Tuesday Review Day!

Radiant Shadows (Wicked Lovely, #4) 

Written by: Melissa Marr

Publication date:

Released in Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle & ebook

336 pages

4 Stars - slow beginning 

Synopsis: 

"Hunger for nourishment.

Hunger for touch.
Hunger to belong." 

Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers.

Those same appetites also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies, including Devlin. He was created as an assassin and is brother to the faeries' coolly logical High Queen and to her chaotic twin, the embodiment of War. Devlin wants to keep Ani safe from his sisters, knowing that if he fails, he will be the instrument of Ani's death.

Ani isn't one to be guarded while others fight battles for her, though. She has the courage to protect herself and the ability to alter Devlin's plans--and his life. The two are drawn together, each with reason to fear the other and to fear "for" one another. But as they grow closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faery realm mean losing each other? 

Alluring romance, heart-stopping danger, and sinister intrigue combine in the penultimate volume of Melissa Marr's "New York Times" bestselling Wicked Lovely series.

My Review: When I read the jacket and saw that this book was going to be about Ani and Devlin, I wasn't happy. I did want to know more about them - just not in their own book; especially after the way Fragile Eternity ended! We haven't seen Ani since Ink Exchange and I've always wondered what important role she was going to play. Devlin was a mysterious character as well from his first appearance in the story.

Ani is reckless but loyal as all hell. She's young and confused, she doesn't know how to control her need to feed off of both touch and emotions, from both humans and faeries - and how to keep it all a secret. It's because of her abilities that she has drawn the attention of Sorcha and Bananach. There's something very special about her that has everyone going to great lengths to either use, protect, or destroy her. Among those trying to protect her is Devlin. His motives for doing so are very suspicious and possibly unbeknownst to even him! Another mysterious character comes into play; her name is Rae and she is neither faerie or mortal. She is friends with Devlin - weird - and she knows more about what's going on with Ani than she can tell him.

There are a million little cliffhangers in this book. Everything is just a tease - giving you only enough to make you keep turning the pages. Halfway through the book I was liking Ani more and more. She's definitely a magnet for trouble! Devlin is the kind of character that immediately evokes pity. He has no real control over his life, nothing to call his own, nowhere to retire for peace. He needs a friggin' hug! You know he needs love in his life and you just want him to have it.

Melissa Marr has a great way of conveying need. Need is not to be confused with lust or want or desire. In all the books of this series, each faery has a sincere need for someone. My favorite is Keenan and Aislinn. The way they need to be near each other, the way it feels when they're apart and when they strengthen their court together - it's beautiful. The loss Keenan feels at every one of Ailinn's rejections is so painful, and knowing Aislinn feels it too, the way she needs Keenan the same way he needs her  but refuses to give in, hurts all the more.

Overall: More twists and turns and a very satisfying ending. I ended up really loving Ani and Devlin - they are just absolutely adorable!

Tuesday Review Day!

FINALLY!! I have finally finished this book and I have to explain that I honestly do not believe it was because of the story that it took me so long to finish (about two months). I've been so busy and preoccupied that I haven't been dedicating much time to my reading, which I hope to change soon. Anyway, I finished it, so here it is:

The Misfit of Supernatural High (Supernatural High Series)

Written by: Shawn C. Sproatt

Publication date: March 11, 2011

Released in Kindle and ebook

248 pages

3 stars 

Synopsis: 15-year-old Wanda Windsor is not the most popular student at Hecate High. In fact, amongst her fellow witches, the fairies, the shifters, the vampires, and the werewolves, she's one of the least popular students. However, she never thought anyone hated her enough to try attack her. During her sophomore year someone uses mind control on other students to force them to hurt Wanda, and she manages to just barely escape each attack. Wanda isn't sure who would want to hurt her, but she's fairly certain it has to do with the introverted new student who has visions of the future.

When she isn't dodging death, Wanda spends her time trying to pass Geometry, avoiding (unsuccessfully) the subject of boys, and getting into mischief with her friends.

My Review: Right from the start, things take off which I loved because that means no drawn out intro about scenery and character or history. Not that a background story isn't good, however in this case it wasn't particularly necessary.

Wanda (hate the name) is being attacked by unknown assailants and the suspense is held out until the very end. The first attack is right in the first chapter and it immediately gets your mind reeling with "whoddunit". The supernatural community created in this story is so detailed as they had a supernatural version of everything for everything; yet I had a hard time remembering who was who, who was what, and what was what. There were witches, vampires, fairies, werewolves, shifters and more. Equally difficult to remember were the different rules and taboos between all the different races. Not everyone felt that dating outside of your race was acceptable. Wanda and her small group of friends consisted of a witch, Wanda, a fairy, Ari, Dean was the group vampire, Lu is a shifter and Alec a werewolf. They are all fiercely loyal to each other. Although they are in high school, you can tell that Wanda is the last of her friends to mature. As far as characters go, some stuck out more than others, even though the characters were all consistent, as in frequently changing or new ones being introduced. One character in particular, Lu, I kept forgetting if she was a guy or a girl and if she was related to Alec (another main character) or if she was romantically interested in him.

For the story to take place in a supernatural high school and town, there really was not a lot of magic going on. There was a lot of description about places and things but not enough about events. At one point Wanda is teaching herself defensive spells and practicing them on her friends but we don't get to see what she's doing or even hear the spells she's casting. I think the mystery part of this story was well written but the paranormal part was lacking. The author mentions witches having 'familiars' as though it were everyday knowledge and I was already supposed to know what that meant. I didn't. Their purpose, their powers and the advantages of having one were still a mystery until very close to the end of the book where they came into play more, because Wanda had two familiars, which is rare and reserved for especially powerful witches.

What I didn't like was how clueless Wanda was at a lot of critical times in the story. I understand that when you are in the eye of the storm, it is easy to miss things but I still felt that she should have been able to figure some of these things out. She would blindly walk into traps without even considering the possibility that it was a trap in the first place. I found myself getting frustrated and yelling at Wanda, "Oh come on!"

The end result, the big secret, the big reveal or whatever you want to call it can only be described with one word: flat. I was all excited to find out who was behind this whole grand scheme (and what the grand scheme was since it was such a well guarded secret), but when everything was laid out before me, I was just left feeling like "That's it? That's what I waited for all this time?" The person behind it all was no surprise either. Introduced early in the story as a potential villain so you are already given the feeling that this person was going to be guilty in the end. There was a whole lot of misdirection to make the reader believe it really could be anyone else, but it wasn't, and I think it would have been better if it was a completely different character. It would have made all my detective work feel worth it.

The writing was riddled with typos and spelling errors. I don't necessarily blame it on the author but I'm pretty sure the editor missed a few things.

Overall: Even though I wasn't in love with this book I did like it a lot and I'm glad I finally finished it and I look forward to the sequel. There were a lot of unresolved issues like inter-racial/species couples being seriously frowned upon. Racism is intolerable, period, and I would like to see that aspect of the story changed in the next book. And what about Wanda and Patrick (potential love interest and vampire)? Are they going to finally admit their feelings for each other and be together? If Wanda really is strong enough to require two familiars than are we going to get to see her powers develop? Let's not forget about Rose and Stephanie, (school jerks) I'd really like to see Wanda put them in their place for good!

Witches in the Holy City is the beginning of a new series set to debut in ebook on June 28, 2011 with the hopes of a Mistfit sequel in July!

Click here to visit Shawn C. Sproatt's blog.

Happy Reading!

Tuesday Review Day!

I feel like I'm on a reading roll and I'm loving it! It helps when each book I pick up is amazing! Speaking of which, here is my review for this week!

Afterlife (Evernight, #4)

Written by: Claudia Gray

Publication date: March 8, 2011 by Harper Teen

Released in hardcover, paperback, ebook and Kindle

368 pages

5 stars

Synopsis: The fourth book in this electrifying vampire series has all the romance, suspense, and page-turning drama that have made Claudia Gray’s Evernight books runaway successes.

Having become what they feared most, Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. They must return to Evernight Academy, Lucas as a vampire and Bianca as a wraith. But Lucas is haunted by demons, both personal and supernatural. Bianca must help him fight the evil inside him, combat the forces determined to drive them apart—and find the power to claim her destiny at last.

Readers have fallen in love with Bianca and Lucas, and they will be thrilled to read this exciting conclusion to their romantic adventure.

My Review: First, allow me to elaborate on the reason I rated Afterlife five stars is because I never even stopped once to write my review as I read like I usually do. I just didn't want to waste free time writing about what I had already read, I wanted to read more!

Bianca is once again a great narrator and very likable. Lucas is such the sweetie you just wanna put him in your pocket and take him home! I can't even begin to tell you the kinds of trials and tribulations their love has endured: the undead, hunters, more than one psycho vampire chick, wraiths or ghosts, death, the afterlife and resurrection! Okay, so maybe I can begin to tell you but I couldn't possibly explain! Lucas and Bianca are the greatest love story since Romeo and Juliet and dare I say it? Yes, Edward and Bella. Lucas and Bianca undergo such an emotional journey, always coming so close to losing each other forever, the final death, only to be pulled back but just barely.

This series has a great cast of characters throughout and man, when there's an action see - boy, they really go at it! It's serious. So many past secrets are finally revealed, like the whole mystery behind Mrs. Bethany, her past and her plans for the wraiths, for example.

Watching Lucas try to cope with having been turned into the one thing he never wanted to be - a vampire - is so sad. He struggles with the bloodlust, the urge to tear open any human that dares to venture near enough - even his own mother.

The plot was so carefully planned and detailed and executed that I couldn't put it together by myself. Sometimes a book is so easily laid out for you that you can tell exactly where it's going. I was so impressed with how everything came together in the end. It raises a few questions, sure, but just a few. Claudia Gray gave such a satisfying happily-ever-after ending and I will miss this story, these characters and the world they lived in!

Who Should Read This Book: Anyone who loves a little romance with their paranormal or a little paranormal with their romance! Strong characters, fun read, a great series you should not miss!

Speaking of things you should not miss...

B A L T H A Z A R

"In BALTHAZAR, Claudia Gray reveals the story of Evernight Academy's most captivating student. For hundreds of years, the vampire Balthazar has been on his own - without allies, without love, Now, he faces his greatest enemy, but he no longer has to fight alone." (Excerpt from the end of Afterlife)

Expected publication date 2021!

Tuesday Review Day!

Over the past few months, I've been in a bit of a reading rut. I either can't get into the book I pick up or it takes me forever to finish one that finally, manages to hold me. This past week, I've figured out the reason: my attention is always itching to do something else and now I know what it is - blogging! However, therein lies the problem, I can't blog if I don't read. My reviews are too far between because I spend all my free time blogging! And it's not because I feel like I have to blog but because I enjoy researching books to share with you guys so much! Yet, the reality is that I need to spend more time reading. So, that's what I plan to do. So on that note - a review!

 


Slice of Cherry (Portero, #2)
Written by: Dia Reeves
Publication date: January 4, 2011 by Simon Pulse
Released in Hardcover, ebook and Kindle
512 pages

4 stars

Synopsis: (Goodreads) Kit and Fancy Cordelle are sisters of the best kind: best friends, best confidantes, and best accomplices. The daughters of the infamous Bonesaw Killer, Kit and Fancy are used to feeling like outsiders, and that’s just the way they like it. But in Portero, where the weird and wild run rampant, the Cordelle sisters are hardly the oddest or most dangerous creatures around.

It’s no surprise when Kit and Fancy start to give in to their deepest desire—the desire to kill. What starts as a fascination with slicing open and stitching up quickly spirals into a gratifying murder spree. Of course, the sisters aren’t killing just anyone, only the people who truly deserve it. But the girls have learned from the mistakes of their father, and know that a shred of evidence could get them caught. So when Fancy stumbles upon a mysterious and invisible doorway to another world, she opens a door to endless possibilities…

My Review:  Dia Reeves is so twisted in a very awesome way. Writing in the mind frame of two young sisters that are very much like their serial killer father, had my mouth open the whole time I read this book. All I could think was, "Wow."

I'm not sure why, but the sisters were hard to picture. For my own sake, I had to visualize them in my own image and adjust when necessary. And I have to be honest, I hate their names. All of them. Madda? What? What's a Madda? Kit, Fancy, Guthrie, Ilan. I'm telling you, if this wasn't the sequel to a favorite book, I would never read this just based on the names. It's a little weird how Dia Reeves writes. There is no narrator yet you follow only one person. In this book we follow Fancy Cordelle, youngest daughter of the infamous Bonesaw Killer. She and her sister Kit are nuts that didn't fall far from the crazy tree! Fancy however seems to be content living a life of killing without being caught while Kit wants to pull away from her overbearing sister. The sisters love each other immensely, they are inseparable but when Kit falls for a boy, Fancy turns into the Red Queen - off with his head! Literally. Fancy has a twisted view of the world and people - neither of them are real to her. She refers to people as being plastic, as if they were just toys for her to play with as she pleases.

Fancy, Kit, Gabriel and Ilan are all so strange in the way they love each other. Gabriel and Ilan are brothers and they start dating the Cordelle sisters (Kit with Gabriel and Fancy with Ilan). They all see the ugly within each other yet love each other anyway. I don't know if that is a testament to their love or to how crazy they all are.

I thought the events in the book would lead up to some big thing but it didn't really. Just one crazy thing happening after another. The book was very laid back, and easy read in my opinion. There were plenty of twists and turns and secrets to be discovered!

All the talk about the doors in Portero brought me right back to Bleeding Violet and when Wyatt and Hanna made their cameo I was so happy to see they are still in love and Hanna is still wearing purple! I was afraid she would adjust and start wearing black like every other Porterene.

Overall: If you are in love with the world of Portero that Reeves has created, then you will love this book. The characters take you on wild adventures without ever really going anywhere. It was extremely entertaining - a real page turner because there was just no telling where the story was going to go. As much as I enjoyed this book, as I write this review, I cannot recall anything fantastic about it in general.

Who Should Read This: You definitely have to read Bleeding Violet before this book; you just wouldn't understand it or appreciate the craziness of Slice of Cherry if you don't.

Did You Know?

Please tell me I wasn't the only one? Did you know that Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves was been released (according to Goodreads.com) on January 4, 2011. Did you know that it is the SEQUEL to BLEEDING VIOLET?? I, for one, did not. I found Slice of Cherry early, I'm guessing when it was just Reeves' next project. It did not state that it was the sequel to my most favorite book! I figured I'd keep it eye out for her next release but I nearly screamed when I realized, "How could I not know there was a sequel to this?" Enough about my over-dramatics and more about the books!

Now, if you are not familiar with this series, please, allow me to help you get acquainted with a second look at Bleeding Violet and a fresh one at Slice of Cherry!!

Bleeding Violet is based in Portero, Texas, a town that can only be described as otherworldly. Weird is an understatement. Hanna comes to this town to live with her estranged mother under even stranger circumstances! Hanna isn't quite the definition of normal, either. More like manic depressive, or crazy. As she tries to convince her mother she's worth of her love and spend time with her crush Wyatt, she starts discovering things that start to cause a bit of trouble. And when you mix a nut like Hanna with a town like Portero, the outcome is not what you expect!

I remember laughing with this book. Smiling while I read it. I instantly fell in love with Hanna and her antics and her personality, all of them! She interacted with each character with such unique style! I loved every word of it!

Click here to read my review of Bleeding Violet!
 

Slice of Cherry also takes place in Portero, yet if revolves around two sisters, Kit and Fancy Cordelle. They are the daughters of an infamous murderer nicknamed the Bonesaw Killer. Sounds like a great family, right? Makes you want to invite them over for Sunday dinner! Soon the twisted sisters give in to their urge to kill, and it seems they're pretty good at it. The strange are outcasts in most places, but quite at home in Portero! One day Fancy discovers an invisible door. Like, what are the odds of that happening? Then I guess we take it from there! There is no mention of Hanna or Wyatt but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. It's a pretty small town, if memory serves.


Click here to read the FIRST CHAPTER of Slice of Cherry!

I cannot WAIT to get my hands on this book!

Tangled Movie Review

4 1/2 stars - Great for the little ones and the little girl in all of us!

Minor spoiler alert - but I'd hate to ruin it for anyone else.

My daughter and I were so excited to see this movie, I knew I wanted to write a review about it. I have to be honest, I missed the first couple of minutes running out to get popcorn for my daughter, who made sure I noticed that everyone else already had theirs!


Rapunzel is taken from her parents, a King and Queen by an evil woman who wishes to use Rapunzel's magical hair to remain forever young and beautiful! To do so,she locks Rapunzel in a tower and raises her as her own. She tells Rapunzel stories of a terrifying world outside the tower to scare into never leaving.

The songs were fun and bouncy though I didn't feel like any of them had any catchy chorus' that would be easy for kids to remember and sing along to.

I thought most of the characters were well developed. Rapunzel was beautiful with big green doe eyes. She was creative and artistic; painting, cooking, playing guitar, etc. Although she was naive to the outside world, as her "mother" wanted her to be, she adapted quickly and improvised well for someone who's never interacted with other people or ever had to do anything unexpected! Even more, she was brave and strong  and feisty with a frying pan! Rapunzel was also responsible for a lot of the funny moments in this movie. After fleeing from her tower, she has hilarious moments of happiness at finally being free and worrying about what her "mother" will say. Flynn Rider, the 'smoldering' cute guy, is also very funny in a drier kind of way. As much as the story revolves around both him and Rapunzel, I think he was more of a supporting character next to her. Rapunzel's "mother" was a great villain. She was definitely a character you loved to hate. One who uses backhanded kindness to be evil.

The other two great characters were Maximus, the palace horse and Pascal, the chameleon. These two were not in the movie enough. Maximus was potentially a great addition and hilarious character in the movie but he honestly did not get enough air time. Same for Pascal. I think children connect to a movie more with a strong animal character or two. From the previews, I was really excited to see Maximus and Pascal and the antics they were going to get into and the hilarious things they would do, and it just did not deliver.

I loved the rich colors of the film right from the start. I did not see this movie in 3D because my daughter is only three and will not wear the glasses. Obviously I cannot say for sure, but I doubt 3D did much to enhance this movie.

Towards the end of the movie, much like every other kids movie, comes that pivotal moment where things look like they're going to take a turn for the worst right before they live happily ever after. Well, at this moment, a little girl in the movie theater started bawling her little eyes out! Between that little girl and the tear-jerking scene playing out in front of me, my eyes were definitely wetter than they were a moment before!

The end of the movie is so heart-warming and sweet it just makes you feel all gushy inside! I'm so happy Disney came out with a new princess and a new movie to love! You have to understand, with my daughter being three, our lives revolve around the Disney princesses and introducing Rapunzel gave us a fresh place to start again!

I think every little girl (or older girl....or grown a** woman) should see this movie. It was just too cute to miss!

In My Mailbox

Hey Guys!

This is my first official In My Mailbox which was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.

Just yesterday I received from Dundurn Press Ltd. three titles from Deborah Kerbel!

Girl on the Other Side, Mackenzie, Lost and Found and Lure!

I will be hosting a giveaway of Lure so stay tuned for those dates!

Sooo, what did you get?

A BDay Wish

So, today is my birthday and let's just say I'm closer to 30 than I'd like to be. The wrong side of 20! So, to lift my spirits, I decided I wanted to talk about some of my favorite books and books I can't wait to read! Now, I'm not providing any links or pictures in this post for the simple fact that, well, it's my birthday and I don't wanna work that hard! Hmph.

The first book I need to mention (because I'm afraid people won't read the whole thing and I'd at least like people to hear about this book) is BLEEDING VIOLET by Dia Reeves! She created my most favorite character ever - Hannah! There are many names for people like Hannah: crazy, psycho, out of her flippin mind. Just to name a few. But to me? She's just funny as hell! She whacks her aunt on the head with a rolling pin and runs away to find her estranged mom. Well, mommy dearest lives in the craziest town - even Hannah's crazy mind couldn't imagine! I heart this book A LOT!

I just read HEARTS AT STAKE by Alyxandra Harvey and JESSICA'S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE by Beth Fantaskey - both were REALLY awesome. Two really romantic, funny, vampire books; they're a quick-read so they were perfect for reading back to back. Now I can't wait to read their sequels BLOOD FEUD and THE WEDDING OF ANTANASIA JESSICA PACKWOOD AND LUCIUS VALERIU VLADESCU (that's a mouthful)!

 I started reading THE FALLEN by Thomas E. Sniegoski and it was good, really good. But then I went to Borders and quite unexpectedly saw LINGER (by Maggie Stiefvater) on the shelf! I thought the release date was July 20th? Not that I'm upset about it finally being in my hands - just upset that I keep getting incorrect dates from Goodreads. Does anyone else have that problem? Anyway, I had to put the first book down to read LINGER - we've waited long enough.

I really can't wait for AFTERLIFE, the 4th book in the EVERNIGHT SERIES by Claudia Gray. These books are amazing! Young vampire-human love, fighting and beheading, surviving and sacrificing. The ultimate struggle to be with the one you love. Oh, and a spin-off series - BALTHAZAR - a great character from the all the other books. LAST SACRIFICE by Richelle Mead. Seriously, who isn't waiting for this book? CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS, the Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare. I fell so hard in love with the first 3 books, I talked about them for weeks to anyone who would listen. Unfortunately, I wasn't blogging then.

I really want to read this book WHAT WAS I THINKING? 58 BAD BOYFRIEND STORIES by Barbara Davilman. It's not YA, I know, but it looks like it might give me a few laugh-out-loud moments! I've got my own bad boyfriend stories, might be nice to laugh at someone elses!

ONCE DEAD, TWICE SHY and its sequel by Kim Harrison look good GLIMMERGLASS by Jenna Black. I'm really curious to read BLESSED by Cynthia Leitich Smith because I honestly don't care for TANTALIZE ( the 1st in the so-far trilogy) but I loved sequel ETERNAL! They were two totally different books so I wonder where BLESSED goes from there.

I'm gonna wrap this up with 99 COFFINS (David Wellington), WHISPER (Pheobe Kitanidis, BLOOD OATH by Christopher Farnsworth was awesome, THIRST 1&2 by Christopher Pike were beautifully written, great books and I'm anxiously waiting No. 3. I love the Sookie Stackhouse Series and the written TWILIGHT SAGA is flawless in my eyes! By the way, last time I counted, there are 60 books on my bookcase that I haven't read yet! I can't stop buying them! I'm addicted. And I'm pretty sure that after my birthday, I'll add a few more to that number!  Happy Birthday to ME!

Hearts at Stake Review

HEARTS AT STAKE

Written by: Alyxandra Harvey

Publication date: May 23, 2010 (1st published December 22, 2010

Released in Paperback

5 stars

Synopsis: A ROMANCE YOU CAN REALLY SINK YOUR TEETH INTO!

Solange Drake always knew she was destined to become a vampire queen. And as the only female vampire ever born, not made, she is surrounded by danger on all sides - from vampire suitors who want to join with her lineage to bounty hunters who are set on destroying her and her family. When she is kidnapped, it's up to her older brother Nicholas and her human best friend, Lucy, to save her. But can Lucy save herself from Nicholas, who tempts her with his every look? And what will be Solange's own fate if she surrenders her heart to the vampire hunter helping her survive the deadly intrigue at the royal court?

How I Came to Read This: I was trying to decide between 3 books which one I wanted to read next. I picked this one up first to test the first coupla pages and I didn't put it down! I never even looked at the other books!

My Review: Can we talk about the cover for moment? I'm digging the font of the title - all pointy and dangerous. The model however, ruined it for me. Before I read the book, it didn't  bother me because I just assumed that she resembled the main character. And she probably does, just an older version of her. And where are the ice blue eyes? There's an overall lack of color on the cover and without that dark hair, she'd blend right into the background.

As the saying goes, "Don't judge a book by it's cover." This book is about strong friendships and building relationships. This book gets straight to the good stuff. No wasting time on fluff. Everything you need to know will be explained as the battle rages on!

I always enjoy a nice change of pace when I read a book where the narrators switch between characters. However, I DO NOT enjoy a book with a whole bunch of words I can't pronounce. Like Cwn Mamau. Why make things complicated? This guy can make these kinds of vampires and those vampire can make these vampires but only if they're half buried on the 3rd Tuesday of a month ending in Y! Phew! Hey, I appreciate variations in mythical creatures as much as the next reader, but simplify it!

Still, this book was amazing! It caught my attention right away and I couldn't put it down! It has a lot of great characters but Lucy and Nicholas very quickly became my favorite. Lucy and Solange are BFFs and Solange has 7 older brothers (one of them Nicholas), but it's Solange whom the prophecy predicted would be the vampire princess. Now that she's coming of age, the mature vamps are flocking to her like moths to a flame!

Lucy is tough. Take no crap and a comeback for everything. She's also fiercely loyal to the Drakes. Nicholas is equally protective of Lucy and his sister. He's the knight in shining armor with a warm creamy center! Solange is fixed on being a normal teen but gets swept up in the madness that her coming of age causes other vampires to feel. An unexpected hero saves the day but the change is inevitable.

There's action, romance, suspense and humor! Don't mistake this book for being predictable. It has great plot twists and an ending that assures you the sequel is a must-read!

Who Should Read This: Any YA fan! Great fun and easy read.

For those who have already read this: Did anyone else notice the punctuation?? The periods aren't circles, they're like tiny little crosses! How cool is that, huh? Nice touch!

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

SPIRIT BOUND (Vampire Academy, #5)
Written by: Richelle Mead
Publication date: May 18, 2010
Released in Hardcover

5 stars

Synopsis: Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong...

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri's birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir's - and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation and the girls can't wait for their real lives beyond the Academy's iron gates to begin. But Rose's heart still aches for Dimitri, and he's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join her, he won't rest until he silences her...forever.

My Review: Rosemarie Hathaway. Reckless, daring and combative. Caring, brave and self-sacrificing. Those are only a few characteristics that make Rose one of my favorite narrators. She doesn't even know how amazing a guardian she is.

In this installment of the Vampire Academy series, Rose has serious things to take care of which could have some pretty serious consequences. Like life or death. Yet she's brave enough and determined enough to do what she needs to. Even if it means involving her friends and risking their futures as well. But she's risked enough for them that they'd do just about anything for her. Rose believes there's a way to bring Dimitri back from Strigoi and she'll do anything to find a way. But after she finds Dimitri, er, rather Dimitri finds her, all hell breaks loose and things don't exactly turn out the way Rose expected.

Meanwhile, while Dimitri was gone Rose and Adrian have been dating. Adrian is good to her and he loves her despite knowing she still pines for Dimitri. I love the dynamic of Adrian and Rose's relationship. Trouble happens and it's Rose going off to war, kissing her man good-bye, him watching her drive away down a dusty road. The roles are reversed and it's so funny.

What I love most about this series is that I absolutely cannot put it down! Richelle Mead's writing just keeps me hooked, wanting more, needing more. She has a way of keeping you on edge, never knowing what is going to happen. Things were always creeping up on you. Everything is business as usual and then WHAM - Strigoi!

How can anyone say this book was anything less than amazing?!? It was a constant jaw-dropper. By far, one of the top vampire series out there. The next and final installment titled "Last Sacrifice" is scheduled to be released December 7, 2010!!!

Here's a peek at the cover...

DO NOT MISS IT!!!

The wait is over! Almost.

For those of us not lucky enough to have already read an ARC copy - Are you ready? Spirit Bound can be ours in just one more day!

My pre-ordered copy from Borders will be in tomorrow and I can't wait to get my hands on it! Enjoy everyone!

BIBLIOPHOBIA - Definition: 1. (n) a dread of books

NEED (Need, #1) 
Titles in Series: Need, Captivate and Need #3 to be released January 3, 2011
Written by: Carrie Jones
Publication date: December 23, 2008

Released in Paperback and Hardcover

3 1/2 stars because I did really enjoy it but I don't feel it was a must read

Synopsis: Pain shoots through my head. Fireworks. Explosions. All inside my brain. The white world goes dark and I know what's about to happen.

Zara White suspects there's a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She's also obsessed with phobias. And it's true, she hasn't exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay sane...but Zara's pretty sure her mom just can't deal with her right now.

She couldn't be more wrong. Turns out the semi-stalker is not a figment of Zara's overactive imagination. In fact, he's still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There's something not right - not human - in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs point to Zara.

How I Came to Read This: My bestie read this and loved it. Not only that but the premise sounded good and I was curious.

My Review: Bibliophobia. I definitely did not dread this book. Before I'd even read the first 20 pages, I knew I was going to like it. Main character, Zara, uses such a casual, nonchalant kind of tone in her narration. The book is told so matter-of-factly, it felt more like listening to a friend tell you about this crazy story than actually reading a novel. It sounds like how I would write a book, were I ever brave enough to write one!

I really like Zara. She's very personable and she doesn't fake it for anyone! She's also sarcastic and practical. She is absolutely distraught over the death of her stepfather - who was nothing less than her dad. She is literally empty, hollow inside. More than halfway through the book, I started to get a little annoyed by her semi-frequent pity parties; but I had to remind myself of her loss and the fact that she was in the process of building herself back up from the inside out. Once I remembered to take that into consideration, it didn't bother me anymore. I imagine myself in her shoes and I personally would be far worse than she.

Anywho...The relationship between Zara and her man, (whom I shall not name so as not to spoil anything) is different than most YA novels I've read. It develops more slowly, as opposed to instant infatuation. It starts with a friendship and even after realizing their feelings, they still take it slow.

There isn't much build-up to the big moments - and a lot of people think that made it anti-climatic - but I was still shocked and surprised. There were certain secrects I was able to figure out, but i still wouldn't have all the pieces. Still, there was plenty left to keep me guessing and wanting to read more.

There isn't too much I can tell you about Need without spoiling the fun! Carrie Jones definitely keeps you guessing: who's who; who's what and what's gonna happen next? Just when you think you know something...boom! PLOT TWIST!!!

***CONTAINS SPOILERS***

CAPTIVATE (Need, #2)
Written by: Carrie Jones
Publication date: January 5, 2010
Released in Hardcover

3 stars

Synopsis: He smiles. It's a wicked smile. Kind but not kind. Handsome but dangerous. Feral almost. I can see why Nick nearly killed him. Nick...I ask again, "Why were you in the road?"

"I was waiting for you."

Zara and her friends thought they'd solved the pixie problem. And they did - sort of. The pixies are all locked away, deep in the woods. But the king's needs grow stronger each day that he is in captivity, while his control over his people weakens. And it's enough to draw a new king into town. Astley claims he is different. He claims there are pixies who can live peacefully with humans, that it doesn't have to be all violence and nastiness all the time. Zara wants to believe him...until Astley also claims that she is fated to be his queen.

There is no way Zara would ever turn pixie. And she's got good friends who will make sure of that. Besides, she and Nick are so in love they're practically inseparable. But when the very thing Zara wants to protect most is exactly what's at risk, she is forced to make choices she never imagined.

My Review: This book is all about kicking pixie butt!

It threw me off a little that Zara - after only a few months of learning that pixies even existed - that she was able to man-handle a full grown male pixie and actually haul him around. She is in high school, right?

Before I read this sequel, I was warned about Nick's overuse of the pet name "Baby" that he uses on Zara. I think I agree. He used it when it wasn't necessary. But the bottom line is that it doesn't add to the story and it doesn't take away from it either. Therefore, it doesn't really matter. It's just a little annoying.

There was one thing that bothered me. Zara was way too naive. I mean, didn't she learn anything in the last one?  Her super-humanitarian crap got old too. We got it, you want to save the world.

I haven't talk about Nick yet. I think he's the best. He's got that whole alpha-male thing going, the mighty protector! But he has a great soft-side too. I love when Zara teases him about being a "dog"! Dog breath and drool! Devyn and Issie are great supporting characters. The relationships between these four are great. When I was in high school I had three other best friends. We were inseparable and always getting into trouble together. Zara, Nick, Devyn and Issie remind me of those times and I love it!

Okay, let's talk about Astley. I actually like this guy, uh, pixie. He totally comes off as telling the truth. I want to believe so badly that he is what he claims to be. I believe that Zara was meant to "turn pixie" regardless. If Nick didn't exist, I'd love Zara and Astley ending up together - she is his queen now. But Nick does exist. So, now the question is: who will Zara end up with? And how? She's fated to be Astley's Pixie Queen, but she's in love with a shapeshifting/were-wolf. Will Nick even accept her as Pixie Zara even if she is mostly like her old self (and can glamour herself to look human). Would Astley release her to Nick? I'm thinking no, not likely.

I enjoyed this series so far, and now I'm definitely on watch for #3, but there was one thing that was on my mind the whole time. I feel like this was originally a vampire story. As if Jones wrote it first, then decided that the whole vampire thing has been overdone, so she changed her vamps into pixies. They drink blood (sometimes from the neck), only the really powerful ones can fly. One exception, the pixie kings have some magical ability. But vampires with magical abilities is not unheard of. Here's how I feel about it: I don't care. I love all paranormal creatures!

Who Should Read This: I wouldn't say this is for everyone. I don't really know who specifically should read this book, so my advice is this: no reason why you shouldn't. Give it a chance and you might really get into it!

Soul Screamers Series Review

MY SOUL TO TAKE and MY SOUL TO SAVE (Soul Screamers 1 & 2)
Written by: Rachel Vincent
Titles in Series: My Soul to Take, My Soul to Save and My Soul to Keep released June 1, 2010

Publication date: August 1, 2009 and December 29, 2009
Released in Paperback

4 stars

 

Synopsis: Something is wrong with Kaylee Cavanaugh. She doesn't see dead people, but....

She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next...

How I Came to Read This: Come on, who could pass up a premise like that? I just had to find out what was going on!

My Review: This book was definitely not like anything I've ever read before, in a good way! I thought it was creative, suspenseful and tricky. I called it tricky because this is a story about a type of "being" that you might not know anything about and so, you're reading this story and you have no idea where it's going or how it's going to get there! The two main characters, Kaylee and her boyfriend Nash, were easily likable. Kaylee was smart, worked well under pressure (which there was plenty of!) and I liked that about her. I don't like a character that quivers in the background or rushes into things too hastily either. I fell in love with Nash because he was always cool and collected. He was protective of Kaylee but not in that "Enough already!" kind of way.

It was comical and suspenseful.

Who Should Read This: Anyone into the paranormal but looking for something a little different, this was a nice change of pace. And I can't wait for this:

My Soul to Keep #3 coming out June 1, 2010!

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

BLEEDING VIOLET

Written by: Dia Reeves
Publication date: January 5, 2010
Released in Hardcover

5 stars

Synopsis: Love....can be a dangerous thing.

Hanna simply wants to be loved. With a head plagued by hallucinations, a medicine cabinet full of pills, and a closet stuffed with frilly violet dresses, Hanna's tired of being the outcast, the weird girl, the freak. So she runs away to Portero, Texas, in search of a new home.

But Portero is a stranger town than Hanna expects. As she tries to make a place for herself, she discovers dark secrets that would terrify any normal soul. Good thing for Hanna, she's far from normal. As this crazy girl meets an even crazier town, only two things are certain: Anything can happen and no one is safe.

How I Came to Read This: I just saw this in the store and when I read the inside jacket, I knew it was going to be a good one!

My Review: As soon as I started reading this book, I knew I wasn't going to put it down until the end.

Hanna, main character, narrator, manic-depressive and optimist, is by far one of my favorite female heroines. She's very funny and completely out of her mind. She's not the kind of crazy where it's written all over her face; she's that subtle, sneak-up-on-you kind of crazy. You could know her for several weeks before you start to realize a few screws might be missing. She's learned to live with her disorder, embrace it really, which is why I think she's always looking on the bright side of things. If not for the silver lining, she would sink into her disorder and never have a chance at a real life. However, when you live in a town like Portero, TX, a little thing like insanity is a walk in the park. Nobody can even tell there's anything wrong with her! I love how Hanna handles herself. She never loses her cool when confronted with a tough decision, not even when faced with life or death. She truly is bad ass!

In the beginning, Wyatt was kind of a jerk. He was wishy-washy. You couldn't tell where his loyalty was. But later in the story, I started to really like him. He's definitely a hardcore Mortmaine, but I felt that Hanna upstaged him throughout the book. Whenever he was around, he held my attention and I cared what he said, that is until Hanna said or did something. Don't get me wrong, the story couldn't hold up without him, he was definitely necessary. He was as thoughtful, caring and loving as his duty allowed him to be; as much as the Mortmaine allowed him to be. Another tortured soul, but with a very different spin.

The way Hanna is so casual, so nonchalant about things that would otherwise require a little more tact, it really fits my vision of her. You can't ever forget that Hanna, essentially, is crazy. If you forget that important fact, it could potentially ruin the story. But Dia Reeves wrote this story so well, I don't think anything could ruin it.

The flow of the story is so smooth. There's just enough descriptive detail to keep me from getting lost. I hate when a book has so much detail, the story is what ends up getting lost. Reeves maintains a perfect balance between description and story.

I love in this story, how everybody is so accepting of each others weirdness. I mean, they all live in Crazy Town, USA anyway, so really what's the big deal?? Still, it's nice to read a book that skips over the long process of acceptance and denial by one of the main characters. In this case, everyone's like, "Oh, you're crazy? Cool." Now we can get straight to all the good stuff. And Bleeding Violet is just full of good stuff!

The ending wasn't spectacular - but the reality is that, when you fall in love with a book, you don't want it to end, so no ending will ever really be satisfactory. I did get closure, as much as it could give me.

The only disappointing part of this book was that it had to end at all! There were no slow parts, no lulls, nothing I would change!

Who Should Read This: EVERYONE!!!!!! You're the crazy one if you skip it!

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

CITY OF BONES (The Mortal Instruments Series #1)
Written by: Cassandra Clare
Titles in Series: City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass and City of Fallen Angels to be released March 31, 2011
Publication date: March 27, 2007
Released in Paperback

5 stars

Synopsis: When Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder. Much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with odd markings. This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons - and keeping the odd werewolves and vampires in line. It's also her first meeting with gorgeous, golden-haired Jace. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in an ordinary mundane like Clary? And how did she suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

How I Came to Read This: I had just finished reading Twilight shortly before picking up this series and Stephenie Meyer was quoted on the cover of City of Bones as saying, "The Mortal Instruments series is a story world that I love to live in. Beautiful!". So when I saw these books on the shelves, I stared at them for a long time. Read the back cover over and over, debating if I really wanted to get into it. I would leave the store without buying them several times before I finally caved. I never expected to fall in love with this series so much so, that it almost beat Twilight out of the top spot!!

My Review: First, there is a complicated love triangle - which, let's face it, is always fun to watch - between Clary, Jace and Simon. I felt that all of the characters were fun and quickly loveable! Clary Fray, the main character, is 15 and from time to time behaved as such. She would often make rash decisions, putting herself and her friends in danger. I guess that's all part of the drama though, huh? If everyone always acted rationally, then who would have all the fun?? Although at times it annoyed me, I understood her motives. She willingly put herself at risk for the sake of others. She was brave at times and knew how to act under pressure. The other main character, Jace, I have to admit, is my favorite. It isn't really hard to understand why. He's hot, first and foremost, but he's also self-sacrificing, brave and sarcastic! Oh, and he definitely kicks butt! The other main character, Simon, was just delightful. Another master of sarcasm. I can't wait to read more about him in City of Fallen Angels. This book focuses on Simon but also incorporates more of Clary and Jace. Or at least I hope so!



CITY OF ASHES (The Mortal Instruments Series #2)
Publication date: March 25, 2008
Released in Paperback

Synopsis: Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? Clary would love to spend more time with her best friend, Simon. But the Shadowhunters won't let her go - especially her handsome, infuriating newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil - and also her father. When the second of the Mortal Instruments is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor suspects Jace. Could Jace really be willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

My Review: I enjoyed watching Clary come into her own. She's young and inexperienced but has just as much heart as any other Shadowhunter. This sequel, like the others, had plenty of action and twists and turns. Clary is learning about where - and whom - she came from. She doesn't know who to trust or believe as she's been lied to her whole life. She continues to struggle with her feelings for the man that is proved to be her brother, and her best friend. It's an interesting love triangle and one that forces Clary to choose not only between the two men in her life, but what her life would become by choosing either one.



CITY OF GLASS (The Mortal Instruments Series #3)
Publication date: March 24, 2009
Released in Hardcover

5 stars

Synopsis: To save her mother's life Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?

My Review: This book had so much information, it was almost hard to keep up; but it added to the suspense of the series. I couldn't put it down because I was always trying to guess what was going to happen next, what else what going to be revealed. This one ties together everything that is foreshadowed throughout and always throws in a little something extra. There's a little something for everyone; fighting, magic, love and humor. Lot's of humor!

Who Should Read This: I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for the next series to fall in love with. If you're tired of everyone ranting and raving about Twilight, then read City of Bones, and get everyone talking about that instead! It isn't heavy on the vampires or werewolves, though they do play a role. Instead, you find yourself falling for the ever mysterious Shadowhunters!