The Nightmare Garden - Caitlin Kittredge

Title: The Nightmare Garden
Author: Caitlin Kittredge
Pages: 417
Genre: Young Adult|Steampunk|Fantasy (eARC provided by NetGalley/Delacorte)
Publication Date: 2/14/2012
Rating: ****

Everything Aoife thought she knew about the world was a lie. There is no Necrovirus. And Aoife isn't going to succumb to madness because of a latent strain—she will lose her faculties because she is allergic to iron. Aoife isn't human. She is a changeling—half human and half from the land of Thorn. And time is running out for her.

When Aoife destroyed the Lovecraft engine she released the monsters from the Thorn Lands into the Iron Lands and now she must find a way to seal the gates and reverse the destruction she's ravaged on the world that's about to poison her.

*May Contain Spoilers from The Iron Thorn*

The Nightmare Garden picks up where The Iron Thorn left off, after Aoife destroyed the engine of Lovecraft. Aoife now knows that she is half fae and that the madness that overtook her mother was not the necrovirus, but iron poisoning. By destroying the engine, she has broken the gates of the Thorn lands and now is set out to fix them -- to keep the creatures of Thorn away.

I really love the world created by Ms. Kittredge. I feel like it is unique and original and so vividly described. The supernatural elements mixed in with the steampunk setting is fantastic.

I really enjoyed reading this one and I feel like it did not lack the adventure the first one had. The only real issue I had was with Aoife. While I still feel that she was a great heroine, her attitude nipped at me a bit. She started out so strong and courageous in The Iron Thorn whereas her I feel like she reverted in maturity a bit. While acting brave and mature in the last book, here she acted more of the sixteen year old girl that she was - sassy, rebellious and hard headed. With that said, I think some of it could very well be due to some of the events that occurred throughout the book. In the end, she did redeem herself, so it was incredibly disappointing and I hope her attitude in the end continues in book three, which I am impatiently waiting for.

This one has the same dark, foreboding feel that the first had and I was excited to continue unraveling mysteries and learning more of the Thorn lands, Lovecraft and Aoife. If you enjoyed the first installment, I really think you will love this one too and you will be eagerly awaiting the third.

Firelight - Kristen Callihan

Title: Firelight
Author: Kristen Callihan
Pages: 372
Genre: Historical Fiction|Paranormal Romance
Publication Date: 1/31/2012 (eARC provided by NetGalley/Grand Central Publishing)
Rating: ****

London, 1881
Once the flames are ignited . . .
Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . .
Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

A masked man and a woman with a fiery secret equals mystery, lies, smoky-steamy tension, and an exciting romantic adventure in Firelight.

I must confess that I had a lot of trouble putting this one down. It pulled me in and kept me hooked until the last words. Miranda was a strong, snarky heroine who had no trouble defending herself. Meanwhile, Archer is a mysterious, brooding man behind a mask. Put these two together and it makes for one steamy romance!

There were a couple of predictable things, but I enjoyed this and was hooked nonetheless. I felt that these two had a great chemistry and I liked watching their relationship develop and grow into love. It was a thrilling adventure unlocking their secrets and finding out what Archer really hid behind his mask. The whole time I am wondering, what on earth is going on with this dude?! Tell me NOW! And did I mention, this character is definitely sexy! You can tell what he feels for Miranda is genuine and their relationship didn't feel forced.

One complaint is that I wish we could have seen more of Miranda's fire powers. I thought it was a great aspect and was only a bit disappointed in the lack of its use. Most of focus was found in their relationship (which I knew was coming since it is a romance) and revealing Archer's secret (which I also knew was to be expected). Still, I couldn't put it down except by force.

In the end, it was exciting, fun, gritty, and darkly sexy! I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good, steamy paranormal romance.

Note: I would suggest this for those 18+ for the more steamy scenes

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:

Croak - Gina Damico

Title: Croak
Author: Gina Damico
Pages: 311
Genre: Young Adult|Paranormal
Publication Date: 3/20/2012 (eARC provided by NetGalley/Houghton Mifflin
Harcourt)
Rating: ***

Sixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby has sucker-punched her last classmate. Fed up with her punkish, wild behavior, her parents ship her off to upstate New York to live with her Uncle Mort for the summer, hoping that a few months of dirty farm work will whip her back into shape. But Uncle Mort’s true occupation is much dirtier than that of shoveling manure.

He’s a Grim Reaper. And he’s going to teach her the family business.

Lex quickly assimilates into the peculiar world of Croak, a town populated entirely by reapers who deliver souls from this life to the next. Along with her infuriating yet intriguing partner Driggs and a rockstar crew of fellow Grim apprentices, Lex is soon zapping her Targets like a natural born Killer.

Yet her innate ability morphs into an unchecked desire for justice—or is it vengeance?—whenever she’s forced to Kill a murder victim, craving to stop the attackers before they can strike again. So when people start to die—that is, people who aren’t supposed to be dying, people who have committed grievous crimes against the innocent—Lex’s curiosity is piqued. Her obsession grows as the bodies pile up, and a troubling question begins to swirl through her mind: if she succeeds in tracking down the murderer, will she stop the carnage—or will she ditch Croak and join in?

Lexington 'Lex' Bartleby is a sixteen year old trouble maker. To get her to change her ways, they send her off to her Uncle Mort's for the summer. Lex's Uncle Mort lives in upstate New York -- on a farm. She is absolutely dreading the trip and the idea of working on a farm. This is, of course, until she discovers what her Uncle Mort really does. He is a Grim Reaper.

This wasn't too bad. A lot of things were a bit predictable but some things were unexpected.

I think it started off pretty well. It was laugh-out-loud funny and I loved the idea of this one. However, Lex truly is a ticking time bomb. She has a horrible temper and attitude (even if her sarcasm is hilarious) and she seemingly has no reason for it. At times I found myself thinking - is that really even necessary!?

Overall the characters were decent. They weren't perfect by any means but they weren't all out horrible either. I liked Uncle Mort and Driggs, who were also pretty funny.

It did end with a big fat cliffhanger as to set you up for the next in the series. With this series, I could take it or leave it. I am sort of on the fence about because I really do want to know how things turn out, but at the same time I'm not so sure since I found myself getting distracted from it easily.

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.

Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick

Title: Hush, Hush
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Pages: 391
Genre: Young Adult| Paranormal
Publication Date: 10/13/2009
Rating: ****

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along.
With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Okay, so this one has been sitting on my shelf since last year -- why did I put off reading it for so long exactly? I should have picked this one up sooner!

Kind of predictable? Sure. Did I enjoy it any less because of it? Nope! Am I totally crushing on Patch? You betcha. This was definitely a guilty pleasure read, and I ate it up in one sitting. When I first started reading this, I thought, 'Great. This is basically going to be like Fallen'. To my surprise however, it turned out to be much better.

Nora was a pretty likeable character. She was brainy and had her little quirks, but overall wasn't overly annoying the way some characters can be -- and thank goodness she didn't end up totally in love and making out with Patch by chapter two.

There were great mysteries to unravel about Patch -- and surprisingly about Nora as well, which made it even more of a page turner. It's one of those things where you know, but you don't know, so you have to keep your eyes glued and those pages turning so you can get it all pieced together.

So, while being typical in some areas, it was still very much enjoyable for me and if, like myself, you have put it off or haven't picked it up yet, I would say to definitely grab this one. I can't wait to get a hold of the next in the series, Crescendo.

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.

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!

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:

Bad Taste in Boys - Carrie Harris

Title: Bad Taste in Boys
Author: Carrie Harris
Pages: 201
Genre: Young Adult/Urban Fantasy
Publication Date: 7/12/2011

Someone's been a very bad zombie.

Kate Grable is horrified to find out that the football coach has given the team steroids. Worse yet, the steroids are having an unexpected effect, turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless flesh-eating zombies. No one is safe--not her cute crush Aaron, not her dorky brother, Jonah . . . not even Kate!

She's got to find an antidote--before her entire high school ends up eating each other. So Kate, her best girlfriend, Rocky, and Aaron stage a frantic battle to save their town. . . and stay hormonally human

Geeky girl. Crush-able guy. High school.

and... Zombies.

This was a fun, light read. At 201 pages, I finished it in one sitting. With all the dystopians with more serious tones (which I love) this was a nice change of pace for me. Kate is our main character in Bad Taste in Boys. She is an intelligent, quirky girl just trying to make through high school when something goes horribly wrong with the high school football team. The football players have managed to turn into zombies and now Kate has to figure out how to stop them.

There were quite a few moments when I laughed out loud. Even some of the more "gross" parts were funny. The good news is there isn't really a cliffhanger ending, which with all the series/trilogies I have started lately, is a pretty nice change.

Some parts were predictable and some parts caught me by surprise, but it was enjoyable. I look forward to the next book in the Kate Grable series.

What I give this book:

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side - Beth Fantaskey

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
Beth Fantaskey
351 pages

The undead can really screw up your senior year ...

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.

Jessica Packwood is starting her senior year when she meets Lucius Vladescu, the Romanian vampire prince - and lo and behold, she is the long lost Romanian vampire princess, his fiancee. What a way to start off senior year!

I seriously loved reading this! You have Jessica, math whiz, believer in anything that can be considered rational, solved, and logical. It took A LOT of convincing her to even believe that vampires existed, so there was struggle #1. She was a quirky, quick-witted girl. You can imagine how she would react to learning she is supposed to be a vampire princess.

Lucius was way awesome too! He had the whole dark, dangerous, brooding thing down, but he had such a great sense of humor! I loved when he would write letters to his uncle describing his stay at the Packwoods'. He has an interesting take on Americans and their way of living. Even though he is a vampire teenager too, being brought up in a royal (and vampiric) setting, he has developed different mannerisms and etiquette, so when he was being snarky, it was quite entertaining.

The second Jessica book, Jessica Rule the Dark Side is expected some time early next year!

I recommend this most definitely! It is filled with great humor, a roller-coaster romance, and of course, VAMPIRES! This is not your typical Twilight book. For those wanting a good non-sparkly vampire novel, Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side is for you...


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 Summoning - Kelley Armstrong

The Summoning
Kelley Armstrong
390 pages
After years of frequent moves following her mother’s death, Chloe Saunders’s life is finally settling down. She is attending art school, pursuing her dreams of becoming a director, making friends, meeting boys. Her biggest concern is that she’s not developing as fast as her friends are. But when puberty does hit, it brings more than hormone surges. Chloe starts seeing ghosts–everywhere, demanding her attention. After she suffers a breakdown, her devoted aunt Lauren gets her into a highly recommended group home.

At first, Lyle House seems a pretty okay place, except for Chloe’s small problem of fearing she might be facing a lifetime of mental illness. But as she gradually gets to know the other kids at the home–charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a “thing” for fire–Chloe begins to realize that there is something that binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual “problem kid” behaviour. And together they discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home either…

Chloe Saunders is a fifteen year old art school student with the normal trials and tribulations of a teenager, except that her father is always away on business and her mother is deceased. That all changes the day she sees the ghost at her school. This gets her sent to the Lyle House - a place for troubled teens. She soon discovers that they have something in common and that she is not just stuck in a house full of crazy teens.

Most of the book I thought it was about a 3/5, but the last bit of the book had me going! It was an easy read - had it finished after one sitting, but still enjoyable. I really did like it, but this earned itself a rating of four after it truly picked up. I was shocked, surprised, and had a bit of whoa-this-is-crazy thoughts going on.

I don't want to say too much and give away the good stuff, so I am stopping here. I recommend this and I think you will enjoy it too. It does have a huge cliffhanger ending and and I'm excited to get he next book, The Awakening.


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:

Hex Hall - Rachel Hawkins

Hex Hall
Rachel Hawkins
323 pages

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

Sophie was a great character. I laughed quite a bit while reading this. I liked it a lot better than I thought I would and honestly had a hard time putting it down. This book was filled with a lot of humor, serious moments, twists, turns, and a lot of other great characters, like Jenna - Hex Hall's only vampire student. You had witches, werewolves, shapeshifters, and fae.

Sophie is sent to Hecate Hall after a love spell gone wrong. Hecate aka Hex Hall is pretty much a reformatory school for Prodigium (magical people). It doesn't take her long to have things go wrong for her - Elodie, Anna, and Chaston, three powerful dark witches now consider her enemy number one and make her a subject of ridicule. She becomes friends/roommates with the biggest outcast of the school, develops an enormous crush on the hottest boy in school, among other things. And to top it all off, there is the mystery in the school of who is attacking fellow students.

I was really impressed with this and look forward to reading the next in the series, Demonglass. I would most certainly recommend this to others and I think you will thoroughly enjoy this as well. At first it seems like it may be one of those silly school girl witch stories, but it really is so much better than that

The only complaint I have is the way it ended abruptly, so that being said...

What I give this book:

Abandon - Meg Cabot

Abandon
Meg Cabot
304 pages

New from #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, a dark, fantastical story about this world . . . and the underworld.

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

In the end, I was really disappointed with this one. I had wanted to get for some time, was in love with the cover and the whole idea of this story, but unfortunately it just kind of fell out to me. I have read other books by Meg Cabot and loved them. I loved the Princess Diaries in middle school and I loved Insatiable.

I tried to like this one, but honestly, it was kind of confusing. It would start out with either the past or present and sometimes abruptly jump to the other and then back again. It felt jumbled - rushed and forced in some places and then slow in others. In this sense, it wasn't consistent.



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:

Glass Houses - Rachel Caine

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.

I can't believe I am just now reading this series. Why did it take so long to let the awesomness of the Morganville Vampires escape me?!

Claire Danvers is a sixteen-year-old college freshman. Yes, young, but she is incredibly smart and gifted. She is a little quirky and a very cute character. I think she does well for her age. When she goes to Morganville for college, all she wants is to study, get good grades, and prepare for a better college. Little does she know that in Morganville she is going to find nothing but trouble and an enormous secret about the town: that Morganville is run by vampires.

I really enjoyed this. It was a light read (for me) even if it had some darker moments when the plot thickened. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, which is The Dead Girls' Dance.


What I give this book: