In My Mailbox (9)

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

Here's the weekly library swag:

"Meghan Chase has never fit in at her small-town high school, and now, on the eve of her 16th birthday, she discovers why. When her half brother is kidnapped, Meghan is drawn into a fantastical world she never imagined--the world of Faery, where anything you see may try to eat you, and Meghan is the daughter of the summer faery king. Now she will journey into the depths of Faery to face an unknown enemy . . . and beg the help of a winter prince who might as soon kill her as let her touch his icy heart. The Iron King is the first book in the Iron Fey series."

"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."

"Before he knew about the Roses, sixteen-year-old Jack lived an unremarkable life in the small Ohio town of Trinity. Only the medicine he has to take daily and the thick scar above his heart set him apart from the other high-schoolers. Then one day Jack skips his medicine. Suddenly, he is stronger, fiercer, and more confident than ever before. And it feels great - until he loses control of his own strength and nearly kills another player during soccer team tryouts. Soon, Jack learns the startling truth about himself: he is Weirlind - part of an underground society of magical people who live among us. At the head of this magical society sit the feuding houses of the Red Rose and the White Rose, whose power is determined by playing The Game - a magical tournament in which each house sponsors a warrior to fight to the death. The winning house rules the Weir. As if his bizarre magical heritage isn't enough, Jack finds out that he's not just another member of Weirlind - he's one of the last of the warriors - at a time when both houses are scouting for a player. Jack's performance on the soccer field has alerted the entire magical community to the fact that he's in Trinity. And until one of the houses is declared Jack's official sponsor, there are no limits to what they'll do to get Jack to fight for them. . . . "

"IN A BUSY school cafeteria, a teenage girl is confronted by a classmate who questions her identity. He explains to the students who have crowded around that the girl bears an uncanny resemblance to his cousin, who was taken away by social services five years ago. Her parents abandoned her, fleeing the country after being accused of embezzling millions of dollars.

The students are intrigued, but the girl shrugs off the attention as a case of mistaken identity. As the days pass, however, the boy refuses to relent and even brings his parents in to back him up. But they are not the only adults involved. An FBI agent who has been working the case these past five years believes that whoever this girl is, she can serve as bait to help the FBI capture the fugitives."

Fallen by Lauren Kate

"Seventeen-Year-Old Luce is a new student at Sword & Cross, an unwelcoming boarding/reform school in Savannah, Georgia. Luce’s boyfriend died under suspicious circumstances, and now she carries the guilt over his death with her as she navigates the unfriendly halls at Sword & Cross, where every student seems to have an unpleasant—even evil—history.

It’s only when she sees Daniel, a gorgeous fellow student, that Luce feels there’s a reason to be here—though she doesn’t know what it is. And Daniel’s frosty cold demeanor toward her? It’s really a protective device that he’s used again . . . and again. For Daniel is a fallen angel, doomed to fall in love with the same girl every 17 years . . . and watch her die. And Luce is a fellow immortal, cursed to be reincarnated again and again as a mortal girl who has no idea of who she really is." -Goodreads.com

Overall: 5/5

This book was beautiful. That's the best word I can come up with to decribe it. The writing, the emotion, the entire feel of the novel.... was just beautiful.

I honestly don't even know what more to say about it. The idea of the novel was unique and the plot continuously twisted in ways that I couldn't see coming. I had to literally stop myself from skipping ahead a few chapters- just for a glance- to see how on earth some of those situations were going to be resolved.

And it turns out, not all of it did get resolved. Because, unlike I had originally thought, this is not a stand-alone novel. I don't know if it's a trilogy or series or what, but this story is far from over, and I can't wait for the next one (which I hope has lots more of Arriane, who was the coolest character ever).

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

This is Lauren Kate's first book.

Waiting on Wednesday: Indigo Blues

"Even though you tossed me away, I'm here to stay.
Oh, Indigo, how could you let me go . . .

-from "Indigo Blues" written by Adam Spade, performed by Blank Stare

Indigo:

I never asked to be famous—or infamous. Such is my fate for briefly dating (and dumping) Adam Spade. Yes, the Adam from the indie rock band who wrote "Indigo Blues"—the song that gave the band overnight success, propelled them to New York City, and stole my precious anonymity. Now I'm pawed by fans, stalked by reporters, and pegged as a vicious heartbreaker. And Adam is still calling me. Doesn't he have better things to do?

Adam:

With a hit single and a promising career, I should be on top of the world. People on the street are beginning to recognize me, which is cool. And scary. The band is counting on me to write another hit, but I can't stop thinking about Indigo. Why won't she answer the phone?" -Goodreads.com

Danielle Joseph did a fabulous job with her first book, Shrinking Violet, and I have high expectations for this one. It sounds a lot like Robin Benway's Audrey, Wait! which I loved. Of course, there are a couple key differences that I'm excited to see play out.

This book will be released July 1, 2010

Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph

"High school senior Teresa Adams is so painfully shy that she dreads speaking to anyone in the hallways or getting called on in class.

But in the privacy of her bedroom with her iPod in hand, she rocks out - doing mock broadcasts for Miami's hottest FM radio station, which happens to be owned by her stepfather. When a slot opens up at The SLAM, Tere surprises herself by blossoming behind the mike into confident, sexy Sweet T - and to everyone's shock, she's a hit!

Even Gavin, the only guy in school who she dares to talk to, raves about the mysterious DJ's awesome taste in music. But when The SLAM announces a songwriting contest -- and a prom date with Sweet T is the grand prize - Sweet T's dream could turn into Tere's worst nightmare..." -Goodreads.com

Overall: 5/5

I think one of the things I loved most about this book was how much I envied Tere. I would love to be so tuned into the music world. I mean, everyone likes music and it never goes out of style. It broadens your horizons and entertains you at the same time. Much like books.

And being a radio DJ? So. Awesome.

This was just a truly fun and enjoyable book that, while maybe not the deepest piece of literature you'll ever read, was just good. I loved it and can't wait for whatever Danielle Joseph has coming next (which, I just looked up, is a book called Indigo Blues that will probably make its way onto my Waiting on Wednesday post this week).

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

This is Danielle Joseph's first book.

An Award!

I received the Bliss (Happy 101) Award from Kathy Martin over at Ms. Martin Teaches Media.

The rules are that I must list 10 things that make me happy and then pass it on to 10 bloggers.

Happy things:

1. Jesus!

2. Staying out so late that there's no point going to bed

3. A comfy couch, some sort of food item, a movie, an afghan, and a close friend to share it all with.

4. Books!

5. Hitting the Snooze button one or two more times than I know I should in the mornings

6. Heroes TV Series (which I've been completely hooked on ever since I finally got my hands on the first season about a week ago)

7. That first day, usually around April sometime, when it's warm enough to wear shorts for the first time that year

8. Stargazing out in the country, where you can see all the stars

9. Jars of Clay and/or The Classic Crime

10. Iced chai

Ten bloggers I would like to pass this along to:

1. Beth/Nathan of in BetweeN the pages

2. Jenn of Book Crazy

3. Sasha of The Sweet Bonjour

4. Justine/Steff of A Bookful of Thoughts

5. Jo of Ink and Paper

6. She Who's Name I Cannot Find of Tuning Into YA

7. Carla of The Crooked Shelf

8. Thao of Serene Hours

9. Bianca of Wicked Good Books

10. Alex of Tales of a Teenage Book Lover

Thanks bunches, Kathy!

In My Mailbox (8)

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

Here's the weekly library swag:

"Haly is a Libyrarian, one of a group of people dedicated to preserving and protecting the knowledge passed down from the Ancients and stored in the endless maze of books known as the Libyrinth. But Haly has a secret: The books speak to her.

When the threat of the rival Eradicants drives her from her home, Haly learns that things are not all she thinks they are. Taken prisoner by the Eradicants, who believe the written word to be evil, she sees the world through their eyes and comes to understand that they are not the book-burning monsters that she has known her entire life.

The words of a young girl hiding in an attic—written hundreds of years before Haly’s birth—will spark the interest of her captors and begin the change necessary to end the conflict between the Eradicants and Libyrarians. With the help of her loyal companion Nod, a creature of the Libyrinth, Haly must mend the rift between the two groups before their war for knowledge destroys them all. Haly’s life—and the lives of everyone she knows—will never be the same."

"When Reggie finds an old journal and reads about the Vours, supernatural creatures who feast on fear and attack on the eve of the winter solstice, she assumes they are just the musings of some lunatic author. But soon, they become a terrifying reality when she begins to suspect that her timid younger brother might be one of their victims.

Risking her life and her sanity, Reggie enters a living nightmare to save the people she loves. Can she devour own her fears before they devour her?

Bone-chilling, terrifying, thrilling...what are you waiting for?"

"Fans of urban fantasy should prepare for a new kind of vampire–one that feeds off of tears instead of blood. Descended from an ancient line of creatures that gain their energy from human tears, Cassandra Gray depends on human sorrow to live. Only Cass has grown tired of living this life and wants to live like a human, especially now that she's met someone worth fighting for."

New MG Series

Riley has always been one of my favorite characters in Alyson Noel's Immortals Series, and was always disappointed when, particularly in the last couple books, she didn't play a big part. Well, it's no longer a problem, because Noel is giving Riley a series all her own:

"Welcome to the Here and Now.

Riley Bloom left her sister, Ever, in the world of the living and crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. Riley and her dog, Buttercup, have been reunited with her parents and are just settling into a nice, relaxing death when she’s summoned before The Council. They let her in on a secret—the afterlife isn’t just an eternity of leisure; Riley has to work. She’s been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a curious boy she can’t quite figure out.

Riley, Bodhi, and Buttercup return to earth for her first assignment, a Radiant Boy who’s been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But he’s never met Riley..." -Goodreads.com

I've never been a huge fan of MG lit, but I just might have to make an exception in this case. Mostly because Riley flat-out rocks, but also because I'm afraid I'll miss some reference that Noel might make in future Immortals books.

Speaking of which, have you seen the cover for the fourth one coming out in June?

And the title of the fifth one has also been released: Night Star

The Everafter by Amy Huntly

"Madison Stanton doesn't know where she is or how she got there. But she does know this - she is dead. And alone in a vast, dark space. The only company Maddy has in this place are luminescent objects that turn out to be all the things she lost while she was alive. And soon she discovers that, with these artifacts, she can reexperience - and even change - moments from her life.

Her first kiss.
A trip to Disney World.
Her sister's wedding.
A disastrous sleepover.

In reliving these moments, Maddy learns illuminating and frightening truths about her life - and death." -Goodreads.com

Overall: 4/5

This was a pretty quick read. Ususally the other word to go with "quick" is "light", but that wasn't this book at all. This book brings up a lot of different questions about death and how life is looked at from the other side. I love the way Huntley told this story; how it was given to you bit by bit in fragments, yet somehow still managed to get the whole story out in its own time.

I almost hope that death is kind of similar to the way that Huntley describes it in Everafter. It's not outrageously wonderful or extravegant. It's not complete emptiness. It's just mellow and peaceful and.... honestly, very zen. And I kind of like the idea of that.

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

This is Amy Huntley's first book.

Waiting on Wednesday: She Thief

"The girl, Baz, and the boy, Demi, are master pickpockets. They weave through rich neighborhoods to slip bags off shoulders and wallets out of pockets before disappearing into the crowd. Their loot goes to Fay, who runs a gang of child thieves from her den in the Barrio. This sweltering slum—in a city that is imagined, but all too real—is what passes for home to the kids, and Fay is what passes for family.

That all changes the day Demi steals a magnificent blue ring. Soon, the police chief and the Barrio’s crime boss close in on Fay, and she begins to break under their pressure.

Baz has never doubted Fay before. She’s never been apart from Demi, either. But soon, Baz is left alone to find her way through a world more corrupt than she’s ever realized. Here, the lives of children are thrown away without a moment’s hesitation. Here, the rich and powerful are just thieves on a larger scale. And somewhere in this wreck of a city, Baz must find the scraps of hope, the small acts of kindness, and the steely strength that will take her back to Demi and wash them both out of the Barrio for good." -Goodreads.com

The cover is definitely what drew me into this one. Even if the summary didn't sound very good (though that's not a problem), I think I would still read it just because of that cover.

The summary sounds like a good mix between the classic Oliver and Todd Strasser's Can't Get There From Here. Can't wait!

This book will be released April 13, 2010

Graphic Novels

Kin by Holly Black

Kith by Holly Black

Avalon High: Coronation by Meg Cabot

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale

Black is for Beginnings by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Desert Tales: Sanctuary by Melissa Marr

Dessert Tales: Challenge by Melissa Marr

There's also a rumor going around that they are in the process of turning the Mortal Instruments Trilogy by Cassandra Clare into grphic novels too. Graphic novels are huge these days, particularly in YA lit.

Thoughts on it? Yay or nay?

In My Mailbox (7)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting IMM every week!

While high school doesn't actually pay enough for me to buy all of the books that I read, here's what I managed to snag from the library this week:

"Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town.

A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure -- despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It's her life -- and his."

"Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was Faerie royalty, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved New York City from a rampaging Faerie war band. When a terrifying encounter in Central Park sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful—but cut short. For they’ve been plunged into a game of Faerie deception and wavering allegiances in which the next move could topple a kingdom...or part them forever."

"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."

Demon Princess by Michelle Rowen

"As if trying to fit in at a new school isn't stressful enough, sixteen-year-old Nikki Donovan just found out that her long-lost father is, in fact, the demon king of the Shadowlands—the world that separates and protects us from the Underworld. When she is brought there by the mysterious—and surprisingly cute—messenger Michael, she learns that her father is dying, and he wants her to assume the throne. To complicate matters, a war is brewing between the Shadowlands and the Underworld, her half-demon qualities are manifesting, and her growing feelings for Michael are completely forbidden. Ruling a kingdom, navigating a secret crush, and still making it home by curfew—what's a teenage demon princess to do?" -Goodreads.com

Overall: 4/5

I didn't expect to enjoy this book so much. I thought it sounded very light and fluffy (which it was) with some demons thrown in (which they were) and not a whole lot else (which was wrong). There were serveral aspects to this story that I didn't expect, and I liked them all. There were also a couple comments throughout the book that made me gasp, but which Rowen is saving until book #2 to really address. It's killing me knowing that I have to wait all the way until June (or July, I can't remember) to find out how it all works out!

While the plot was a little predictable, I would still recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick and light read.

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

Other books by Michelle Rowen: Immortality Bites Series, Angels with Attitude, The Demon in Me

Waiting on Wednesday: The White Cat

"Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen." -Blackholly.com

I love Holly Black's books, and it feels like forever since she's put one out that isn't either a graphic novel or part of an anthology. This sounds very differnet from the dark faeries that I've come to associate her with, and I'm so excited to see how it turns out!

This title will be released May 4, 2010

Where did it go? Part 2

In this post, I noticed the disappearance of a new book by Melissa de la Cruz called Angels Lie. Now there's another one (actually there's probably tons, but this is just the second one that I've found).

Several online booksites agree that there was a fifth book in the Dark Secrets series by Elizabeth Chandler called The Backdoor of Midnight. I've been a fan of Elizabeth Chandler and her Dark Secret books since I first read them a few years ago, and this fifth one has been sitting on my TBR list for a while since I could never seem to get my hands on it. Well, here's why: beyond a title, this book seems not to exist. There's no cover, no synopsis, and no reviews. None of the afore mentioned sites seem to even be able to agree on a date for when it supposedly came out. One says 2004, another says 2006, and one even has it posted to came out in 2030 (though, in all fairness, this could easily have been a typo that was really supposed to say 2003).

So what has happened to this book? Any chance it will be re-published (or just plain published, depending on how you look at it) anew like the first four Dark Secrets books?:

In My Mailbox (6)

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

While I don't have the money to actually buy all the books that I read, here's what I managed to snag from the library this week (and what a great haul!):

"There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story."

"Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul."



"'If she were going to die, I’d already be screaming. I’m a banshee. That’s what we do.'

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her boyfriend’s loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls for a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld — a consequence they can’t possibly understand. Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk.... "

"It’s a fight to the death—on live TV—when a gladiator’s daughter steps into the arena.
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."

"Are Alyzon’s new abilities a blessing . . . or a curse?

Alyzon Whitestarr doesn't take after her musically talented father or her nocturnal, artistic mother. In fact, she’s the most normal member of a very eccentric family . . . until the day that an accident leaves her more unique than she ever could have dreamed.

Suddenly colors are more vibrant to Alyzon; her memory is flawless; but strangest of all is Alyzon’s sense of smell. Her best friend smells of a comforting sea breeze. She registers her father’s contentment as the sweet scent of caramelized sugar. But why does the cutest guy in school smell so rancid?

With Alyzon’s extrasensory perception comes intrigue and danger, as she becomes aware of the dark secrets and hidden ambitions that threaten her family. In the end, being different might be less of a blessing than a curse. . . . "

Undead Much? by Stacey Jay

"Even Zombie Settlers with Super Hot Boyfriends get the Blues...

A few months ago I was a normal girl with a normal life. But that was before my power to Settle the Undead returned and someone tried to kill me with zombies.

Now I work magic and practice kicking butt while trying to find time for pom squad and my boyfriend, Ethan, and trying NOT to think about how freaky my life has become. It can be tough. Still…things could be worse…

Oh yeah, right:
1. Feral new super-strong zombies. Check.
2. Undead psychic hottie predicting a zombie apocolypse. Check.
3. Earth-shattering secrets that could land me in Settler prison for life. Check.
4. Cheerleader vs. pom squad turf war threatening the end of the half time as we know it. Check.

I’m going to need therapy (and a cookie) if I live through the week. Unfortunately I’m learning that’s not something Zombie Queens can take for granted." -from Goodreads.com

Overall: 4/5

This was exactly the kind of book I needed to read after some heavy-duty reading for class. It was light and funny and full of zombies. What more can you ask for?

But it was different form the first one, You Are So Undead to Me (in a good way, though I adored the first one). UASUtM was mostly fluff with some zombies thrown in, and I expected this one to be no different. As I'm sure you've guess by now, this was not the case. A number of things were revealed in this book that I'm still kind of in shock over. The plot has visibly thickened, and I'm loving it!

There was a lead-in to the next book in the series at the end of this one and I can't help wondering where Stacey Jay is going to take this. But I guess that's the fun part, right?

Characters: 4/5

Plot: 5/5

Writing: 4/5

Ending: 4/5

Cover: 4/5

Other books by Stacey Jay: You Are So Undead to Me, My So-Called Death

UK Covers

The US versions of the Generation Dead series by Daniel Waters look like these:

I actually really like these covers. I think they've got a good mix of light-hearted high school life and dead zombie to perfectly give off the kind of vibe that the story itself gives.


And then I saw the UK covers:

They're so pretty! They remind me a lot of the cover for Stephenie Meyer's New Moon, which I thought was gorgeous and also a little bit genius. I think I like them better than the US covers, but I can't be sure.

Here's the US cover of the third book, coming out in June of this year:

I couldn't find the UK version of this one, and it's entirely possible that they haven't finished designing it yet. I can't wait to see it though!

Which covers do you like better?

Waiting on Wednesday: Spells

"Six months have passed since Laurel saved the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Now she must spend her summer there, honing her skills as a Fall faerie. But her human family and friends are still in mortal danger--and the gateway to Avalon is more compromised than ever.

When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable?"

I completely fell in love with the world that Aprilynne Pike put together in the first book in this series, Wings. Her take on faeries and what they are was so different from any other and it was like a breath of fresh air in a genre that's being taken on by so many other authors.

I have high expectations for Spells and can't wait for it to come out!

Spells will be released on May 4, 2010.

Betrayals by Lili St. Crow

"She’s no angel . . .

Poor Dru Anderson. Her parents are long gone, her best friend is a werewolf, and she’s just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn’t entirely human. (So what else is new?)

Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England School for other teens like her, and there’s a big problem— she’s the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn’t be so bad, but Dru’s killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide. . .

Can Dru survive long enough to find out who has betrayed her trust—and maybe even her heart?" -Goodreads.com

Overall: 5/5

So good! This series has become one of my favorites. It's got tons of action, mystery and intrigue, and hot guys. What more can you ask for? I read this 304 page book in one day with very few stops for menial things such as meals. There was just too much going on to put it down! There are so many new twists presented in this one and you find yourself questioning just about everyone, trying to determine who the traitor is.

And the other nice thing about this series is that it's not obvious which guy she's going to end up with. There are a couple of them that are definite possibilities, but it's so refreshing to have to guess. I can't even decide which one I actually want it to be.

Just one more reason to look forward to the release of the third book in the series, Jealousy, which comes out July 29, 2010.

Characters: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Writing: 5/5

Ending: 5/5

Cover: 5/5

Other books by Lili St. Crow: Strange Angels, Night Shift, Working for the Devil