Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

I enjoyed the first installment in this series, "The Goddess Test", so it isn’t a surprise that I liked this book. As I said in my review of the first novel, it’s a “cotton candy” series. You’ll devour it - it’s sweet and fun, but not incredibly filling. I’d say book two, "Goddess Interrupted", upgraded from cotton candy to my favorite sweet - dark chocolate truffles. It still is a bit fluffy, but much more complex in flavor. Oh goodness. Just typing this is making me hungry!

We pick up just as Kate’s six month vacation with her friend and admirer James has ended. She’s returning to the underworld to finally be crowned queen and see the man she loves, Henry (the God previous known as Hades, hehe). All hell breaks loose though and we’re taken on adventure where Kate has to confront emotional challenges of epic proportions (like meeting the sister she never knew excited who happens to be the woman stole & crushed Henry’s heart thousands of years ago? Yeeeeah, pretty big deal!). I won’t say anymore because I don’t want to spoil it for you, but the stakes are high and in the midst of it all, Kate has to grow up incredibly fast and learn how to prioritize what’s truly important to her.

It seems that this book is getting really mixed reactions from Ms. Carter’s fans. If you adored the first book, this one may not be your cup of tea. It’s not as fluffy and there is a lot of angst. A *lot*... to the point where you really want to slap Kate up side the head. However, it’s still a fun ride, full of adventure and world saving escapades. The relationship between Kate & Henry really develops towards the end of the novel. Be patient and wait for it. It’s worth it. I think Ms. Carter has written a fine second installment and I personally am dying to read what happens next after the KILLER (OMG OMG OMG!) cliffhanger that she left us with at the end.

“Goddess Interrupted” is published by HarlequinTeen and will be released on March 27th. I received an e-galley via Netgalley.com for review.

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Despite the buzz, I held off reading “Everneath” by Brodi Ashton because I’ve been a little burnt out lately. Don’t get me wrong, I *love* reading. However, I have picked up so many books in the last few months that I had been looking forward to that I ended up not being able to finish. It breaks my heart to put a book down only partially read. I know it is irrational and I shouldn’t waste my time reading things I don’t like, but I..feel...SO...guilty. But hey, I’ll get over it. Let’s move on to the topic at hand - Brodi Ashton’s debut novel “Everneath”.

“Everneath” is new story inspired by Underworld myths such as Persphone and Eurydice. Such an awkward way to put it, but it always seems that with these myth-inspired stories that there are reviewers who get all up in arms about it not being precise to its source material. I totally do not understand this. Anyways, I digress. At the beginning of the book, we meet Nikki Beckett (or Becks, which confused me for a bit. I missed reading her last name and thought for awhile there were two heroines. Whoopsy!). Nikki has just returned to our present day after spending a century in the Underworld, being fed upon by an Everliving, an immortal who feeds on human emotion. Though for Nikki an entire century has passed, back home only six months has gone by. They have been six long months for her loved ones. No one knows where she’s been, including her boyfriend, Jack, whose smiling face was the thought that saved her from shriveling up and becoming a shell of her former self in the Everneath. She’s returned to earth to reconnect to him, her father and to say goodbye because the Everneath will not let her go forever.

I really enjoyed this book. The one thing that really stood out to me about this one is how real the characters are. If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know how much I love this. I think it really shows true writing prowess and grace when you can seamlessly weave in real people within unusual circumstances. Ms. Ashton does this in such a powerful way. Her characters really stuck with me and I was proud of the choices Nikki made as she reclaimed her life and atoned for the pain she had caused others. Nikki was definitely flawed and was still very much a teen girl, but she also showed that she could learn from her mistakes. I’m not doing them justice, but I’ll just state again - so real. They are probably the most genuine real people characters I have ever encountered in an unnatural world.

This book took me a little while to get hooked, due the start being about Nikki’s quest to say her goodbyes and make amends before the Underworld reclaims her. Once you get to know Nikki and Jack, you won’t be able to put it down. I realize that my review totally leaves out Cole, the “Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.” (from Goodreads.com summary) To be honest, that description kind of blows him out of proportion. He does exist. He is handsome and charming... but the love triangle? It is pretty weak. Again though - so very realistic. I have NO problem with this. I just want to warn those of you who are Love Triangle-aholics... Lotriaholics? Trilovers? Triangerosophiles? Anyways, you know, those of you who love that, it’s not a big factor in this book. I adore them too, but they’re not necessary for every single romantic paranormal out there and I’m glad it doesn’t play that huge a part here.

This book is a solid, well-written and entertaining read from beginning to finish. I could not put it down! If you’re a bit burnt out on paranormals, I think this would be a perfect book for you to get picked up and get hooked all over again. And if you’re not burnt out on myth-inspired YA? Well then what are you waiting for!? Go read “Everneath” by Brodi Ashton today.

“Everneath” is published by Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins) and was released just last week. I received an ARC for review. This is Brodi Ashton's first novel.

Fury by Elizabeth Miles

I’m going to keep this review rather short. I really could not get into this book. It’s a story of characters doing bad things with three beautiful furies dishing out severe consequences. I didn’t like any of the characters and actually felt more attached to the furies who were punishing these kids. The leads are the people in high school who do whatever they want to do and do not worry about the consequences. Some of the missteps are kissing her best friend’s boyfriend and abandoning a friend because you became popular and she became a dork (who then commits suicide). I’m supposed to feel sorry for these people and care that they’re being tortured? I don’t think so.

Plus I just had issues with the furies CARING about these sorts of trivial problems when there are so many other terrible things happening in the world. I know I know. It’s a book. I’m supposed to let go and just embrace the story for what it is, but I couldn’t. Elizabeth Miles is a good writer, but the plot - so not for me. Sorry folks. If you can let your guard down though and dive into it, you may find a really unique story here waiting for you. I could definitely see this appealing to teen readers who feel these problems ARE major, but as an adult who reads YA, I just couldn’t relate.

Fury is scheduled to be released on August 30th by Simon Pulse. I was provided with an ARC by the publisher for review.

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Warning: Very minor spoiler

“Sweet Venom” is the story of three young women who find out they are the descendants of Medusa. They’re charged with protecting the world from mythological monsters who like to sneak out from their cage and wreak havoc on the world. The three girls have very different upbringings, but after Grace, the sweetest of the three, moves to San Francisco, their lives will come together and never be the same again. They must put their differences aside if they are going to save themselves and the world from ruin.

Well, I miss my bullet points, so today I’m kickin’ it old school and going to bullet point this baby. Here goes.

Three gorgons and a bag of chips (aka I’m being silly so I can’t just say “the good”):

• I really like the idea of this book. As those of you who read my blog regularly know, I’ve been digging this whole Greek vibe that’s been out there lately. Medusa is mega cool and I love seeing myths creatively reworked.
• I like Grace and her family. She’s so sweet, but under that marshmallowy exterior is one kick-butt young woman. I am really looking forward to seeing more of that side of her in the next book. I also liked the relationship she had with her brother Thane. I hope we get to find out more behind his mysterious behavior next time.
• I like rotating between the girls’ different perspectives. Sure, it was confusing at times (I get the name alliteration, but it does make it confusing for the readers), but it was fun.

Things that turned my heart to stone:

• The plot feels shortchanged. I know I’m not a writer and that it is an art form, but I really don’t enjoy books that are just priming readers to buy into a whole series. I enjoy having a beginning, middle and end. We spent so much time getting to know two of the three girls, meet the third, and then quite literally BOOM, that’s it! All I got was a bunch of a lose ends and no real climax.
• Action, what action? Romance, what romance? Sure there are a few monster fights and cute boys, but they didn’t get a lot of page time. This relates to point number one... due to this being mostly backstory and character development, we miss out on potential action. I’m sure we’ll get to see more romance & action in the next book, but you’re just going to have to wait, readers.

Overall, I’m feeling pretty “meh”. It read more like a contemporary about three very different girls than the Greek based monster fighting girl power I was hoping it would be. I will probably read book two, but if it is more of the same, I’ll be done with this series. I want to know what happens to the girls now that they’ve come together and find out some more information about the mysteries surrounding them. Ms. Childs did a great job at creating three very distinctly teenage heroines and I think it’ll be interesting to see how their personalities mesh over time. I have a feeling that Ms. Childs is going to kick it up a notch in book two and I’m looking forward to it.

I received an ARC from the publisher to review. "Sweet Venom" is scheduled to be released on September 6th. It is published by Katherine Tegen Books (HarperCollins).

Abandon by Meg Cabot

Yay for Greek books! I am LOVING these awesome Greek-based paranormal stories like Josephine Angelini’s “Starcrossed” (who will be on AuthorsareROCKSTARS.com next month BTW) and Aimee Carter’s “The Goddess Test”. They have all been so good! It’s like blending together two of my favorite types of story.. historical and fantasy/paranormal. Yum!

Meg Cabot’s addition to the Greek based trend is “Abandon”, which is a set up book for the rest of the series. I have to admit, I was a tad disappointed in this book. Not because it was bad.. I mean it’s Meg Cabot, it’s not going to be BAD. I just wanted more. The action/plot doesn’t really pick up until just before the book is over. It is definitely worth the wait though and I am anxious to read the sequel, “Underworld”. “Abandon” is all set up. You meet our heroine, Pierce, who is very similar to Meg’s other heroines. She’s fun, a bit sassy, and a very well-written teenager. You learn her past, that she had a NDE (near death experience) where she met our broody love interest, John Hayden, the current keeper of her area’s underworld. She escaped the underworld, leaving a heartbroken John in her wake. After her NDE, her life slowly falls apart. Her parents divorce, her friendships deteriorate, and her life just seems wrong. John is also there every step of the way. Her parents, teachers and psychologists say John was never real, but then where did her necklace come from and why does he show up when she’s in trouble? Pierce wants some answers and when she moves back to the island where she first met John, she’s determined to get them.

The back story bounces back and forth between the past and the present and can be a bit disjointed at times. There were a few times I said aloud “Come on Meg!” because Pierce would reveal something so matter-of-fact like that you thought you missed it in the previous pages. However, it would soon unravel and you’d learn the whole story. Everything in the back story tied up neatly in the end, but it was a bit of a bumpy ride.

As I have mentioned, this book is ¾ back story and ¼ plot. Once you get to the juicy, angsty romance and the action sequences at the very end, you will be aching for more. You just have to get there. I promise, it’s worth the wait. Without giving you any spoilers, I’ll just say that Meg Cabot can really write some DEEEEEELICIOUS broody young men. Mm hmm. I cannot wait for the next addition to this series to find out what happens to Pierce and John. Can it please be out already?

“Abandon” is published by Point/Scholastic. I received an ARC to review from the publisher. It is scheduled to be released on April 26th of this year.

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

“Starcrossed” by Josephine Angelini is being hyped at the “Percy Jackson for teenage girls” (Publisher’s Weekly) so I went into reading this ARC with high expectations. I am happy to say that despite a slow start, it met or exceeded all my expectations. It was engaging, exciting, well written, and full of delicious angsty romance.

Meet Helen, a painfully shy and bashful teen (so shy that she actually gets painful cramps when she draws attention to herself!). She tries to appear to be your average, small town teen, but that’s work for her. For some reason, she can do some pretty extraordinary things. Her dad has no clue and her mom left her with her dad when she was a baby. Things were sticking to the status quo until a new family moved to town and Helen’s whole life changed. She wasn’t the only “freak” in town anymore and for some reason, she’s now being haunted by three women who cry blood, she’s sleepwalking, and …. well, you’re just going to have to read the book to find out now, aren’t you? No cheating and googling for more information. ;) Let’s just say, Helen finds out that just because we’ve assigned the term “myth” to something... doesn’t mean it’s not real.

“Starcrossed” started a bit on the slow side, but after getting past the initial quarter of the book, things really started to pick up. I couldn’t put it down. It is full of action, romance, Greek myth, super powers, and mystery. I was a bit worried because there were a lot of things happening without any explanation at the beginning. I was worried that it’d be one of those "action crazy, then long winded explanation cycle" kind of books that seem to be popping up lately. There were a few questionable moments, but for the most part, Ms. Angelini did a great job at avoiding long winded explanations! Just when I felt that exposition was getting a bit dull, the plot moved on.

I adore Helen. She’s always been different, but never knew why. I love her modesty, her pure heart, and her loyalty to those she loves. She is a warm, tender character, but she’s also not a complete pushover. She’s refreshing. It seems in this genre that we get a lot of stereotypical female leads, generally very strong tough girls or whiny teenagers (who eventually turn into tough females). Helen is a bit wimpy at first, but never resentful about where her life has gone. She may say “Oh why can’t things be normal?” but instead of agonizing over it, she moves on. I like her. I want her to find happiness and look forward to seeing how she grows over the next couple books.

The romance in this book is great. I know I’ve said before that I don’t care for “hate to love” stories, but I like this one. I absolutely adore Lucas. Not only is he a cutie, but his love for Helen is tender and so sweet. It’s my favorite kind of romance... it’s not physical. They become best friends. Love it.

The Greek elements in this book are really interesting. I am in love with these Greek inspired books I’ve been lucky enough to read lately. Again, it’s Greek INSPIRED, not a direct myth retelling so don’t get your panties in a twist if Ms. Angelini’s artistic license of Greek myth isn’t your mama’s Greek myth.

So, okay, I’m rambling now. To put it simply, this book rocks. After a slow start, the pace really picks up. The action is exciting. The romance is beautiful. I agree with the hype. It’s going to be a BIG hit!

I was provided with a digital ARC of "Starcrossed" for review by the publisher HarperTeen (Harper Collins) via NetGalley.com. It is scheduled to be released in May of this year.

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Okay. So let me give you a warning - this book is addictive. It’s another one of those “cotton candy” books. It is sweet, fluffy and you want to devour it. Or at least, that’s the way it was for me! I sat down one night to go to bed and read a little...the next thing I knew, it was 1AM and I was done. I won’t go and wax poetic... saying this was the most amazing thing since sliced bread, but it was enjoyable. It’s interesting, creative, and well written.

Here is the summary, taken from Goodreads.com, because I’m feeling lazy today.
“Every girl who has taken the test has died. Now it's Kate's turn.
It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

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

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

Let’s talk a little more in detail about it now, shall we?

Party like it’s 500 BC:

• Kate - she’s smart, no nonsense, but definitely a teenage girl. She cares deeply for others and it’s this characteristic that gets her into this situation to begin with. She’s a strong female character without venturing into “kick ass” land.
• Kate’s relationship with her mother - for someone who has lost their mom to cancer, this may be a bit hard to stomach. I lost my mom in October 2009 unexpectedly to cancer so... there were moments in this book that had me bawling my eyes out. I really connected with Kate and her intense love and need to care for her mother.
• The initial setting - Okay. This really wasn’t important to the story, but UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN - YEAH BABY. I spent four wonderful years of my life going to school in dah U.P. so it warmed my heart to see it in this story.
• Greek influences - Please oh PLEASE do not come into this expecting some sort of amazing Greek retelling. If you are a mythology-obsessed person, STAY AWAY. From browsing through the reviews on Goodreads.com, Greekaholics loathe Ms. Carter’s very contemporary, very CREATIVE use of Greek myth. This isn’t a retelling. This is a story influenced by mythology. Key word: INFLUENCED! I never understood people getting so uppity about things not being precisely like they have always been. It’s like people who hate books turned into movies because they aren’t the books. I loved the Greek influences. I thought they were a lot of fun!
• Paranormal romance for those who prefer contemporary - I don’t like contemporary YA much. It’s not my thing. However, I still enjoyed this story. It is definitely a paranormal/otherworldly story, but it will appeal to teens who don’t usually venture too far into this genre.
• Satisfying ending, but still anxious to read the sequel - THANK YOU Ms. Carter. You wrapped up the story so well that I didn’t end up angry afterwards. Lately, everything is a trilogy and many leave you mid-story waiting for more. I know I know. It’s a great marketing ploy, but it is SO aggravating as a reader and reviewer. I feel bad for my readers that they too are going to get hooked and then have to wait for their next fix. It sucks. So, thank you Ms. Carter for keeping me wanting more, but not making me think about entering YA-rehab as a way to deal with my addiction. ;o)
• The character development is the one aspect that I think could have been improved. We didn’t really get to know Henry and that bothered me. He’s a vulnerable, romantic and troubled god. Come on, who doesn’t want to get to know him, right? Still, the book was short and so I forgave this.

So.. to all the haters, take a chill pill. Aimee Carter’s “The Goddess Test” is a fun, Greek inspired romp with decent writing. Despite dealing with some darker issues (um, he’s HADES, Lord of the Dead!), it’s a light paranormal story - fluffy, fun and sweet. It would be a great pick to add to your YA bookshelf for some light reading. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel.

I received a digital ARC of "The Goddess Test" from Harlequin via Netgalley.com for review. It is scheduled to be released in April of this year.