Cryer's Cross - Lisa McMann

Title: Cryer's Cross
Author: Lisa McMann
Pages: 233
Genre: Young Adult|Paranormal
Publication Date: 2/8/2011
Rating: *

Kendall loves her life in small town Cryer's Cross, Montana, but she also longs for something more. She knows the chances of going to school in New York are small, but she's not the type to give up easily. Even though it will mean leaving Nico, the world's sweetest boyfriend, behind.

But when Cryer's Cross is rocked by unspeakable tragedy, Kendall shoves her dreams aside and focuses on just one goal: help find her missing friends. Even if it means spending time with the one boy she shouldn't get close to... the one boy who makes her question everything she feels for Nico.

Determined to help and to stay true to the boy she's always loved, Kendall keeps up the search--and stumbles upon some frightening local history. She knows she can't stop digging, but Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried...

Kendall lives in the small town of Cryer's Cross, Montana and dreams of going to Juilliard. She lives a relatively normal life - except for her OCD. Things start to change, however, when a young girl goes missing in their small town and then others start to disappear as well.

I had heard pretty good things about this one but I was so incredibly disappointed. I was not a fan of the writing style at all - and don't get me wrong, I have read plenty of good books written in third person, but this was not one of them. I found it to be a bit bland and monotonous.

I also felt like it focused way too much on her OCD. Kendall straightens the desks a certain way and arranges the markers a certain way. She checks her window locks so many times, etc. I understand it was supposed to be a big part of her character/personality or whatnot, but it was distracting me away from the actual story way too much and it was done in such a way that it didn't really make it interesting for me. I think it was just a little too simplistic for my taste.

Another thing, I was not creeped out in the least by this. I have read quite a few that gave me the chills, but sadly this one didn't. I was hoping for a good spook story, so again, it was disappointing.

This is the first book by Ms. McMann that I have read, and I have also heard many great things about the Wake trilogy (I actually own the first book), so I won't give up on the author yet, this particular one though was just not for me. With there being so many great reviews on this one though, I won't discourage you from giving it a go for yourself because you may find that you really like it.

The Iron Witch - Karen Mahoney

Title: The Iron Witch
Author: Karen Mahoney
Pages: 289
Genre: Young Adult|Paranormal
Publication Date: 2/8/2011
Rating: *

Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.

When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

I was really looking forward to this, but could not get into it for anything. I didn't really like Donna or Nav, which I'm sad to say. This one has been on my TBR list since last year but I just couldn't get into it.

I think that this is one that could have been something completely awesome but unfortunately wasn't. I just felt that it was a bit flat and had the potential to be way better than what it was. I can't say that I would recommend it (although I'm sure some will love it) or that I will be buying the next in the series.

The Water Wars - Cameron Stracher

Title: The Water Wars
Author: Cameron Stracher
Pages: 240
Genre: Young Adult/Dystopian
Publication Date: 1/1/2011
Rating: *

Welcome to a future where water is more precious than gold or oil-and worth killing for...

Vera and her brother, Will, live in the shadow of the Great Panic, in a country that has collapsed from environmental catastrophe. Water is hoarded by governments, rivers are dammed, and clouds are sucked from the sky. But then Vera befriends Kai, who seems to have limitless access to fresh water. When Kai suddenly disappears, Vera and Will set off on a dangerous journey in search of him-pursued by pirates, a paramilitary group, and greedy corporations. Timely and eerily familiar, acclaimed author Cameron Stracher makes a stunning YA debut that's impossible to forget.

Honestly, the one star is mostly for the cover. The cover is fantastic! The writing however...

I tried desperately to get into this one and just couldn't. I will be honest and say that I didn't even make it halfway through. I know some really liked it or hated it for one reason or another. For me, I just couldn't get past the writing. It seemed too monotone for me. Not only was it monotonous, but it just felt like this:

"We have no water, spilling water is illegal blah blah... Random filler stuff blah blah... Introduce new blah character...", etc.

That sums up my feelings on this one, but it could still work for some readers. Unfortunately, it just didn't do it for me.

Firelight - Sophie Jordan

Firelight
Sophie Jordan
323 pages

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

Dragons. Forbidden love. Suspense. What isn't there to love? Unfortunately for me, not enough.

Jacinda is a draki, which a dragon descendant. One wrong move and it forces her mother to flee with her and her twin sister. In this new town with no other drakis, she meets Will -- a dragon hunter. It is pretty much love at first sight for them, but seem impossible due to her being a draki and him a hunter of her kind.

I loved the idea of the story. It wasn't that is was that dreadful, I just couldn't read it any more. I got halfway through the book and it mostly consisted of Jacinda whining about going back home or whining about how she wants/needs Will and how she doesn't want/need him. I thought it started off pretty good and I was getting pretty into it but couldn't deal with any more of the whining (sorry for those who love this book!).


What I give this book:

City of Bones - Cassandra Clare

City of Bones
Cassandra Clare
485

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end. (Goodreads)

I was really disappointed with this one. I was excited to read it, but unfortunately couldn't get into it for anything. After about fifty pages in and feeling like it was jumbled, I just couldn't read any more. I feel bad because I know perhaps I should have been more patient with it, but it just wasn't grabbing me - writing style or storyline.



I hope whoever reads this has a better experience than I did.


What I give this book: