SAVE THE DATE {24} The Ghost in the Glass House

THE GHOST IN THE GLASS HOUSE

AUTHOR: Carey Wallace

EXPECTED PUBLICATION: September 3rd 2013 by Clarion

EDITION: Hardcover, 240 pages

CATEGORIES: Young Adult, Paranormal, Ghosts, Urban Fantasy, Historical, Romance, Clarion Books, Carey Wallace, The Ghost in the Glass House, Save the Date

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WHAT IT'S ABOUT: In a 1920s seaside town, Clare discovers a mysterious glass house in the backyard of her new summer home. There she falls in love with Jack, the ghost of a boy who can’t remember who he was before he died. Their romance is a haven for her from the cruel pranks of her society friends, especially her best friend, Bridget, who can’t wait to grow up and embark on romances of her own. As Clare begins to suspect an affair between her mother and Bridget's father, she retreats to the glass house. But that haven begins to crack when she realizes that Jack has lied to her about his name . . . From a dazzling and fearless new voice comes a shimmering story full of wonder and mystery, in a world where every character is haunted by lingering ghosts of love.

MY THOUGHTS: 1920s? Say no more, I'm already "Wanting to Read" it. I adore anything and everything to do with the Roaring '20s. I don't know why, or where this obsession started but I may or may not have imagined myself attending one of Jay Gatsby's famous parties dressed up in Flapper apparel. How cool would that be?! That being said, this tale adds ghosts and romance into the mix,  there's no way that I can say no! 

Do you think you'll read this one? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Reading!

REVIEW {31} RETRO REVIEW {5} Frostbite by Richelle Mead

FROSTBITE

SERIES: Vampire Academy #2 | OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES: Vampire Academy #1; Shadow Kiss #3; Blood Promise #4; Spirit Bound #5; and Last Sacrifice #6; SPIN-OFF SERIES: Bloodlines | BOOKS IN THE SERIES:Bloodlines #1; The Golden Lily #2; The Indigo Spell #3; The Fiery Heart #4

AUTHOR: Richelle Mead

PUBLISHED: April 10th 2008 by Razorbill

EDITION: Paperback, 327 pages

ACQUISITION: Library; Need to Own/Wishlist

CATEGORIES: Young Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Magic, Vampires, Romance, Supernatural, Richelle Mead, Book 2 in Series, Vampire Academy Series, Razorbill, 4 Star Rating, Wishlist, Review, Retro Review

RATING: 4.00/5.00 | GOODREADS RATING: 4.37/5.00

ADD TO GOODREADS

WHAT IT'S ABOUT: Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose... 

It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians—including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks... This year, St. Vlad’s annual holiday ski trip is mandatory. 

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price...

MY THOUGHTS: I really enjoyed Vampire Academy, and when people started telling me that Frostbite was even better, I was psyched to read it... which I did, immediately after finishing book one. The most appealing aspects of these novels are the incredibly abundant amounts of action, and the insane emotions you feel from Rose. Rose is such a complex character, even though you seem to get her at face value, and you think there's just maybe two sides to Rose, you then finish book two, and you are like, nope! Rose is Rose, regardless of who she's interacting with; but she handles situations so differently. Every reaction that Rose has is so emotionally charged, and when she's put to the test she always manages to kick butt! Everything about this book was addicting and delicious, and I can see myself adding the entire series to my personal library, and will be rereading these too, because the re-readability is very high.

The story line as well is so captivating, it literally grabs you and doesn't let go. I would literally find myself doing things with the book clutched in my hands - cooking dinner, cleaning the house, etc. I did not want to put it down. There are momens where I was literally shocked at what Rose was put through, and awed at how amazingly she handles things. If you haven't read this series, and you love vampires - you need to go get it right now. Like. Right. Now. Immediately. Go.

SIMILAR READS: Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine | Jealousy by Lili St. Crow | Vampire Academy: The Ultimate Guide by Michelle Rowen | Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz | Stargazer by Claudia Gray

Happy Reading!

I LOVE YOUR COVER {5}

Hey Bookworms! This is a new weekly meme that I've created to combine my love of books with my love of art. These posts will focus on cover art only. Enjoy!

THIS WEEK'S THEME: Urban Fantasy Covers

Halfway to the Grave [Night Huntress #1] by Jeaniene Frost

I actually have no idea what this series is about, but I'm pretty darn curious after really looking at this cover and all it has going on. First off, the sword in her hand that is glowing? Uh, yeah, you go Ms. Badass! Not to mention the thigh-high boots and the black dress? Yeah, this girl doesn't take crap from anyone! 

I love the spookiness created by the moonlight and the trees in the background. Keeping this one very monochromatic in blacks, whites, and grays works great, especially with letting the models shock of red hair bring the only color in (besides the little sword glow). 

There is a lot of writing going on on this cover, which I think makes it a little too cluttered. I like the green color pulled in by the title and quip from USA Today, and I really like the font used for the title and author's name. I think it just has a little too much going on, but keeps a decent balance. I would've skipped the USA Today quote, and just stuck with the quip on the left side of the model. Overall, I think this is a great paranormal book cover. SCORE: 4.25/5.00

Magic Bites [Kate Daniels #1] by Ilona Andrews

I've seen this series at the bookstore and it's one that always interested me, but I don't know if it's necessarily the cover that draws me in, or just the fact that it has 'magic' in the title! 

So there's a lion on the cover, which is awesome! I adore lions, maybe because I'm a Leo, who knows, but there's a freaking lion! On the cover! Oh yeah, and a pretty intense looking chick with a crazy sword! I really love the glowing emerald sky/skyline in the background...it really makes me wonder what this one is about. 

I don't necessarily care for this cover, though. It seems photoshopped, and like a lot of time wasn't spent on it. I don't think the colors used blend well together, and I don't like where the title, author, and blurb are put; and all in different colors. It just seems like one I wouldn't pick up just for the cover alone. SCORE: 2.00/5.00

The Lightning Thief [Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1] by Rick Riordan

Less is more. That is exactly what this cover portrays. It is very simple and basic, yet relays what the book is about while keeping a very monochromatic palette and keeping it very minimally cluttered with the title, author name, and the series name/book number.

I really like this cover. I think it's self explanatory, and what you see is what you get with this one. The colors all work wonderfully, I like the shade of yellow used for the title, and the simple, white font for the author's name. I really enjoy how the series name and book one are written on the side too. There isn't too much going on that your eye is being pulled in all different directions, but there is enough to get the gist of what it's about. SCORE: 4.00/5.00

FALLEN [Fallen #1] by Lauren Kate

I have always adored the cover for this book, and I won't lie, it's why I bought it! It's so beautiful and gothic and melancholy. I adore everything about this cover: the colors, the dress! Oh, that dress! The font used for the title is great, and the spooky, creepy birds flying in the background add an air of eeriness. There is nothing that I don't like about it, really! SCORE: 5.00/5.00

Shiver [The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1] by Maggie Stiefvater

This one drew me in immediately. I really like the cover, and my favorite part is the wolf. This is another cover that is so simple yet I find it more appealing that one that is full of color and has a lot going on. Keeping the range of colors to a minimum and only having the title (which I love how it's right in the center of the cover) and authors name in the branches is great. SCORE: 5.00/5.00

Hush, Hush [Hush, Hush #1] by Becca Fitzpatrick

Another awesome cover! I love covers that are just black, white, and gray and how can you walk past a book with an angel like that taking up the cover?! I love the feathers everywhere and how it looks like he is "Falling" and the way it's a smidge lighter all around him. And the font used for the title is awesome. The tiny hints of red work great too, and tie in with the red of the author's name. SCORE: 5.00/5.00

Happy Reading!

SAVE THE DATE {21} All Our Pretty Songs by Sarah McCarry

ALL OUR PRETTY SONGS
SERIES: Book#1
AUTHOR: Sarah McCarry
EXPECTED PUBLICATION: July 30th 2013 by St. Martin's Griffin
EDITION: Paperback, 240 pages
CATEGORIES: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Music, Sci-Fi
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WHAT IT'S ABOUT: The first book in an exciting YA trilogy, this is the story of two best friends on the verge of a terrifying divide when they begin to encounter a cast of strange and mythical characters.

Set against the lush, magical backdrop of the Pacific Northwest, two inseparable best friends who have grown up like sisters—the charismatic, mercurial, and beautiful Aurora and the devoted, soulful, watchful narrator—find their bond challenged for the first time ever when a mysterious and gifted musician named Jack comes between them. Suddenly, each girl must decide what matters most: friendship, or love. What both girls don’t know is that the stakes are even higher than either of them could have imagined. They’re not the only ones who have noticed Jack’s gift; his music has awakened an ancient evil—and a world both above and below which may not be mythical at all. The real and the mystical; the romantic and the heartbreaking all begin to swirl together, carrying the two on journey that is both enthralling and terrifying.

And it’s up to the narrator to protect the people she loves—if she can.

MY THOUGHT: I like how different this one sounds from most of what it on the market today. Of course, that is being said from the vague description given above - but I can't think of what I'd compare it to offhand. I like that they give the 2 main characters as Aurora (which that is one of my favorite names!) and "Narrator". That makes it seem spooky and mysterious, and pulled me in right away when I read this summary. I think Jack is going to be an awesome character too, from his description, and I think the cover is really pretty! This one sounds like it'll be a good read. What are your thoughts? 

Happy Reading!

REVIEW {30} RETRO REVIEW {4} Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

VAMPIRE ACADEMY

SERIES: Vampire Academy #1 | OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES: Frostbite #2; Shadow Kiss #3; Blood Promise #4; Spirit Bound #5; and Last Sacrifice #6; SPIN-OFF SERIES: Bloodlines | BOOKS IN THE SERIES: Bloodlines #1; The Golden Lily #2; The Indigo Spell #3; The Fiery Heart #4

AUTHOR: Richelle Mead

PUBLISHED: August 16th 2007 by Razorbill

EDITION: Paperback, 332 pages

ACQUISITION: Own

CATEGORIES: Young Adult, Paranormal, Vampires, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Magic, Review, Razorbill, 4 Stars, Vampire Academy Series, Richelle Mead

RATING: 4.00/5.00 | GOODREADS RATING: 4.20/5.00

ADD TO GOODREADS

WHAT IT'S ABOUT: St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

MY THOUGHTS: I went into this not really thinking I'd like it; but when I finished, I realized that I actually really enjoyed it! Like any first book, the beginning is a bit slower as it fills you in on everything that is going on, and explaining all of the characters, and story lines, etc.  I was even kind of annoyed with both Rose & Lissa when they first got back to the Academy. I had trouble connecting with Rose because I was reading her one way, and then we start to learn about how she used to be when they were previously at the Academy, so it was conflicting for me. But once I was into the bulk of the book I started seeing how kick-ass Rose Hathaway is! And Dimitri - YUM! The tension between Rose and Dimitiri is wonderful! And Christian, oh, Christian! Love the bad boys!!

What I liked as well is that there was ALWAYS something going on. There were very few, if any dull, slow moments. It was a very nicely paced story, in my opinion. I love the development of both Rose and Lissa's characters throughout the story; and the ending was pretty much perfect to lead us into the second book. The world that Mead has created is wonderful, and one you can easily visualize and spend lots of time in. 

[NOTE: This is actually an old review that I originally posted on my previous blog in 2011. I've since read and loved the entire series, and will be posting the reviews for the rest of the series in upcoming weeks.]

SIMILAR READS: Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine | Betrayals by Lili St. Crow | Night World by L.J. Smith | Vampire Academy: The Ultimate Guide by Michelle Rowen | Out for Blood by Alyxandra Harvey

Happy Reading!

Review {29} The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

THE INDIGO SPELL

SERIES: Bloodlines #3 | OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES:  Bloodlines #1, The Golden Lily #2 The Fiery Heart #4

AUTHOR: Richelle Mead

PUBLISHED: February 12th 2013 by Razorbill

ACQUIRED: Borrowed | Library [Need to Own]

EDITION: Hardcover, 1st Edition, 401 pages

CATEGORIES: Young Adult, Paranormal, Vampires, Urban Fantasy, Magic, Romance, Witches, Review, Razorbill, February 2013 Release, Richelle Mead, Bloodlines Series, Vampire Academy, Five Star Rating

RATING: 5.00/5.00 | GOODREADS RATING: 4.49/5.00

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WHAT THE BACK OF THE BOOK SAYS: In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

MY THOUGHTS: As expected, I abso-freaking-lutely LOVED this book. Seriously, Vampire Academy & Bloodlines have to be at the top of my 'Favorite Series' List. Just when you wonder where the next book in the series is going to take you, you're suddenly transported into action and adventures you never thought possible. 

I was getting kind of aggravated with Sydney in this book, considering she was fighting her feelings for Adrian, yet leading him on. But, being Adrian, he knew she would eventually come around, and told her that he would love her "from afar" until she realized that she's totally in love with him. Let's just say by the end of the book I was happy with where their relationship is.

The Indigo Spell finds us back in Palm Springs and back in the lives of Sydney, Jill, Eddie, Angeline, and Adrian. The book opens with the wedding of Sonya and Mikhail, and then sweeps us back to the west coast. Sydney is able to track down the elusive ex-Alchemist, Marcus, and is surprised to find out who he is, and the group of people he's involved with. Marcus asks her to gather information for their group to help them someday take down the Alchemists, and Sydney agrees. Marcus also offers her the chance to break her tattoo, so that she cannot be compelled by the Alchemists. Intertwined in this, Sydney is still learning magic with Miss Terwilliger, and fighting her feelings for Adrian.

One of my favorite things about Richelle Mead's books, is that there really are no slow parts. There's pretty much something going on all the time on every page. There is such a vast array of characters too, that she wonderfully weaves their sub-stories into the main plot. She is absolutely amazing as an author, and I even find myself wondering if she would ever do another spin-off from Jill's point-of-view. I'd definitely read it!

One of my favorite things when reading, is to experience the protagonist's growths and changes along with them. The Sydney Sage we met back in the Vampire Academy books, to the Sydney here in the 3rd book of the Bloodlines Series are so different. The important things that make her who she is are still there, but she starts to question herself in this book. Who am I? What am I doing? And luckily, she figures out she is the person she is supposed to be. It's okay to love who your heart desires, and to want better for not only yourself but those around you. Sydney is such a wonderful, caring, loving person that it sometimes gets in the way of making herself happy. Luckily, she's starting to realize this.

There are basically three main worlds in this series that Mead has to intertwine- the vampires & dhampirs, the Alchemists, and then the magical world that Sydney's finding herself a part of. I guess maybe Marcus's group could almost be a fourth world. Wait - a fifth - the Warriors. Sheesh! And to keep these all interesting, fresh, and working in a way to involve all of them is quite a feat. I can't even think of anything else to say except to just gush over how freaking AMAZING this series is!

I am super stoked for The Fiery Heart. I literally want that book now! I'm so curious to see what happens and where our characters end up - especially with the cliffhanger we get at the end of The Indigo Spell... 

SIMILAR READS: The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa | Fall of Night by Rachel Caine | With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent | Revealed by P.C. Cast | Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Happy Reading!

Review {28} Boundless by Cynthia Hand

BOUNDLESS
SERIES: Unearthly #3 | OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES: Unearthly #1; Hallowed #2
AUTHOR: Cynthia Hand
ACQUIRED: Borrowed | Library
EDITION: Hardcover, 438 pages
PUBLICATION INFORMATION: January 22nd 2013 by HarperTeen
CATEGORIES: Young Adult, Paranormal, Angels, Supernatural, Urban Fantasy, Romance, 3 Stars, Cynthia Hand, HarperTeen, 2013 Release, 2013 Read, Review
RATING: 3.00/5.00 | GOODREADS RATING: 4.18/5.00
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WHAT IT'S ABOUT: The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life.

Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California - and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.

As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfill her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.

In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must decide her fate once and for all.

MY THOUGHTS: I enjoyed the first two books in this series - didn't love them, definitely didn't hate them; so I guess I just plain liked them. I picked up the third book in the trilogy when I saw it at the library the last time I was there, since I hadn't purchased either of the other two books (and didn't need to purchase #3 to complete my set) I decided to grab it. 

I was immediately transported back to Wyoming, and into the life of Clara Gardner, her brother Jeffrey, her "aunt" Billy, her friend Angela, and her two love interests, Tucker Avery and Christian Prescott. I had remembered pretty much everything from Unearthly and Hallowed (Which is a miracle!) and what I had forgotten about was triggered when mentioned or referred to in Boundless.

I felt that this final installment in the series was slow paced, and a little boring at times. I remember in writing my review for Hallowed, saying how I felt that time went by too quickly. It did again in Boundless, each chapter sometimes being weeks or months in the future, yet still dealing with the actions of the previous chapter. I found that it felt a little disjointed to me. Also, the characters seemed to accomplish little in these large gaps of time. I think that the characters themselves remained true to who they were in the previous books, but each has grown and changed in their own ways - which I enjoyed reading about.

One thing that I absolutely hate when a series ends, is when it feels too "Happily Ever After" at the end. Sure, the characters suffered over the course of the three books, but I feel like when I closed Boundless, I was like, "Oh, okay. So that's how it ends." I wasn't happy, or sad, I really didn't feel anything. It just is what it is. Which kind of disappoints me just a bit. I love endings where you feel these crazy rush of emotions, but this one just didn't do it for me. 

I believe that Hand has interesting concepts of angels, Hell, the hierarchy of the angels, and basically her  ideals of what the contrast between Heaven/Hell, God and Fallen Angels are. Religion is one of those topics for me that is so touchy and so easily boundaries can be overstepped and turn either preachy or overly-religious to just unbelievable. I think that Hand did a good job keeping a decent balance to where I think the book is enjoyable by those looking for the angel/religion theme and those that enjoy reading about Good/Evil and angels without the religious aspect, like me.

Overall, I think the series told a good story with likable characters and creative themes and ideas that added up to three decent books that I would definitely recommend for it's enjoyment factor. It may not have wowed me, but I still enjoyed the ride.

SIMILAR READS: Everbound by Brodi Ashton | Asunder by Jodi Meadows | If I Should Die by Amy Plum | Shadows in the Silence by Courtney Allison Moulton | Goddess by Josephine Angelini

HAPPY READING!

Save the Date {16} Hidden by Marianne Curley

TITLE: Hidden

SERIES: Avena #1

AUTHOR: Marianne Curley

RELEASE DATE: June 25th 2013 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens

CATEGORIES: Young Adult, Paranormal, Angels, Fantasy, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Supernatural, June 2013 Release, Hidden, Avena Series, Marianne Curley

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WHAT IT'S ABOUT: For as long as Ebony can remember, she's been sheltered. Confined to her home in a secluded valley, home-schooled by her protective parents, and limited to a small circle of close friends. It's as if she's being hidden. But something is changing in Ebony. Something that can't be concealed. She's growing more beautiful by the day, she's freakishly strong, and then there's the fact that she's glowing. 

On one fateful night, Ebony meets Jordan and she's intensely drawn to him. It's as if something explodes inside of her--something that can be seen from the heavens. Ebony still doesn't know that she's a stolen angel, but now that the heavens have found her, they want her back.

WHY YOU SHOULD SAVE THE DATE: This one looks so good, and Curley is no newbie to the YA World. Her newest book promises to deliver tons of awesomeness as the reviews pour in on Goodreads - it's already got a 3.44 out of 5.00 rating! I adore books having to do with angels, so this one is just a given for me; plus that cover is so pretty!

What do you think? Will you give Hidden a try? Let me know why or why not in the comments :)

Happy Reading!

Review {24} Angel Burn

AUTHOR: L.A. Weatherly

SERIES: Angel #1 | OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES: Angel Fire #2 Angel Fever #3

PUBLISHED: May 24th 2011 by Candlewick

ACQUIRED: Own

EDITION: Hardcover, 449 pages

CATEGORIES: Young Adult, Angels, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Romance, 3 Star Rating, Angel Series, Candlewick Publishing, Review, Retro Review

RATING: 3.00/5.00 | GOODREADS RATING: 3.98/5.00

WHAT IT'S ABOUT:  They're out for your soul.

And they don't have heaven in mind...

Willow knows she's different from other girls, and not just because she loves tinkering with cars. Willow has a gift. She can look into the future and know people's dreams and hopes, their sorrows and regrets, just by touching them. she has no idea where this power comes from. But the assassin, Alex, does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows more about Willow than Willow herself does. He knows that her powers link to dark and dangerous forces and that he's one of the few humans left who can fight them. When Alex finds himself falling in love with his sworn enemy, he discovers that nothing is as it seems, least of all good and evil.

MY THOUGHTS: There is a special place in my heart for angels. I love them - good or bad - so when I saw this book I knew I wanted it.  The premise was intriguing in itself as well, and struck me as a unique concept. I was very interested to see Weatherly's take on angels, especially because it had absolutely no mention of religion anywhere in the synopsis, which pleased me as well because a lot of times I want a good angel story without being preached to or bombarded with religious thoughts, ideals, etc.

The story moves quickly enough considering for a decent portion the main characters are holed up in a cabin high in the mountains. What I like is that the beginning gives us a lot of background but does so quickly yet isn't inadequate or rushed at all. I don't have any major problems with the story line other than how fast Willow and Alex's relationship goes from loathe to love. And it's of the gross, mushy, omg get a room variety.

The characters are engaging, again I mention the relationship between Willow and Alex - the love they share does seem sincere, but maybe just a little bit forced. Of course they are also in a position and situation that most teenagers would never be in, so maybe under the circumstances it is understandable. I would've, however; preferred a slower progression into the "I love you's". The other characters were enjoyable as well. Willow's mom, Raziel, Sophie, Aunt Jo and Lailah are all distinguishable and integral to the story. 

Angel Burn follows a recurrent fad in YA books where the chapters are alternating narrative with the main character in the first person POV and then other characters in the third person. I personally love this, and hope that it catches on because I think it makes for a great way to personalize and get to know all of the characters without just the main characters take on everyone. Otherwise, the writing is fine, overuse of adjectives from time to time, but an easy, simple style otherwise.

As far as the ending, I think that it is what it is. There could've been more, but it is sufficient as it is. It definitely left me wanting more - and I've already purchased the sequel!

WHO I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO: Anyone looking for a non-religious (but there is presence of what I'd say is a cult) angel story that fully embraces both good and bad. It's jam-packed with action, mystery, romance, and will keep you on the edge of your seat guessing what'll happen next!

SIMILAR READS: Mercy by Rebecca Lim | Awakened by Ednah Walters | Finding Sky by Joss Stirling | Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton | Fallen Angel by Heather Terrell

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lee Weatherly has been born in 1967 and grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. She lives with her husband in Hampshire, England, where she writes, goes on walks, collects frogs and has a cat named Bernard.

L.A. Weatherly is the pseudonym for Lee Weatherly. Another pen name she uses is Titania Woods.

Happy Reading!
Laura

Review {23} Obsidian

AUTHOR: Jennifer L. Armentrout

SERIES: Lux #1 | OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES: Shadows #0.5; Onyx #2; Opal #3; Origin #4; Untitled #5

PUBLISHED: May 8th 2012 by Entangled Teen

ACQUIRED: Own

EDITION: Paperback, 361 pages

CATEGORIES: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Sci-Fi, Romance, Aliens, Supernatural, 5 Stars, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Obsidian, Lux Series

RATING: 5.00/5.00 | GOODREADS RATING: 4.37/5.00

ADD TO GOODREADS

WHAT IT'S ABOUT: Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens. 

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. 

If I don't kill him first, that is.

MY THOUGHTS:  Holy cow! I don't even know where to begin with how much this book rocked my world right now! And how badly I wish that I had book #2 because I have a wicked case of book hangover. I want more Daemon! I NEED more Daemon! And Katy - how much more awesome can a main character get?! Okay, let me take a second and attempt to compose myself  *makes several minutes worth of squee and eeek noises*

Let's try this again.

Oh. My. God. Who knew aliens could be so sexy?! And so bad ass?!

I absolutely loved Katy's character. The only way I can think to describe her is... Feisty! She is one sarcastic, funny girl and definitely a top fave of mine now. All of the characters were fabulous. The sexy, smoldering Daemon, sensitive and lovable Dee; and even Katy's other new friends Carissa and Lesa offer up tons of funny dialogue. The intense sexual tension and chemistry between Katy and Daemon is insane, and I am craving MORE!

I really enjoyed how well plotted out the story line is too. From the first page to the last, the story never slowed down or hit speed bumps. I was happily cruising along at a constant pace the entire time. There were no parts that felt awkward or forced, and I simply did not want to put the book down to eat, sleep, and go to work! It is easy to see what all the fuss was about when Armentrout hit the YA scene. I find her to be a fabulous author, and I will happily read anything that she puts out.

SIMILAR READS: AWRY by Chelsea Fine | SPARK by Brigid Kemmerer | ACCORDANCE by Shelly Crane | TOUCH by Jus Accardo | PREDESTINED by Abbi Glines

WHO I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO: Anyone who loves a good sci-fi story with hot aliens and one heck of a feisty, not-afraid-of-anything heroine!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you've heard about her state aren't true. When she's not hard at work writing, she spends time reading, working out, watching really zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories ... which explains her dismal math grades. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, sci-fi, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion, and Harlequin Teen.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published with Entangled and HarperCollins.

Retro Review {2} Evermore by Alison Noel

Evermore
AUTHOR: Alyson Noel
SERIES: The Immortals #1 | OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES: Blue Moon, Shadowland, Dark Flame, Night Star, Everlasting
EDITION: Paperback, 301 pages
ACQUIRED: Own / Purchased
PUBLICATION INFORMATION: February 3rd 2009 by St. Martin's Griffin
CATEGORIES: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy
RATING: 3.00/5.00  | Goodreads: 3.59/5.00
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WHAT THE BACK OF THE BOOK SAYS: The first book in Alyson Noel's extraordinary new Immortals series. Enter an enchanting new world, where true love never dies...

After a horrible car accident claims the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever Bloom can see people's auras, hear their thoughts, and know someone's entire life story by touching them. Going out of her way to avoid human contact to suppress her abilities, she has been branded a freak at her new high school - but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste.

Damen is gorgeous, exotic, and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her head - wielding a magic so intense, it's as though he can peer straight into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she's left with more questions than answers. And she has no idea just who he really is - or what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is that she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with him.

MY THOUGHTS: I originally read this back in 2009 when it first released. It was one of my first YA Paranormal titles, and I literally found it on Goodreads and left my house immediately to go and buy it at Borders. The cover, which I think is done wonderfully, also helped to pique my curiosity. 

There are many things going on in this series, though I still need to read the last two books. I enjoy Ever's character, however I felt her relationship with Damen was too "insta-love". While I wasn't a huge fan of that, it didn't really take away from the book too much once you get to the second book and things change drastically for the duo.

Ever's two BFFs, Haven and Miles, are good sidekicks. Miles is a decent comic relief, if not a bit of the token, stereotypical gay kid. Think Kurt from Glee. At her old school, Ever was popular, a cheerleader, and surrounded by friends at all times. Now, she is reclusive, keeps to herself, wears a hoodie and her iPod at all times, deeming her the weird freak new kid at school. Ever is fighting with seeing auras and reading thoughts, which really plague her. She's also having trouble adjusting to her new life living with her aunt after her parents, sister, and dog die in a car accident that she survived. Her deceased sister, Riley, comes and visits her, and those tend to be lighthearted, heartwarming, comedic scenes - which lead to the development of her own spin-off series. 

Just when Ever thinks things can't get any worse - relief in the form of a gorgeous guy named Damen appears. Damen is just what a lot of YA love interests are, a bit cliche, in that he's hiding deep, dark secrets about who and what he truly is. Especially when his ex, Drina, is around stirring up as much trouble as she possibly can. Also, Damen has unlimited wealth, which was a turn off for me. But ultimately once we start getting Damen's back story, it's easy to forget about the material possessions.

Overall, this was a decent first-in-the-series book, leading to even more action, drama, and adventure in the subsequent books to come. 

LITERARY AWARDS: Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Favorite Book & Young Adult Series (2009), Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee (2011)

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY THIS: Stargazer by Claudia Gray | Dark Visions by LJ Smith | The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz | Kissed by an Angel by Elizabeth Chandler | Need by Carrie Jones

Happy Reading!

Review {13} Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr

Carnival of Souls
Author: Melissa Marr
Publication Information: September 4th 2012 by HarperCollins
Edition: Hardcover, 306 pages
Acquisition: Borrowed/Library
Categories: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Magic, Demons, Witches, Urban Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Rating: 3.25/5.00 | Goodreads Rating: 3.82/5.00
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What the Back of the Book Says: In a city of daimons, rigid class lines separate the powerful from the power-hungry. And at the heart of The City is the Carnival of Souls, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition, Aya and Kaled would both face bleak futures - if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live.

All Mallory knows of The City is that her father - and every other witch there - fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it's only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable. While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the Carnival of Souls.

My Thoughts: The incredible world-building that made me fall in love with Marr's Wicked Lovely series is what hooked me from the beginning of Carnival of Souls and kept me going to the last page. I was absolutely blown away by The City, the world that Marr created that is inhabited by daimons. The story alternates between Aya, Kaleb, and Mallory. I didn't really connect with the characters as much as I'd hoped. If any character stood out to me, it would be Kaleb. He was the most three dimensional with tons of emotions and strength. He was willing to do anything to keep himself and his packmate, Zevi, safe and his love for Mallory is tangible.

Mallory wasn't a character I could really connect with. She was kept in the dark as to who her father is, and what her true heritage is. That part is understandable, but the scenes with Mallory just really didn't do anything to make me like her. Aya was a decent character, I liked her and could get into her story. She has tons of secrets and there is so much going on that isn't within her control. 

The plot of the story was completely unique and not like anything I'd ever read before, which kept me motivated to devour the entire book as quickly as possible. I did find a few things predictable, and there wasn't a whole lot of action other than the fights in the Carnival of Souls, which was the first half of the book. I felt that the book lost just a tiny bit of steam in the second half. There are so many themes and elements that are different than most other books so it stays fresh and new through the entire book. I felt that the book deserved more than a 3 star rating, because I really did enjoy it. I didn't love it enough for 4 stars though, so I felt that a 3.25 rating is perfect, even though I try not to give out odd ratings! I love the cover of the book and everything about it, and I'm excited to see what happens in book #2.

If you liked this, read this: The Gathering Dark by Christine Johnson | Loki's Wolves by KL Armstrong | The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd | Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff | Sorrow's Knot by Erin Bow

Happy Reading!

Review {12} Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

Poison Princess
Author: Kresley Cole
Series: The Arcana Chronicles #1
Publication Information: October 2nd 2012 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Edition: Kobo ebook, 384 pages
Acquisition: Own
Categories: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Sci-Fi, Post-Apocalyptic, Supernatural
Rating: 4.00/5.00 |  Goodreads Rating: 4.33/5.00
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What the Back of the Book Says

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole introduces The Arcana Chronicles, post-apocalyptic tales filled with riveting action, the dark mysticism of Tarot cards, and breathtaking romance.

She could save the world—or destroy it.

Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can’t do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side….

My Thoughts

I have been impatiently waiting for this book to release since earlier this year. I love anything to do with tarot cards, and have several decks myself. As a student of the tarot, I've always loved the stories that each card has to tell, and when I found out that Kresley Cole - whom I've never read before - was releasing a book based on the major arcana cards, I was beyond stoked! 

I found Cole to be an exceptional storyteller, however there were times that I found myself a bit lost. There is tons going on in this story between the apocalypse, Evie's visions and voices in her head, as well as the interactions between the characters in the book. I've read quite a few of the reviews up on Goodreads and some people complained that Evie's visions made some parts of the story confusing. I can easily see how this happened, however I was able to still follow the story line easily. The issue that I had with Evie's visions is that they were VERY cryptic. There were times I would read a scene, reread it, and still not fully understand. With tarot, this happens. Each and every person will read or interpret a card a different way, so I am just going to assume that these visions were Cole's own personal images and interpretations of the cards and how they wove into her story and characters. 

The characters were wonderful, each with their own voices and personalities. I wouldn't say that I loved Evie's character. I liked her well enough, there were times where I thought she was a whiny, irrational brat, but they were few and fleeting. By the end of the book I thought she was pretty kick ass with her powers, able to finally protect herself, and fight for her life. I'm curious to see how she develops in the remainder of the series. Jackson pissed me off a lot with how he tended to let his male parts think for him instead of his brain. Selena was cool in the supernatural, embracing her super powers kind of way, but other than that she seemed vindictive and conniving. Matthew annoyed the piss out of me with his awkwardness and cryptic ways of talking. His psychic abilities were pretty cool though. And Finn was okay, I really didn't like or dislike him. He's super cocky and like Jackson wants a girl in his bed. Arthur is also a very interesting character. He plays a small yet HUGE part. I do like how Cole interprets each card and developed them into characters. I had fun trying to guess which card each character was, and how Jackson will fit into all of this!

The world building was pretty incredible. I know I'm really into a book and that the author is amazing at world building when as I am reading the book, it's almost playing like a movie in my mind's eye. This happened for me through most of the book. To go from everyday life to a post apocalyptic landscape would be a huge shock for anyone - especially when most all of the women in the world perished, and Bagmen - aka Zombies - are swarming as are Slavers - aka men who enslave people and use women as "toys" - as well as militias that are forming. To deal with this along with lack of food, water, shelter, and gasoline add up to one incredible story.

As with any book that you end up really liking, Cole leaves us hanging at the end - wondering what's in store for the characters after Evie makes some realizations - including remembering bits of what her Grandmother told her as a girl (Spoiler:(highlight over to read) Including that only ONE card can survive. Therefore Evie has to kill ALL of the other major arcana cards/characters including those she's already met: Finn, Selena, and Matthew. Each kill earns her that cards "mark" tattooed on her arm. Cool!) that will make things incredibly different for book two!!

My Recommendation: If you love action packed, post apocalyptic tales woven with romantic tension, zombies, tarot and incredibly developed characters fighting to survive across a barren, danger filled landscape, then this one is for you!

If You Liked This Try: Dark Star by Bethany Frenette | Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter | Black City by Elizabeth Richards | Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson | Death and the Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones

Happy Reading!

Throwback Review {1} Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

Blue Bloods
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Series: Blue Bloods #1 | Other Books in the Series: Masquerade, Revelations,  The Van Alen Legacy, Keys to the Repository, Misguided Angel, Bloody Valentine, Lost in Time
Publication Info: April 25th 2006 by Hyperion
My Rating: 4 Stars
Categories: Young Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Vampires, Paranormal Romance, Angels
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What the Back of the Book Says: When the Mayflower set sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires.The vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue bloods of American society. 

The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapated mansion. Schuyler is a loner...and happy that way. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times. Then a popular girl from her school is found dead... drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to think, but she wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger?

My Thoughts: This was the first series that I read that revolved around vampires after finishing Twilight. Out of all of the vampire-lit out there, I feel confident when I say that this is the most unique, interesting, engaging vampire series out there! The series focuses around Schuyler Van Alen who finds out that she is a 'blue blood' (aka - vampire). There are different kinds of vampires - Blue Bloods and Silver Bloods (the bad guys). Each blue blood has a human familiar which they feed off of, and develop a very intimate (sometimes sexual) relationship with. 

Schuyler is one of my favorite characters. She is beautiful and dresses very bohemian (I always think Olsen twins, lol) and spends her time with her BFF, Oliver Hazard-Perry. Schuyler lives with her grandmother, Cordelia, her mother is in a coma in the hospital and her father is deceased. As the book goes on, we are given snippets from when the Mayflower sailed across the Atlantic to America, and as the story weaves from past to present, we start to see that each character is a reincarnation of a previous person. It sounds crazy, and it gets confusing at times, but ultimately I think the concept is incredibly cool!

The first book was definitely not my favorite of the series. It starts out very Gossip Girl meets Vampire Diaries but while the wealth and glamour do continue into the rest of the books in the series - it isn't as heavy or focused on as much as it is in this first book.Once you read around those parts and digest the meat of the book, you'll fall in love with it just like I did!

I adore de la Cruz's writing style. It's easy to read, yet not very simplistic. It's a book that I'd read in a quiet place and not with the TV on in order to fully digest every word on each page. There are not many lulls or parts where I was bored - and I immediately bought the next two books in the series after finishing this one.