ARC Review: Spellcaster by Claudia Gray

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date; March 5th, 2013

When Nadia’s family moves to Captive’s Sound, she instantly realizes there’s more to it than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia senses a dark and powerful magic at work in her new town. Mateo has lived in Captive’s Sound his entire life, trying to dodge the local legend that his family is cursed - and that curse will cause him to believe he’s seeing the future … until it drives him mad. When the strange dreams Mateo has been having of rescuing a beautiful girl—Nadia—from a car accident come true, he knows he’s doomed. 

Despite the forces pulling them apart, Nadia and Mateo must work together to break the chains of his family’s terrible curse, and to prevent a disaster that threatens the lives of everyone around them. Shimmering with magic and mystery, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s new novel is sure to draw fans of the Hex Hall and Caster Chronicles series, and fans of the hit CW TV show The Secret Circle.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I will start this review by saying that although I had Spellcaster on my TBR, I wasn't eagerly awaiting it  like a lot of bloggers I know.  That's not to say I wasn't excited when it came in a random, unexpected package from HarperTeen one day.  You see, although I'm not quite a fangirl of Claudia Gray's (yet), I am slightly familiar with her work, having read her werewolves-on-the-Titanic stand-alone, Fateful, which was very good.  I've never read her wildly popular Evernight series, but I have to say that after reading Spellcaster and Fateful, I'm inclined to pick it up (if I ever get caught up on my review reading).  That statement alone should tell you that I enjoyed Spellcaster; It did have a few problems for me, but overall, I thought it was a great read.  So, without further ado...

I guess I will start with the things I didn't like, which are few.  First off, I feel like HarperTeen let me down with that cover.  I mean, it's okay and it's pretty, but I expect a lot more from them.  The first thing I think of when I think of HarperTeen as a publishing house is that they consistently have the best, most eye-catching covers.  I have more HarperTeen titles on my shelves for the covers alone, than any other publisher, and I've DEFINITELY read a huge number of their titles that I might not have otherwise read, because of the covers.  (Yes.  My name is Karis, and I am a cover whore.)  The next thing on my list of "things that bothered me" was that I felt like the first third of the book was a bit on the predictable side.  There were several things I saw coming a mile away.  That said, after the first wildly unpredictable revelation, they really just kept coming, right up until the end.  And that leads me to my final gripe, which is the ending.  It's a doozie of a cliffhanger, and while I usually enjoy a well-done cliffhanger, I felt like this one was just cruel.  I was left with so many unanswered questions, and really, no answers to speak of.  So there are my "things I needed to bitch about".  Now for the good stuff...

I really enjoyed Claudia's writing style.  She writes in a kind of poetic way.  I usually don't write down quotes, but I found myself doing just that while reading Spellcaster.  My favorite?  "Something else looked through the crow's stolen eyes and recorded it all.  The crow flew on, unknowing, enslaved, and blind."  That line made my skin crawl, and was definitely the one that hooked me. Also, Claudia doesn't dumb things down.  She uses big words and in doing so, makes me feel like she believes her readers to be intelligent.  That makes me happy.  So much YA is written with content for teens and up, but at a 4th grade reading level.  I love it when an author gives her readers some credit.  They DO read books for FUN, for Heaven's sake.  They must be smarter than average, right?  I also loved the way this story flowed.  For the most part, it moved at a pretty even pace that kept me turning pages well into the night. There were a few slow points, but in hindsight, they were necessary.  The buildup really made the big moments stand out.

The characters and the story itself were the highlights of this book for me.  The story was equally character driven and plot driven, so I'll start with the characters.  I really liked Nadia and Mateo, and I loved Verlaine and Elizabeth.  Nadia was interesting because she was so insecure, but so strong-willed at the same time.  It was like she was in constant conflict with herself.  As for Mateo, I found him a bit whiny at first.  "Oh, the curse.  Oh, I'm doomed to go crazy."  Blah, blah.  But it was like, once he found out that the curse was actually a real thing, he manned up, and then I liked him.  Verlaine was headstrong and she made things happen, and I love characters like her.  That girl had a tough life, but she never let her circumstances undermine her.  Elizabeth was just...  Well, read the book, and you'll see.  The story?  Well, it is a witch story, which is my favorite kind of Paranormal. That said, it was very unique (I don't think it is anything like Hex Hall or The Caster Chronicles, both of which I adored, by the way.).  I was really intrigued by the idea of the Steadfast, and I thought it was brilliant that the ingredients for each spell were a series of personal memories.  Witches could only gain strength as they lived life; That was cool.  I also thought the rules of being a witch were interesting, and I am curious to see how they come into play in the next two books.  I'm also quite intrigued with the mystery surrounding Nadia's mother, who is also a witch, and who unexpectedly left her family in the middle of Nadia's training.  There was a lot of foreshadowing going on in reference to her, but no answers at the end.  I predict she will play a huge role in the continuation of this story.

Overall, I thought this was a solid beginning to a trilogy that I am really going to enjoy right up to the end.  I have a lot of unanswered questions right now, and although I find that somewhat bothersome, given my impatient nature, it guarantees that I will read book number two, Steadfast (March, 2014).

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★  

Grade Level Recommendation:  This book was pretty clean.  There was some teen drinking, but other than that, it was pretty mild.  There was very innocent romance, no sex (although it was alluded to at one point), and no language.  I would say this book is fine for grades 6 and up (ages 11+). 

Review: The Diviners by Libba Bray

Publisher:  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication Date:  September 18th, 2012

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-tute-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

Libba Bray has done it again!  I cannot say enough good things about this book!  It's not a huge secret or anything- I adore her!  She has only written one book that I didn't LOVE, and even with that one, I liked it.  (In case you're wondering which book that is, it's Going Bovine, which funny-enough, is the one that won awards...)  I loved her Gemma Doyle trilogy (A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, and The Sweet Far Thing), and Beauty Queens was my 2nd favorite book of 2011.  When I heard Libba had a new Historical/Paranormal series coming out, I was thrilled, but also a bit nervous about whether or not she could top the Gemma Doyle books (they are also Historical/Paranormal).  Well, let me tell you, she has WELL outdone herself, because The Diviners was AMAZING!

First off, the timing of the release of this book was fantastic.  It is such a creepy, nail-biter of a story, that reading it around Halloween is just perfect!  I found myself reading late into the night, jumping at every little noise, and sleeping with the lights on.  I wasn't expecting the creep-factor to be as high as it was, but it did so much for the story.  And the story!  It was so well executed, and so expertly paced, that it never seemed like it was the 592 page monstrosity that it was.  It read as quickly as a book half its length.  The plot was amazing, very original, and one that kept me guessing the entire time.  I still have loads of questions, which ensures that I will be reading the second installment the moment I can get my hands on it.  Honestly, though, the plot wasn't even the best part of this book...

Libba Bray is a very, VERY gifted writer, and her two biggest strengths are world building and character development.  The Diviners was written from more than ten different points of view, and every single one was done extremely well.  Developing that many different characters is hard enough, but to actually manage to write their POVs, without confusing the reader?  Before I read this book, I would have said that it was impossible, but not only did Libba do it, she did it so that I really felt a connection to every one.  There were characters I loved (Evie, Theta, Sam, Memphis), and then here were characters I loved to hate (Naughty John, Bill, The House), but there was not a single character that I didn't have an opinion of, and that is rare for me.  The other thing Libba masterfully accomplished in this book was her depiction of the era and setting.  Just WOW!  She really did her research, capturing the essence of the Harlem Renaissance, the Prohibition Era, and NYC as a living, breathing thing.  I think one of the reasons I as able to read this book so quickly was that I felt like I was dropped into the story; I didn't feel like the reader of a story, but rather a participant, and that feeling had everything to do with Libba's world building.

Overall, I have to say that this is one of my favorite books this year; Libba takes the number two spot again! (Sorry, Libba, but nothing is going to touch David Levithan's beautiful, Every Day. Read my review HERE.)  If you haven't already decided that you need to read The Diviners, let me be the one to tell you that you must! It is pos-i-tute-ly amazing!

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★  

Grade Level Recommendation:  This book is pretty scary, and there are some intensely graphic murders.  Also, there is loads of drinking, as several scenes take place in speakeasies.  No sex to speak of, and really not much language.  I would say this is appropriate for 5th grade and up, as long as the reader isn't too easily spooked, and isn't intimidated by the length of the book. (ages 10+)

** Don't miss my GIVEAWAY of this book as part of the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop!  Click HERE for details!  International.  Ends 11/01/2012 **

ARC Review: Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Publication Date:  July 24th, 2012

The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I finished this book yesterday and am still trying to decide if it's a four-star book or a five-star book.  There were a couple of minor problems for me, but overall, I felt like it was a spectacularly entertaining read, and since that's the reason I read, I am in a bit of a conundrum.  Perhaps I will make up my mind by the time I finish my review...

I guess I'll start with something that I both loved AND hated about this book- the cover.  The cover is stunning!  Once again, I have to hand it to HarperTeen for a gorgeous, eye-catching cover, but here's the thing... The stunning girl on the cover does not reflect the description of Eleanor Fitt, our kick-ass protagonist, AT ALL!  Eleanor is supposed to be somewhat plain and a bit on the chubby side; a girl who can be made to look moderately pretty, with a lot of help.  The girl on the cover is a knockout, and I'm assuming that she is supposed to be Eleanor, given the fact that Eleanor is really the only young female character of consequence in the entire book.

Now that that's out of the way, let's get down to the story... I had read a few early reviews of Something Strange and Deadly, so I knew not expect the standard zombie novel.  Because I had that heads-up, I was able to go into this novel with different expectations, and I wasn't disappointed like I would have been.  In fact, I found this book to be really good, and exceptionally different.  When I say "different", I mean that I can't really classify it into a single genre- I would call it a "Historical Paranormal Mystery Romance", because it really pulls off every one of those elements well. 

It takes place in post-Civil War era Philadelphia, during the Centennial International Exhibition of 1876 (which was the 1st official World's Fair to take place in the United States).  I felt like Susan Dennard really did a nice job with her descriptions of the exhibition and the city itself, as well as the mannerisms, speech, and dress of the people of the era.  I also really enjoyed the characters, and while I wish the author had spent more time developing some of them (Joseph and Jie, in particular), I think she did a great job with the ones she chose to focus on.  Everyone had good and bad qualities, and each character's personality was revealed gradually, as you got to know him/her better.  I find that type of character development very real, and honest.  Eleanor was frustrating at times because she rarely gave much thought before she acted, but she was dedicated and courageous, and I really enjoyed watching her grow as the story progressed.  Clarence was one of my favorite characters, which surprised me as her gradually grew on me.  I found myself rooting for him to end up with Eleanor, even at the times that I wasn't sure I could really trust him.  I think my favorite character was Daniel, though.  He was secretive, brash,  and rather rude at times, but all for good reasons, which come out before the book ends.  As for the plot itself?  Very good.  It was well paced to the point where it never felt like a 400 page novel, and when the end came, I was wanting more.  Because the zombies were such because of a necromancer, and because zombie-ism wasn't infectious like most of the recent zombie-related books I've read, there was an originality to it that was refreshing.  Add to that the fact that there were several other elements of mystery, including that of Elijah, Eleanor's brother, and his disappearance, the fall of the Fitt family business, and the Wilcox family's sudden interest in the Fitt family, and you have a complex and riveting story.  My only problem with the story was that I knew who the villain was before the fact that there WAS a villain had even been established.  Much of the plot was spent of this big reveal at the end, and that kind of fell flat because I knew all along who it was.  Fortunately, the other elements were there to make this book amazing anyway! 

Overall, I think this was a more-than-solid first book for Susan Dennard, and I have a gut feeling that the issues I had with this book will be resolved in the next.  That said, I have to mention that Susan did something that very few authors of series books have competently done; she has written a first-in-series book that could stand alone, which is so refreshing.  Of course, I WILL read the next book in the series, A Darkness Strange and Lovely, but I'm not left frustrated with a horrible gut-wrenching cliffhanger.

So, have I decided if this book gets four stars or five?  Nope.  I guess, it will have to fall in the middle...

My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  This book was pretty clean.  No sex. No major cursing.  There is some graphic violence, but it's pretty tame considering much of the other YA out there.  I would say this is fine for grades 5 and up (ages 10+).

Review: Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Publication Date:  December 27th, 2011

Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She attends pep rallies. She's human.

And then every day in between . . .She's something else entirely.

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism.

When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her and, unfortunately, she'll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive. . .and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

The synopsis above does not do this book justice.  It's accurate, sure, but it's so much more than what it implies.  This story is an entirely different take on the paranormal, and it was quite refreshing.  Lately I've been wary of anything in the paranormal genre because of all the garbage that followed on the heels of Twilight's success, but there are some good ones out there, and this is one of them.

Going into this book, I was not even thinking about it going in the direction that it did, and I was so pleasantly surprised.  I am a science-nerd, and this book spoke to the girl with the Genetics degree.  I can't really say more without major spoilers, but it is great how this story comes together.  This book does not start out slowly, and the pace only quickens as the story progresses; by the final third of the book, you will not want to stop reading for any reason.  House burning down?  Keep reading and hope the fire department arrives before the smoke and fire reach your room.  That seriously would have been me once the secrets started unraveling.  Of course, the story can't really make a book without characters, and the characters in this one are very well drawn.  Kali is a great kick-ass heroine.  Honestly, I wish this book had come out a few months ago, because I think she could have had a real shot at the YA Sisterhood Heroines Tourney.   Another kick-ass character is Skylar.  She was my favorite character of all of them; quirky, sweet, and totally comfortable in her own skin.  Mean girl Bethany was okay after awhile, but she definitely has some growing to do.  Then there's Skylar's never-ending number of brothers... I loved that.  It was  like, "Need a doctor? Good, Skylar's brother's a vet.", "Need a cop. Cool, Skylar's brother's FBI.", "Need a hot boyfriend type to keep bitchy Bethany in line? Lucky for you, Skylar has a brother who already fills that role!".  Hilarious on its own.   I really enjoyed the characters and thought the development of them was great; their flaws and strengths revealed nicely, and at the right times.  As for romance, there's not a whole lot.  There is a boy, Lev, who is like Kali, but the story really doesn't have room for romance, and thankfully, Jennifer Lynn Barnes doesn't try to cram it in to please the Twilight crowd. 

I went into this book thinking that it was a stand-alone, but judging from the ending, I'm guessing it's the first in a series.  I don't see any evidence of that on Goodreads or anything, but the door has definitely been left wide open for it.  I, for one, will be happy if the story continues because there is definitely potential for greatness.  I would love to see where Kali's abilities take her and how things play out with Lev.

Honestly, there was only one thing about the story that I hated, and I'm not going to mention it because it would be a total spoiler.  If you've read the book, I'm sure you're aware of what I am referencing, if not, you will when you get to that part...

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★  

Grade Level Recommendation:  Very violent and gory.  Does have some language.  If it was made into to a movie, it would carry a PG-13 rating.  I'm going to say that it is appropriate for 7th grade and up (ages 12+).

Review & Giveaway: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Publication Date: September 29th, 2011

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.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

Okay, so I have always liked Maureen Johnson.  She writes an eclectic mix of things, but I always find her witty and funny.  This book was a departure from what I'm used to reading from her, but that isn't a bad thing.  I actually loved this book.  A lot.  So much so, that I had to review it right away and include a giveaway because it was so good and I needed to share, and it is the perfect time of year to read it because the events take place right around now.  So, why did I love it?

Well, first off, it was a wonderful blend of genres.  You have a combination of Paranormal, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Muticultural, and Romance.  There's really something for everyone in this book.  It was well researched and fabulously written.  I'm no writer, but I can imagine that it is difficult to seamlessly blend genres like Maureen did, and I'm very impressed.  Next, the world building was very nice.  I've never been to London, but I feel like I could now navigate East End, and the very least.  Her descriptions were great and very authentic.  It is abundantly clear that she lives there part-time.  

I liked the characters, and although I found one or two annoying, I didn't really dislike anyone (except the killer).  Boo was my favorite.  She made me laugh, and I loved her manner.  Jerome is one of my new imaginary boyfriends.  As for Rory, there were a few times I wanted to smack her, but overall I really liked her.  I loved her Southerness; her love of fatty foods, iced tea, and long drawn-out stories.  I liked that there was some mystery around some of the characters.  It bothers me when authors develop everyone at the beginning because it's not real.  You don't get to know people in an instant; it's a gradual thing, and that's how these characters were written.

As for the story... LOVED IT!  It was well paced, and had oodles of twists and turns.  I will not spoil it all for you by giving anything up, but I will say that it was a total page-turner.  I could not put it down and had to bribe myself with a chapter in order to get anything else done (load dishwasher=1 chapter, fold a load of laundry=1 chapter, etc.).  It was not at all what I expected, but SO much better.  When I heard about this book, I was intrigued, but it wasn't at the tippy-top of my list, but I'm telling you, now that I've read it, it should definitely be at the tippy-top of yours.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★  

Grade Level Recommendation:  This book can be gory at times; it is about a serial killer who is recreating the Jack the Ripper murders of the late 19th century, so it can be graphic.  Other than that there really isn't much that would be objectionable for the average middle schooler.  There's a little teen drinking, but it takes place in London, and it's legal, and there's some innocent romance.  I would say this is fine for 6th grade and up provided the violent nature of the murders isn't an issue.  (Ages 11+)

...and now, for the giveaway I promised (because I loved this book so much and had to share!)!

Review: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

Publisher: Philomel/Penguin Young Readers Group

Publication Date: July 26th, 2011

When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she’s certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer—one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack—and the man—she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I want to start with my one and only complaint and get it out of the way... Why the eff did they change the cover of this book?  I adored the early cover that matched Nightshade and I really detest this one.  It looks so grandma's-bad-romance-novel-esque.  Now that I've gotten that out of the way, I can focus on my actual review...

This is a book that earned an honored spot on my Top 10 YA Books of 2011 list because it was awesome!  I put off reading it's predecessor, Nightshade, for far too long, and I kicked myself once I got around to reading it because I loved it so much (read my review HERE).  I was not going to make the same mistake when this book came out!  As soon as I got my hands on it, I devoured it.  It was one of those books that I just couldn't put down until I finished it.

I thought I loved Nightshade, but I felt like this blew it out of the water.  Better story, better writing, better everything!  It pretty much picks up where Nightshade left off, and it turns out that things were never quite what they seemed to be...  I won't give spoilers, but I will say that the world building this time around was spectacular, especially the descriptions of the Searcher compound and their methods of travel.  I also really enjoyed the new characters.  I bonded with them and I felt a solid punch in the gut when things didn't go well for certain ones.  When some of the characters from Nightshade reappeared in the story, I was really thrown for a loop.  Not at all what I expected...  Calla is still kick-ass, and I love her more and more with each book (please don't disappoint me, Bloodrose).  I find Shay as repulsive as ever, although I still can't put my finger on why.  I totally get why people love him, but he rubs me the wrong way;  I'm still solidly on Team Ren.  I have faith in him (plus my imagination says he SO much hotter than Shay).

I cannot wait for the release of Bloodrose on January 24th.  I will devour it as well.  Judging from Andrea Cremer's first two installments, I am sure it will not be a disappointment.  I'm hoping maybe she will have some tidbits for us at YallFest in November.  She is one of the main attractions for me.  Stay tuned!

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ++

Grade Level Recommendation: Because I said Nightshade was an 8th grade+ book (ages 14+), I'm going to say the same of this one.  See the Nightshade review for my reasons.

Review: Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Publication Date: June 21st, 2011

From the author of the highly addictive and bestselling Blue Bloods series, with almost 3 million copies sold, comes a new novel, Melissa de la Cruz's first for adults, featuring a family of formidable and beguiling witches. 

The three Beauchamp women--Joanna and her daughters Freya and Ingrid--live in North Hampton, out on the tip of Long Island. Their beautiful, mist-shrouded town seems almost stuck in time, and all three women lead seemingly quiet, uneventful existences. But they are harboring a mighty secret--they are powerful witches banned from using their magic. Joanna can resurrect people from the dead and heal the most serious of injuries. Ingrid, her bookish daughter, has the ability to predict the future and weave knots that can solve anything from infertility to infidelity. And finally, there's Freya, the wild child, who has a charm or a potion that can cure most any heartache.
 
For centuries, all three women have been forced to suppress their abilities. But then Freya, who is about to get married to the wealthy and mysterious Bran Gardiner, finds that her increasingly complicated romantic life makes it more difficult than ever to hide her secret. Soon Ingrid and Joanna confront similar dilemmas, and the Beauchamp women realize they can no longer conceal their true selves. They unearth their wands from the attic, dust off their broomsticks, and begin casting spells on the townspeople. It all seems like a bit of good-natured, innocent magic, but then mysterious, violent attacks begin to plague the town. When a young girl disappears over the Fourth of July weekend, they realize it's time to uncover who and what dark forces are working against them.
 
With a brand-new cast of characters, a fascinating and fresh world to discover, and a few surprise appearances from some of the Blue Blood fan favorites, this is a page-turning, deliciously fun, magical summer read fraught with love affairs, witchcraft, and an unforgettable battle between good and evil.
(Courtesy of Goodreads)

Over the past couple of years I have heard an lot of good things about Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods series.  It pains me when I find out out about a series when it's already four or five books in because I feel so overwhelmingly behind that I never start, even though I want to.  When I heard she was coming out with a new series- a series about witches, no less- I was really excited because a.) witches are a favorite literary subject of mine, and b.) I could try out her books without having to feel like I'm playing catch-up.  What did I think?  Was the hype merited?  Hmmm...

I really liked this book.  As I mentioned, I love books about witches, so that was immediately a draw.  The cover is fabulous, and I thought the writing was very good.  I liked all the characters, even the ones I probably shouldn't have liked.  The ideas were fascinating, and although you don't realize it until toward the end, the roots are in Nordic mythology, which I knew nothing of and now feel compelled to learn more about.  This book was an intriguing page-turner; it was mysterious, unpredictable, and SEXY; like, steamy-graphic-dirty-sexy!  I loved de la Cruz's descriptions of the Northampton locale; the architecture, setting, and way of life of the residents.  I had beautiful pictures in my head, and then very sad/gruesome ones as the story unfolded.  The only thing I didn't love was the ending; it was a little too much of a cliffhanger for my taste.  I thought we had some nice closure on certain matters- enough to make the wait for book #2 bearable- and then BANG- the epilogue.  Ouch.  Overall though, I really enjoyed this quick, engaging read and thoroughly look forward to the next installment.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★  

Grade Level Recommendation:  While I was reading this, I kept thinking to myself, "I wouldn't really consider this a YA novel."  None of the characters are really what I would consider young-adult protagonists.  Even the youngest, Freya, who is 19, is really like, 600 years old and lives a very adult lifestyle- works in a bar, engaged, etc.  There are some really hot sex scenes involving Freya, and she's involved in a steamy love triangle with her fiance and his brother.  This book is also full of murder and dark magic.  I would say that it is fine for a high school aged reader who tends to read more adult fiction, but if this were a movie, it would certainly have an R rating.  Ages 16+ (grades 10 and up).

Review: Dreamland by Alyson Noel, Read by Kathleen McInerney (Audio)

Publisher: Square Fish/Macmillan Audio

Publication Date: September 13th, 2011

Riley’s finding that the afterlife can be a lonely place when all you do is focus on work. So she goes to the place where dreams happen, hoping to find a way to contact her sister, Ever. She meets the director, who tells her about the two ways to send dreams. As a Dream Jumper, a person can jump into a dreamer’s dream, share a message, and participate. As a Dreamweaver, an entire dream can be created in a studio and sent to the dreamer. But Dreamweaving was outlawed decades ago, and the studio was boarded up. Thinking it’s her only way to reach out to her sister, Riley goes in search of the old studio. There she finds a ghost boy, who’s been creating and sending nightmares to people for years. In order to stop him and reach out to Ever, Riley is going to have to confront and overcome her own fears.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

If you have been following my blog long, you know that I really enjoy the Riley Bloom series (read my reviews of books one and two, Radiance and Shimmer, HERE).  This is funny, because I really didn't care for the companion series, The Immortals, which is about Riley's sister Ever.  It took me weeks to get into and finally finish the first book, Evermore.  In contrast, I was immediately drawn into to Riley's world and finished Radiance in one day.  I enjoyed Shimmer even more, and was anxiously awaiting the September 13th release of book #3, Dreamland.  Imagine my surprise and delight when I opened my mailbox last week to find the audio ARC of Dreamland for review (Thank you, Esther Bochner and Macmillan Audio)!  

I love the idea of audiobooks because I spend a lot of time in the car.  I drive 70 miles each day just driving my oldest daughter back and forth to school, not to mention everything else.  In Atlanta traffic, that equals a minimum of 2.5 hours a day in the car...  That said, I'm not always thrilled with the audio version of a book.  Sometimes I dislike the reader or the reader's accent/intonation, sometimes I just feel like I could have done a better job with my own voice inside my own head, and sometimes the reader just annoys me.  Sometimes it's so perfect, it gives me chills (the audio of Beth Revis's Across the Universe is a perfect example).  I wasn't sure what direction Dreamland would go considering the protagonist is a 12 year old girl and the reader is an adult; I was a bit apprehensive.  Well, there was no need for my concern!  The reader, Kathleen McInerney, was great.  Although her voice didn't necessarily sound like that of a 12 year old, she nailed the intonation and the emotion behind the words.  It was extremely believable and I had no trouble picturing Riley as the narrator of the story.

As for the story itself...  It was very different from the first two books.  Radiance and Shimmer both focused on Riley's vocation as a "Soulcatcher", and her developing relationship with her "Guide", Bodhi.  Dreamland focused more on Riley's personal growth in the afterlife.  She is given a "vacation" from her job after she went on a rogue soulcatching mission in Shimmer, and has to find something else to do with her time, which is difficult because she had been a workaholic of sorts.   She's lonely and seeking companionship, and very much wants the advice that she would have sought from her older sister, Ever, had she still been alive.  She finds a way to contact Ever through Dreamland, but as always with Riley, things don't go quite as planned...  Through the course of the story, Riley learns many truths about the afterlife and who she is as a person; some of these truths are not pretty.

While I enjoyed the action that was such a large part of the first two books, I really found that I liked this book best even though it wasn't as action-packed and scary-ghost focused.  We meet several fabulous new characters who I believe (hope!) we will see much more of  in future books.  We also find out a great deal more about Here & Now.    Riley grows as a person in each book, but she becomes much more mature in this book.  She finds out that some of the things she was told early on were not entirely true and that she has a great deal more power than she originally thought she had.  Emotionally, 12 year old Riley ages a lot!  As with the other two books, Alyson Noel conveys a subtle message; a lesson that most tween readers would not even notice they are learning, and that is one of the truly great things about this book.

As with the other two books, it is a quick read.  If you are listening to the audio, it clocks in at just 5 hours; if you're reading the book, it is a mere 192 pages.  Great for anyone; ideal for the reluctant reader.

My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★  

Grade Level Recommendation:  As with the first two books, I would put this solidly in the "Middle Grade+" category.   Fans of The Immortals will enjoy it because it's Ever's sister and Ever makes more than one appearance, but it may be a bit innocent for their taste. Completely appropriate for advanced reading 3rd graders+ (ages 8+).

Review: The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Publication Date: March 7th, 2011

It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him.

When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

 
Historical Fiction isn't really my thing. I maybe like a third of the books I read in the genre, but for whatever reason, this book called to me. Maybe it was the paranormal element to the story, or maybe it was just the pretty cover, but I am so glad I picked it up. It was very good.

Having never read any of Mitchell's books, I didn't know what to expect. What I did know was that Carrie Ryan gave this book rave reviews, and that alone told me it was worth reading. Now, having read this, I will definitely check out her other books. I mean, wow! Her writing style is nothing short of beautiful. I'm not even remotely the sappy, romantic type, but Mitchell's writing made me feel that way. I felt Amelia's confusion and longing for what she knew she could not have. I felt her forbidden exhilaration when she did something that she knew wasn't up to the standards of her circle. I felt like I too was friends with Zora, her best friend and cousin. In short, Mitchell made these characters come out of the pages with her words. As for the story itself, it was great. I have to admit that while I was intrigued at the beginning, I was also a bit confused. I didn't pay enough attention to the dates at the beginning of each section. (Make sure you do so that you can avoid the same pitfall...) Once I caught on, I couldn't put the book down. I had to know what vision Amelia would see next, and how it would manifest. I also was very eager to know what would happen next in regard to Nathaniel. I liked the way Mitchell ended the book. While I still had questions about the fates of some characters, I felt like she resolved things well for the main ones. I know there is another book coming out next year, but I believe it is a companion, rather than than a sequel.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Grade Level Recommendation: This novel is squeaky clean as far as language, violence, and sex are concerned. I would allow a kid of any age read this. That said, I think most readers under the age of 13 or 14 will not find it interesting. For this reason I will say that this is a book for grades 8+ (ages 13+).