Thursday, July 28, 2011

FAIRY BAD DAY by Amanda Ashby

While most students at Burtonwood Academy get to kill demons and goblins, fifteen-year-old Emma gets to rid the world of little annoying fairies with glittery wings and a hipster fashion sense. She was destined to be a dragon slayer, but cute and charming Curtis stole her spot. Then she sees a giant killer fairy - and it's invisible to everyone but her! If Emma has any chance of stopping this evil fairy, she's going to need help. Unfortunately, the only person who can help is Curtis. And now, not only has he stolen her dragon-slayer spot, but maybe her heart as well! Why does she think it's going to be a fairy bad day?

An insanely entertaining novel, Fairy Bad Day was a quick, fun read, but also contained levels of depth that you wouldn't expect from the first glance at its perky cover. Emma is a kick-ass heroine, who is sometimes hell-a annoying (Yes, I'm a Californian.), but she is always lovable. Curtis is a smoking hot dragon slayer who is a fantastic sword fighter, even when his whole leg happens to be encased in a plaster cast. Both Loni and Tyler are extremely detailed secondary characters who play a large part in the conclusion of the novel, and both were fun to read about. I really don't want to say too much because I'm afraid I will reveal every single plot twist in the novel, so just go and pick up a copy as soon as possible! If you enjoy fantasy, paranormal, and/or romance, you won't be disappointed! Or if you are disappointed, you are welcome to email me immediately :)


5/5 stars

HEREAFTER by Tara Hudson

Can there truly be love after death?
Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.
Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world
. . . forever.

Hereafter
was an wonderful debut. The only reason this novel received 4 instead of 5 stars was the minor problem of pacing: sometimes fast, sometimes slow, which happens to drive me crazy when I'm reading. The story was a unique and original take on ghosts and wraiths and what that might possibly mean. No spoilers here, but some of Amelia's abilities were particularly fascinating. One thing  Hereafter was lacking was a sensible explanation of why she could do some of these things. The character seemed to form half-baked explanations after demonstrating her skills without really wondering about the backstory behind them. Sorry, brief rant. Anyway, I LOVED Joshua, he was completely dreamy and yet earnest and realistic. Overall, a fantastic debut from an author I will definitely be keeping an eye on.


4/5 stars

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday: Fury

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly feature started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It's where we can gossip about yet-to-be-released books that we're looking forward to.


Sometimes sorry isn't enough....It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...
Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.
On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.
In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.


All I can say is that this book intrigues me. The cover is gorgeous, and yet creepy and kind of disturbing, all at the same time. I'm looking forward to reading this.


**Fury releases on August 30, 2011 by Simon Pulse Publishing.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

GIVE UP THE GHOST by Megan Crewe

Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts over “breathers.” Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody…and Cass loves dirt. She’s on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.
But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass’s whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.
As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim’s life, she’s surprised to realize he’s not so bad—and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it’s time to give the living another chance…

   
I really wanted to like this book, and I did, just not as much as I hoped I would. The concept was cool, but I felt like the paranormal aspect of the story took a backseat to the relationships between the characters. Usually I wouldn't have a problem with that, but I wasn't that enchanted by the characters' personalities. Cass was way too obsessed with cracking through the poseurs perfect veneers. She had great motive, but the author didn't do a very good job at pulling it off. Tim was your average depressed teenager who also happens to be an alcoholic, completely stereotypical, which drives me nuts. There was some depth in Give Up the Ghost, but not much, and not nearly enough to help pull the odd storyline together. I felt like the storyline could have been squeezed into a novella; it was too simple to be considered a full-out novel. I feel really bad ranting about how much I didn't like this book; they were a couple things I enjoyed. I loved the relationship between Cass and her sister, Paige, it was very realistic. Also, humor was thrown in at unlikely times, something I'm always a sucker for. Overall, an okay book, not at the top of my favorites list, but not a complete downer, though I won't be reading it again. 
  
2.5/5 stars

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday: Soul Thief

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly feature started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It's where we can gossip about yet-to-be-released books that we're looking forward to.





Riley Blackthorne is beginning to learn that there are worse things than death by demon. And love is just one of them…
Seventeen-year-old Riley has about had it up to here. After the devastating battle at the Tabernacle, trappers are dead and injured, her boyfriend Simon is gravely injured, and now her beloved late father’s been illegally poached from his grave by a very powerful necromancer. As if that’s not enough, there's Ori, one sizzling hot freelance demon hunter who’s made himself Riley’s unofficial body guard, and Beck, a super over-protective “friend” who acts more like a grouchy granddad.  With all the hassles, Riley’s almost ready to leave Atlanta altogether.
But as Atlanta’s demon count increases, the Vatican finally sends its own Demon Hunters to take care of the city’s “little” problem, and pandemonium breaks loose. Only Riley knows that she might be the center of Hell’s attention: an extremely powerful Grade 5 demon is stalking her, and her luck can't last forever…

   I loved, loved, LOVED the first book in this series, The Demon Trapper's Daughter, and I can't wait to read the sequel. Funny and dark,  well-rounded characters, weird, creepy people, and things that go bump in the night, my expectations are high for this book. I don't think I'll be disappointed!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

STARSTRUCK by Cyn Balog

 Starstruck released today! Go to your local bookstore and pick up a copy of this awesome book!!!



Gwendolyn "Dough" X doesn't think she has much going for her—she carries a few extra pounds, her family struggles with their small bakery in a town full of millionaires, and the other kids at her New Jersey high school don't seem to know that she exists. Thank the stars for her longtime boyfriend, Philip P. Wishman—or "Wish." He moved away to California three years ago, when they were 13, but then professed his love for her via e-mail, and he's been her long-distance BF ever since.

At the beginning of her junior year, though, Wish e-mails that he's moving back to Jersey. Great, right? Well, except that Dough has gained about 70 pounds since the last time Wish saw her, while Wish—according to his Facebook photos—has morphed into a blonde god. Convinced that she'll be headed for Dumpsville the minute Wish lays eyes on her, Dough delays their meeting as long as she possibly can.

But when she sees Wish at school, something amazing happens. He looks at Dough like she's just as gorgeous as he is. But Wish is acting a little weird, obsessed with the sun and freaked out by rain. And the creepy new guy working at the bakery, Christian, is convinced that there's more to Wish's good looks than just healthy eating and lots of sun. He tells Dough that a mark on Wish's neck marks him as a member of the Luminati—an ancient cult of astrologers who can manipulate the stars to improve their lives. Is Wish and Dough's love meant to be—or are they star-crossed?


   I picked up Starstruck because I loved Cyn's previous books, Fairy Tale and Sleepless, and I was not disappointed. The story is light but carries depth, and the supernatural element enjoyable and not overplayed. The humor was impeccable and the timing spot on. Dough was such an engaging character and her reactions to different situations were completely realistic. Simply put, I loved it. Wish did get on my nerves a few times, but what guy doesn't? Again, an engaging and realistic character. Oh, and (SPOILER ALERT) if a sequel is released, I a totally rooting for Christian as Dough's new boyfriend. Definitely my favorite character in the novel. All in all, a fun and quick read, worth the time spent.


4/5 stars

**ARC received from Random House publishers.


Sunday, July 10, 2011

IN THE ARMS OF STONE ANGELS by Jordan Dane

Two years ago, Brenna did the unthinkable. She witnessed the aftermath of a murder and accused her only true friend--the first boy she ever loved--of being a killer.

Now sixteen, Brenna returns to Oklahoma only to discover that Isaac "White Bird" Henry isn't in juvie. The half-breed outcast is in a mental hospital, frozen in time, locked in his mind at the worst moment of his life. And when Brenna touches him, she's pulled into his hellish vision quest, seeing terrifying demons and illusions she doesn't understand.

Feeling isolated and alone, she's up against the whole town, targeted by bullying former classmates, a bigoted small town sheriff, and a tribe who refuses to help one of their own. But when Brenna realizes she's as trapped by the past as White Bird is, this time she won't turn her back on him. She's the only one who can free them both.

Even if she has to expose her secret--a "gift" she's kept hidden her whole life.


   This book was both a struggle and an enjoyment for me to read. It was confusing and hard to understand half the time, but during the other half, suspenseful and totally engrossing. I really liked it. Even though the first half of the book did a great job of annoying the heck out of me, the second half and the climax really made up for it. Despite the confusion surrounding Brenna and her abilities and the mysterious way her visions were depicted, In the Arms of Stone Angels was a really awesome book. Lots of twists and turns and unexpected surprises, a murder mystery, add in some romance and it was pretty kick-ass. While not a very quick or light read (racism and unfair judgment are two of the tougher subjects confronted), if you're willing to give this novel a try, I think you'll be pleased with your decision.

4/5 stars 

Friday, July 8, 2011

HOURGLASS by Myra McEntire

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.
So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.
Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?


     I cannot express how much I loved Hourglass. The story was completely original and somewhat unexpected, full of romance, mystery, and a certain amount of intrigue. I loved every single word. I don't want to get too detailed for fear of revealing some hidden surprises but here's a few of the things I loved most:

1. The developing relationship between Emerson and Michael. The heart and truthfulness in all of their dialogue was so appealing and completely realistic to average teenagers, and I could sense something building with every additional interaction between the two.

2. Emerson's ability. I won't reveal too much, but her gift in seeing scenes from the past is unlike anything I've ever come across in a novel before. Wholly intriguing.

3. The humor. Even in the most tense of scenes, Myra slipped in a line or two of laugh-out-loud conversation between the characters, before going straight back to the seriousness of the situation. Wonderful.

All in all, an extraordinary debut. Put it at the top of your reading lists! Even if you are not a fan of the paranormal genre, I have no doubt you will enjoy this engaging book.


5/5 stars


Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Forgive me!

   Alright. This has probably been the longest blog absence EVER. I've been crazy busy with finishing up the school year, performances of my drama group's last show, plus rehearsals for our NEW show, and hanging out with friends whenever possible, so I've been sorely lax with updates. I've read a ton of books, and I just received an ARC of Starstruck by Cyn Balog (yay!) so reviews are on their way. Hopefully. I won't make any promises because I don't want to disappoint, but I will make a valiant effort to stick to my word. Maybe I'll just do mini-reviews....I'm rambling, SORRY! Hope everyone is having a great summer, keep reading!