Heist Society by Ally Carter

"When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help.

For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in history-or at least her family's (very crooked) history." -Goodreads.com

Overall: 4.5/5

As a huge fan of Carter's Gallagher Girls series, one of the things I couldn't help but notice about this book was how similar it is to her previous ones. The writing style, the personality and skill set of the MC, all of it was kind of ridiculously alike. And yet, Heist Society still managed to be a story all it's own.

Quite simply, I loved it. I thought it was brilliantly put to together and executed, and I have no idea how long it must have taken Carter to build the adventures of Katarina in her mind. I even have kind of a secret hope that this book will eventually be the (albeit loose, character-wise) basis for an Ocean's 14 movie to be made.

And, to add to the brilliance (though I think this probably had less to do with Ally Carter and more to do with her cover-designer), I love that little Mona Lisa smile on the cover! Irony, anyone?

Characters: 4/5
Plot: 5/5
Ending: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Happy factor: 5/5

Other books by Ally Carter: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You, Cross my Heart and Hope to Spy, Don't Judge a Girl by her Cover

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

"Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her “power” to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he’s claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay’s intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she’s falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself." -Goodreads.com

Overall: 5/5

I'm in love. Yes, with the book too, but mostly just with Jay. Part of me wonders why I get so sappy about fictional characters, but then the rest of me just tells that part to shut up and just enjoy it.

As for the rest of the book, it was pretty darn amazing too. Violet was the kind of character that I could easily see myself being friends with; strong and independent, and with enough spunk to make it all interesting. And the ability to find dead bodies? Kind of creepy, but also morbidly cool. Derting did a fabulous job telling this story in such a way that it wasn't completely gross, which is a bit of a feat.

I can't help but wonder what's going to come next.

Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Ending: 4/5
Cover: 5/5
Happy Factor: 5/5

This is Kimberly Derting's first book.

In My Mailbox (18)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week!

Due to a lack of an internet connection for a while there, I actually have two weeks worth of new books to share. So, fianlly, here they are:

(Becuase I'm an essentially lazy person by nature and there are so many books this time, I'm just going to put up the Goodreads links)

Runaway by Meg Cabot

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine

Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson

The Shifter by Janice Hardy

Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Wow, that was a lot less painful than copying and pasting a synopsis for each one. I may have to start doing this on a regular basis.

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

"Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her."-Goodreads.com

Overall: 5/5

I loved this book! I wasn't sure that I would, becuase it tends to go 50/50 for me on witch books. But this one grabbed my attention from the start and didn't let go. The characters were real and the plot twists caught me completely by surprise. Way to go, Hawkins!

It surprised me with this book that magic seemed to come so easily to the characters. I guess I've gotten in the habbit of thinking of magic in a way where it takes lots of time and practice and concentration to get anywhere with it, rather than it just showing up naturally and painlessly once the recipient comes of age. I almost think of this as a flaw, because life rarely allows anything worth having to come easily and painlessly. But then again, who am I to say that it's not plausible?

I'm trying to think of what else I can say about it without giving anything away, and I'm not coming up with much. Just know that this is an incredible book that is a must-read. I can't wait for book 2, Demonglass, to come out!

Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Ending: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Happy Factor: 5/5

This is Rachel Hawkin's first book.

Just Couldn't Do It

You know how, sometimes, you just can't make yourself read a certain book?

I really hate it when that happens, particularly when it's a book I really want to want to read. The most recent book that I've run into this problem with: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld.

I've been holding onto this book for a couple months now, sure that I would pick it up eventually. And it just kept sitting there and sitting there and getting pushed bback farther and farther in the tbr stack. Finally, I grabbed it, made it three pages in, and had to put it back down again. It's officially time for me to call it like it is and say that I am sinerely not in any way interested in this book.

This pains me greatly because I'm a huge Westerfeld fan. His Uglies books were some of the key books that really got me hooked on reading, and his Midnighters books were beyond brilliant. When I heard that he was coming out with a new series, I was thrilled. So here I am now, a little shocked and confused as to why I can't seem to make myself read this book.

So I did a mental disection, using what little I know of the book. Here it is:

• This is a book set during WWI
• It follows a man named Aleksandar through his battles
• There is also a girl named Deryn thrown in there, with whom Aleksandar most likely inevitably falls in love with
• It's written by Scott Westerfeld
  

The top two of these are cons in my book, and the bottom two are pros. I can't stand books set between the years of about 1910 to approximately 1990, mostly because most of them will involve one of the World Wars or the Vietnam War in some way, shape, or form. But also because I just can't understand those time periods. They're so close to ours, and yet so completely different. It just doesn't quite mesh with my brain.

I also very much dislike male protaganists. I know, all me sexist or whatever it is that you want, but I can't connecct with them or their stories unless they have total kick-ass stories to tell. Hearing that there's a girl thrown in there, along with the hints that there's going to be a romance thrown in as well, gave it a bit more promise. But, if we're being completely honest, I would have to say that the romance aspect of the story has never been Westerfeld's strong point and certainly not enough to base reading an entire 434 page novel off of.

And so we come to the last bullet point. If any other author had written this book, I never would have even glanced at it. It's really a tribute to Westerfeld that I tried so hard and for so long with this book. But in the end, even that wasn't enough.

Is this just me, or are there other people out there that have books like this? I genuinely want to know.

Token of Darkness by Amelia Atwater Rhodes

"Cooper Blake has everything going for him—until he wakes from a car accident with his football career in ruins and a mysterious, attractive girl by his side. Cooper doesn’t know how Samantha got there or why he can see her; all he knows is that she’s a ghost, and the shadows that surround her seem intent on destroying her.

No one from Cooper’s old life would understand what he can barely grasp himself. . . . But Delilah, the captain of the cheerleading squad, has secrets of her own, like her ability to see beyond the physical world, and her tangled history with Brent, a loner from a neighboring school who can hear strangers’ most intimate thoughts. Delilah and Brent know that Cooper is in more trouble than he realizes, and that Samantha may not be as innocent as she has led Cooper to believe. But the only way to figure out where Samantha came from will put them all in more danger than they ever dreamed possible." -Goodreads.com

Overall: 2/5

It seriously pains me to write this review, mostly because I just don't like giving bad reviews, but also because I'm such a fan of Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. I've loved all her stories, partcularly Hawk Song and Persistence of Memory, and had high expectations for this one as well.

Unfortunately, I was sadly diasappointed. The first thing about this one in particular was that it was told with a male MC. There's nothing wrong with this, I just don't connect as well to those stories. Never have. But I've read other books by Rhodes told from a male POV and haven't had too much of a problem with it. With this one, it was more than that. Something about the characters made it nearly impossible to feel for them, to form any sort of bond or sense of comaraderie.

And the story itself wasn't even all that engaging. It seemed almost as if Rhodes was sick of her own story and played it out as quickly as she could just to be done with it.

Sure, there were bits of humorous dialogue and a couple unexpected plot twists, but not quite enough to make this one worth while in my opinion. The only real reason that I continued this story through to the end was... loyalty, I guess. And a genuine hope that it would surely get better. And it did, towards the end. If I hadn't finished reading it, I probably would have given this one a single star.

Characters: 2/5
Plot: 3/5
Ending: 2/5
Cover: 4/5
Happy Factor: 2/5

Other books by Amerlia Atwater-Rhodes: Hawk Song, Demon in my View, Shattered Mirror, Persistence of Memory

Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowen Boys by Kate Brian

"Megan is used to moving from place to place -- it's typical for an army brat. But she drew the line at South Korea. She insists on staying in the States to finish her last two years of high school. So her parents made arrangements for Megan to live with their friends, the McGowans...and the McGowans' 7 sons.

Turns out, living with 7 boys might as well be a foreign country! The boys are messy. They are cliquey (who knew?). And worst of all, two of the oldest boys are H-O-T. (A problem considering they are supposed to be Megan's "brothers.") Megan is definitely in enemy territory. She needs to win over the boys' hearts without totally crushing her own.

And when Megan starts falling for one of them, sibling rivalry takes on a whole new meaning....

What is a girl to do?" -Goodreads.com

Overall: 4/5

I have two brothers (both younger, thankfully) so I was able to to sympathize with Megan to an extent on this one. It also made reading this book that much more enjoyable, because believe me when I say that Kate Brian got the sibling thing down perfectly. The bathroom wars, the bickering over the TV, the fist-fights, all of it. It made for a very enjoyable read.

Bits of the dialogue got on my nerves sometimes, and there were parts that seemed a little unrealistic (I mean, have you ever seen a fifteen year old I-hate-the-world punk admit that he was wrong, and to a girl, no less? Yeah, me neither), but I liked how the story went and how it was told, and it all ended up okay in the end.

Very cute, and with some important life lessons (namely, if I ever have seven sons, I should just shoot myself and get it over with).

Characters: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Ending: 4/5
Cover: 3/5
Happy Factor: 4/5

Other books by Kate Brian: The Private series, The Princess and the Pauper, Fake Boyfriend

Waiting on Wednesday: Crescendo

"Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?" -Goodreads.com

The sequel to Hush Hush! SQUEE!

Walk of the Spirits by Richie Tankersley Cusick

"When Miranda Barnes first sees the sleepy town of St. Yvette, Louisiana, with its moss-draped trees, above-ground cemeteries, and her grandfather's creepy historic home, she realizes that life as she knew it is officially over. Almost immediately, there seems to be something cloying at her. Something lonely and sad and . . . very pressing. Even at school and in the group project she's been thrown into, she can't escape it. Whispers when she's alone, shadows when no one is there to make them, and a distant pleading voice that wakes her from sleep. The other members in Miranda's group project, especially handsome Etienne, can see that Miranda is in distress. She is beginning to understand that, like her grandfather before her, she has a special gift of communicating with spirits who still walk the town of St. Yvette. And no matter where she turns, Miranda feels bound by their whispered pleas for help . . . unless she can somehow find a way to bring them peace." -Goodreads.com

Overall: 3/5

This was a good read, though a little long at points. I think I liked the idea of the story more than the actual story. Ghosts, pleas for help, and pretty boys; what's not to love, right? But honestly, I think ghosts are falling into the same problem that vampires did a couple years ago: there are only so many way you can switch them up before all the stories start to sound the same.

Cusick did manage to keep my attention with the story, and there were several parts where I followed the characters with interest. There were some unresolved plot points in the end that kind of make me want to continue the series, but I haven't decided for sure yet.

Characters: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Ending: 3/5
Cover: 4/5
Happy Factor: 3/5

Other books by Cusick: The Unseen, The House Next Door

Where did it go? -Revisited

A while ago, I put up a post here about a book called The Back Door of Midnight by Elizabeth Chandler, wondering what had happened to it, since it was never actually published.

Well I don't know what happened the first time around, but it looks like it's finally getting published for real this time:

It looks like they just decided to wait until they re-released all the other Dark Secrets novels before putting this fifth one out there. Such a pretty cover!

In My Mailbox (17)

Thanks to Kristi from The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

Wow, this has been the weekend of the internet connection from hell. So, finally....

The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott
"Everyone knows the unwritten rule: You don't like your best friend's boyfriend.

Sarah has had a crush on Ryan for years. He's easy to talk to, supersmart, and totally gets her. Lately it even seems like he's paying extra attention to her. Everything would be perfect except for two things: Ryan is Brianna's boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah's best friend.

Sarah forces herself to avoid Ryan and tries to convince herself not to like him. She feels so guilty for wanting him, and the last thing she wants is to hurt her best friend. But when she's thrown together with Ryan one night, something happens. It's wonderful...and awful.

Sarah is torn apart by guilt, but what she feels is nothing short of addiction, and she can't stop herself from wanting more... "

The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

"Only two weeks ago, life was all too predictable. But that was before I saw my first ghost. Now, along with my supernatural friends Tori, Derek, and Simon, I’m on the run from the Edison Group, which genetically altered us as part of their sinister experiment. We’re hiding in a safe house that might not be as safe as it seems. We’ll be gone soon anyway, back to rescue those we’d left behind and to take out the Edison Group . . . or so we hope."

The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz

"With the stunning revelation surrounding Bliss's true identity comes the growing threat of the sinister Silver Bloods. Once left to live the glamorous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods now find themselves in an epic battle for survival. Not to worry, love is still in the air for the young vampires of the Upper East Side. Or is it? Jack and Schuyler are over. Oliver's brokenhearted. And only the cunning Mimi seems to be happily engaged.

Young, fanged, and fabulous, Melissa de la Cruz's vampires unite in this highly anticipated fourth installment of the Blue Bloods series." -Goodreads.com

Overall: 4/5

I didn't expect to like this book. If I'm being honest, I was expecting this one to be the last one I would read in this series. Don't get me wrong, I loved Blue Bloods and Masquerade, but Revelations killed it for me. I read this one as kind of a last-chance sort of thing and expected it all to go downhill.

But it didn't. Within the first fifty pages I was sucked in (no pun intended). Once again, the chase is on and this time I'm following it every step of the way. I'm not sure what else to say without giving something away, but I was happy with the amount of action in this one and especially pleased with the ending.

I will happily pick up the next in this series, which I believe comes out at some point this year (I'm too lazy to actually look it up).

Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Ending: 5/5
Cover: 4/5
Happy factor: 4/5

Other books by Melissa de la Cruz: Blue Bloods, The Au Pairs, The Ashleys

In My Mailbox (16)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week!

This week:

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

"Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her “power” to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he’s claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay’s intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she’s falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself."

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
"Seventeen year old Veronica "Ronnie" Miller's life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alientated from her parents, especially her father...until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church.The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story of love on many levels--first love, love between parents and children -- that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that love can break our hearts...and heal them."


Ten Little Indians by Sherman Alexie

"Sherman Alexie, a gifted poet and storyteller, plows familiar yet fertile ground in his third collection of short stories, Ten Little Indians. The book contains nine stories populated by at least one American Indian (usually of Alexie's Spokane heritage, and mostly living in Seattle), but "little" is a bit of a misnomer; the book addresses human (not necessarily Indian), rituals, ceremony, love, loss, insecurity over life choices, and personal sacrifices. A lot of intense basketball is played, too."

Hourglass by Claudia Gray

"Bestselling author Claudia Gray’s Evernight series continues. In Hourglass, Bianca and Lucas have found a way to be together. But it means lying to the people who care about them the most.

After escaping from Evernight Academy, the vampire boarding school, Bianca and Lucas seek refuge with Black Cross, the elite group of vampire hunters led by Lucas’s stepfather. When Bianca’s close friend—the vampire Balthazar—is captured by Black Cross, Bianca knows she has to do whatever it takes to save him. But at what cost?

Hourglass, the third book in this gripping vampire series by the author of the New York Times bestseller Stargazer, has all the romance, suspense, and page-turning drama that have made Claudia Gray’s books runaway successes."

Shadow of the Moon by Rachel Hawthorne

"Hayden was born a werewolf, a Dark Guardian. But her ability to sense the feelings of fellow werewolves has made her life unbearable. She runs away, only to be tracked by charming, mysterious Daniel, a newcomer to the pack and the one Shifter immune to her powers. As she reluctantly follows him home, Hayden finds herself falling dangerously in love. . . .

But even as her feelings for Daniel deepen, Hayden begins to wonder if he is who he claims to be. Where did he come from and why has no one ever seen him transform? When they stumble upon the body of a Shifter still in wolf form, her worries grow. Someone is killing her kind. Is her handsome tracker really a hunter? And is Hayden now his prey?"-Goodreads.com

Overall: 4/5

I adored each of the first three books in this series, but when you think about it, they all seem to tell pretty similar tales. One of my main fears when I picked up this book was that, after a fourth re-telling, it would start to become painfully obvious and distrssingly annoying that there really was nothing new to add to these stories.

I needn't have worried. Hawthorne has come through once again with something new; an original perspective on an original situation. It didn't feel redundant or monotonous, despite my doubts.

You could tell that Hawthorne stepped a little out of her element for this one, though. There were some actual battle scenes, which always adds some excitement. But love and romance are Hawthorne's strengths and some of those action sequences seemed a bit rushed and/or strained.
The other thing that bugged me a little was something I had expected to be in there, but wasn't. In previous books (all three of them, I think), there had been some aluding to the possibility that keeping the werewolves a secret from the world was becoming too much of a challenge in a world full of advnaced technology and that maybe it was time to start thinking about going public with their species. By the end of the last one, it had become the primary issue on their minds and I thought that this one would have some sort of final decision on that, some key action that would signal the beginning of a movement. Or, you know, anything. But there was no mention of the issue anywhere in the fourth book. I feel like it was just left kind of hanging there, with no conclusion in sight.

Maybe they'll return to it in a future book, even though there's no mention of one as of yet.

Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Cover: 5/5
Happy Factor: 4/5

Other books by Rachel Hawthorne: Moonlight, Thrill Ride, Caribbean Cruise, Suite Dreams

Waiting on Wednesday: Zombies vs. Unicorns

"It's a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths--for good and evil--of unicorns and half show the good (and really, really bad-ass) side of zombies. Contributors include many bestselling teen authors, including Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, and Margo Lanagan. This anthology will have everyone asking: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?" -Goodreads.com

On a general basis, I don't like anthologies. But there's something about this one. Maybe it's because it's a bunch of my favorite authors, maybe because this is one of those questions that I find myself switching sides on on a regular basis and I'm hoping that this might help me make the final decision, and maybe it's because I just can't say no to such an awesome cover. But any way you look at it, I'm super excited about this book.

It comes out September 21, 2010

Books vs. Movies

I think most people will agree that books, on a general basis, are way better than the movies that are made out of them. Which is why, when there is a movie based on a book, the people who have read the book usually don't enjoy the movie because of their frustration with the movie's lack of ability to tell the story the way the author did.

A huge example for this one would be Twilight. I don't know a single person who read the book that liked that movie. On the other hand, one of my best friends never read the book and loved the movie.

Now taking this even a step farther, there is only one example for me personally where I liked a movie better than the book, and that was A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks. But I didn't read the book until after I had seen the movie. So is it just that you like whichever version it is that you see first?

I'm bringing this up because I just saw the movie The Last Song and adored it. A close friend (ironically the one who has never read Twilight) read the book and told me that it's a must-read. After seeing the movie though, I just don't know if I'll like it ans am slightly worried that if I do read it, it'll ruin the movie for me. I have the same fear for My Sister's Keeper, which I also saw the movie for and have been told I need to read the book.

Any advise/suggestions?

Look Both Ways by Jacquelyn Mitchard

"Mally and Merry Brynn thought that with the death of David Jellico, their nightmarish visions of the future and past were gone for good. Now, Merry's only worries revolve around cheer tryouts, and Mally has slipped back into her homebody, tomboy ways.

Then a cheerleader lands in the hospital. And a mysterious, beautiful mountain lion is maimed.

When they begin to suspect their friend Eden was involved in both events, Merry and Mally are catapulted back into a world of visions that they do not yet understand. And this time, they must race to prevent the people they love most from unspeakable tragedy." -Goodreads.com

Overall: 3/5

I was honestly surprised at the twists and turns that this book took. I've stopped reading the front flap before starting a book, so I didn't really have any expectaions set for what this one was going to be about. When the plot turned to Mally's friend Eden and a whole bunch of interesting events and mysteries surrounding her, I was unprepared for it (in a good way).

Part of me feels like this sudden plot twist seemed to come a little out of no where even though Mitchard dropped some hints in the first in the series, The Midnight Twins. I have no idea where she's going to take this story in the next one, which I guess is part of the fun.

I loved reading about the love and struggles both with Mally and Merry, mostly, I think, because they reminded me so much of how I am with my own sister. Mitchard definitely has the sibling thing down pat.

Slow at points, but an altogether cute read.

Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Ending: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Cover: 4/5
Happy Factor: 3/5

Other books by Jacquelyn Mitchard: The Midnight Twins, No Time to Wave Goodbye, All We Know of Heaven

In My Mailbox (15)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week!

And here's what I managed to snag this week:

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

"Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her."

The Hollow by Jessica Verday

"When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead?and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.

Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity."

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles
"Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares — has been canceled.

After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free . . . if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.

Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other."

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

"Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he thought he was destined to live." -Goodreads.com

Overall: 5/5

The first time I ever heard of this book was actually on Scott Westerfeld's blog, because he was a part of the team that determined which book won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature back in 2007 (this was the winner, in case you didn't notice the giant award on the cover). Then, a few months ago, a friend of mine mentioned the author, Sherman Alexie, and how much respect they have for him and his books. So I thought, why not? and picked it up.

The other thing I feel I should mention is that every year, I go on a week-long trip up to Montana and spend time on the Indian Reservation up there helping out with some local projects. Reading about life on the Rez from Alexie's perspective made me not only completely nostalgic for Montana, but also kind of shocked me because of how much there is going on that white people like myself never see. I mean, I always knew that things on Indian Reservations were pretty bad. I know that they're very poverty-sticken areas and that alcohol is a serious problem. But it just never really hits you until you hear it straight from the horse's mouth.

This book was incredibly heart-wrenching, especially for someone like myself who's had the opportuninty to see a lot of this stuff first-hand. I'm so gald that Alexie has been able to write down this, and other stories that will hopefully help people realize that there are a lot of changes that need to be made in these areas.

But one of the great things about this book is that not once does it give off a woe-is-me vibe. Alexie's not looking for pity here, he's just telling it like it is. And the way he tells it is stinkin' hilarious. I laughed out loud several times while reading this book. The MC Junior has such a great and original way of looking at life, even when things are at thier worst. You just can't help laughing with him even as you're crying for him. I can't help but compare it to Libba Bray's Going Bovine (review here) despite the obvious differences.

And now that I've written pretty much the longest review ever....

Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Ending: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Happy Factor: 5/5

Other books by Sherman Alexie: Reservation Blues, Flight, Indian Killer, Ten Little Indians

Graphic Novels Part 3

I want to cry right now.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Short Second Life of Bree Turner

"Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion." -Goodreads.com

I vaguely remember Bree Tanner from Eclipse, though it's been a while since I read it. Still, it's by Stephenie Meyer, so it pretty much can't be bad. I'm just excited that she's finally started writing again, 'cause her last actual book came out in August of '08.

This one will be released June 5, 2010

Spell Hunter by R.J. Anderson

"Deep inside the great Oak lies a dying faery realm, bursting with secrets instead of magic. Long ago the faeries mysteriously lost their magic. Robbed of their powers, they have become selfish and dull-witted. Now their numbers are dwindling and their very survival is at stake.

Only one young faery—Knife—is determined to find out where her people's magic has gone and try to get it back. Unlike her sisters, Knife is fierce and independent. She's not afraid of anything—not the vicious crows, the strict Faery Queen, or the fascinating humans living nearby. But when Knife disobeys the Faery Queen and befriends a human named Paul, her quest becomes more dangerous than she realizes. Can Knife trust Paul to help, or has she brought the faeries even closer to the brink of destruction?

Talented newcomer R. J. Anderson creates an extraordinary new fantasy world and weaves a gripping tale of lost magic, high adventure, and surprising friendship in which the fate of an entire realm rests on the shoulders of one brave faery rebel." -Goodreads.com

Overall: 5/5

It took me a really long time to get around to reading this one. A huge part of it was that the author posted the first chapter before the book came out, and I read it. It's not that the first chapter wasn't good, but it was the beginning of the story and started out with a nine or ten year old protaganist. Having nothing else to go on (the synopsis doesn't really say anything about age), I assumed that the entire story would be told from the view of a rebellious ten year old. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I just don't really get into middle-grade novels anymore. Not since I was in middle school myself, really.

But I did read it, eventually. And thank goodness the first chapter was the only one with such a young character telling the story. By the end of the second chapter, I was hooked. The story was exciting and the characters engaging. A very fun and enjoyable read.

Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Ending: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Cover: 2/5 (UK Cover: 5/5)
Happy Factor: 5/5

Other books by R.J. Anderson: Wayfarer (June 2010)

Cover Deja Vu

In My Mailbox (14) and HAPPY EASTER!

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week!

And here's the weekly swag:

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

"Nimira is a foreign music-hall girl forced to dance for mere pennies. When wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to sing with a piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it is the start of a new and better life. In Parry's world, however, buried secrets are beginning to stir. Unsettling below-stairs rumors swirl about ghosts, a madwoman roaming the halls, and Parry's involvement with a league of sorcerers who torture fairies for sport. Then Nimira discovers the spirit of a fairy gentleman named Erris is trapped inside the clockwork automaton, waiting for someone to break his curse. The two fall into a love that seems hopeless, and breaking the curse becomes a race against time, as not just their love, but the fate of the entire magical world may be in peril."

Token of Darkness by Amelia Atwater Rhodes

"Cooper Blake has everything going for him—until he wakes from a car accident with his football career in ruins and a mysterious, attractive girl by his side. Cooper doesn’t know how Samantha got there or why he can see her; all he knows is that she’s a ghost, and the shadows that surround her seem intent on destroying her.No one from Cooper’s old life would understand what he can barely grasp himself. . . . But Delilah, the captain of the cheerleading squad, has secrets of her own, like her ability to see beyond the physical world, and her tangled history with Brent, a loner from a neighboring school who can hear strangers’ most intimate thoughts. Delilah and Brent know that Cooper is in more trouble than he realizes, and that Samantha may not be as innocent as she has led Cooper to believe. But the only way to figure out where Samantha came from will put them all in more danger than they ever dreamed possible."

Poisoned Honey by Beatrice Gormley

"This story begins with Mariamne, a vulnerable girl who knows little of the ways of the world. Much as she wants to be in control of her own destiny, she soon learns she has no such power. She must do as her father and brother see fit, and when tragedy strikes, Mari must marry a man she does not love and enter a household where she is not welcome, for the good of her family.But she finds a small way to comfort herself when she meets an Egyptian wisewoman who instructs her in the ways of the occult arts. In the spirit world, Mari finds she has power. Here, she really is in control of her fate. But is she? Or is the magic controlling her?This gripping portrait of one of the most misunderstood and controversial Biblical figures is the story of a young girl’s path through manipulation and possession, madness and healing, to a man who will change the world forever."

A review... but not

There's this book that I recently finished that I absolutely adored, but couldn't decide whether or not I should post a review on it. You see, the book is an adult novel, and this blog is definitely centered around YA. So I decided to compromise and leave you with a high recommendation. So here it is:

The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale

"Mormon housewife Becky Jack is seven months pregnant with her fourth child when she meets celebrity heartthrob Felix Callahan. Twelve hours, one elevator ride, and one alcohol-free dinner later, something has happened…though nothing has happened. It isn’t sexual. It isn’t even quite love. But a month later Felix shows up in Salt Lake City to visit and before they know what’s hit them, Felix and Becky are best friends. Really. Becky’s husband is pretty cool about it. Her children roll their eyes. Her neighbors gossip endlessly. But Felix and Becky have something special…something unusual, something completely impossible to sustain. Or is it? A magical story, The Actor and the Housewife explores what could happen when your not-so-secret celebrity crush walks right into real life and changes everything."-Goodreads.com

Such a cute and amazingly well-done story! Shannon Hale is laugh-out-loud hilarious and the dialogue alone was enough to keep me reading.

Very high recommendation to anyone even remotely interested. You won't regret it.

Waiting on Wednesday: Wayfarer

"The faeries of the Oak are dying, and it’s up to a lone faery named Linden to find a way to restore their magic. Linden travels bravely into dangerous new territory, where she enlists the help of an unlikely friend—a human named Timothy. Soon they discover something much worse than the Oakenfolk’s loss of magic: a potent evil that threatens the fate of all faeries. In a fevered, desperate chase across the country, Timothy and Linden risk their lives to seek an ancient power before it’s too late to save everyone they love. R. J. Anderson has artfully crafted a world of stunning magic, thrilling adventure, and delicate beauty, where a girl far from home must defeat the pervasive evil befalling her beloved faery realm." -Goodreads.com

I have just (and when I say just, I mean about ten minutes ago) finished the first one in this series and adored it! It looks like this one has a new protaganist, but still follows the same story that had been carefully laid out in Spell Hunter. Definitely can't wait!

This book comes out on June 22, 2010

Gone by Lisa McMann

"Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she’d made her peace with it. But she can’t handle dragging Cabel down with her.

She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He’s amazing. And she’s a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves: She has to disappear. And it’s going to kill them both.

Then a stranger enters her life — and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she’d ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out...." -Goodreads.com

Overall: 4/5

I'm not entirely sure what I expected from this book. I think I might have just gotten so excited that the third and final book in the Wake trilogy was finally here that I hadn't gotten past just the expectation that it would be good.

Well, that part of the expectaion was for sure not a let-down. As for other (though, somewhat non-existent) expactations, I was taken by surprise. I guess I thought it would be another Nancy Drew-type mystery/crime-solver story where Janie uses her cool super-powers to fight evil and, along the way, win the heart of ever-amazing Cabel.

But that's not how this one went at all. It focussed almost entirely on Janie and her past, current home-life, and future. There are a bunch of things revealed in this one that were hinted at in the previous books, but which I still never would have foreseen.

It was a beautiful wrap-up of what is one of my favorite series. Part of it makes me sad, but I'm not sure I would have been happy if it had ended any other way.

Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Ending: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Happy Factor: 4/5

Other books by Lisa McMann: Wake, Fade

Update: Magic Under Glass

In this post, I discussed my disgust with Bloomsbury for their inacurate covers of both Liar by Justine Larbalestier and Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore. They fixed the Liar cover, but at that point had still done nothing about Magic Under Glass.

But now (and this may be old news to some of you but it only just now came to my attention), they've released a new cover for MUG as well:

Ta da!!!

In My Mailbox (13)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week!

Here's the weekly haul:

"Seventeen-year-old Colt has been sneaking out at night to meet Julia, a girl from an upper-class neighborhood unlike his own. They’ve never told anyone else about their relationship: not their family or friends, and especially not Julia’s boyfriend.When Julia dies suddenly, Colt tries to cope with her death while pretending that he never even knew her. He discovers a journal she left behind. But he is not prepared for the truths he discovers about their intense relationship, nor to pay the price for the secrets he’s kept."

"Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves."

"For Anastasia Romanov, life as the privileged daughter of Russia’s last tsar is about to be torn apart by the bloodshed of revolution. Ousted from the imperial palace when the Bolsheviks seize control of the government, Anastasia and her family are exiled to Siberia. But even while the rebels debate the family’s future with agonizing slowness and the threat to their lives grows more menacing, romance quietly blooms between Anastasia and Sasha, a sympathetic young guard she has known since childhood. But will the strength of their love be enough to save Anastasia from a violent death?"

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines

"Lyn is a neo-gladiator’s daughter, through and through. Her mother has made a career out of marrying into the high-profile world of televised blood sport, and the rules of the Gladiator Sports Association are second nature to their family. Always lend ineffable confidence to the gladiator. Remind him constantly of his victories. And most importantly: Never leave the stadium when your father is dying. The rules help the family survive, but rules—and the GSA—can also turn against you. When a gifted young fighter kills Lyn’s seventh father, he also captures Lyn’s dowry bracelet, which means she must marry him... For fans of The Hunger Games and Fight Club, Lise Haines’ debut novel is a mesmerizing look at a world addicted to violence—a modern world that’s disturbingly easy to imagine." -Goodreads.com

Overall: 5/5

This book made me so angry. It's set in modern-day, but where things are a little different. The world as presented by Haines is an insanely violent and cruel one, where entertainment is placed at a higher priority than human life, like we really have devolved to the point where the Romans were hundreds of years ago. Yet, there was enough the same about this world that aines describes and the current world today that I thought the whole thing slightly unrealistic. No way would something so violent and deadly be allowed in the US so legally. There were a hundred little rules that, as a Glad daughter, Lyn had to follow or face dire consequnces; none of which would ever be legal in an American court of law.

Even though I knew it was a piece of fiction, just reading about the stuff that they put this poor girl through brought out my indignant and rebellious side. Which I think indicates how well Haines manages to pull her readers into her story.

There were plenty of elements about this book that caught me by surprise, and I loved them all. Upon finishing Girl in the Arena, I immediately logged onto Goodreads and checked for any hint of a sequel. Alas, as of yet, there is none. But I still keep my hopes up.

Characters: 4/5
Plot: 5/5
Ending: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Cover: 5/5
Happy Factor: 5/5

Other books by Lise Haines: My Sisiter's Country, Small Acts of Sex and Electricity

Waiting on Wednesday: The Clockwork Angel

"Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: Jem, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all." -Goodreads.com

Cassandra Clare = 'nuff said

Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz

"Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, the mysterious new boy at school who turned out to have a very mysterious gift--pyschometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry, and experiencing her own strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow rubbed off on her. Can the power of psychometry be transferred?

Even once Ben returns to school, Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Despite the romantic tension between them, Ben remains aloof, avoiding contact. Then when an unexpected kiss leads to a frightening argument, Camelia makes the painful decision to let Ben go and move on. Adam, the hot new guy at work, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. Adam is easygoing, and seems to really care about her.

But when Camelia and Adam start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events upturns secrets from Ben's past--and Adam's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out who-before it's too late." - Goodreads.com

Overall: 4/5

I'm not sure why, but I didn't really have high expectations for this one. It took me forever to finally get around to reading it, which also had a little to do with how little I remembered of the first book. I ended up paging through the Deadly Little Secret before staring this one just as a reminder of what happened and who the characters were. And I'm glad that I did, because I think I would have been totally lost if I hadn't.

In truth though, I genuinely enjoyed this book. The dialogue was funny and the emotions real. I loved how Stolarz was able to connect Camelia's passion for ceramics into the plot, and particularly how detailed she was in the actual art of ceramics. As a clay-lover myself, I was excited that I actually knew what she was talking about when she used little bits of potters' lingo in the story.

And the ending to this one was so much more satisfying than the first. Seriously, I think I would have dropped the series if she had pulled another ending like that. But now it's not an issue.

Characters: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Cover: 3/5
Happy Factor: 4/5

Other books by Laurie Faria Stolarz: Blue is for Nightmares Series, Deadly Little Secret

In My Mailbox (12)

Thanks to Kritsi from The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week!

Only one book this week, but it was one that I hadn't realized even existed until I saw it sitting on the library shelf. It's a less well-known author, but one of my favorites so you can just imagine how excited I was to find it!

The Book of Dreams by O.R. Melling


"Dana Faolan, the spunky half-faerie heroine of The Light-Bearer’s Daughter, the third book in The Chronicles, has been using her access to the land of Faerie to escape the troubles of being a teenager in a new town. But a dark, mysterious enemy is determined to sever the two worlds forever, thus dooming both. It will take all of Dana’s bravery and resourcefulness, plus the help of friends old and new, to save her two homes, especially when it becomes clear that the answer lies in an act of terrible sacrifice."