. It’s not that you’re so close to the characters you feel all this, but Courtney Summers manages to bring you astonishingly strong, perfect images of everything that happens. Then, you’re there, you’re witnessing AND experiencing, which lends the book that much more POWER and DEPTH. I felt closer to the situation than the actual characters some of the time because the imagery was so overpowering.

With all this death and decay permeating the plot, you might be wondering, however, how the hell a romance can spark at all? Half of the time, this group seems more insane and twitchy than anything else. The truth is, though, that there’s a lot of emotional depth as well. Sloane and crew have seen and done unspeakably horrible things, which is the reason for all those shadows on the mind and unsaid secrets in the air. Everyone’s once lily-white hands are stained with deep crimson in some haunting way. There’s no going back for the awful things they had, or felt they had, to do. And this is what ties some of the characters closer, knitting them together with blood and devastation and endless remorse. Rhys sure the heck KNOWS something is very wrong with Sloane, whom they stumbled across and enfolded in thinking she was trying to get up as opposed to trying to let go. With a couple suicide attempts under her belt, Rhys is wary and suspicious and angry with this girl he’s always been aware of. What he doesn’t know is that her sister’s escape plan had actually consisted of perfection for ONE and not two, that her father from the time she can remember has beat every ounce of hope and security right out of her.

And when he does know these things? There’s softness, gentleness, tenderness, and all those lovely feelings that couple with his protection of her and loyalty to her that make him so subtly swoonworthy. He's hard and serious and guilty of so much, but he’s compassionate and thoughtful too. Sloane may have to wake up on her own, but Rhys is certainly tempting her out of her unnervingly cold and lonely sleep.

Why you no special shelf?

This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers is damn near complete and stunning perfection. It’s emotional, tangible, genuine, and beautiful. Each chapter was a shock to the system, constantly keeping me on my toes and taking me by surprise. The story BORDERS on special shelf. But, if there’s one thing I irrevocably dislike, it’s VAGUE ENDINGS.

When a book like This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers is so tormenting and stunning and intense, I feel slightly cheated when I’m not given anything conclusive to hold onto. There’s no clearly defined path, no concrete answer to the big WILL THEY MAKE IT? Will they want to? What now? Granted, this ending is by far one of the better ones in the vague setting, and there IS a hint of closure in what’s written by Sloane on a very important piece of paper she’s carried with her throughout the story that stretches after the last word. I wanted a bit more.

He keeps his eyes off me until I tell him, "I wouldn't have let you die out there. I know you think I would have, but I wouldn't have."
"But you went out there to die."
"I wouldn't have let you die. When I saw them coming for you, I ran to you, to save you," I say. "I wouldn't have left you like that. Not like she did to me." I swallow hard. "She always said I'd die without her and she left anyway."
"But you didn't die," he says.
"I did," I say. "I'm just waiting for the rest of me to catch up." (72%)

Rating: Perfect Bed Partner

With all the expected trappings of a zombie survival novel, Courtney Summers manages to take a concept so familiar to us and twist it so that it’s not the zombies we’re most fearful of but of fellow human beings capable of so much more atrociousness, viciousness than the walking undead who constantly fascinate us. This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers is more focused on the emotional upheaval caused by and before the zombie epidemic, and the extremes that come with all that packed-in turmoil. Summers invades the mind with horrific scenes and disturbing imagery, all the while maintaining this dark, eerie beauty in the words that make This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers a story to be experienced and absorbed rather than to be merely read and witnessed.

OTHER REVIEWS: The Book Smugglers Makeshift Bookmark Good Books and Good Wine

SIMILAR TITLES: Forest of Hands & Teeth by Carrie Ryan Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne Ten by Gretchen McNeil Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Got something specific in mind? Dare I believe I might NOT have covered something you wish to know? If so, let me know down in the comments section. Don't be shy!

ARC Review: Ascend (#3)

The following review contains
NO SPOILERS!

my thoughts in a few sentences: Torn may have been a lovely improvement in the series, but it's got nothing on Ascend. With this final installment came the realization that I was in love with this series and all it has to offer, from characters who range from cocky and vulnerable, sweet and insolent, and have grown so much, to a fascinatingly thought-out world to intense plot ties that span the entire series and hardly cease to entertain and excite. However, Ascend's biggest appeal is the all-sweetness-and-heat romance with a blinding flash of the forbidden intensifying the blushing hues of true love. Ascend is definitely my favorite in the series, an unforgettable finale—the brilliant story I was waiting for Hocking to deliver me.

hooking first lines: "I had my back to the room as I stared out the window.It was a trick I'd learned from my mother to make me seem more in control."

St. Martin's Griffin • Requested • Paranormal Romance • 4/24/12 • $6.74

Review: Forgiven (#3)

The following review contains NO SPOILERS!

my thoughts in a few sentences: Jana Oliver must be a determined woman—dragging me back into this series after my dislike of Soul Thief and providing me with a crystal view of what I could've missed out on. When Forgiven arrived on my doorstep, I resolved to never read it. Slowly, the curiosity arisen by its sudden presence in my life developed an effect akin to an obnoxious acquaintance poking me between the shoulder blades incessantly. Has that ever happened to you? It's quite unpleasant. Eventually, I crumbled and began to read. Imagine my surprise, and eventual pulse-spiking excitement, when the third book served up a reminder as to why I enjoyed the first one so much. Oh, joy! The demon-battling, the perfect collision of the paranormal, and the romance I've been carrying a jumbo-sized, blazing torch for gives Forgiven the addictive edge lacking in its predecessor.

hooking first lines: "Riley Blackthorne's tears were no more. She'd cried herself dry, yet she still lingered in the arms of a dead man"

Rating: Sud-Kissed | St. Martin's Griffin • Unsolicited • Paranormal Romance • 3/27/12 • $9.23

Review: Torn (#2)

The following review contains NO SPOILERS!

my thoughts in a few sentences: Although I wasn't reduced to fangirl gushiness over Switched, Torn rapidly makes up for any lack I felt from its predecessor. The stakes are cranked up to a nearly unbearable volume, all but suffocating our relatable, mistake-making heroine who is doing her best to learn on her feet, hoping to pick up all the right cues and etiquette, not to mention the unyielding mentality of a princess while trying to balance her innate compassion into the equation. Wendy has the power to change things, to make a difference in this world she's only just been introduced to yet has quickly fallen for. It's her world now, and she has people to fight for. Fans of The Princess Diaries and The Iron Fey series combined will enjoy Wendy's tremulous journey into a character and ruler we can all adore.

hooking first line: "When Rhys and I showed up at my "brother" Matt's house at eight in the morning, he was happy... in the sense that he was glad I was alive and hadn't disappeared forever."

Rating: Sud-Kissed | St. Martin's Griffin • Requested • Paranormal Romance • 2/28/12 • $8.49

ARC Review: Switched

my thoughts in a few sentences: Although I was disappointed by what I found in Switched, given the tremendous hype shrouding it, potential lingers in the cast of characters, the mythology, and the storytelling. With a likable heroine front-and-center and her handsome stoic tracker, Finn, by her side, I picture the story reaching more engaging heights in the long run. However, I couldn't immerse myself in the tedious moments in her new home, lack of interesting interactions, and the touch of romance that follows the same overdone path, in which the leading man must protect the heroine from her own desires, insinuating what's better for her future. More action, less tedium is the order of the day!

hooking first line: " A couple things made that day stand out more than any other: it was my sixth birthday, and my mother was wielding a knife. "

Rating: Guilty Pleasure | St. Martin's Griffin • Gift • Paranormal Romance/Fantasy • 1/3/12 • $7.99

Review: Tempest

Tempest

by Julie Cross

Add it to Goodreads?
Purchase: Amazon | BookDepository
Release Date: January 17, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Sci-Fi/Paranormal
Source: Requested from Publicist
Special: 2012 Debut Author Challenge
Rating: Perfect Bed Partner

Hover over Books in the navigation bar above to find a link to My Rating System In-Depth.

About the Book:

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

Saturday, April 11, 2009: Okay, so it's true. I can time-travel. But it's not as exciting as it sounds.

ON THE STORY: I'm a major time-travel fan. In books, that is. So when a trace of Tempest flitted passed my eyes, I instantly knew that this book was something worth checking out. It's so exciting when a debut author whips around and dazzles you with their first book, and Cross's simplistic, insightful narrative in Jackson Meyer's point of view (big plus right there) and her fresh outlook on time-travel completely drew me in to the story and left me fascinated.

Constant questions flash in our minds as Jackson is suddenly thrust into the impossible time and again, and feelings of sympathy and pangs of grief worm into our hearts for this once seemingly normal boy, who's sanity and willpower are harshly tested. Each new addition to the puzzle is like being slammed by brutal fists from all corners with no real way of deflecting them. Watching as Jackson is forced to grow up and endure a lonely quest for answers makes us feel as though we have to stick close to him, a warm body to lend heat in the cold. From gazing at a near-lifeless Holly to being pressed into the past with no escape to home to unearthing confusing bits of the past of a father he thought he knew, Jackson's perseverance endears him to us further.

Although the other characters don't embed themselves deeply into our lasting memory, they still create a likable impression. Jackson's geeky, computer nerd side-kick, Adam, and his beloved girlfriend, Holly, who is pretty tolerant of Jackson's secretive ways, are a charming and fun and witty duo to read about and enjoy. And the twin sister Jackson lost years ago slashes at our hearts with her weak and fading reflection in the weeping portions of Jackson's memory.

As if Cross doesn't wrangle with our emotions enough, she builds-up for her final, wrenching blow, slicing our hope into almost irretrievable shreds. And despite the wit and hilarity and shocking truths, the pain and sadness woven into the story is its most memorable element. Tempest's finishing development is STILL dominating my thoughts.

ON THE AUDIOBOOK: In a previous IMM, I mentioned that I was an audiobook virgin, having never had the inclination to try one out. My expectations were of an unyielding, sterile voice just playing the story for me. I was happily surprised when Matthew Brown portrayed every inflection and created voices for every character which worked. I found that even while I was reading the book, Brown's voice came to me as Jackson. My only qualm, which may be for audiobooks in general, is that they appear to take forever, and, I, a very fast reader, am far too impatient to listen to audiobooks all the way through for every book I read. So, while it was a nice experience which I enjoyed, audiobooks aren't my preference.

Review: Awakened by P.C & Kristin Cast *no spoilers*

Awakened (House of Night #8)

by P.C. & Kristin Cast

Add it to Goodreads?
Release Date: January 4, 2011
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Age Group: Older YA
Source: Purchased/Gifted
Rating: Guilty Pleasure
Related Review(s): Fledgling Handbook 101
About the Book:

(highlight to read)

Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa’s House of Night, Neferet has sworn vengeance on Zoey. Dominion over Kalona is only one of the weapons she plans to use against Z. But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Skye and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there. Being Queen would be cool, wouldn’t it? Why should she return to Tulsa? After losing her human consort, Heath, she will never be the same – and her relationship with her super-hot-warrior, Stark, may never be the same either…

And what about Stevie Rae and Rephaim? The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae, but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be okay with their relationship? Does he betray his father or his heart?

In the pulse-pounding 8th book in the bestselling House of Night series, how far will the bonds of friendship stretch and how strong are the ties that bind one girl’s heart?

Told ya, more vampires!

Is it me or does it feel like this series has been dragging on forever? To the point where you almost want to stop reading it? I don't know, I feel exactly like that. And with the stakes higher and more deaths, I can't help but get a little turned off. And this eighth book didn't show me anything that reestablishes my love for this series. Which is sad, really, because I used to be sooo into it. However, unfortunately, I skimmed through a large chunk of the book as consequence from being either a) bored, b) interested in something else, or c) pissed and/or sad. Awakened is a little bit of a tear-jerker, I'll tell you that.

All my hopes, which have manifested since the last book, seem to come true... but at what cost? Loss strikes one of my favorite sets of teens again in Awakened, not pulling any punches whatsoever. It hits below the belt, and was very unwanted. But that's about all I can rant about that without giving anything away, so let me shut up...

Zoey Redbird. *sighs* You leave me conflicted, you do. In the beginning, I remember loving Zoey like crazy, but, these days, I'm not really feeling her actions or her narration for that matter. I only really get interested when James Stark is involved (Team Stark, raise your hands!). I've actually grown to love Aphrodite and Stevie Rae infinitely more, so much so that I wish they had more of the spotlight. Still, all of the things that I adored about these characters really shows itself in this installment. When any member of the team needs support the most, they don't hold back and answer unreservedly without question. I was struck with that familiar sensation of Go Team! and caught myself nearly fist-pumping.

Still, it wasn't enough to make up for the dig-in-your-toes-so-drag story line. I mean, when does it end? When can we expect these teens to hand out misery to Miss Villain instead of the other way around? Why is each book thus far about one of the following: recuperation, loss, sex, and tangled-up relationships? Why are these latest books so focused on these aspects instead of centering on the characters working to bring down Miss Villain? I don't appreciate the lack of plot direction. I don't like feeling like I'm being pulled along for the ride so I can finally finish it, half not wanting to. Like I have to go on with the series. By this point, I'm no longer in love with the books and Awakened, I think, played a huge role in that definite absence of feeling.

Instead of convincing me of its greatness, I'm stuck with an undesirable plot device to stretch out the story, and, as much as I adore these characters, I'm getting tired of these books that are full of situations in which the good guys consistently get slapped around with no real retaliation to the darker forces. I want more action, more magic, and waaay more battling! No more moral conflicts, healing, or philosophical crap to egg the story on. I want the good guys to defeat Miss Villain, get their happy endings, and move on with their lives. Awakened initially got me motivated and excited, only to end in tragic failure of luring me deeper into the series. Now more than ever I want to pull away.

I really hope that these last set of books change that. That I won't be disappointed. Things for the House of Night aren't looking up, and I need that to change soon. Otherwise, I don't think I can take anymore heart-twisting situations to keep the story going. Just finish already!

Despite their undermining qualities, Guilty Pleasure books still find ways to get you addicted and still like them... (My Rating System In-Depth)

Review: Soul Thief by Jana Oliver

WARNING: If you haven't read The Demon Trapper's Daughter, book one in the Demon Trappers series, then it would probably be a good idea to stay away from this review.

Soul Thief by Jana Oliver

Get the Deets: Goodreads»»  
(What is Goodreads.com?)
Release Date: August 30, 2011
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Source: ARC/Blog Tour
Purchase: Book Depo. | Amazon | Kindle
About the Book:

Riley Blackthorne is beginning to learn that there are worse things than death by demon. And love is just one of them...

Seventeen-year-old Riley has about had it up to here. After the devastating battle at the Tabernacle, trappers are dead and injured, her boyfriend Simon is gravely injured, and now her beloved late father’s been illegally poached from his grave by a very powerful necromancer. As if that’s not enough, there's Ori, one sizzling hot freelance demon hunter who’s made himself Riley’s unofficial body guard, and Beck, a super over-protective “friend” who acts more like a grouchy granddad. With all the hassles, Riley’s almost ready to leave Atlanta altogether.

But as Atlanta’s demon count increases, the Vatican finally sends its own Demon Hunters to take care of the city’s "little" problem, and pandemonium breaks loose. Only Riley knows that she might be the center of Hell’s attention: an extremely powerful Grade 5 demon is stalking her, and her luck can't last forever...

Soul Thief starts off directly after The Demon Trapper's Daughter left off, and with that said, the same feeling I had while reading the first book came back to me. But it was short lived. To say I'd expected so much for the sequel is the absolute truth. And yet, for me, it didn't deliver.

I think the pacing was the real problem. It didn't move fast enough for me, especially for a book set in a world full of demons and angels, and their captors and devotees. I keep feeling like a full-scale war, a big battle or something exciting and epic is looming closer, but still from a considerable distance. I enjoyed Soul Thief's predecessor, and made allowances for it's semi-slow pacing, because it was the starter book, the intro to the series. But in the sequel I expected more of a BAM! kind of deal. The search for Riley's dad was a bit tedious, in that she didn't explore any very intriguing avenues to locate him. The only aspect of her investigation that I found remotely interesting was being amongst the necromancers, but I came to find that they weren't nearly as exciting as I'd thought them to be. Since a good chunk of the book was consumed by the search for her father's corpse, I felt... bored. Where was the perilous action, the deadly fights against the hellish fiends everyone's so worked up about?

The fighting, especially toward the end of book one, was one of it's biggest appeals for me. That and Beck. And unsurprisingly, Beck and Riley's, I don't know, thing antagonized my already rising level of frustration with the book. In book one, the tension between the two was a good thing, even when Riley began seeing Simon (and don't even get me started on him), but during take two I just grew aggravated. Perhaps it's my innate impatience, that generally comes out while reading. But more likely it was the fact that their complex relationship was losing it's appeal... until the second half of the book.

Have I mentioned, yet, that my feelings for this book are also complex, like, immensely? One minute I was bored, the next faintly intrigued, leading up to engrossment, then down to frustration and annoyance, suspicion, concluding with a surprising eagerness for the sequel. My interest was piqued when, finally, a freakish demonic attack happens, the whole business with Ori and the reasons for his involvement with Riley are unveiled, and I got to learn some rather astonishing deets about the Prince of Hell and his role in the Good vs. Evil dilemma. Then when Riley and Ori's relationship turns toward the unexpected very quickly, the irritation came into play. Beck was no better, and I couldn't help but be angry at him for his reactions to some of the trouble that crops up toward the end. 

By the end though, Jana managed to snag me again. To the point where I'm confused, edgy and restless to learn what's going to happen next, and that growing anticipation, that burning hope for what Beck and Riley could have, what--I'm hoping--they will have together has been rekindled somehow. And if I'm not mistaken, this is all boiling up to one gigantic, battle-tastic ending to the trilogy. I'm at the edge of my seat, and I'll be devastated if I'm even partially disappointed come the third book.

---------------------------------------------------

Riley dug in her messenger bag, retrieved a pen, and began a list on a crisp white napkin.
Find Dad
Bust Holy Water Scam
Save the World
Buy Groceries
Do Laundry
As she saw it, if number three on the list didn't work out, the last two weren't going to be an issue. (6)

"She and Simon have taken a fancy ta each other, did ya know? They were holdin' hands and kissin' before the meetin'. They didn't think I saw them."
"Kissin'?" Beck felt something heavy form in his chest, like a stone weighing on his heart. Had to be because of the demon wound; they always made you feel sick. It wouldn't do for him to think of Riley as more than just Paul's little girl.
"Ya didn't know?" the master asked, all innocence. 
Beck shook his head. He'd known Riley and Simon were spending time together. They were both apprenticing with Harper and saw each other every day. But he hadn't realized their relationship had gone that far. She was only seventeen, and now that both of her parents were dead he felt responsible for her. Sort of like a big brother. Sort of something more. (9) About that brother part...*cough* Yeah, right. *cough*

Review: Shadowspell by Jenna Black

WARNING: If you haven't read Glimmerglass, the first book in the Faeriewalker series, then you probably shouldn't read this review.

Shadowspell by Jenna Black

Get the Deets: Goodreads»» (What is Goodreads.com?)
Publication Date: January 4, 2011
Source: borrowed/Public Library
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kindle
Next: Sirensong (Already out)

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?

I was a little weirded out by this installment. I was confused, upset, bored a time or two, and just plain astounded--though, not exactly in a good way. I still stand by my original feelings for book one: I only liked this sequel.

It's that Dana again, that's been giving me trouble. I'm pretty pleased to announce that my feelings for her have solidified, as I mentioned they probably would after reviewing Glimmerglass. And those feelings mostly slide under the dislike category. I know, so disappointing! But, it's not my fault, honest. It's just that Dana annoys me more than she amuses me or entertains me. More, it's not I like I can connect with her. Sympathize with her, maybe. After all, she hasn't had it any easier in Avalon than she did in the States. But, whatever connection I could've had disappeared after every stupid move she made. To me, Dana is heading dangerously close to the Too Stupid To Live slot. And I have a thing for those types of characters--a bad thing.

However, Dana is NOT the only one that aggravates me to no end. Nuh-uh, no. The characterization is shady at best. Ethan still hasn't gotten any points with me, other than for being hot, which doesn't really count.  I still couldn't get into Kim, either, Ethan's sister and Dana's best friend. She didn't come off as BFFish to me.

Surprisingly, though, Keane wasn't the only character I enjoyed. The Erlking. Now, THAT is hot, wicked stuff. His whole attitude screams Mess with me at your own risk. You do NOT want to tangle with him. He's bad news, but the delicious, irresistible kind. He's self-serving and cruel, certainly, but he's just so good-looking and there's something about him that I can't turn away from. And while I found his bargain with Dana a tad creepy and a bit confusing--I mean, that is the key to his gaining more power..? Granted I've seen similar processes, but still--at the same time, the idea had appeal.

Even so, with ridiculously gorgeous men swarming the story, I feel like Dana may be spreading herself a bit thin. All these guys under her belt--not that she's done anything with ALL of them, but you know she has feelings for all of them-it seems like a lot to... er, handle.

I was driven to further disappointment, when, again, I didn't get the kind of action I desired. *KIND OF SPOILERY* And, STILL, the faerie queens remain these elusive puppet masters. I wanted to meet them, feel their deadliness. Maybe have some action sequences thrown in. *END OF POTENTIAL SPOILER* Alas, that did not happen. The entire story itself makes me want to scream, WHAT IS THE POINT? Because, nothing has been done about the fact that--yes, as established repeatedly--Dana is a Faeriewalker, with the power to do immense damage for good or evil. Sexy boys and perilous, nutty aunt aside, there's not much happening for this series. I want some QUESTING. Battles. Kissing, but with a guy I actually like (Keane, anyone?).

Why am I still planning on continuing with this series, you ask? (You must be looking at me as though I was a head-case, for pursuing this series despite everything else.) Because of the world-building. That tantalizing potential for so much more. For adventure. For hazardous quests and threatening faerie politics. AND to root for my guy... which is, at this point, still Keane. That possibility for all of this is what is pushing me to go forward.

Sirensong has to be better, or else I doubt I will continue after that.

Looking for more intriguing faerie books? You might want to read:

  

Click HERE for my review for Wondrous Strange.

Click HERE for my review for The Iron King.

Review: Glimmerglass by Jenna Black

Glimmerglass by Jenna Black

Get the Deets: Goodreads»» (What is Goodreads.com?)
Source: borrowed/Public library
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kindle
Next: Shadowspell

It’s all she’s ever wanted to be, but it couldn’t be further from her grasp…

Dana Hathaway doesn’t know it yet, but she’s in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again, Dana decides she’s had enough and runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the captivating, magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl—she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.

Soon, Dana finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone seems to want something from her, from her newfound friends and family to Ethan, the hot Fae guy Dana figures she’ll never have a chance with… until she does. Caught between two worlds, Dana isn’t sure where she’ll ever fit in and who can be trusted, not to mention if her world will ever be normal again…

I liked this start to Jenna's ongoing Faeriewalker series. And only liked. Some aspects I enjoyed more than others. Like, the world-building. Which. Was. Amazing. A magic place like Avalon integrated in our world and history is a recipe for awesome. But that's where my engrossment really ended. I was more or less entertained by everything else.

Dana, Dana, Dana. I'm not sure I like you. On the one hand, Dana's a genuine teen, and behaves and reacts as such throughout the book. But, on the other hand, she simultaneously managed to annoy me. It was a very confusing relationship. I'd find myself liking her one minute, then my opinion of her rebounded to my initial dislike. Like an on-off switch being flicked back and forth repeatedly, I contracted a minor case of mental whip-lash. So, my assessment of the heroine is tumultuous as of now - maybe after my second dosage of this series my feelings will solidify. But, WORSE, the other characters were no better. They didn't really DO anything for me. Ethan, hot unvirginal Fae playah-dude with arrogance written all over him, so not my type. His sister: not much better. I get that Kim has an issue with making friends and opening up, and that she's a really sweet girl underneath and all that, but I liked Bitchy Kim as opposed to Teary & Sentimental Kim. Then Dana's dad came off as overbearing and overprotective - and not in that adorable or irritating parental manner; to me it felt like he just needed to be in control at all times, that he was used to having his way. Or maybe I'm not looking deep enough...?

Keane and Finn were probably the only characters I ended up actually liking. I'm a sucker for the guy with a prickly exterior and more-than-probably mushy interior (though readers have yet to be privy to it). I like it when the guy is interested but doesn't want to let the girl know yet, most likely because he's terrified of her and his feelings. (Or maybe I'm reading TOO much into things, now.) And that would be Keane in a nut-shell. The 'love triangle' is essentially complete with Keane. (Have I mention how much I despise love triangles these days? Really, not a big fan.) In my mind, there's really no competition. Finn, Keane's dad, while stone-faced and basically silent for lengthy periods in the book, struck me with his coolness. What's not to like about a kick-ass Knight of Faerie after all? I'm, like, dying to see him in SERIOUS action.

And that was the whole issue with Glimmerglass, for me. It felt like a tease. Barely any action. And at times there seemed to be no direction. I often found myself wondering where this book was taking me? Me, I'm the type to side-step the lettuce and other assorted greens to get to the meat. The substance. What's really going to keep me sated in the long-run. And that didn't happen here. Instead, Dana was being kidnapped left and right via tedious skirmishes of the minimal sort (as in total non-stop nonaction). I'll be reading one scene where Dana's off making out with Ethan and being confused in her feelings for him and in the next Spriggans will be closing in to try and kill... WHO? Who was the real target in any of these seemingly life or death-ish situations? Dana seemed to be the object of everyone's interest, but then so many plot elements were thrust into the story enough times so that I lost my way.

Circling back to the world-building, a redeeming aspect, the inclusion of Avalon and the elusive Faerie was fantastic to read about! I loved observing and dissecting the differences between our world and the Fae locations.The magic seemed pretty neat, too. (Although, I'm a little upset at the fact that Dana barely even scratched that surface. Yup, no real magical surges here - I kept waiting for something big to happen in that regard only to be disappointed.) But, then the villain-reveal knocked Glimmerglass down a couple notches in my book. The villain choice didn't do anything for me. I wanted to be shaking in my boots, a quivering mass of nerves. Instead, I had to work to suppress a hugely noticeable eye-roll. With the ending hardly making any difference at all, I'd say my conclusion was not this titanic, all-consuming love for the book. In fact, far from it. It was okay. I liked it. Maybe Shadowspell will make me fall in love...

If you're interested in Glimmerglass, you might also want to read: 

Click HERE to go to its Goodreads page.
Click HERE to go to my review.

Review: The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

T h e  D e m o n  T r a p p e r' s  D a u g h t e r by Jana Oliver

Release Date: 2/1/11 (Paperback - US)

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Age Group: Older Teens/Young Adults

Pages: 340

Source: Borrowed/public library
Challenge: 2011 Debut Author Challenge
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kindle

Other: Retro Demonology (Kindle)

Word Blurb: Crazy awesome, eerily realistic!

"Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself – and that’s exactly what the demons are counting on...

Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps. The good news is, with human society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta’s local Trappers’ Guild needs all the help they can get – even from a girl. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils – Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life’s about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen.

But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers' Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart – and her life?"

THIS BOOK IS SERIOUSLY, INSANELY, UTTERLY AWESOME. So, if the caps didn't do a good job of filling you in on my current feelings, well let me just say, THE DEMON TRAPPER'S DAUGHTER is excellent. There are a few minor things that bugged me, but everything else is just amazing. I was completely stunned by this novel - I'd only heard a few things about the plot, but I wasn't expecting much of it. This book is chockfull of odd deaths, demon rampages, hot guys, the walking dead, cryptic necromancers, seductive witches, religion, angels... the list goes on. There's so much going on, yet it fails to be overwhelming. Which is great, and again totally unexpected.

The economy is pretty much a bust by the time this novel is set, which is in 2018. There's an increase in poverty, less work, and new laws. There are only a few ways to make any real money, if one is not already rich: become a demon trapper or sell the rights to a loved one's corpse to the necromancers. Pretty creepy, huh? Well, you bet. The world has taken a turn toward the dark, and while intensely horrifying, it is also intensely engrossing. And just all around intense. Riley Blackthorne fits right in. First, can I just say that I absolutely love her name! I really love the sound of it, and boy, does it suit. (When you hear Blackthorne, doesn't badass kinda sorta come to mind?) Riley is badass. She kicks butt, isn't afraid to take on a challenge, no matter how scary. And she's willing to face-off with the pigheaded male sexists running the Demon Trapper Guild.

And what harm is there in placing a few sexy guys in the mix? Oh, yes. Beck. DEFINITELY NUMBER ONE on the hot-o-meter. #2 Simon. And, I must say that Ori is just plain good-looking. What to do with all these hunky male species... Right now, Riley tangled up with super hunk numero dos, Simon. And while I think there romance is sweet and adorable, I'm a Team Beck girl all the way. We'll just have to see what happens over the course of the series. (There is going to be a series... right... right?)

And then also of note, would be the ultra-awesome plot behind it all. The demons... their plans for Riley and the reason behind her father being attacked. The family histories... the histories of the demon trappers... the mystery behind the ineffective Holy Water... the demon hunters and the Vatican and The Church... all so fascinating! All of which makes me want to know more, too! My only real problem with this book is the pacing. I needed things to pick up faster; I wanted a little bit more action as well. But, I can't wait for more action, more magic, and definitely more scenes of the romantic persuasion in the next book!

I've definitely been won over by a Ms. Oliver, and intend to heartily pursue this engrossing, eerie, and dark series underway. Looking forward to a sequel, the way I look forward to a boston creme doughnut... and that's saying something!

"Wary of necro games she watched [Beck] approach, fearing this was yet another trick.
'Riley,' he said. When she didn't answer, he added, 'How bad has it been?'
'Just fabulous. The demonic kitten really made my night' (121).

"A frown flitted across his face. 'Ya remember when I first got back from over there, how goofy ya got?'
Goofy? Riley's temper stirred. 'I wasn't like that.'
'Well, ya had yer eyes on me, that's for sure.'
She gave him a stony silence, because he was right. His time in the Army had left him tanned, muscled, and way cuter than when he'd left. A total hunk, and she'd fallen hard.
Then you shot me down like I was nothing" (123).

Oh, baby, don't you know? He is so very into you! Can't wait!

Thanks for reading! And happy blogging!

Review: Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

I n f i n i t e  D a y s by Rebecca Maizel
Release Date: August 3, 2010 (Paperback)
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Age Group: Young Adult
Sequel: Stolen Nights
Pages: 310
Source: Local Library
Go Buy It: Amazon★Barnes&Noble
★BookDepository

Word Blurb: Dark, electrifying, and gripping!

Synopsis- "Lenah Beaudonte is, in many ways, your average teen: the new girl at Wickham Boarding School, she struggles to fit in enough to survive and stand out enough to catch the eye of the golden-boy lacrosse captain. But Lenah also just happens to be a recovering five-hundred-year-old vampire queen. After centuries of terrorizing Europe, Lenah is able to realize the dream all vampires have -- to be human again. After performing a dangerous ritual to restore her humanity, Lenah entered a century-long hibernation, leaving behind the wicked coven she ruled over and the eternal love who has helped grant her deep-seated wish."

Quick Thinking: Easily one of my favorite books, this riveting 2010 debut is swamped with a thrilling, mind-blowing storyline that spans the entire life of Lenah Beaudonte, a once cruel and vicious five-hundred-year-old vampire 'queen' turned human, fabulous characters, stimulating love and romance, dire and frantic circumstances nearly ending with a kick-ass vampire fight! This book is all about intent, and the rewards of having purely good, unselfish intentions. About the meaning and appreciation of human life, forging powerful and significant friendships, as well as the varying degrees of love. Head off into the unknown with Lenah, as she works to adjust to living and experiencing life from a human's perspective, and as she fends off the imminent danger of her ever loyal vampire coven anxious to reunite with their queen.
 
My Thoughts In-Depth: *Note: May not be spoiler-free.* Gosh, there are so many things to say about this book that I'm so excited to get started on this aspect of my review! This is an amazing story all around! Plot, characters, setting, ending, romance, everything!

I don't think there's really anything I don't like about this book! Lenah was a magnificent heroine, surpassing many of the ones I've been stuck reading over the years. Never before have I completely, utterly fallen in love with the heroine/narrator of the story! Lenah is a well of emotions, of longings too long repressed so that when she finally gets her shot at the human life she's only dreamed of you can't help but love her. Watching her live as a human, was like watching a blind man marveling at suddenly having his vision back. Lenah seemed to absorb every moment, take nothing for granted, savor each and every experience she encountered. Beginning with listening to the opera she once had the pleasure of listening to live flow from 21st century speakers, to standing in the midst of storm, delighting in the way she felt each and every drop, all the way down to holding hands with her newfound bestfriend or receiving a true human-to-human kiss. Imagine experiencing every first you've ever had and magnify that tenfold.

Brief Review: The Fledgling Handbook 101

House of Night Series: (#1) Marked★ (#2) Betrayed★ (#3) Chosen★ (#4) Untamed★ (#5) Hunted★ (#6) Tempted★ (#7) Burned

Upcoming: (#8) Awakened 1/4/11; 336 pages

Authors: P.C. Cast☆Kristin Cast

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Thanks Picasa 3 and Youtube.com for helping me put up this video!

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If you've watched the above video, you'll see that the handbook looks pretty neat. It has a lot of great pictures, mostly depicting ancient paintings and artifacts, which aroused my interest while reading. The thing I found the coolest about this first guide into the HoN series was it being written as though you are a student in the House of Night, as if you're a fledgling making the transition to adult vampyre. It talks a lot about what happens, in terms of biology, when you are Marked and are making the Change. It goes onto the rituals performed throughout HoN, their histories, the priestesses who performed them over the centuries. The handbook then proceeds to talk about human connection to vampyre history, the vampyres as a whole, and how the stories and myths humans grow up with aren't actually the entire truth. The story that held the most appeal for me would be "The Tragedy of Pompeii", where the story of Theodora and Antonia is told. The love between Theodora and her warrior; the bond of sisterhood, of twins; the selfish Brutus whose madness cost many; and the unexpected outburst of the "brooding mountain" Vesuvius that consumed "Pompeii and Herculaneum, [where] so many human consorts [died] that it is said that an uncountable number of vampyres lost their lives that day attempting to save their humans from death..." (106), makes for an incredibly woven tragedy story by the remarkable P.C. Cast.

When I was done reading it, I did feel that I gained some, if only small, previously unknown knowledge of the vampyres of the House of Night. I'm glad that I have the Fledgling Handbook 101 in my possession, a new addition to my growing collection of this amazing series.

Thanks for reading!

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By far the best cover in the entire series...

...right?