Review: Sweet Shadows by Tera Lynn Childs

Title: Sweet Shadows
Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Publication Date: September 4th, 2012
Genre: YA Fantasy - Mythology - Paranormal

"Gretchen may have known she was a descendant of Medusa long before her sisters--after all, she's spent her life fighting the monsters that escape the abyss--but that doesn't mean it will be easy to teach the other girls the ropes. Can she rely on Grace and Greer, or even trust herself to keep them safe?Greer has pressing social commitments on her plate and precious little time to train in her newfound powers. But that wretched second sight won't leave her alone, and her fabled heritage seems to be creeping into her fashionable life.Grace has worries closer to home--like why her brother, Thane, has disappeared. He's hiding something. Could it possibly be related to the secret heritage the triplets share?
With the warring factions among the gods of Olympus coming for them, the creatures of the abyss pushing into their world, and the boys in their lives keeping secrets at every turn, the three girls must figure out where their fate will take them and how to embrace the shadows of their legacy." ~See it on Goodreads!

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I really loved Sweet Venom, which is the first book in this series. So naturally, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Sweet Shadows (the second book) to see how the story would continue. And I’m glad to say I loved this one just as much of the first! I know sometimes with series I’ll have that whole “second-book-syndrome” thing, and you end up not liking the second book as much as the first, but I’m so glad to say that wasn’t an issue with this one!

This book was definitely a little more intense than the first one, and the action starts right from the beginning. I really liked how you get to see the change and growth in the relationships between Gretchen, Grace, and Greer. They’re all still getting to know each other and trying adapt to the knowledge that they’re triplets and not to mention huntresses. And even though it’s all still new to them you can see how much they really care about each other, and would do anything to keep each other safe.

In particular we really get to know Greer better in this book, she was introduced later than Gretchen and Grace in the first book so you didn’t get to learn as much about her then. We also learn more about Nick, he’s definitely grown on me more through this book, and we find out a big part he plays in the whole scheme of things. I’m still extremely curious about Grace’s brother Thane though! He doesn’t appear much in this book but when he does show up it just raises even more burning questions about him!

There is a bit more focus on romance in this book, I won’t go into too many details for those who haven’t read either book yet. But I do like the pairings pretty well so far, and I’m interested to see what unfolds between two certain characters.

The incorporation of Mythology in this book is just as seamless and balanced as it was in the first book, it doesn’t feel strange or misplaced at all. I was glued to the pages from the start and couldn’t stand to put it down when I had to go and do pesky things like work, or eat. I mean really who does those things anyways?

Needless to say this book ended and left me with so many burning questions and had a bit of a cliffhanger as well, and now I’m likely to go a bit mad waiting for September 3rd to get her so I can get my hands on a copy of Sweet Legacy!

4.5 Stars!

Review: Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier

Title: Shadowfell
Author: Juliet Marillier
Publication Date: September 11th, 2012
Genre: YA - Fantasy - High Fantasy

"Sixteen-year-old Neryn is alone in the land of Alban, where the oppressive king has ordered anyone with magical strengths captured and brought before him. Eager to hide her own canny skill--a uniquely powerful ability to communicate with the fairy-like Good Folk--Neryn sets out for the legendary Shadowfell, a home and training ground for a secret rebel group determined to overthrow the evil King Keldec.
During her dangerous journey, she receives aid from the Good Folk, who tell her she must pass a series of tests in order to recognize her full potential. She also finds help from a handsome young man, Flint, who rescues her from certain death--but whose motives in doing so remain unclear. Neryn struggles to trust her only allies. They both hint that she alone may be the key to Alban's release from Keldec's rule. Homeless, unsure of who to trust, and trapped in an empire determined to crush her, Neryn must make it to Shadowfell not only to save herself, but to save Alban." ~See it on Goodreads!

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I was immediately intrigued when I read the blurb for Shadowfell, I’ve been wanting a good fantasy to lose myself in recently and this was the perfect one to read. Also, I’m slightly ashamed to say that this is the first book I’ve read by Juliet Marillier.... I know it’s unthinkable right? Especially being the fan of Fantasy novels that I am. But I assure you that will be 100% remedied from this point on.

I really loved the world building in this book; it’s very unique and draws you into this wonderful fantasy world of Alban. The writing itself is beautiful and has the perfect balance of magic and mysticism, which is all too fitting for these types of Fantasy novels. And I loved the addition of the “Good Folk” in this story particularly, I liked the fact that the author took pieces from Myth and Lore and crafted them into her story in a way that stands out from the rest.

The characters were all very well developed; they all stand out in their own ways and have unique voices. For the most part I liked Neryn, she’s resilient, kind, and has certain strength to her. But at the same time I felt like her personality lacked a bit of that spark/spunkiness that I like to see in my heroines, she also didn’t really have any flaws so at times she felt a little too hopeful and kind to be true. For me personally, I like to see the characters grow and change over the course of a story and towards the end I saw the beginning of some possible growth in Neryn, so I’m hopeful that in the next installment we’ll uncover more layers and a new depth to her character.

There were a few areas in the book where the plot got a little bogged down, and seemed to drag slightly. I know there are readers out there that have a hard time getting through books with slower pacing in some areas, if you’re one of those people that may be a problem for you with this book. For me personally it’s not such a big issue because I love this genre, and I can overlook a little slowness if the other elements are all on point. But I felt I should mention it because I know some people don’t like the slower pace.

Overall I really did enjoy Shadowfell and I’m looking forward to getting my hands on the next book in the series, come on July 9th! And I’m also excited to start reading more of this lovely authors work!

4 Stars! 

“You don't like it that I am the one you need to keep the wolf from the door; that comes as no surprise. But I am the one you have. At some point we'll both have to risk telling the truth.” ~Shadowfell

ARC Review: Stung by Bethany Wiggins

Title: Stung
Author: Bethany Wiggins
Publication Date: April 2nd, 2013
Genre: YA - Post Apocalyptic - Sci-Fi - Dystopian

"There is no cure for being stung.
Fiona doesn’t remember going to sleep. But when she opens her eyes, she discovers her entire world has been altered—her house is abandoned and broken, and the entire neighborhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right hand—a black oval with five marks on either side—that she doesn’t remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost. She’s right.
Those bearing the tattoo have turned into mindless, violent beasts that roam the streets and sewers, preying upon the unbranded while a select few live protected inside a fortress-like wall, their lives devoted to rebuilding society and killing all who bear the mark.
Now Fiona has awakened branded, alone—and on the wrong side of the wall." ~See it on Goodreads!

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Stung was definitely one of the most interesting and unique story concepts that I've come across so far this year. It was action packed and really sucked me in from the beginning.

In the world of Stung bees as we know them have gone extinct, and scientists have replaced them with a new genetically created species of bees. But while they were creating these new bees something went wrong (one of the risks when you start experimenting with things lol) and when the bees sting someone that person is infected with a deathly virus. So naturally the scientists start working towards a cure for the “Bee Flu” as it’s called, but unfortunately that doesn’t go as planned either. The so called cure that they developed has some pretty narly side effects, and the patients they give it to end up becoming wild, zombie-esque creatures, so it’s no surprise that chaos breaks lose soon after. Fiona wakes up after being in a coma, and nothing is the same for her. She’s alone and confused, with no memory as to how or why she was asleep in the first place.

There is a bit of romance in this story but suffice it to say I wasn’t very invested in it. I just felt like it was a little rushed and I’m sooo not a fan of the whole insta-love thing so that kind of put me off. I did wish there had been a little more to the world building and details in some areas, because I felt like there were some things that were only vaguely mentioned and I would have liked to see more information there.

Despite a few qualms, overall I did enjoy this one quite a bit. It kept my attention throughout and I never got bored with it. I thought the ending played out nicely but still left room for a possible sequel, which I would like to see because I’m interested to see what would come next.

3.5 Stars!

Review: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Title: Out of the Easy
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Publication Date: February 12th, 2013
Genre: YA - Historical Fiction - Mystery

"It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.
Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.
With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny." ~See it on Goodreads

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When I first came across the blurb for Out of the Easy I was instantly intrigued, I mean 1950’s New Orleans? Uh, definitely my style! So I was pretty excited to start reading this one. And overall I really enjoyed this book.

One thing that I love and plays a big part in how much I like a book would be the characters. If a book has really dull “mary jane” type characters, that are poorly developed and just lacking in overall appeal, I’m most likely not going to be a big fan of it. But in this book, I fell in love with the characters from the get go. They were all so unique and different , and all stood out in their own way. I ADORED Josie and Willie! They immediately went on my list of favorite characters! And Cokie was another big favorite! Now, there are two love interests in this book (Patrick and Jesse), but I really didn’t get the feeling that it was a “love triangle”. Yes, they’re both after Josie’s attention but not necessarily in the same way or for the same reason. But I did actually really like both of their characters as well, although, I did feel like Jesse could have used a bit more development.

Overall the writing was good, and the style of it was interesting. But there were times when I did wish that there had been a bit more of the essence of New Orleans captured in it, because for the story to have been set in such a unique place I think the writing/descriptions seemed a little too plain in some areas. I also felt that the story didn’t have a really strong/clear focus, so that might be an issue for some people and it was a bit of a nitpick for me.

As much as I love a god romance I thought it was a nice change to see that the main focus of this book wasn’t the romance element, because yes it is there but the story is more geared towards the mystery. Now, that being said I did feel like the mystery wasn’t very… mysterious or shocking. It was still interesting but I have to admit it was slightly predictable at the same time, and I figured out who the culprit was fairly early on so it wasn’t really surprising when it came to the point in the story.

There was one part of the story I didn’t really see coming, although maybe looking back I would see the signs now. I was extremely shocked by it because I wasn’t expecting it, and I bawled uncontrollably at the end because of it. And when I say bawled, I mean that whole ugly-face-sobbing ordeal…

It definitely wasn’t pretty and I went through quite a few tissues....

So overall I really enjoyed this book, the characters were probably my favorite thing about it. If you’re a big fan of amazing, and strong characters then you’d enjoy this book. But if you’re looking for a real gut wrenching mystery that will keep you on the very edge of your seat and turning pages at a breakneck speed, this book doesn’t really fit that expectation.

3.5 Stars!

Review: Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Title: Touch of Power
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Publication Date: December 20th, 2011
Genre: YA Fantasy

"Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.
Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life...." ~See it on Goodreads

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The first thought I had when I got finished reading Touch of Power was, what the heck took me so long to read this?! I mean honestly, there’s really no excuse for it. I’d been wanting to read it ever since it came out and after I kept seeing such great reviews on it, but for some crazy reason it took me forever to get around to it and I could kick myself for taking so long!

I was completely enthralled by the pure brilliance of this book. It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of epic fantasy and this book didn’t let me down in the least. I loved the world that Ms. Snyder created, it’s unique and unlike any that I’ve read about. The writing was extremely well done and the plot twists keep you on the edge of your seat and your eyes glued to the page. The attention to detail is impeccable and I loved how she took Lilies and made them into something not only gorgeous but deadly.

The characterization was amazing and there was a roller coaster of emotions, and I became extremely attached to the characters. I absolutely adored Avry! She made her way onto my list of favorite heroines almost instantly, and Poppa Bear was another big favorite! Over the course of reading this book I laughed, I cried (more than once), and at times just sat there utterly entranced. But that just goes to show you how good it really was.

I guess one good thing that came of me waiting so long to read this is that I didn’t have to wait a long time to get my hands on the second book, Scent of Magic! Which, by the way, I cant wait to start! And now I’m determined to read as much of Ms. Snyders other work as I possibly can!

Highly recommend this one!

5 Stars!

The Nightmare Affair Blog Tour! Review + Giveaway!

Title: The Nightmare Affair
Author: Mindee Arnett
Publication Date: March 5th, 2103
Genre: YA - Paranormal - Fantasy

"Sixteen-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare.
Literally.
Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy, is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder.
Then Eli’s dream comes true.
Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target." ~See it on Goodreads

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My Thoughts..

Well I was lucky enough to be able to participate in the blog tour for The Nightmare Affair and receive an e-arc of the book for review. When I first read the blurb I was really intrigued by the storyline, so I was looking forward to reading this. 

I was also really interested by the whole concept of Nightmares and all of the other supernatural beings that are present in this story. Some of which we’re already familiar with but the author added a little bit of a twist to them and made them her own, which I thought was a nice addition. So I definitely give it some points for being unique.

I really liked Dusty’s character! She’s spunky and witty, and some of my favorite parts in the book were her responses to things. She is a tad bit naïve at times but I think that gives her a more relatable feeling because everyone has been slightly naïve at some point. Also, the scenes between her Dusty and Eli were awkward in the best possible way, which definitely makes for entertaining reading. As far as the characters go as a whole, I do wish some of the other characters had been a bit more developed because I would have liked to know more about them. But we do still have time for that in the rest of the series, so that wasn’t a huge issue for me.

There is a bit of romance in this one, and a slight love triangle. I know, I know, for a lot of readers when you see those words they have that whole “dun dun dun..” effect lol. Overall I didn’t think it was horrible to have the love triangle but at the same time it would’ve been okay without it. But that may just be my opinion, and it was resolved fairly well by the end of the book.

There were a few areas that were slightly predictable and times when the storyline moved along a bit slowly, but overall I enjoyed the story and the characters. It may not have wowed me as much as I was hoping but it was still a fun and entertaining read, with an interesting take on the paranormal creatures that we know and love.

3 Stars! 

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Also as a little treat, here's the 

Nightmare Affair book trailer!

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About The Author..

Mindee Arnett lives on a horse farm in Ohio with her husband, two kids, a couple of dogs, and an inappropriate number of cats. She’s addicted to jumping horses and telling tales of magic, the macabre, and outer space. She has far more dreams than nightmares.

Official Links:

Twitter: twitter.com/mindeearnett

Website: www.mindeearnett.com

Also be sure to enter the giveaway below for a chance to win! Two lucky bloggers will win a signed copy of The Nightmare Affair! The giveaway is tour wide and will be on every tour stop, also did I mention it's international?!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Greta and the Goblin King by Chloe Jacobs

Title: Greta and the Goblin King
Author: Chloe Jacobs
Genre: YA - Fantasy

"While trying to save her brother from a witch’s fire four years ago, Greta was thrown in herself, falling through a portal to Mylena, a dangerous world where humans are the enemy and every ogre, ghoul, and goblin has a dark side that comes out with the eclipse.

To survive, Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter—and she’s good at what she does. So good, she’s caught the attention of Mylena’s young goblin king, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her will to escape.

But Greta’s not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. An ancient evil knows she’s the key to opening the portal, and with the next eclipse mere days away, every bloodthirsty creature in the realm is after her—including Isaac. If Greta fails, she and the lost boys of Mylena will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back..." See it on Goodreads

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Well I definitely had high expectations for Greta and the Goblin King, after reading the blurb and falling in love with the cover (which is totally gorgeous!) there was just no getting around that really lol. I was so excited to finally get my hands on it after waiting for so long, and I’m happy to report that I wasn’t disappointed in the least!

To put it simply, I loved it. The world building was fantastic, Mylena was such an interesting place and I’m hoping we get to learn even more about the history of it in the next book. The descriptions and scenes were very well done and I was able to picture everything so easily. This book definitely stands apart from a lot of the YA books I’ve read recently, and I also loved that this book wasn’t written in first person. It’s more common to see things written in first person, but I think writing it in third person was much more fitting for this book and it was just really refreshing to read.

I pretty much adored the whole cast of characters in this book, but I really loved Greta! She’s right up there with some of my most favorite heroines from my favorite books. She’s determined, strong, compassionate, and loyal. She has a stubborn streak, but at the same time she’s relatable and vulnerable at times and that’s what makes her human. I really liked Isaac as well, and I loved the banter between him and Greta, it was definitely amusing and kept me entertained.

I did have a few nitpicks, mainly in the romance department. Yes, I love a good romance but far as the romance goes in this book, there were times where I wasn’t completely sold on it. As I said I really liked Isaac and while there was obvious chemistry between him and Greta, it was a little confusing how the growing attraction came to be. It’s no secret that Greta pretty much can’t stand him in the beginning of the story, but then her feelings seem to change all of a sudden but there wasn’t really much of a transition between those feelings. That said I do like Isaac and Greta together, and I’m interested to see how their relationship progresses in the next book. I do hope that the whole possible “love triangle” thing just goes away as the series continues because I really didn’t see the point of that at all.

I couldn't put this one down once I’d started it, and it killed me when I absolutely had to put it down to do crazy things like work and eat *shakes head*. Greta and the Goblin King was magical, action filled, and fun, it was definitely worth the read and I don’t know how I’m gonna be able to wait for the next book to come out!

4 Stars!

ARC Review: Splintered by A.G. Howard

Title: Splintered
Author: A.G. Howard
Publication Date: January 1st, 2012
Genre: YA - Fantasy/ Retellings

"This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.
When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own." ~See it on Goodreads

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It's clearly no secret that I'm a huge Alice in Wonderland fan. It's hands down one of my all time favorite stories, I drove my family crazy watching the Disney version constantly while I was growing up lol. And I absolutely loved the newer version that Tim Burton did (but then I adore all things Tim Burton). So I was completely sold on this when I read the blurb and couldn't wait to get my hands on it! 

I love retellings in general, and I've read several retellings of Alice in Wonderland but this one was completely unique and different than any of the other ones I've read. It was a bit dark, but that fit perfectly in my opinion because when you think about it Wonderland isn't really a "happy-go-lucky" place full of rainbows and unicorns all the time. I think the author went above and beyond with this book and crafted a wonderfully exciting, and modern tale based around the original story.

There are so many interesting and unique characters in Splintered, and they really added so much to the story. I loved Alyssa, she was spunky and had her quirks which made her relatable. I liked the fact that she had a good relationship with her dad, and even though there was a struggle/strain in the relationship with her mom you could still tell how much she cared about her. It was nice seeing a good parent/child relationship, and that her dad was actually involved. You don't see that much in books nowadays.

Then there's Jeb. Where, oh where do I start? I adored him from the start and he's easily the right match for Alyssa. I liked the fact that there was no "insta-love", they'd been best friends for years and knew each other better than anyone. He was a loyal friend and was always there to protect her. I loved his personality and sarcasm, he made me laugh so hard at several parts in the book. I actually really liked Morpheus a lot too, there's a little hint of a love triangle but honestly I think the relationship between Alyssa and Morpheus wasn't really all that much of a romantic one. There were hints of it here and there but nothing like the relationship between her and Jeb, but I did still like his character. He's a bit darker than Jeb and can kind of be a jerk sometimes but there's something about him that just makes me like him in spite of that lol.

I have to admit I had a hard time writing this review without putting spoilers in, and I had to keep rethinking my wording, what elements to mention, ect. Lol. But that just goes to show how awesome the story was! The world building was just amazing, as was the writing itself. The attention to detail in this book was absolutely fantastic and the visualizations were spot on! I was totally enthralled by every sentence I read and could get to the next page fast enough. 

Needless to say, the fact that this is a stand alone kinda bummed me out just because I loved it so much and now I want more! Everything was pretty well resolved at the end but there was a bit of an opening left that could possibly go forward into a sequel perhaps?? *hint hint* so I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for that, as well as any other work by Ms. Howard! Also the cover is flipping gorgeous, and I've been in "cover love" since I first saw it!

Splintered was a thrilling, dark, magical, and gorgeous adventure, and it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I couldn't have loved it more if I wanted to!

5 Stars! (but I think it deserves more!)

Review: Incarnation by Emma Cornwall

Title: Incarnation
Author: Emma Cornwall
Genre: Steampunk - Supernatural - New Adult/Adult

"In the steampunk world of Victorian London, a beautiful vampire seeks out the author of Dracula–to set the record straight . . . If one is to believe Bram Stoker’s legendary vampire tale, Lucy Weston is Dracula’s most wanton creation, a sexual creature of the night who preys on innocent boys. But the real-life Lucy is nothing like her fictional counterpart—and she demands to know why the Victorian author deliberately lied. With Stoker’s reluctant help, she’s determined to track down the very fiend who transformed her—from the sensual underworld where humans vie to become vampires, to a hidden cell beneath a temple to madness, and finally into the glittering Crystal Palace where death reigns supreme.

Haunted by fragmentary memories of her lost life and love, Lucy must battle her thirst for blood as she struggles to stop a catastrophic war that will doom vampires and humans alike. Ultimately, she must make a choice that illuminates for her—and for us—what it means to be human." ~See it on Goodreads

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When I first came across Incarnation the cover grabbed me instantly, I mean how gorgeous is it?! I’ve really been loving Steampunk lately and that element combined with a fresh take on the story of Dracula (I LOVE the original!), had me totally interested. This book had all the potential to be really good or the complete opposite, and I’m glad to say it was the former! There’s a ton of vampire books out these days but this one stands out in its own way.

This is such a wonderfully crafted story; the writing is absolutely stunning and gorgeous. I loved the world-building and the details are rich and vivid. It has a wonderful Steampunk edge and the Victorian setting was just perfection, not to mention the supernatural/vampire aspect. All of the characters are very well developed and really came to life on the pages, and I loved Lucy! She was charming, witty, strong, and determined. I was able to really connect and sympathize with her and that made me even more invested in the story. Lucy is definitely has one heck of an adventure to say the least.

There is a little romance in this book but it fits in so well with the story and doesn’t overshadow the main plot, which I was really happy to see because a lot of times the romance in books can take over and you lose focus on the main plotline.

I will admit the story started out a tiny bit slow in the beginning, but it picked up quickly and I couldn’t tear myself away from the pages once things got going. Also, I don’t think this book is really fitting for the YA genre, I’d say it’s closer to the Adult/New Adult genre. The romance is fairly light, but there are some graphic/mature areas so I would recommend that future readers are 16 and up.

I’d definitely recommend giving this book a shot, whether you’re a vampire fanatic or even if you’re burnt out on reading vampire books. This one is definitely worth it!

4.5 Stars!

"Yet as I drifted deeper into sleep, ravens cawed and wolves howled, vampires showed their fangs and humans bared their throats to be bled while off in the distance great engines roared and steam shot into the sky where soot fell as tears, baptizing the new age." ~Incarnation

 

Review: The Unquiet by Jeannine Garsee

Title: The Unquiet
Author: Jeannine Garsee
Genre: YA - Contemporary/Paranormal

"Sixteen-year-old Rinn Jacobs has secrets: One, she’s bipolar. Two, she killed her grandmother.

After a suicide attempt, and now her parents' separation, Rinn and her mom move from California to the rural Ohio town where her mother grew up. Back on her medications and hoping to stay well, Rinn settles into her new home, undaunted by the fact that the previous owner hanged herself in Rinn's bedroom. At school, her classmates believe the school pool is haunted by Annaliese, a girl who drowned there. But when a reckless séance goes awry, and terrible things start happening to her new friends—yet not to her—Rinn is determined to find out why she can’t be "touched" by Annaliese...or if Annaliese even exists.

With the help of Nate Brenner, the hunky “farmer boy” she’s rapidly falling for, Rinn devises a dangerous plan to uncover the truth. Soon reality and fantasy meld into one, till Rinn finds it nearly impossible to tell the difference. When a malevolent force threatens the lives of everyone she cares about--not to mention her own--she can't help wondering: who should she really be afraid of?

Annaliese? Or herself?" ~See it on Goodreads
 

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When I first read the blurb for The Unquiet I was really intrigued by the premise of the story, so I was really looking forward to reading it. But unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me, maybe my expectations were a little too high so it didn’t really live up to them. I didn’t hate it, but then again it wasn’t one for the favorites list.

The mystery in the story was great (I’m a fan of that in books) but the pacing was just way too slow for my taste and it was hard to really get into the story when there weren’t any big changes or developments as I read. The ghost story aspect is one of the main things that drew me to this book in the first place but as I was reading the story felt more like a contemporary type high-school drama and that seemed to be the main focus. The ghost story IS there but it just took SO incredibly long to get to that part, and when it finally did I wasn’t as interested in it as I had been when I started the book so that was kind of disappointing.

As far as characters go, I really just wasn’t a fan of Rinn’s personality at all, yes she has a mental illness but that isn’t an exception. Most of the time she just came off as dull/boring, angry or mean without cause, and just plain bratty sometimes. She didn’t stand out or have any interesting quirks about her, and overall she just wasn’t really likeable and you need that in a character because without it you end up not really caring about what happens to them. Her so called “friends” were just as bad, they were really shallow and treated everyone (including Rinn) really poorly, and Rinn didn’t even stand up for herself or say anything to them about it because they were her new “friends” and I suppose she figures it’s better to have crappy friends than none at all?? Didn’t really make sense to me. And the overall high-school experience that was shown, the drama, and the way the characters interacted with each other just didn’t come off as very realistic to me.

The ghost story was good and I liked it a lot once that part came around, as well as the backstory about Rinn and her Grandmother. I thought the whole possessions aspect was really detailed and well developed. But I really wish there had been more to the paranormal side of the story, from reading the blurb I was definitely expecting it to focus more on that. I’m sure a lot of people will still like this book, but I really do think this qualifies as more of a contemporary story with a slight paranormal edge. If I had been expecting that I think I would have been able to get a little more into it.

2 Stars!

Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

 Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Genre: YA Fantasy - Paranormal

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore." ~See it on Goodreads

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I’d really been looking forward to reading The Raven Boys. I absolutely adore Stiefvater’s writing style; it’s very lyrical and has a magical feel to it. I LOVED The Scorpio Races and Lament, but I wasn’t a fan of Shiver (just couldn’t really get into the storyline). So I was really interested to see where this one would fall in the line-up for me. I think this one was in between for me, not quite as good as The Scorpio Races or Lament, but I liked it better than Shiver.

This book gets right into the storyline from the start, and you’re instantly pulled in. I could stop reading it because I was so immersed. The characters were great, and I loved Blue! She was very intelligent, confident, and witty. I’m so glad she wasn’t a typical “plain jane”, she took things as they were and did what she needed to do, and didn’t have time for being shy or dealing with any nonsense. And I loved how quirky and delightfully odd the little family of psychics were! The writing was gorgeous as usual. It had the lyrical and magical quality that is always present in Stiefvater’s writing, it didn’t feel choppy or forced. And the visuals were beautifully crafted and wonderfully vivid.

The main thing I had some issues with in this book was how at times, it seemed like things moved on really fast and there was so much going on that it became a bit confusing. The other issue was with the characters, I thought they were all developed very well but they came off as older than high school age (and that kind of pulled me out of the story slightly when I’d remember it). Now I know teens can be really mature and can be seen as adults, but I think if they had show something that made their age more apparent it would have made it a bit more realistic.

Overall the story was unique, interesting, and full of fascinating characters. I’ll definitely be continuing on with the rest of the series to see where it goes. If you like mystery, paranormal, and a bit of romance; I would recommend giving this one a try :)

4 Stars!

ARC Review: Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff

Title: Stormdancer (The Lotus War #1)
Author: Jay Kristoff
Publication Date: September 18th, 2012
Genre: YA Fantasy - Steampunk

"A DYING LAND The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUESTThe hunters of Shima’s imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger—a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.
A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRLYukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire." ~See it on Goodreads

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Have you ever read a book that was so amazingly wonderful that it just left you at a loss for words?? Well Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff did that to me. If you haven’t heard of it I suggest that you look it up immediately and add it to your TBR lists! And if you’ve already got it on your TBR lists DO NOT hesitate to buy this one, you won’t regret it by any means!

It’s no secret that I adore Fantasy, whether it’s YA Fantasy, Urban/Modern Fantasy, or High/Epic Fantasy, I love it all. And I’ve become slightly obsessed with Steampunk, it’s such a unique concept to me and I honestly just can’t get enough of it. Stormdancer combines the two so it was a no brainer for me to decide to read it. I was utterly and completely enthralled by the characters, the world-building, and the just story itself. And speaking of the world-building, can you say A-Freaking-Mazing!! I’m such a sucker for a beautifully crafted world and Kristoff does not disappoint!

As for the characters, they were just perfection. And even though there are a lot of different characters in this book they all have their own distinct and unique personalities. I know sometimes with books that have a lot of characters it can feel like you can’t keep up with them all, or they all start to blend together and become dull and flat throughout the story. When that happens it doesn’t make for the best reading experience because honestly, you’re not going to be very invested in a character when you can’t remember them from one chapter to the next. But I have to say; while I was reading this book I never once felt that way at all. I was able to remember each character because all really stood out and made an impression, so major kudos to the author for that. If I have to pick my favorite character, it’s Buruu hands down!

The writing itself was just gorgeous and lyrical, and you really felt the emotions through every word. I literally couldn’t put his book down and yes, there were quite a few tissues used in the process of reading this. I could honestly just go on and on about this book because it was that amazing. I think it would appeal to so many readers whether you’re a fan of YA Fantasy or not, you just have to give it the chance and you’ll be so glad you did.

This is one of the most unique, beautiful, and brilliantly written books I’ve read. It’s without question the newest addition to my list of absolute favorite books, and I WILL be buying myself a hardcopy of this to have on my shelf so I can re-read as soon as it comes out! This book is just a complete WIN, and if you’re even remotely intrigued by this book, read it. It. Is. A. MUST!

5 Huge Stars!

Review: Kissing Shakespeare by Pamela Mingle

Title: Kissing Shakespeare
Author: Pamela Mingle
Genre: YA - Contemporary

"A romantic time travel story that's ideal for fans of novels by Meg Cabot and Donna Jo Napoli--and, of course, Shakespeare.
Miranda has Shakespeare in her blood: she hopes one day to become a Shakespearean actor like her famous parents. At least, she does until her disastrous performance in her school's staging of The Taming of the Shrew. Humiliated, Miranda skips the opening-night party. All she wants to do is hide.

Fellow cast member, Stephen Langford, has other plans for Miranda. When he steps out of the backstage shadows and asks if she'd like to meetShakespeare, Miranda thinks he's a total nutcase. But before she can object, Stephen whisks her back to 16th century England—the world Stephen's really from. He wants Miranda to use her acting talents and modern-day charms on the young Will Shakespeare. Without her help, Stephen claims, the world will lost its greatest playwright.

Miranda isn't convinced she's the girl for the job. Why would Shakespeare care about her? And just who is this infuriating time traveler, Stephen Langford? Reluctantly, she agrees to help, knowing that it's her only chance of getting back to the present and her "real" life. What Miranda doesn't bargain for is finding true love . . . with no acting required." ~See it on Goodreads

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It’s no secret that I’m a huge Shakespeare fan, so of course when I came across this book I was immediately intrigued. The premise sounded promising and between that and the cover I was really looking forward to starting it. But sadly this book just didn’t make the cut for me at all. 

I always hate when I read a book and just really don’t like anything about it, I hate writing negative reviews *sad face* I was actually kind of putting off writing my review for this book because of that. But I always want to give my honest opinion so if that means having to write the occasional negative review, then unfortunately that’s what has to happen.

I really couldn’t form any kind of connection with the main character, Miranda. You don’t get to know her or find out what makes her tick because there’s no history/backstory for her character, like at all. I’m one of those people that just loves a really well crafted character, and a characters backstory and development are two major things that allow you to make a connection with them. So the fact that the characterization in this book was non-existent was really disappointing to me. You’re just kind of thrust into the story and there’s a lot of action from the start but not really any explanation for it. I also had quite a few unanswered questions due to sketchy areas in the plot, like the fact that Stephen (weirdo guy) was obviously quite strange but no one seemed to notice it (which is kind of unrealistic because who soesn’t notice things like that?? especially if the person is new there). And there were just sometimes where I was just plain confused.

One of the things that bothered me the most would be how Miranda is pretty much forced into this crazy scheme to try and seduce Shakespeare and she just lets herself be bullied into doing it by the guy who basically abducted her.. (really?!) the next big problem I had was the fact that the main romantic focus is on the relationship between Miranda and Stephen (the afore mentioned weirdo guy that abducts Miranda). From reading the synopsis and judging by the title I was under the impression that the romance would involve Shakespeare but apparently that’s not the case and Miranda and Stephen are the romantic couple. But really who in their right mind would date someone who’s treated them the way he treats her?!

The writing itself wasn’t really the best and the dialogue between the characters started to come off as slightly corny and was too predictable. It just lacked that certain spark that I was hoping for and itjust wasn’t what I was expecting. Maybe my expectations were too high? But to be honest I don’t think expecting Shakespeare to be at least a main component in the story was expecting too much, I mean the book has his name in the title.. But anyways… I don’t mean for this review to come off as ranty and I’ve tried to give my honest opinions of the book and my reasoning for them. And I don’t by any means want to keep anyone from reading this book if you think you’d like it, just because it didn’t work for me doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.

Thanks to Netgalley and Delacorte for providing a digital e-ARC for review. 

1 Star