Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

This book was exactly what I needed right now. Something fun, still paranormal, and incredibly addictive. Yes folks, this book is vampire crack and I mean that in the best way possible. I devoured this book like vampires devour human blood (unless they’re lame like Edward Cullen).

Jessica has her whole senior year planned. She’s going to ask out the cute farmer boy she’s been flirting with at the diner all summer, win her horse riding competition, and enjoy the company of her quirky vegan parents. However, on her first day of school, a wrench is thrown into her plans in the form of a sexy foreign exchange student named Lucius Vladescu. Oh, and guess what? He’s a vampire prince and he’s come to claim her, his VAMPIRE PRINCESS, as his bride. He’s dreamy, but can she become the powerful, confident vampire princess he needs her to be? If she can’t, she could cause a worldwide vampire war that will cost thousands of human lives and she might lose the love of her life in the process.

Man, my summary makes it sound cheesy and to be honest, it kind of is, but in a FUN way. It’s silly, a bit campy, but totally fun and romantic. It’s a vampire rom com with dramatic high stakes (wah wah wah, get it? STAKES!). The characters are fun, especially Lucius. He’s incredibly well developed character for your stereotypical handsome, vampire prince. You really get to know him better through the letters he writes home to his uncle. He goes through a lot trying to figure out what to do with this vampire princess who didn’t even know she was a vampire and finds himself along the way. By the end of the book, you’ll be in love with him and routing for Jessica to save him from his dark side.

"Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side" by Beth Fantaskey is published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. I purchased my own copy on my Kindle.

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.

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

I keep changing my star rating on Goodreads.com for this one. I had a good time reading it, but in the end, it didn’t really blow me away.

Side rant: I don’t know why I even bother star rating except that I want my reviews to show up when people sort through them. I know I sort through and try to read 2 reviews from each star rating before deciding to read a book. (Yes, I’m that crazy. I know, I know!) I feel like when I rate something as “3 stars”, it is like saying it is bad by Goodreads.com standards, but I don’t want to rate everything I read 4 or 5 stars. What do you guys do?

Anyways, moving on. This story is advertised with quotes about being romantic and full of mystery, with quotes from paranormal and fantasy queens like Cassandra Clare and Holly Black. I was expecting something more paranormal and less standard murder mystery. It does involve some strange happenings that turn out to be paranormal in the end, but it just wasn’t enough for me.

Rory Deveraux, of New Orleans, chooses to go off to boarding school in London for her senior year, rather than move to Bristol along with her parents. She figures this way she can see her parents, but experience London city life. On the day of Rory’s arrival in London, a woman is brutally murdered a la Jack the Ripper’s first victim. It also happened to be the anniversary of that murder. The area around her school is the Ripper’s old turf and Rippermania takes over as more of the murders are recreated by a mysterious murderer who evades all the CCTV cameras. On the night of one of the murders, Rory sneaks out to go over to the boys dorm with her roommate and on her way back, she sees and speaks to a man that her roommate didn’t see at all, despite the fact that he was directly in her field of vision. The next day, she awakes to find her school abuzz with fear and excitement. A woman was murdered in their courtyard and she realizes that she’s the only witness. Suddenly, strange people are entering Rory’s life. Smeets with a strange and curt policeman, after the regular line of questioning was completed. She then gets a surprise late entry new roomie who will not leave her alone. As she unravels all the mysteries around her, she finds surprise discoveries about herself and why she was the only one to see the man that night.

It was a terribly fun murder mystery though. Maureen Johnson writes in a fun and easy-to-read format that will appeal to even the more reluctant readers. This is definitely not a book to read before bed (a lesson I learned the hard way). It can be downright gruesome and really friggin’ scary. Those last few chapters... phew! My heart was palpitating and my palms were sweaty.

Maybe murder mysteries just aren’t my thing? I’ve read too few to make a judgement call for me, but if you love ‘em, you should definitely check this out. I think you’ll enjoy the ride. I am interested to see where this series goes and will definitely be reading book two.

I received an ARC from the publisher for review. "The Name of the Star" was published by Putnam Juvenile on September 29th.

Fateful by Claudia Gray

“Fateful” is a paranormal romance with werewolves, set on the Titanic.

I know what you’re thinking... “Werewolves on the Titanic?!”

Now, hold on a minute. Say it aloud a few times. Werewolves on the Titanic. Werewolves ON the Titanic. WEREWOLVES on the TITANIC.

Yup. It just SANK (wah wah wah) in a bit, didn’t it? Claudia Gray’s “Fateful” is pure brilliance. What a clever idea! It’s a beautiful mesh of historical and paranormal, making a lot of fun for fans of either genre. For people like me who love both? It is a gift!

Tess is a servant to a once wealthy noble family who is making the voyage to New York hoping to marry the daughter, whom Tess waits on, into money before the family name isn’t enough anymore. Tess is determined to free herself from her mistress’ odious mother and brother upon arriving in New York City. She’s saved up and as soon as her feet hit the ground, she’s giving her notice and starting a new life. Prior to even boarding the ship though, Tess meets a mysterious young man named Alec. He saves her from a rabid wolf and then dismisses her quickly with a threat. She runs into him again aboard the ship and finds herself attracted to him despite his aura of danger. She is quickly drawn into a world full of dangerous men who can turn into wolves and who want something possessed by the family she works for. The werewolf they sent will stop at nothing to get it. He is actually looking forward to toying with and then killing her along the way. Despite all this danger, Tess and Alec fall in love and with this strength, they go into battle - willing to face whatever the evening brings, be it murderous werewolves or their ship hitting an iceberg.

Claudia Gray is a fantastic writer. She weaves together historical and paranormal elements with amazing agility and grace in “Fateful”. It’s such a perfect fusion of both that fans of either genre will be pleased with the result. I know I was! The werewolves aren’t cheesy and are truly frightening. Tess is definitely one tough cookie, but it’s not out of character for her or just due to the love she’s found in Alec. The life of a servant in this time period was incredibly tough and it made Tess into who she was. I could go on and on trying to appeal to all the potential worries that I see people having, but then this review would be BORING! Just trust me, okay? “Fateful” by Claudia Gray is definitely worth reading.

You can choose to win a copy of "Fateful" over at Authors are ROCKSTARS! right now. We're doing a giveaway where you choose from "Supernaturally", "Eve", "Cold Kiss", or "Fateful". The remaining three will be given away here for my end of the year crazy giveaway. Remember me talking about that? If not, click here for the details so you can be qualified to win!

“Fateful” by Claudia Gray is published by HarperTeen and came out in September. I purchased a copy to giveaway over on Authors are ROCKSTARS!

The Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

From Goodreads.com:
Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

Let me preface this review by saying I think Ms. Fallon has a lot of potential. I wanted to love this book. I have always been fascinated by Irish lore. This book though didn’t do it for me. It just felt unpolished and far too much like “Twilight”. I know a lot of people fall back on “Twilight”. It’s like a YA reviewing cheap shot, but seriously - this book IS like “Twilight”, just with a twist. Misty of The Book Rat posted a review on her blog that included a chart that breaks down the similarities.

Yeaaaaah. See? I’m not being lame. It’s TRUE. So if you like Twilight and don’t mind instant love, convenient coincidences, and the possibility of freakish monster babies, check this out. If not? Well, skip it... duh. ;)

“The Carrier of the Mark” was published by HarperTeen in early October. I received an ARC for review.

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

“A Beautiful Dark” is a stereotypical, albeit well-written, paranormal romance. I don’t mean that as an insult though. I *like* the stereotypical paranormal romance formula. It works for me and I take comfort in its familiar feeling. It’s my old cozy shirt for reading - I know it has some holes in it, but I’m okay with that. This book was definitely a wonderful addition to that genre. Plus.. it was an angel oriented paranormal book that I liked. These are so few and far between.

The story revolves around Skye, who meets two mysterious handsome gentlemen on the night of her seventeenth birthday where they bust into her birthday party fighting. The next day, she discovers they are new students at her school and it seems they’ve taken a keen interest in her. They say they’re cousins, but something is just not right. They’re polar opposites, having only their good looks (although very different features) in common. She soon learns that they’ve come for her and that the life she knew isn’t as normal as she thought. She discovers two sides within herself, both in regards to the boys she can’t help but be attracted to and a war she now has become a key player in. What side and with that, what boy, will she chose? The world hangs in balance, waiting to find out.

Like my little dramatic summary? Why thank you! In all seriousness though, it’s well-written, good ol’ paranormal fun. Love Triangles with Hotties + Interesting Mythology + Action/World Deciding Decisions = crazy fun in my book. If that isn’t your cup of tea, skip this one. I personally cannot wait to find out what happens next. The cliffhanger is a doozie!

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies was published by HarperTeen in September. I received a digital copy to review via Netgalley.com.

Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolomore

I was telling my dear friend and podcast co-host Allison that I was in desperate need of some light, romantic fun after reading so many intense and dark books lately. She suggested that I read “Between the Sea & Sky” earlier than I had planned and I am SO glad she did! It was just what the doctor ordered. Cute, sweet, and full of magical fun!

Esmerine is a beautiful mermaid, who at the start of the book, is being inducted as a siren.
Sirens, in Dolamore’s mermaid society, are protectors of the mer people and a great honor. On the night of her induction ceremony, Dosia mentions that she has interacted with some human men and asks Esmerine to go meet them. Esmerine refuses and the next day, Dosia disappears. Fearing that her sister was kidnapped and forced to remain on land forever as a merwife, Esmerine goes on land in search of her, reconnecting with her childhood friend, Alandare, who is part of a winged species of people. They journey together to find her sister and by doing so, find something even more precious in each other.

This book is such a nice, light read! I love the world Ms. Dolamore has created with her mermaids. It adds an interesting element to the friendship of Alandare and Esmerine. Not only is one winged and one finned, but they also have to deal with prejudices at home. Alandare’s species, the Fandarsee, are a very intellectual people who look down on humans and mer people as less intelligent, silly creatures. The mer people tell tales of the dangers of the surface world and fear that which is different. They do not understand Esmerine’s love of reading and writing, which she learned for Alandare as a child. They see her as being different and she’s been ridiculed for it throughout her teenage years. I also really enjoyed that the three tiers of this world (sea, land, and sky) all connected and interacted. It added a really interested complexity to this simple romantic fairy tale.

This book is full of fun, light adventure and tender romance. It’s a whimsical story that I think any fairy tale or mermaid fan will enjoy.

Between the Sea and Sky is published by Bloomsbury and is scheduled to be released on October 25th. My friend Allison was gracious enough to loan me her ARC since I was too impatient to wait for it to arrive via the Good Choice Reading blog tour. We will be interviewing Ms. Dolamore soon for Authors are ROCKSTARS! Be sure to visit the website or subscribe via iTunes so you won’t miss it!

Shifting by Bethany Wiggins

Shifting by Bethany Wiggins

The hardest reviews to write are the ones where you enjoyed a book, but not quite enough to rave about it or wax on poetically about its beauty (coughDaughterofSmokeandBonecough). Shifting is one of those books. I enjoyed it. It was a quick, fun read, but nothing out of this world. It just felt like something was missing...some “oomph”.

Maggie Mae has led a tough life. She’s been bounced from foster home to foster home since her family was killed by animals when she was young. Some homes were great and some...not so great. In the last two years though, it’s been even harder. On the night of a full moon, she discovered a secret about herself, that she’s a shape shifter. She’s unable to control it and so, every full moon, she ends up naked and found by police. Her current foster parents just can’t take it anymore and at the start of the book, Maggie is being moved to a new home out in the countryside of New Mexico. Despite all her efforts to fit in, she just can’t. She is terrorized by the local girls due to her friendship with the school hottie and a creepy man is hunting her. He may just be a member of a group out of Navajo legend, people who traded their souls for the power to turn into the animals whose skins they wear.

It’s hard to put a finger on it, but I think the “oomph” that was missing comes from the fact that we don’t get a lot of the history of our love interest or the mythology until the very end. Then it all comes at you rapid fire throughout the climax. I can understand the author wanted to build up a sense of mystery and also perhaps make the book more about the character, Maggie Mae, than the actual paranormal elements. I did really enjoy how flawed and real Maggie Mae was. I enjoyed her back story and her strength to stand up for herself. However, it just felt a bit underwhelming to suddenly have the mystery unraveled and to not get an opportunity to dive deeper into the mythology of shape shifters and Skinwalkers. I would almost have preferred to cut the paranormal elements all together and had the bad guy just been someone shady from her past.

Despite the lack of “oomph”, I did enjoy this book. It was a light read with paranormal elements that are different from the usual fare of faeries, angels, and vampires - oh my! If you’re a paranormal romance fan, you should definitely still check it out. I’m hoping there is more in store for Maggie Mae and her love. I want to know what happens to them after that ending!

Oh and on a totally random note - I hate the official cover. Where the heck did the snake come from (other than it looking cool)? Um, there are no snakes. Lots of furry animals, some feathered, no reptiles to my knowledge. Maybe I missed something? My edition has Maggie with a cheetah, definitely more plot appropriate and still pretty.

Shifting by Bethany Wiggins is published by Walker & Co (Bloomsbury) who sent me an ARC to review. It was published in September of this year.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

As I sit here, attempting to put my feelings into words, I keep hearing a little scene from Wayne’s World (yes, I know):



I do not feel worthy to try and use my measly words to describe the beauty of Laini Taylor’s “Daughter of Smoke and Bone”. Nothing I could say could even begin to make you realize how wonderful and magical this book is. Laini Taylor is a master seductress - her words will draw you in with their beauty and then they will never you go. Weeks later, you’ll still thirsty for her words.

Karou is an art student in Prague. She fills her sketchbooks with magical creatures and tells her friends stories about them. Little do they know... these demonic creatures are actually real and are the only family that Karou’s ever known. She is able to take care of herself, attends great art school and has a wonderful best friend, but something feels like it is missing. It’s like part of who she is has been taken away. When she meets Akiva, a fire winged angel, something in her snaps. She instantly feels connected to him, despite the fact that at their first meeting, he tried to kill her. He feels it too and as they are faced with this strange and intimate connection, they find something extraordinary that may save a world that Akiva knows and one that Karou is soon to remember.

See? I cannot do it justice. I told you. Enough with my blabbering. Go read this book. NOW. I know you’ll love it. When Ms. Taylor’s magical world finally releases you, come back here and tell me what you think.

I received an ARC from the publisher, Little Brown, for review. This book is on sale now! Ms. Taylor will also be joining us on Authors are ROCKSTARS! later this month.

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

“Cold Kiss” by Amy Garvey is a fantastic character piece about a young woman learning to let go of her first love and becoming a stronger person while learning from her mistakes. Wren is a special girl. The women in her family can do things others can’t, so when her boyfriend Danny dies, she does everything in her power to bring him back to her. What she brings back though isn’t the Danny she knew and now she’s caught up in a world of secrets and lies. She’s been keeping Danny a secret for months now and suddenly, in one day, the new kid Gabriel has unravelled her web and knows what she’s done. His family can also do things others can’t and Gabriel befriends Wren to try and save her from the consequences of her impulse decision to save Danny. Things get messy though and in the end, Wren is the only one who can fix the wrong she made that night she brought Danny back.

If you’re looking for action and gore, then look somewhere else. This story is all about Wren and her relationships with her family, and her friends, Gabriel and Danny. If you like heart wrenching tales of love and loss, written in an incredible, beautiful and real voice, then look no further. Amy Garvey’s “Cold Kiss” is just for you. As someone who has gone through the grieving process recently (I lost my mother almost exactly two years ago to sudden and unexpected cancer), it was easy for me to connect to Wren, to understand why she did what she did and to hurt with her when she realized that life was never going to be the same again. Ms. Garvey’s writing is beautiful and will bring you to tears. Sure, there is a zombie and Wren is magical, but this isn’t a paranormal romance or zombie action story. It’s a story about loss and growing up.

“Cold Kiss” is published by HarperTeen. I received a digital ARC via NetGalley.com to review. It was published on September 20th so go get a copy today! Amy will also be joining us on a special edition of Authors are ROCKSTARS! along with Kiersten White, Anna Carey and Claudia Gray so stay tuned.

Audiobook Review - Juliet Immortal by Stacy Jay, Narrated by Justine Eyre

This book surprised me. I have to admit - I was really apprehensive going into it. The story is a very unique spin off of Romeo & Juliet. In this version, Juliet and Romeo were two real teens who fell in love back in medieval Italy. Their story ended tragically, but not from starcrossed love. Romeo sold Juliet out in exchange for immortality to a society of paranormal beings that feed on negativity. Juliet ends up working against Romeo throughout the centuries for another group of paranormal beings who try to protect soul mates from the evil “mercenaries”.

Pretty wild, right? It is a bit out there, but it’s really well told. The voice of Juliet is full of angst over her lost life and her struggles with her current plane of existence. She now fights for the good guys, coming out of the “mists” to borrow and inhabit a body of someone within the vicinity of the soul mates she’s bound to protect. In turn, while she’s occupying that body, she tries to improve the life of the temporarily evicted soul. The story begins when Juliet inhabits a new body, a troubled young woman named Ariel. This cycle though is different than her others. Things are not all they appear to be and for the first time in 700 years, Juliet begins to have feelings for another human being. Can Juliet save the soulmates she’s been sent to protect and save herself in the process?

Wow, that was really hard to write! The book is complex, full of angsty twists. It’s a really different read that I think would appeal to paranormal fans and people who prefer more contemporary stories since most of the book takes place in a sort of normal high school setting. (Okay, how normal can it be when Romeo & Juliet are occupying bodies that don’t belong to them?) The narrator for this audiobook is a great actress, but her voice sounds really old. Like, I thought she could be Juliet’s grandmother. The actress isn’t old (I googled her) and voices a lot of YA audiobooks. Meh, to each their own, but her voice didn’t work for me. I almost had to turn the book off and switch to reading this book instead of listening. Ms. Eyre just has this vocal fry/texture going on that gives her voice so much depth and age. It was hard to buy that she was a 14 year old girl trapped in the body of a slightly older teen. I’m picky though about my audiobook narrators since I am one myself, so keep that in mind.

“Juliet Immortal” is a very different take on paranormal romance. It’s very angsty. It also has some very gruesome descriptions and violence, so I wouldn’t recommend it for younger teen readers. If you’re looking for something completely new though, this is definitely a book you should try. It was an enjoyable, unique read.

"Juliet Immortal" was published in August of this year by Delacorte. The audiobook was produced by Listening Library. I purchased it through Audible.com.

Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healy

If you’re looking for something to read that is very different from your run of the mill paranormal, then you should check out “Guardian of the Dead” by Karen Healy. This book takes place in New Zealand and is full of beautiful descriptions of the lush landscape and unique cultures. A lot of the book revolves around Maori myths, which I found fascinating. I’m not familiar with this culture at all, so I loved learning their different origin myths. Despite its refreshingly unique setting, I found this book tedious to read.

Here is part of the description from Goodreads.com:
Set in New Zealand, Ellie's main concerns at her boarding school are hanging out with her best friend Kevin, her crush on the mysterious Mark, and her paper deadline. That is, until a mysterious older woman seems to set her sights on Kevin, who is Maori, and has more than just romantic plans for him. In an effort to save him, Ellie is thrown into the world of Maori lore, and eventually finds herself in an all-out war with mist dwelling Maori fairy people called the patupaiarehe who need human lives to gain immortality.

My problems with this book:

• Overwhelming - This applies to the cast of characters, the overall plot line (by the time I got ⅔ through, I just felt enough was enough!), the amount of myths being thrown at me, you name it. This book is overwhelming and it left me feeling agitated throughout reading it.
• Romance - It kind of fizzled out for me after a lot of the mystery is revealed and I didn’t like the way it ended.
• Boarding school - I am tired of this plot device.

Despite its faults, it is an interesting read that many people seemed to really enjoy. Perhaps if I didn’t have a bunch of other books waiting for me that I am dying to read, I would have enjoyed this book more. By the time I finished, I was just happy to be done so I could move on to something else.

I received a copy of “Guardian of the Dead” from the publisher, Little Brown. It was just released on paperback this month.

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.

Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Okay, so let me just start out saying I really like this series. It is such a neat twist on the usual paranormal stuff out there. If you haven’t read it already, go check out my review of “Firelight”.

To steal from my own review and avoid spoilers, here’s my summary:
“This is a tale of love, a love that is powerful and consuming. Will and Jacinda are a modern day Romeo & Juliet. Jacinda is a draki, a race descended from dragons and hunted for their skills and healing properties. She grew up in a sheltered society where she was treasured for her innate draki gift, she’s a fire breather and the first draki with this gift in a very long time. After being forced by her mother to leave the only home and society she’s ever known, she’s thrust into the human world and forced to try to be something she’s not, a normal human girl. This is where she runs into Will, though not their first meeting. Will is from a family of hunters, human beings that do what their name implies, hunt. They capture drakis and use them (or their body parts!) for their own personal gain. Will, though, isn’t like his family. He has a warm heart and he shares a deep connection with Jacinda. For Jacinda, he’s the only thing keeping her from losing who she really is. The question is … is love enough to break every rule, to go against everything they’ve ever known?”

“Vanish” continues RIGHT where “Firelight” left off. It’s almost as if Ms. Jordan just sawed the books in two at that point. So you might want to pick up “Firelight” and re-read it before jumping back in. Otherwise, it’ll be a bit of a bumpy start. “Vanish” focuses more on the draki culture and the love triangle that had started to form in “Firelight” between Jacinda, Will and Cassian, the young draki she was supposed to mate. After returning home, Jacinda and her family have to face the consequences of their actions out in the human world. Jacinda knows it’d be better for everyone if she’d just let her love for Will go, but can she?

This is a solid sequel. While not very much happens action-wise, we learn a lot more about the life Jacinda knew before her mother uprooted her. We also get to know sister and Cassian better and oh boy is Cassian dreamy. *sigh* The action finally kicks it up a notch at the end and we’re left with a doozy of a cliffhanger. GAH!?!? Why isn’t book 3 out yet?! Anyways, a lot of the mysteries posed in book 1 go unanswered in book 2, so if you’re looking for answers, you’ll just have to keep waiting patiently. Or you know, in my case, not so patiently. Poor Jacinda has some major decisions to face and a long road ahead of her. I’m so excited to see how it all plays out.

“Vanish” by Sophie Jordan is published by HarperTeen who sent me an ARC to review. The first book the series, “Firelight” is already on the shelves. “Vanish” will be released on September 6th.

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

Suzanne Young’s “A Need So Beautiful” is a classic tale of good vs. evil and duty vs. personal desires. The plot is a bit formulaic, but it’s a formula that works and is well used by Ms. Young. Her writing is engrossing and it brings you in and doesn’t let you go. I read “A Need So Beautiful” in less than 24 hours... I just couldn’t stop. I cared so much for the characters and needed to find out what happened to them in the end.

Charlotte tries as hard as she can to lead an ordinary life, but fate has other ideas. She keeps getting these impulses to help strangers. She’ll be minding her own business, spending time with her sexy motorcycle ridin’ boyfriend and wham! She’s hit with an overwhelming urge to help someone specific who needs her help. They could be across town or in the building nearby. The need guides her to wherever she is needed. She has kept this urge a secret from her loved ones (her best friend just thinks she’s psychic), but it’s starting to consume her life and now her body. She finds out that she is part of a bigger plan and that her existence on earth is limited. However, when an eerie woman offers her an opportunity to stay with the boy and family she loves, will she choose to stay with the people she loves even if she may turn into a monster? Will she embrace her destiny and be the light the world needs?

This book is paranormal light. Despite being about angels and good vs. evil, it really has a contemporary feel to it. In fact, Suzanne Young talked about that a little bit in our Authors are ROCKSTARS! interview. She wrote it first as a contemporary, then laced in the paranormal elements. I think it would be a great book to recommend to people who aren’t really into paranormal romance, but are interested in trying it out. Ms. Young does a great job avoiding any major religious affiliation with the angels, so for those that are religiously squeamish, do not avoid this book based on that fear. The relationship between Harlin and Charlotte is so sweet as is her friendship with Sarah. You really connect with Charlotte and feel her pain at helping out so many strangers while not being able to aid those dearest to her.

This is truly the first published angel book I have read that I’ve enjoyed. Have a tissue box ready though folks. Ms. Young really makes you care for these characters and with the decision Charlotte has to make, a happy ending is just not in the cards for Charlotte.

“A Need So Beautiful” was published by Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins) in June of this year. I purchased this book. Be sure to go listen to the podcast with Suzanne Young, Cindy Pon, Nova Ren Suma and Holly Goldberg Sloan over at AuthorsareROCKSTARS.com.

Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

Violet lives with her abusive, eccentric mother, who is currently making a living performing fraudulent seances for the wealthy. Lying isn’t pleasant, but it beats living a life of hard labor. Fooling people into seeing ghosts has made Violet a bit cynical when it comes to the “spiritualist” movement so popular in Victorian England. However, when her mom gets asked to a country estate to use her “gifts”, Violet is surprised to find that while her mother’s gifts are fake, she might actually be a medium herself. A ghost appears to her and she finds herself wrapped up in a murder mystery that may just end up making her meet her own end.

I wanted to love this book. The cover is gorgeous. I love historical young adult fiction. I enjoy a good mystery and it’s been awhile since I’ve read one. Alyxandra Harvey’s “Haunting Violet” should have been the perfect storm. Ms. Harvey’s writing style is very interesting, but it made it a bit difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. It’s all through Violet’s eyes, so it is first person, but in the past tense. It was neat, but a bit difficult to read. The Victorian elements were beautiful though. I loved her descriptions of the countryside and the gowns. I want to go there with Violet! I also really enjoyed Elizabeth, Violet’s best friend. She was bright, bubbly and determined. Every time they interacted, she stole the show. She just had so much light and personality. I’d love to read a story just about her! The remainder of the characters were rather dull in comparison. Some of that is to be expected in a historical piece with a large cast, but I didn’t even like our heroine. There just wasn’t much to her other than she could see ghosts and she was extraordinarily beautiful. Her interactions with her love interests were rather dull as well. This book is truly all about the mystery, so if you’re looking for historical romance, this isn’t for you. The mystery elements are well done though and Ms. Harvey keeps you guessing up until the very exciting ending.

Unfortunately, the unique writing style, flat characters, and slow moving plot kept it from creeping any higher than a 3 star book for me. However, if you’re a fan of mysteries and historical fiction, it’s still worth checking out. There aren’t many books like it out there and while I had trouble connecting to the story, many readers seem to really enjoy it. I’d love to hear what your thoughts are!

“Haunting Violet” by Alyxandra Harvey was published in June of 2011 by Bloomsbury. I received a finished copy from the publisher for review.

Paranormalcy and Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Normal isn’t something in the cards for Evie. When you can see under the glamours of all sorts of icky creatures, life isn’t ever going to be normal. For example, sexy vampires actually look like rotting corpses (sorry Twilight fans!). Yeah, gross. Evie works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, helping them gather and control paranormals that are dangerous to themselves and the human race. Her day-to-day life has been as ordinary as it could be under the circumstances - home school, hang out with her mermaid best friend, bag & tag a paranormal, and then back to some Easton Heights, her favorite teen TV drama. That is until a paranormal boy, unlike anything she has ever seen before, shows up at IPCA. Shortly after, paranormals start dropping dead for no reason in massive numbers, her dreams are being filled with creepy poems, and her faerie ex-boyfriend has gone from stubborn to crazed stalker. Something weird is definitely going on and it looks like Evie might just be at the center of it all.

I loved this book. Ms. White’s voice is incredibly refreshing. It’s sassy, but without crossing over into Juno-esque (aka trying too hard) sassyland. Her characters are all very real. I absolutely love that while Evie describes herself as cute, she’s not the “OMG most gorgeous thing ever”. Same goes with Lend, the mysterious shape shifter. She finds him attractive because of who he is, not the face he wears. So many teen books nowadays have character descriptors such as “perfect teeth” (can't stand teeth descriptors - totally not necessary. Maybe I'm just jealous!) or they meet a guy and instantly it’s “omg he is like the hottest guy on the planet”. It bugs me. Sure, I thought my husband was a hottie when I met him in high school, but I wasn’t like “OMG HOTTEST GUY EVER!! MUST HAVE!!”. It was more of a “Wow, that guy sure is a cutie. I should try to get to know him better. Yum!” Of course, now that I’ve been in love with him for years, I think he’s the hottest thing on two legs, but that’s because I know him and love him for who he is.

Anyways, I’m totally off topic here. Let’s get back to the amazing Kiersten White’s Paranormalcy series. This is a fun series for anyone who wants something a little different from the usual paranormal fiction fare. It’s silly and cute, while still having the elements of a good paranormal story (action & romance). Plus you get a whole boatload of fun creatures in this one - vampires, faeries, werewolves, shape shifters, you name it! There is something here for everyone. I won’t go and spoil the second book for you (which comes out tomorrow, BTW), but it continues on and is just as awesome. I know I am desperately awaiting book 3 and I’m sure you will be too!

“Paranormalcy” and “Supernaturally” are published by HarperTeen. You can get the first book in paperback or hardcover. “Supernaturally” is out in hardcover TOMORROW! Go go go and get your copy. Move it people! Also, be sure to listen to the Authors are ROCKSTARS! podcast with Kiersten later this week.

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).

Possess by Gretchen McNeil

If you like books about demons and ghosts, then look no further. Gretchen McNeil’s debut novel “Possess” has all that and more - a sassy heroine, sweet love interest, and creepy bad guys. It isn’t nightmare inducing, but it’s definitely a thrilling ride.

Bridget is a 15 year old girl who just wants to be left alone after her father’s mysterious murder. Unfortunately, that just isn’t in the cards for Bridget Liu. She found out after her father’s death that she can hear the voices of demons and banish them! This makes her a hot commodity to a local priest who trains her to be an exorcist in her free time. On top of this new “career”, she’s dealing with her grieving family, her crazy friends (including her friend Peter who is obsessed with her), and the police sergeant’s son who just won’t take a hint. Her life may not be normal, but it gets even weirder after she receives a message from a bizarre demon warning her that not all is what it appears. Now she’s not sure who she can trust and if her father’s murderer is actually the guy they have locked up in a mental institution. He may be on the loose and Bridget may be his next target.

“Possess” was a QUICK read for me. It was just too exciting to put down! Ms. McNeil did a fabulous job at gradually increasing the pacing to the point where you just can’t stop even if you are tired and you have to be up in 3 hours. (True story!) I had to find out what happened to Bridget! I’m not usually a fan of ghost stories (I scare easily), but this was fabulous. I love Bridget. She’s the right amount of sassy/kick-butt without being a stereotype. She’s vulnerable and afraid to put her heart out there. Matt, the police sergeant’s son, is absolutely adorable and I loved their interactions. So fun! I really became attached to these characters which made the plot even more exhilarating. This is a must read for anyone who enjoys a good story about becoming comfortable with who you are and finding your inner strength. Bridget has a lot on her plate in “Possess” and she sorts through it all in order to protect the people she loves.

Gretchen McNeil’s debut novel “Possess” is the perfect summer read. It’s fun and exciting. It’s not overly gory/frightening, but will keep you on the edge of your seat waiting to find out what happens next. Gretchen McNeil is a writer to watch, folks. I know I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!

"Possess" by Gretchen McNeil is published by Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins) and will be released on August 23rd. I received an ARC from the publisher for honest review. Gretchen will actually be our featured guest next month on the Authors are ROCKSTARS! podcast so be sure to head on over and follow so you don't miss it!

Note: Sorry for the delay in reviews, guys! I’ve been in “post visiting family” recovery mode!

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Disclaimer: I’m going to try and keep this review short & sweet to avoid spoilers. For those of you unfamiliar with the series, here is the general gist of the first book “Shiver”. Grace was attacked by wolves when she was nine years old, but one of the wolves, the one with the yellow eyes, saved her. Every winter brings the return of her wolf and she relishes in the tranquility of the season and the connection they share. When a teen is found killed by the wolves, the town retaliates and Grace finds an injured, shivering young man on her porch. One look into his yellow eyes and she knows it’s her wolf, in human form. Dun dun dun...

I loved “Shiver”. It was gorgeous, elegant, and otherworldly. The prose was musical and while the plot wasn’t anything to write home about, Ms. Stiefvater’s writing drew me in and kept me there until I finally looked up and realized that I had read the entire book in one sitting. The romance between Sam and Grace was tender, yet intense. Then came the second book, “Linger”, and while I liked it, my love was waning. As the plot moved on from the romance to multiple conflicts, the magic seemed to fade away. Unfortunately, in “Forever”, the magic (for me) was completely gone.

I wanted to love this book. Normally, I devour whatever I’m reading, especially when it is a conclusion to a series I’ve been anxious to read. I love Ms. Stiefvater’s writing, but “Forever” felt like the title. It took me forever to read. There were some really great moments and I loved the additional character perspectives. In fact, I really feel like Isabel and Cole were the standouts this time around. I loved reading their stories and would have loved to have had more happen there. Sam and Grace just seemed so one note. Gah, I hate writing negative reviews, but I’ve stewed over this and it is what it is. I didn’t like “Forever”. I felt like the pacing was slow up until the ending and then it was completely rushed. Plot lines were left open in awkward ways and the plot line I really wanted to see tied up wasn’t at all. I think one of the major downfalls though is that between “Linger” and “Forever”, most of the characters have lost their likability. Sam and Grace became boring and a lot of the other characters did pretty iffy things. It makes it hard to read when the characters are one-note and unlikeable. I think I’ll just pretend this book didn’t happen and pretend “Shiver” is a stand alone.

I hope it’s just me and that you’ll enjoy “Forever” when it hits the shelves in July. Let me know your thoughts! I’d love to discuss this book.

Thanks to Scholastic for sending me an ARC for review. “Forever” is scheduled to be published on July 12th.