If I Stay - Gayle Forman

Title: If I Stay
Author: Gayle Forman
Pages: 199
Genre: Young Adult|Contemporary
Publication Date: 4/9/2009
Rating: *****

In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen year- old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...

A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make -and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

I have never read something so emotional in so few pages. While a quick read, it was a difficult one because it is so heart wrenching. There were several times throughout reading this that I found myself with tears in my eyes and the feeling of my heart breaking. This is such a poignant read that it will grip you by the heart and drag you in, leaving you with no other choice but to devour it.

I thought I knew what to expect going in and I have heard a lot of readers gushing about it but I really had no idea that it would be this good. Could you imagine being in such a tragic situation while you are only an outsider, a witness to all that is going on around you while you can do nothing but think and reflect? There were some incredibly painful moments to read but I couldn't tear myself away from it.

If I Stay has such an intense emotional impact that it will leave you breathless and linger in your mind well after you have finished it. It contains so many emotions - helplessness, despair, unimaginable pain, yet it is surrounded by happiness and so much love you can feel every bit of it. The characters are realistic and you will find yourself hurting for them, laughing with them, and above all, wanting to reach out to them in their darkest moments.

This is one that I feel is unforgettable. I am eager to get my hands on the sequel, Where She Went. I highly recommend this one and I urge you to get a copy ASAP, buy, borrow, what have you, it's a must read!

Born Wicked - Jessica Spotswood

Title: Born Wicked
Author: Jessica Spotswood
Pages: 326
Genre: Young Adult|Paranormal|Historical
Publication Date: 2/7/2012
Rating: *****

"Blessed with a gift..."cursed" with a secret."
Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship - or an early grave. Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra. If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood - not even from each other.

I would like just a moment to totally gush over the cover of this book! It is so gorgeous!

Having just finished Born Wicked, I'm not sure how I will make it until I find out what happens in the next books! This was written wonderfully, being set in the late 20th century in an alternate New England. It has the historical aspect, witches, forbidden love, secrets, mystery, danger, excitement!

Cate Cahill and her sisters, Maura and Tess, are witches -- a dangerous secret that must be kept, otherwise could result in being sent to a prison or asylum by the Brotherhood. After their mothers' death, Cate is left responsible for her younger sisters and it is up to her to care for them and to keep what they are a secret. Things really begin to unfold when Cate learns of a prophecy, one that will change their lives forever. With Cate's seventeenth birthday quickly approaching, meaning she will have to announce an engagement for marriage or an oath to the sisterhood, she is running out of time to put together the pieces of the puzzle.

Most of this one was exciting and I loved unlocking the secrets of the Cahill sisters and their little town. Some of it was a tad slow, but it didn't discourage me from reading on. The Brotherhood gave me the creeps a little, their rules and governing gave it almost a *slight* dystopian feel, though this is not a dystopian novel. While their is the wonderful forbidden love, it is not the center point of the story. I think it focused more on Cate and her sisters than it did with her relationships with Finn and her childhood friend, Paul (not that I would have minded a little more Finn!). I do, however, wish there was just a little more magic and witchery, though I can understand since the point was that it was supposed to a closely kept secret.

I feel that Cate was a great character. Some might view her as hard or harsh, but given the position she was put in to, I felt that she was strong and brave. In the end, no matter what her decisions were or what choices she was having to make, she did everything with her sisters in mind. Protecting them is what mattered the most to her and to me that makes her incredibly selfless. Whether she was dealing with the fiery Maura or sweet Tess, she did what she did to keep them safe.

Finn. Wow! I have been developing some major fictional crushes as of late! So let's go right on ahead and add Finn Belastra to that list.

And for your viewing pleasure, here is the book trailer:

A Million Suns - Beth Revis

Title: A Million Suns
Author: Beth Revis
Pages: 386
Genre: Young Adult|Science Fiction|Dystopia
Publication Date: 1/10/2012
Rating: *****

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.
It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies. But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart. In book two of the Across the Universe trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis mesmerizes us again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship.

So you know how most second books tend to be fillers or mediocre compared to the great start of a first in a series? This is SO not the case here! A Million Suns was such a great read, I'm still in shock from everything my brain has just absorbed. The Across the Universe series just keeps getting better and I honestly don't know what I am going to do while I'm waiting for the last book to be released (mind you it's going to be almost a year!). Ultimately, this was an amazing follow-up to Across the Universe.

A Million Suns takes place three months after the end of the first book. We still have many, many more secrets, lies and mysteries to unravel aboard Godspeed. This book had me on the edge my seat, squirming about in nervousness and I think my eyes my have been bulging just a bit at some points. I know there were times I even gasped aloud in surprise/shock.

Yeah, it was that good.

If you enjoyed Across the Universe, you will definitely enjoy this. I feel like I can't rave enough about this trilogy and the last book is even close to being out yet (unfortunately). So, with that said -- go get this now!!

Everneath - Brodi Ashton

Title: Everneath (Everneath, #1)
Author: Brodi Ashton
Pages: 370
Genre: Young Adult| Mythology
Publication Date: 1/24/2012
Rating: *****

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

This turned out to be a bit different than expected, but not in a bad way. After being so incredibly disappointed with Abandon [review], I was a bit hesitant about trying another retelling of Persephone, which as it turned out, was closer to the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.

Throughout the story, I felt so bad for Nikki. She was in so much pain knowing that seeing the people she loved was only temporary, for soon she would be taken back to the Everneath. It felt like she was this hollow shell of a person who so desperately just wanted to be with those that she loved, but knew that there was nothing she could to change it. Nikki desperately wanted to be with Jack, her former boyfriend, but didn't want to put him through the pain of losing her again. Unfortunately, there is Cole, who is always lingering over her like an ominous dark cloud.

Now, don't be mistaken and think this is another YA novel focused on some sappy love triangle -- it is not. I know Jenny will be disappointed, but I really did like Jack and totally rooted for him over Cole. I couldn't imagine loving someone and then the person disappearing and having no idea what happened to them other than rumors. don't get me wrong, I did kind of like Cole and had a soft spot in my heart for him. I spent most of the book having a strong distrust for him. I know he cared about Nikki but there was something I couldn't quite put my finger on with him.

I really thought that Everneath picked up when she started trying to dig deeper into things, to find out what she wasn't being told. I'm not going into too much here because I don't want to give too much away.

One thing I was not expecting though was to be brought to tears. That is exactly what it ended up doing. I'm still here, even writing this, thinking about it and I'm just so in shock. It was the kind of tears that are caused by not just pain, but a mixture of that and feeling so overwhelmed by that kind of love and dedication to a person.

So, with all of that said, I definitely enjoyed Everneath and the emotions it evoked, even if they weren't always happy ones. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys mythology retellings or just stories of love. I don't know how well I'm going to hold out waiting for the next book.

Oh and can I say -- look at that gorgeous cover!

Across the Universe - Beth Revis

Title: Across the Universe
Author Beth Revis
Pages: 398
Genre: Young Adult|Science Fiction|Dystopia
Publication Date: 1/1/11
Rating: *****

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone - one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship - tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now, Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

WOW! I seriously could not put this book down (unless it was absolutely necessary). This was way different than a lot of the things I have read and I am dying over here to buy A Million Suns, the next in the trilogy.

There are so many lies, secrets, and unexpected twists and turns, it keeps you hooked! Across the Universe is told from the perspectives of Amy and Elder. Amy and her parents are cryogenically frozen aboard Godspeed, the ship that is taking select people to a new planet to live. Elder has known nothing but life on Godspeed. When Amy is unfrozen too soon, mysteries and secrets begin to unravel as both of them discover that perhaps what they knew as the truth isn't the truth at all.

I am amazed at the world that was created by Ms. Revis and I'm still going over in my mind all the things I learned about the workings of the inhabitants of Godspeed and wondering about all the truths left to discover. While the cover insinuates a lot of romance, there isn't as much as you would think. However, this was not disappointing for me as there was still loads of things to keep me intrigued and glued to the pages. I loved the whole concept of this one and it did not disappoint in any way I can think of, for me at least.

I highly recommend reading this one!! The only disappointing thing for me is that I put off reading it for so long.

Anna Dressed in Blood - Kendare Blake

Title: Anna Dressed in Blood
Author: Kendare Blake
Pages: 316
Genre: Young Adult|Paranormal|Horror
Publication Date: 8/30/2011
Rating: *****

Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story. . .

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

Wow! This book was amazing! As in: captivating, awesome main character, will scare your pants off, can't put it down amazing!

Theseus 'Cas' Lowood is a ghost killer. Not your Casper type ghosts -- the ones that make you fear for your life. These are the ghosts that kill and it's Cas's job to get rid of them... until he meets Anna - Anna Dressed in Blood.

Again, wow! That was quite the ride! I really had a hard time putting this one down and even now I'm still reeling from the adventure. Ms. Blake's descriptions of death, gore and all things ghostly had me hooked. I loved Cas's voice and reading from his POV.

I thought I was starting to learn my lesson with the whole ghost/paranormal/spook factor, but I have gone and done it again. Yeah, good luck me getting to sleep with vivid images of blood and icky spooks! I would recommend this to older teens and adults because bits can be pretty graphic for younger readers and there is some strong language.

I don't even want to say too much because to me Anna Dressed in Blood is just one of those you have to read for yourself. Don't let this one slip by you! Go get it NOW!

The Name of the Star - Maureen Johnson

Title: The Name of the Star
Author: Maureen Johnson
Pages: 372
Genre: Young Adult|Paranormal
Publication Date: 9/29/2011
Rating: *****

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

A book about a killer mirroring Jack the Ripper? Heck yeah! Paranormal twist? Even better! I can say that I really enjoyed reading this one - some moments I would be laughing, other times sitting with eyebrows knit together, and of course other times I would be looking around the room in a frenzied paranoia, worried that for some unfathomable reason, a Jack the Ripper knock off was prancing about my house somewhere ready to strike at any moments notice (and of course, I HAVE to wonder, why do I do this? I have this same problem with horror films, which are of course way worse in my opinion. Yet, I still subject myself to their horrendous plots and crazy creatures). Note: I also caused myself to bubble up a little paranoia with The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting. I also tortured myself with Unsolved Mysteries on television as a kid. At night. In the dark. So with my rambling about my weird relationship with things involving mystery/horror/spooks out of the way...

I really liked how Rory was different from most of the heroines we meet. She wasn't anything grand, but I wouldn't say she was boring either, she was just normal. Rory is now at Wexford, a boarding school in London, coming all the way from Louisiana. She is spending her senior year there when soon, someone starts to copy the murders of Jack the Ripper.

This wasn't rushed, yet is wasn't painfully slow either. It was set a pretty decent pace. There wasn't a huge love triangle or conflict with other students, which frankly is a great change. It really focused on what was going on with the murders and finding out who was behind them. Oh, and about that...

Ms. Johnson did an excellent job in writing about the Ripper and his murders. She described enough that it was chilling but not in a blood and guts and wow that's really gross kind of way. I think she did a fantastic job in writing The Name of the Star. This is the first novel I have read by her, and am interested in more. I really can't wait until the next one comes out (I noticed this is a series, which makes me pretty excited, although I am going to have to wait until the end of September for the second book in the series, which is NOT exciting).

So, if you are looking for an awesome, edge-of-your-seat, thriller/mystery with a dash of paranormal, grab this book. ASAP. I don't think you will be disappointed!

Anna and the French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins

Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Pages: 372
Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary
Publication Date: 12/2/2010
Rating: *****

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

How have I not read this already?!

I have read so many spectacular reviews for Anna and the French Kiss and yet for some reason kept putting it off. All I can say is I only wish I had picked it up sooner!

Anna Oliphant is a senior who is being shipped off to boarding school in Paris by her father - and she hates it. She only wants to be in Atlanta with her friends, her brother, and her crush (who she had a one time kiss with), Toph. Fortunately, while there she manages to make some pretty great friends - one of which is Etienne St. Clair.

Etienne was great. He was perfect, yet flawed and it worked so well. Don't be surprised if you end up developing a fictional crush on Etienne St. Clair! It was wonderful how their friendship developed at a slow pace and their conversations seemed realistic. It wasn't all gushing over one another, rather they had real conversations about their life, great moments of joking around, and just simply enjoying being in the company of one another.

It was great to see how Anna's friends were able to help bring her out of her fearful, shy-girl shell and into a girl who was more confident and outgoing. Everything about the relationships she had with her friends seemed natural and real, from their fun times to their conflicts.

Oh and I totally want to go to Paris now, by the way. As if the scenery described isn't enough - the food! I swear while reading the bits about the food, my stomach grumbled a little. I loved the descriptions of Paris, the area, the landmarks, did I mention the delicious sounding food?

I really and truly enjoyed reading this novel. I would catch myself laughing out loud at times and then holding my breath during other moments. If you are looking for a feel good book, this is it. This is my first novel by Stephanie Perkins, and it won't be the last. I'm definitely looking forward to reading Lola and the Boy Next Door.

The Iron Thorn - Caitlin Kittredge

Title: The Iron Thorn
Author: Caitlin Kittredge
Pages: 493
Genre: Steampunk/Young Adult
Publication Date: 2/22/2011

In the city of Lovecraft, the Proctors rule and a great Engine turns below the streets, grinding any resistance to their order to dust. The necrovirus is blamed for Lovecraft's epidemic of madness, for the strange and eldritch creatures that roam the streets after dark, and for everything that the city leaders deem Heretical—born of the belief in magic and witchcraft. And for Aoife Grayson, her time is growing shorter by the day.

Aoife Grayson's family is unique, in the worst way—every one of them, including her mother and her elder brother Conrad, has gone mad on their 16th birthday. And now, a ward of the state, and one of the only female students at the School of Engines, she is trying to pretend that her fate can be different.

Before I go on with the review I would just like to say that the main character's name is pronounced EE-fah. I had to look it up after a few pages because I knew without a doubt that I was pronouncing it wrong, so I figured I would save you the trouble. I had started out with something that sounded more like Oy-f.

This was my first venture into the steampunk world (and yet it still mixes in a little dystopia) and I have to say that I was quite impressed. At almost 500 pages long (hardback version), it was quite a long read, but well worth the time put into it. The Iron Thorn has an intricate plot, filled with mystery, secrets, and lies.

Aoife is fifteen years old and is dreading each day that brings her closer to her sixteenth birthday - the day she will surely go mad, the same as her brother and mother before her. Until she starts receiving mysterious letters from her brother that is. Aoife soon discovers that her whole world may not be as it seems.

There was so many twists and turns, background information, new information to take in, that it was like I was living in a different world while I was reading this and I loved every bit of it. Ms. Kittredge paints such a vivid world - from Lovecraft to Arkham - that it is easy to lose yourself in it. There was a lot to discover about Aoife and her friends Cal and Dean that it would have you hanging at the edge of your seat just waiting to see what on earth could possibly happen next. I am not giving away any secrets because I would have never have guessed the truth that was in the pages of The Iron Thorn.

The second in this series, The Nightmare Garden is to be published in February 2012. So here I am, yet again, waiting for 2012 to get here and give me my sequels!

What I give this book:

Unearthly - Cynthia Hand

Title: Unearthly
Author: Cynthia Hand
Pages: 435
Genre: Young Adult/Paranormal
Publication Date: 1/4/2011

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart. (Goodreads)

This turned out a lot different than I expected but in a good way.

I was skeptical about another angel book after the Fallen books (which I liked, but I want my answers!!) and my failed attempts at starting Hush, Hush (which I will read eventually). I was quite impressed by Unearthly. Clara is a great character. She is part angel, but doesn't always act like one. In fact, in a lot of ways she actually acts her age, which is nice for a change. A lot of characters act older or younger than what you would expect.


I genuinely enjoyed reading this - and I don't think you will be disappointed in the romance department. I'm not going to say too much on that. ;)

Honestly, this one went a lot differently than I had expected. Some plots are so see through that it takes the fun out of reading, but this one wasn't too bad. Some parts were predictable but for the most part I wasn't sure what to expect. I can't wait until Hallowed comes out. It is expected to be released in Jan. 2012.


What I give this book:

Divergent - Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Pages: 496
Genre: Young Adult/Dystopian
Publication Date: 5/3/2011

Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. To the surprise of herself and her selfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place in mortal danger. Veronica Roth's young adult Divergent trilogy launches with a captivating adventure about love and loyalty playing out under most extreme circumstances. (Goodreads)

Tris lives in Chicago - but not the one we are familiar with. It is now split into the five factions: Candor (honesty), Abnegation (selflessness), Dauntless (bravery), Amity (peacefulness), and Erudite (intelligence). On their sixteenth birthday, the young adults of each of these five factions decide which faction to permanently reside in. Tris makes the choice of Dauntless over her home of Abnegation.

I liked loved reading this one. Tris kicks butt. Four is simply awesome (and a pretty great love interest I might add), not to mention she has some makes some great friends through initiation. A lot of it was reading about the Dauntless ways and seeing Tris and her friends (and yes, even a few enemies) go through their initiation into the faction, but boy, when things went down, they went. Threw me for a loop, I tell you. There were quite a few things I weren't expecting, and obviously a couple of things I did expect.

I am probably going to go mad waiting for the next book to be published. Divergent had me hooked from the first page to the last and I am positive the next one will as well. I think fans of dystopian will really enjoy this one.


What I give this book:

Delirium - Lauren Oliver

Title: Delirium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Pages: 441
Genre: Young Adult/Dystopian
Publication Date: 2/1/2011

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love. (Goodreads)

Lena Haloway is a good girl; she follows all the rules to avoid catching the deliria, she is counting down to the day she gets the procedure to cure her. She is also haunted by her mother's death - a suicide after failed procedures. She has a well laid out plan for her future... until she meets Alex.

Could you imagine living in a world where love is considered a disease and is worse than death? I couldn't. Ms. Oliver has created a world where there are strict rules, regulations, and everything is about avoiding and eradicating love and what happens when a girl who follows the rules religiously finds herself in love. This is a wonderful book and I found myself not being able to peel away from it. I am anxiously waiting for the second book, Pandemonium to be published.


When Lena meets Alex he shows her a world that she discovers may not be as wrong as she was raised to believe and that perhaps her mother might have been onto something when she wouldn't let love go for anything, not even her life. Their relationship is full of emotion and is definitely a ride worth going through. I wanted so bad for them to be together and make it in the end, but of course, there was the ever ominous cliffhanger ending, so I am hoping for the best in the next book.

Alex is wonderful. He is full of secrets, kindness, warmth, and above all: the forbidden emotion, love. Alex, along with her best friend Hana, show Lena what a different world it could really be without being trapped within the borders of the controlling world they live in.

I highly recommend this to fans of dystopian, I don't think you will be disappointed. It is deep, moving, and at some points will have you on the edge of your seat and biting your nails.

What I give this book:

Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

DO NOT READ FURTHER UNLESS YOU HAVE READ THE FIRST TWO IN THE SERIES

Mockingjay
Suzanne Collins
390 pages

Young Katniss Everdeen has survived the dreaded Hunger Games not once, but twice, but even now she can find no relief. In fact, the dangers seem to be escalating: President Snow has declared an all-out war on Katniss, her family, her friends, and all the oppressed people of District 12. The thrill-packed final installment of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy will keep young hearts pounding.

I am really sad that this is the end of The Hunger Games. I have been totally blown away through the whole thing, from the first book to the last. I cried at some point (or multiple) in each of the books. They drew me in emotionally and mentally. I am so excited for the movie I can't stand it!

I was amazed and disappointed with this last book. It was amazing but the Peeta vs. Gale, Gale vs. Peeta (for Katniss's love) was a little disappointing. I know that this is a far cry from a romance novel, but the way it played out, so quickly and with not enough info for my tastes, was disappointing. It wasn't her decision or theirs, but rather there wasn't enough of it for me.


I was definitely caught by surprise at some points and in tears at others. Katniss amazed me throughout the entire series, and while cold and harsh most of the time, you could really see how it was all about taking care of those that she loved and survival. Whether it was her mother or Prim, Peeta or Gale, she did what she had to do for them.

I'm going to leave it at that. I think you should read it for yourself to find out!


What I give this book:

The Iron Daughter - Julie Kagawa

The Iron Daughter
Julie Kagawa
359 pages

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

The Iron Daughter picks up where The Iron King left off. For the review of The Iron King, see here. There is a novella of Ash and Meghan's journey to the Winter Court, A Winter's Passage, though I have not read it yet.

In the first book, we meet Meghan, who discovers she is the half fey daughter of Lord Oberon and that her brother, Ethan, has been kidnapped by the Iron King, who is the head of the iron fey. In The Iron Daughter, we begin with Meghan in the Winter Court after the defeat of the Iron King. Lots of things are about to go down and I do not want to spoil it for any of you.

Sometimes sequels can be really, really bad, but this was excellent! We have our same favorite old characters (and some we don't like so much) and we also meet a few new ones. I love the world of Ms. Kagawa created and I seem to lose myself in the rich detail of the fey world and, naturally, the love between Ash and Meghan (swoon!). I am dying to get a hold of The Iron Queen!


What I give this book:

The Magnolia League - Katie Crouch

The Magnolia League
Katie Crouch
368 pages

After the death of her free-spirited mother, sixteen-year-old Alex Lee must leave her home in northern California to live with her wealthy grandmother in Savannah, Georgia. By birth, Alex is a rightful, if unwilling, member of the Magnolia League, Savannah's long-standing debutante society. She quickly discovers that the Magnolias have made a pact with a legendary hoodoo family, the Buzzards. The Magnolias enjoy youth, beauty and power. But at what price?

As in her popular adult novels, Crouch's poignant and humorous voice shines in this seductively atmospheric story about girls growing up in a magical Southern city. (Goodreads)

When sixteen year old Alex's (short for Alexandria) mother dies in a horrific car accident, she has to leave her home (a hippie commune) in California to live with her grandmother in Savannah, Georgia. Alex is less than happy with her new life in Georgia, but little does she know what life is about to become. Her grandmother, who goes by Miss Lee, is not only a part of, but the head of a long standing society called the Magnolia League and that she is to be a part of this herself even if she doesn't want to be. She also learns that their wealth, power, and youth are from something deep, dark, and with a past as long as the League itself.

I absolutely loved the cover of this book! I thought it was gorgeous and intriguing. I have been wanting to read this for quite some time now and I am glad I was finally able to.

I was surprised by how I was drawn into this so quickly. I loved the world that was created - the southern tradition, everything. Being from the South, I like settings that take place here. Some of the places mentioned, I remembered from being there myself, so it made it easier for me to be drawn in.

Alex is spunky, non-conforming, and although for me she was a little whiny at times, I really liked her. She comes the Georgia with scraggly clothes and dreadlocks - not the least bit acceptable in this debutante world. Still, she was determined to not lose herself or the things she learned from her mother, who was also once apart of this high society. She quickly learns that there are darker elements running the show in Savannah and that everything isn't what it seems to be - even after she learns the truth behind the Magnolia League. She is faced with choices, both simple and incredibly difficult and even some that her life may depend on.

I can say I didn't much care for Hayes or Madison at first, the other two Magnolias her age, but in the end they grew on me a bit. Dexter was a good character as well, funny and someone who genuinely liked Alex when no one else seemed to give her the time of day (and those that did show her attention was only due to the fact that she was the granddaughter of the head of the Magnolias).

I liked Thaddeus a lot. Being the brother of Hayes, I liked that he didn't get himself caught up in the women's affairs in the League and that more than anything he wanted his sister to have a life outside of living to impress and be something more than someone in high society. He wanted her to live. I also loved the relationship between him and Alex. Perhaps a bit predictable, but I still looked forward to the time they spent together.

I will say my only complaint is the abrupt cliffhanger ending. It really sets you up for he next book in the series The White Glove War, which I am eagerly awaiting!


What I give this book:

The Iron King - Julie Kagawa

The Iron King
Julie Kagawa
363 pages

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

I could not put this book down for anything. it was really that good! All kinds of mystical creatures, darkness, humor, forbidden love, adventure, I think this one had it all.

Meghan has just turned sixteen when she discovers the land of Nevernever - the world of the fey and fey creatures. Along with it she also discovers that her father is a powerful fey king and she is half-faerie. After learning that several powerful fey want her, she also discovers that their is a another powerful faerie that wants her that no other faerie can defeat. In her quest she befriends some pretty interesting creatures and people.

I have to say that Grimalkin is one of my favorites! He is witty, snarky and yet loveable. Robbie is another great one - he has a big heart and would do anything to protect Meghan.

Then there is Prince Ash of the Winter fey. Dark, brooding, handsome - what's not to love? I love the chemistry and interactions between Ash and Meghan.

I will probably definitely be talking about this book for a long time and will be impatiently waiting to read the next!

What I give this book:

Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire
Suzanne Collins
391 pages

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark won the annual competition described in Hunger Games, but the aftermath leaves these victors with no sense of triumph. Instead, they have become the poster boys for a rebellion that they never planned to lead. That new, unwanted status puts them in the bull's-eye for merciless revenge by The Capitol. (Goodreads)

DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE FIRST BOOK!

I have just finished Catching Fire (the second in The Hunger Games trilogy)and I feel breathless.

I don't know where to start because I do not even want to remotely give anything away. I loved this just as much as The Hunger Games, if not more! I can't wait to purchase Mockingjay and eat it up too.

Katniss Everdeen, after winning The Hunger Games with Peeta Mellark, has found herself an icon of rebellion after the threat of double suicide with the poison berries in the last Games. This has not pleased those who run the Capitol. There are many changes taking place in her home in District 12, and as she learns, the other districts as well.

They are many twists and turns as the 75th annual Hunger Games is approaching, marking a Quarter Quell, in which makes for a sick twist in the way the Games are played.

I don't want to say much more about the plot because it is so exciting. There were many moments I cried and a few I laughed (mostly Haymitch had something to do with it) but I mostly felt solemn and afraid for the whole lot of them. I had a hard time putting this one down and I feel you will too!

What I give this book:

Wither - Lauren DeStefano

Wither
Lauren DeStefano
358 p.

By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children.

When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can’t bring herself to hate him as much as she’d like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband’s strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape—before her time runs out? (Barnes and Noble)

I have to say that I really enjoyed this one. With all the dystopian novels out there at the moment, this was different.

What has changed in this world is science. While science has largely been seen as progress, in Wither it has taken a deadly turn. Science has failed and now because something went wrong, young men die at twenty-five and young women at twenty. Now how is that for a scary thought? The whole idea of this drew me in and that is why I was initially excited to purchase this novel.

Rhine Ellery is trying to tough it out with her twin brother, Rowan, after the death of their parents. That is, until she is kidnapped and forced to marry like so many other teenage girls. The only thing she can think of is her freedom and being reunited with the brother who has no idea where she is or what happened. Rhine finds her self trapped in a mansion with two other sister wives, Cecily and Jenna. The three of them are now married to Linden and unfortunately also have to spend too much time with their experimental father-in-law Housemaster Vaughn.

I can completely understand Rhine's feelings. I honestly don't know what I would do in her position. Luckily for her she finds true friends in her sister wives and a young man named Gabriel.

Rhine and Gabriel have feelings for each other but it isn't heavily emphasized as much as her plans of freedom. Linden I feel is just as much trapped as the sister wives and the servants. I found myself most of the time feeling lonely and sorry for Linden, even though my head said not my emotions got the best of me.

There were not a tremendous amount of comedic moments and if I have a few wrinkles from deep thought and concentration I won't be surprised. I was moved though and a moment or two almost in tears.

All in all I do hope you give this one a read! I didn't speed through this one, but not because I didn't enjoy it, but because it was a little emotional and the world was so bleak with everyone dying at such a young age. I hope that those who read this enjoy it as much as I have.

What I give this book:

A Certain Slant of Light - Laura Whitcomb

A Certain Slant of Light
Laura Whitcomb
288 p.

In the class of the high school English teacher she has been haunting, Helen feels them: for the first time in 130 years, human eyes are looking at her. They belong to a boy, a boy who has not seemed remarkable until now. And Helen—terrified, but intrigued—is drawn to him. The fact that he is in a body and she is not presents this unlikely couple with their first challenge. But as the lovers struggle to find a way to be together, they begin to discover the secrets of their former lives and of the young people they come to possess.

First, I would like to take the opportunity to thank Jenny at Alternate Readality for this book, which I received through her giveaway.

This book was one of the best that I have read in awhile. Helen has been haunting people for around 130 years, never being seen or heard until one day she is seen by a boy in the class of the teacher she is currently haunting. She soon discovers he is like her and has found a way to take over a body.

Their relationship is challenged completely. First, there is him being in a human body, then her only being a ghost. Once they find a way to be together, it becomes even more complicated due to the families of those they possess being vastly different. It almost has a Romeo and Juliet ghost-style feel to it (which I loved, being a Romeo and Juliet fan). It is romantic, chilling and quite beautiful. I loved everything about this great novel.

On another note, I would not recommend this for young teens/tweens even though it is classified as young adult. These two are actually in their late twenties even though they have the bodies of high schoolers. While there is nothing raunchy, it is very clear what is going on between the two in more of the intimate scenes of this book. I think it would be better suited for those in their late teens and adults.

I feel this is a novel that will linger in your mind for quite some time. It left me breathless and speechless at the end. It was also quite emotional. There were moments I was smiling and others I felt tearful. This will stick with you for awhile and I do hope you will pick this one up when you get a chance!



What I give this book:

Shiver - Maggie Stiefvater

the cold.
Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why.

the heat.
Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace...until now.

the shiver.
For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human—and Grace must fight to keep him—even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future. (Goodreads)

I loved this book! Me, being hopelessly romantic, fell in love with it instantly.

First, I fell in love with the cover. It is simple, but to me, beautiful. I love the simplicity of it.

Grace is a seventeen year old who is pretty much independent. Her parents seem to be consistently and completely wrapped up in themselves and their own whims. When Grace was young, she was bitten by a wolf and then saved by one of them... Sam. Since then, she has been obsessed with the wolves, and more so, with one wold in particular with his yellow eyes. I really liked her character. She seemed to pretty much always have a good head on her shoulders and was loyal and determined to do whatever it took to help Sam.

Sam has been a wold for most of his life. Always human in the spring and summer and always a wolf during the cold months. He too has had an obsession with Grace since she was attacked. He is dark, smart, has unyielding love for Grace, a past, and wants nothing more than a future with Grace, free from his wolf-ness.

The book is told from both the perspective of Grace & Sam. It also tells you the temperature, which is great, the colder it is, the closer to wolf Sam becomes. No matter how cold it gets, he is always struggling to stay human for Grace, to be with her and near her. This is such a wonderful love story and I can't wait to read the next in the series. I also liked how you knew from the beginning what Sam was and that you didn't have to guess. It was different but nonetheless entertaining and gripping. I had trouble putting this one down, simply put.

I highly recommend this and suggest you buy a copy ASAP. I don't think you will be disappointed.

What I give this book: