Review + Giveaway: Shadows by Paula Weston

Follow the entire Shadows blog tour schedule HERE.

Title: Shadows (The Rephaim, #1)
Author: Paula Weston
Pages: 400
Publisher: Tundra Books
Release Date: September 10, 2013

It's almost a year since Gaby Winters watched her twin brother die. In the sunshine of a new town her body has healed, but her grief is raw and constant. It doesn't help that every night in her dreams she fights and kills hell-beasts. And then Rafa comes to town. Not only does he look exactly like the guy who's been appearing in Gaby's dreams, he tells her things about her brother and her life that cannot be true, things that are dangerous. Who is Rafa? Who are the Rephaim? And who is Gaby? The truth lies in the shadows of her nightmares.

My Thoughts: When I found out Shadows was being published in North America, I was ecstatic! I just have so much love for young adult and new adult books written by Australian authors, and I've been eager to read this book ever since I heard about it almost two years ago. Now that I've finally had the chance to read it, I have to say it was definitely worth the wait.

In Shadows, 18-year-old Gaby is living at Pandanus Beach in Australia after a terrible car accident from a year ago left her body and mind scarred and her twin brother Jude dead. Gaby almost seems like a regular person who's grieving and trying to move on with her life, but overshadowing her recovery are the nightmares about her fighting demon-like creatures she's had every single night since the accident. It becomes clear that she isn't just experiencing the aftereffects of going through something traumatic and heartbreaking and that her terrifying nightmares may hold the answers to her past and what led to that horrible day nearly a year ago.

There was so much mystery surrounding Gaby that not even she could expect some of the things that were revealed about her. It was nice for once to have a character be as in the dark as the reader. It could have caused some frustration, but finding things out when she did made the book an even better and exciting experience. Plus, Gaby's the type of character to make it easy to sympathize with. She's vulnerable and kind, yet fierce and determined and willing to break the rules to protect the people she cares about. She was just a really likeable character to me, and I rooted for her from the very beginning.

Since there were two sides to Gaby (the one before the accident and the one after), I was always wondering whether or not she'll ever regain her memories. I wanted her to remember who she was so that she could have all her skills and knowledge and everything else back. At the same time, I didn't want her to lose the person she was now because her cold and serious personality from before didn't sound appealing. And I felt that was something Gaby struggled with through the book as well. She wanted her memories but didn't want to go back to being who she was before the incident involving her brother. I liked that there wasn't an easy solution for her, and I hope she continues to grow stronger as the story progresses.

Something I really appreciated were the roles some of the characters, even minor, played in the story because they made everything more complex and complicated. Maggie and Simon were human friends of Gaby, and I felt their presence was a reminder that humans were just as important as all the Rephaim, angels, and demons introduced in the book. Another character Jason shocked me the most. He was full of surprises! I didn't think much about him at first, so he's a great example of how you should never take any character for granted.

Two other characters I would like to mention are Jude and Rafa. Although Jude wasn't alive, he still had a huge presence. He was the most important person in the world to Gaby, and he was always brought up by others. Even though he never made an appearance, I started to miss him as much as everyone else. As for Rafa, he was my favorite along with Gaby. He was Jude's best friend and Gaby's rival. I loved his humor and sarcasm and his protectiveness of Gaby. Gaby and him meshed so well together. Their relationship is a bit unusual, though, because it doesn't seem like they had a great relationship before and the only one who remembers is Rafa (and he's not elaborating). I'm very interested to find out where their relationship goes.

Shadows was easily one of my most anticipated titles this year, and it lived up to all my expectations. I'm even more pumped now for the sequel Haze! I hope it's just as good as Shadows because I can't wait to read more about Gaby, Rafa, and all the other characters I mentioned in my review. If you're curious about Shadows and need an awesome and unique story about angels, I highly suggest you give it a read!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Thanks to Tundra Books you can enter to win a hardcover copy of Shadows! Giveaway is open to US/CA residents only and ends September 23. Good luck!

Review: Taken by Erin Bowman

Title: Taken
Author: Erin Bowman
Pages: 352
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: April 16, 2013

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

My Thoughts (contains minor spoilers): Taken started off good for me. Even though I had an idea where the story was headed, I was still immediately intrigued with what the main character Gray was going through, and I really liked that the book was from the male perspective. I couldn't wait to know more about him and Emma, the girl he liked, and watch their relationship develop while they tried to solve the mystery revolving around the Heist.

Unfortunately my feelings for Taken changed drastically as the story went on. I almost wish Gray and Emma had stayed in their village Claysoot. Because once they left that's when things began to go downhill and into strange, make-no-sense territory. Their reaction to their new surrounding did not feel realistic. They seemed to accept things easily, and at the same time, they quickly figured out when someone wasn't trustworthy or when something wasn't quite right. The pacing of parts of the story did not help at all. Certain situations were rushed and resolved with what I thought was not much time or effort. There were many holes and flaws in the story that just made everything even more unbelievable for me.

Although that all bothered me a bit, it was nothing compared to how I started to feel about Gray's character and the weird direction of the romance. I liked Gray in the beginning. He seemed like a pretty good guy who only wanted to make things better for those he cared about. But as the story progressed, I found him to be such a selfish and hypocritical person. His character shift began once another love interest for him was introduced, which I felt came out of nowhere. The new love interest, Bree, was not a character I ever connected to or liked. Her relationship with Gray was a whole lot more telling than showing compared to his development with Emma in the beginning. And Gray can whine all he wants about what Emma did. At least she had a good reason. What was his excuse for being cruel to her, especially considering the slatings they went through in Claysoot? Gray's treatment of Emma was unforgivable in my eyes. I have to say this was one of the worst love-triangles I've read in a while. I almost couldn't believe what I was reading.

Taken truly had a promising beginning. In the end, that beginning couldn't make up for what happened next: a story full of holes, a rushed pace, unlikeable characters (actually, I liked Blaine and Emma but sadly they weren't important enough for Gray's story), and a random love-triangle that destroyed whatever hope I had left of liking this book.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Reviews: Something Like Normal by Trish Doller & The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller
Release Date: June 10, 2012 / Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Something Like Normal featured one of the best male voices I've ever read. Probably the best, since I felt such a strong connection towards Travis. It was so authentic. Honestly, if I were guy, I would want to be someone like him. He was so real and honest. His story had me teary-eyed and my heart breaking throughout. Just thinking about some of the things that happened in this book makes me want to cry! But then, it also had me laughing out loud and swooning and smiling like crazy. I loved Travis's relationships with his mother, his fellow Marines, and Harper. Each stood out in their own way and played an important role in Travis's life after he came back from Afghanistan. I'm not sure what would have happened to Travis if he didn't have these awesome people, but I'm so glad they were there for him. He really needed them and their support.

I felt like I could relate to Travis in a way. My relationship with my father isn't the best either, and I know what it's like to have family in the military. It was a pretty emotional read for me, and I loved it. I pretty much adored everything about this book: Trish Doller's writing, the fantastic characters, and the amazing relationships. I was so sad when it was over. I just wanted more and more. I can't recommend this book enough!

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The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta
Release Date: March 1, 2010 / Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I love Thomas! Out of all the boys in Saving Francesca, it was definitely Thomas who stood out to me. I was really happy to know more about him and his situation, including the rest of his family's. Melina Marchetta is always so great with family and friend dynamics.

Parts that I loved the most were the ones where Thomas was with the other characters from Saving Francesca like Tara, the girls, and Will Trombal. Awesome friends and hilarious moments. The new characters were great as well. Oh, and I can't forget to mention the Jellicoe Road characters that made cameo appearances. I was fangirling like crazy every single time they were mentioned! I could not help myself!

As with every Melina Marchetta novel I finish, I wish it didn't have to end. But I love that there's always hope in the end and that you just know it will all eventually work out for the characters. I seriously can't wait to read Marchetta's next book. Love them all!

Review: Tempest by Julie Cross

Title: Tempest (Tempest, #1)
Author: Julie Cross
Pages: 352
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: January 3, 2012

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

My Thoughts: There was something very important Jackson told another character in the book, and I'm basically going to tell you the same thing: You need to forget everything you know about time-traveling from other books and movies because you're just going to get frustrated and confused while reading Tempest.

Time-traveling in Tempest ended up being way more complex than I expected. It was a lot for me to take in. It's similar to how I felt about the movie Inception. I still don't understand everything. When I thought I finally had a grasp on the concept, another question or situation popped up and everything I thought I figured out wasn't quite right. The explanations for time-traveling were a bit blury and confusing at times. But I like a bit of a challenge, and it was interesting trying to keep up and figure things out along the way. After I finished, I was sure I had a good hold on the whole time-traveling deal. However, I had a discussion with someone who had also read Tempest, and let's just say I'm not quite as sure as I was before. I'm positive I missed an important detail while reading or maybe not all the important details were revealed in this book. Either way... It's crazy! It gets me wondering how the author can keep up with all of it!

Before I get to what I liked about Tempest, I have to mention some things that I didn't quite like about the book. Some characters' reactions to things were weird and not normal to me. They were too quick to accept time-traveling. And there was a part where Jackson wanted answers and when he had a chance... He decided to go to his job and see Holly to make sure she didn't hate him...and his father just let him go! This was pretty much a life or death situation and here Jackson was painting and making out with Holly instead. What the heck? That doesn't make sense. I actually didn't care for all the scenes revolving around past Holly and friends. Those were probably my least favorite things about the book.

Here's what liked: Tempest was in Jackson's POV. (I love reading from the male perspective; its a nice change. Plus, he was a good character.) Jackson was in college. (New adult! Yeah! I like reading about characters that are no longer high schoolers but not quite considered adults yet.) The time-traveling was challenging but fascinating. (While it was a lot to take in and many new characters kept popping up that I had to keep track of, which made it harder for me to wrap my head around things and had me constantly asking myself 'What the hell is going on?' for more than half the book...it all resulted in some pretty interesting and enjoyable moments in the book. I remember chapter 30 is when I got really hooked into the story. I was biting my nails and everything!)

Although there were some aspects I didn't care for and I may still be scratching my head over all the explanations and stuff about time-traveling, those things never managed to overshadow what I did like about Tempest. It was an action-packed, complex debut novel, and with the way this book ended (can't believe how it ended!), I'm curious about what will happen in the sequel Vortex. Hopefully there will be more answers and the time-traveling concept will become clearer. Looking forward to it!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Reviews: Summer Storm by Elizabeth Baxter & Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans

Summer Storm by Elizabeth Baxter
Release Date: September 25, 2012 / Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I wasn't sure what to expect when I began reading Summer Storm. It ended up being a good read though. I liked the main character Falen. She's a smart and tough girl. The writing was well done, and the story made me want to continue reading the rest of the series.

Summer Storm is actually a prequel novella to Everwinter, which I have not read yet. Apparently Falen shows up in Everwinter (not sure if she's a major character), so I'm glad I was able to read this before I started the first book. Hopefully she is able to figure out how to resolve the issues that were left open in this novella.

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Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans
Release Date: January 15, 2013 / Rating: 2.5 - 3 out of 5 stars

It took me awhile to finish Level 2. I received an advanced copy back in October, started reading it, but put it down at around page 80 and didn't pick it back up until two months later. Needless to say I hadn't really enjoyed what I had managed to read.

The characters were unlikeable. Felicia was the narrator, but I could not connect with her in any way. Julian was a douche and so was Felicia for how they treated her 'best friend' Autumn. Basically, all the scenes in the book where Felicia accessed her memories before her death didn't do her and Julian any favors. Because no matter how much they seemed to have changed for the better or how remorseful they were, I couldn't dismiss how they acted back then. I didn't dislike Neil (Felicia's boyfriend), but at the same time, I didn't feel like he stood out or that I learned much about him. He was a bit too perfect.

When I finally picked this book back up again, I was able to finish it rather quickly. I liked that it was easy to get through, even if I still couldn't bring myself to like the characters. One other thing, the pace of some parts felt rushed. Especially the ending! It went by super fast. Things were resolved a bit too conveniently and easily. If you're interested in reading Level 2...I think you should go for it and form your own opinion about it because hey, you might end up liking it more than I did.

Review: The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Title: The Sea of Tranquility
Author: Katja Millay
Pages: 352
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: June 4, 2013

'I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk.'

Former piano prodigy Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone learning about her past and to make the boy who took everything from her—her identity, her spirit, her will to live—pay.

All Josh Bennett wants is to be left alone, and everyone allows it because they all know his story: each person he loved was taken from his life until at seventeen years old there was no one left. When your name is synonymous with death, people tend to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, a new girl in town who won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. But the more he gets to know her, the more of a mystery she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he will ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding—or if he even wants to.

The Sea of Tranquility is a rich, intense, and brilliantly imagined story about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.

My Thoughts: That last line. Wow. It has taken me a couple of days to process, but it's finally hit me how mind-blowing the revelation at the end was. Want to know my initial reaction to the last line? It went something like, 'Are you lying? Don't mess around like that.' I seriously did not believe it. My mind couldn't comprehend it fast enough. I just couldn't believe the ending could be that perfect! When I think back to everything that happened in the book, I'm left feeling stunned. Because it makes complete sense. The answer was always there. If you haven't read this book, you're probably confused and wondering what I'm talking about. You'll understand when you read it. You might even make the connection before you get to the end. But hopefully along the way, you'll fall in love with this novel too.

There's a reason why The Sea of Tranquility has been receiving so much praise. And it's all greatly deserved praise too. I can't even say there's one reason why I loved it. There's many reasons. It was such a moving and inspiring read. It had everything I always want to find in a novel: brilliant storytelling, wonderful and refreshing characters, and relationships that were developed gradually and perfectly. It filled me with all kinds of emotions, ranging from frustration and anger and sadness to happiness and joy and love, and left me feeling content and hopeful. This is a book I know I will still think about weeks and months to come.

The story is told from the perspectives of Nastya Kashnikov and Josh Bennett. Nastya and Josh are some of the most sympathetic characters I've read about. I adored them both dearly. I wanted to comfort them and make everything right for them. I wanted them to find happiness. Their journey wasn't an easy one though. I remember getting so frustrated with how things were playing out and then so sadden with some of the things that were revealed. But experiencing all those emotions was worth it. And I completely loved how the relationship between Nastya and Josh transformed throughout the novel. There was no insta-love. In fact, they pretty much disliked each other when they first met. For some reason, though, they couldn't stay away. They found solace with each other, and it was such a beautiful thing to witness.

Sometimes when a book becomes a favorite of mine, I usually find it really hard to express how I feel about it because I don't even know where to start. I just want to talk about everything! Basically, The Sea of Tranquility was an amazing and emotional read for me. It was a powerful debut by the author Katja Millay, and I will definitely be reading her next novels. The story continued to get better and better as the story progressed, the development of the characters and relationships was never rushed, and the ending gave me a sense of hope. It was perfect, and I can't recommend it enough.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Series Review: Valkyrie Symptoms & Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson

Valkyrie Symptoms by Ingrid Paulson
Released: October 17, 2012 / Rating: 4 out of 5

Valkyrie Symptoms is a short story prequel to Valkyrie Rising. It happens one day prior to the events in the main novel, and all 20 pages of it are from Tucker's point-of-view. I loved Tuck in Valkyrie Rising, so it was great getting a glimpse inside his head. To know how he sees Ellie and to read more of the banter between them that I enjoyed in the full novel. I wish it were longer though because it went by too quick! But I am glad to have something else to read in this world. If you loved Tuck in Valkyrie Rising, you'll get another fix with this prequel.

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Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson
Released: October 9, 2012 / Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I enjoyed a lot of things about Valkyrie Rising. The rich and refreshing setting of Norway. The way the mythology was woven nicely into the story and the fact that it was filled with badass female warriors known as the Valkyries.

Ellie, the main character, was likeable and brave, and her brother's best friend and the love interest Tucker was my favorite because of his awesome personality and protectiveness of Ellie. All the characters were great and believable, and I loved how the romance played an important role that never once overshadowed everything else the book had to offer.

The pace and action really began to pick up at the halfway point, but the beginning was still as intriguing as the rest of the novel. Overall, I thought Valkyrie Rising was well done and thoroughly entertaining.

Review: The Girl With Borrowed Wings by Rinsai Rossetti

Title: The Girl With Borrowed Wings
Author: Rinsai Rossetti
Pages: 300
Publisher: Dial
Release Date: July 19, 2012

A stunningly written tale of an isolated girl and the shape-shifting boy who shows her what freedom could be--if only she has the courage to take it.

Controlled by her father and bound by desert, Frenenqer Paje’s life is tediously the same, until a small act of rebellion explodes her world and she meets a boy, but not just a boy--a Free person, a winged person, a shape-shifter. He has everything Frenenqer doesn’t. No family, no attachments, no rules. At night, he flies them to the far-flung places of their childhoods to retrace their pasts. But when the delicate balance of their friendship threatens to rupture into something more, Frenenqer must confront her isolation, her father, and her very sense of identity, breaking all the rules of her life to become free.

My Thoughts: Before I started The Girl With Borrowed Wings, my sole reason for wanting to read it was the cover. It easily lured me in, and I couldn't stop thinking about what kind of story could be inside a book with such a vibrant and gorgeous cover. Reading the summary made my curiosity grow even more. There are tons of books out there with amazing covers but with stories that don't live up to their covers' greatness. I had a good feeling about The Girl With Borrowed Wings though, and while it took some time for me to fall in love completely, it ended up being much more satisfying than I expected.

I wasn't prepared for this story at all. It really surprised me. The first couple of chapters were interesting, but I admit I wasn't exactly wow-ed. I remembered thinking, 'Where is this all going?' I came in with some expectations and was nervous when none were met right away. All I had to do was wait and be patient, though, because this story eventually crept up on me. I remember the exact moment when I suddenly realized I was in love with this book. It was an amazing feeling! However, at the same time, the moment I realized how much I cared was a moment during the book that had my heart breaking into pieces. It was very bittersweet.

In the beginning, it almost sounded like the main character Frenenqer was a wingless angel and that her father was God. I started believing that was the case because of the cover. This book actually wasn't about angels, but in a way, the father and God comparison was true. Frenenqer was an isolated and lonely girl who wanted to be free and her father was a controlling bastard with twisted ideas. I desperately wanted her father to be thrown over a cliff into crocodile-infested water. I wanted Frenenqer to take Sangris (who will I get to in a bit) up on his offer to rip her father to shreds. I don't think I've ever hated a character as much as I hated Frenenqer's father. In his goal to create the perfect daughter, he came off as an emotionless, out-of-touch prick. I won't say more because you'll have to see for yourself. Besides, it's time to focus on better things, like what made this book for me: Frenenqer and Sangris.

Frenenqer was a complicated character. It's almost hard to describe her. Although she acted docile around her father to please him, she wasn't timid and spineless in the least. She desired freedom above all else. The thing was, if she truly had the chance to be free, would she actually take it? And because of the way her parents treated her, she lacked certain emotions. Or she believed she wasn't capable of certain emotions. Like love. It made her seem like she was uncaring of others, but deep down she knew she cared. It made her a really frustrating person at times. There were some moments where I wanted to shake some sense into her because I believed she was being completely unfair. But I understood why she acted the way she did. And there were some moments where I wanted to hug and comfort her. So, it all balanced out, and I grew to really admire her character.

Her relationship with Sangris was the highlight of the novel for me. It was the reason why I fell in love with this book. Sangris is a Free person. Free people are capable of shape-shifting and traveling to any world they want. Although Free people tend to keep to themselves, Sangris wasn't afraid or uncomfortable to let Frenenqer in. He was an open book with her and couldn't help hanging around. He was fascinated and curious, even though Nenner (his nickname for her) was cold to him a lot of the time. After he started taking her to exotic cities and worlds so that she could experience freedom, it was clear that he had feelings for her. And that underneath all that sarcasm and mischievousness Sangris was really sweet and loved deeply. He was capable of all the feelings Frenenqer lacked, and he helped her see what she was missing. It was strange that, although their personalities and views were different, they still were able to understand each other in a way that no one else did. It was a special bond. I wish I could go on and on about them, especially Sangris, but just know that they were perfect together and their interactions with each other were my favorite parts of the novel.

As I got closer and closer to the end of The Girl With Borrowed Wings, I was not only scared of what would happen but also sad that it was almost over. I didn't want it to end. Thankfully the ending didn't destroy my heart like I feared, and I could see just how much Frenenqer had changed. It was wonderful to read. The Girl With Borrowed Wings was just the type of story that I needed to read. While I can't say everyone will fall in love with this book the way I did, I thought the story ended in a way that everyone could appreciate. It brought a huge smile to my face and got me close to tears. It was a story that resulted in pure happiness and love, and one that I can't recommend enough.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Mini-Reviews: Otherkin by Nina Berry & Holier Than Thou by Laura Buzo

Otherkin by Nina Berry
Released: July 31, 2012 / Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

I thought Otherkin was an okay read. It took me about a month to read though. For me it was the type of book that I could easily put down and not feel the need to pick back up.

The beginning of the novel basically went straight into the action. The problem I had with that was that there wasn't any sort of build up. It just happened. And there was zero time for me to get to know the main character Dez. Thankfully, by the end of the novel, I felt like I knew Dez well enough, and I liked her relationship with Caleb. The other characters eventually left an impression too, so I appreciated that. However, all the talk about otherkin and callers and shadow and stuff didn't hold my attention, which was too bad because all of it was important and a major part of the story.

I don't think I will be continuing the series, but as I said, Otherkin was an okay read and I'm sure other readers will find it more entertaining than I did.

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Holier Than Thou by Laura Buzo
Released: May 1, 2012 / Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Holier Than Thou wasn't a bad read at all. It was intriguing. In fact, it was a 4 star read for me the whole time! But then something happened. It involved one of the main male characters. I was willing to let it slide though, but once it went nowhere, I was left wondering, 'What was the point?'

The last few chapters pretty much annoyed me too. As for the ending, it left me thinking, '...Huh?' I didn't like the ending. And to be honest, it made me realize I wasn't much of a fan of the main character Holly. I feel sorry for all the guys in her life, and I don't feel like the she grew or whatever she was suppose to do.

I guess this is Laura Buzo's thing. Leaving the ending open with readers having to use their imaginations and to decide for themselves what happens next. Not sure it's something I can appreciate, especially when I feel like I have no clue where it's suppose to go. I would still recommend Holier Than Thou, but not to readers who want closure.

Review: Caterpillar by Kate Oliver

Title: Caterpillar (The Metamorphosis Trilogy, #1)
Author: Kate Oliver
Pages: 338
Publisher: MAB Books
Release Date: March 23, 2012

In a small college town in northern California, a lonely young man is working himself to the bone to solve a sixty-year-old problem ... a stranger with a will of iron and eyes the color of ice is searching for someone he can't identify ... and a girl who loves plants is about to grow roots of her own.

When Cara Gallagher's parents are transferred overseas again, she's off to spend her senior year of high school living with her sister, a graduate student at the famed McNair University. Cara, a girl with a passion for science and an indifference to people, hopes this move will be her first step in claiming the independence she craves. Cara has her future planned down to the letter: her college, her major, her career.

Then she saves Will Mallory's life, and both of their futures are completely rewritten.

The last years of Will's life have been spent shifting from one identity to the next, dodging the FBI, and trying desperately to find a way home. But Will's home is forty-four light years away, and to reach it he'll have to outwit the man who's hunting him--and leave behind the only love he's ever known.

My Thoughts: I was pretty impressed with the way Caterpillar made me feel. Even when some moments were a bit unbelievable or typical of the YA genre, there was just something about this book that I found really entertaining. I couldn't help but to enjoy it! It honestly was a guilty pleasure sort of read for me, and I truly am looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.

By the time I was done with chapter two, I was hooked into the story. It may have started off in a way that happens a lot in paranormal/sci-fi YA books (high school girl moves to a new city to live with a family member), but how the girl meets the boy was very different. When Cara meets Will, Will's trying to end his life. I think this scene is the one that stood out the most throughout the entire book. It's not something you can easily forget. And it's the one that made me start rooting for the characters and their relationship. After Cara basically saved Will and she went on her way, I couldn't wait for them to meet again. I knew it was the beginning of a sweet romance, and I wanted them to interact more. Thankfully the wait wasn't long at all!

I thought Cara was a likeable character. She's caring and compassionate. I didn't even find fault in her not being a people person. While that may make her sound like an ungrateful and stuck-up teenager, I felt like I understood where she was coming from. I actually could relate to her with the way she acted around people; it's kind of similar to how I am with people. She is a bit shy, gets embarrassed easily, and lacking some self-esteem. But unlike some main characters in certain other books, I felt Cara had very good reasons, and it made it easy to relate to her. Another thing I appreciated about Cara was her relationship with her older sister Liv. These two got along so well! And they're pretty hilarious when they joked around with one another. Siblings sticking together is something I like to find in books. It's just much more realistic to me than siblings who can't stand each other.

Will was another good character. I like nice guys. Ones who are sweet and kind. Reading the summary, it's quite obvious he's not an ordinary human. He's an alien who's been on Earth for over 60 years. It might sound creepy that he has disguised himself as a 23-year-old college student, but the way it's explained doesn't make it weird at all. (And at least he isn't pretending to be a high school kid!) What was refreshing about his character was that even though he's been on Earth for decades he hasn't tried to learn everything about every single subject. He's no genius just because he's an alien, and it was believable to me.

But I admit Will made me scratch my head at some points. When there were chapters from his POV, I was surprised at how clueless he was about things that don't require much brain power. For example, he had no idea what to do with mousse. Okay, I can understand if he doesn't get physics, but to not know what mousse is when he's been around for over half a century? Now that's completely unbelievable. I mean, it was only suppose to be a funny scene, but it did make me facepalm. In trying to make Will seem clueless and naive about womanly things (which wasn't convincing to begin with considering his past), he ended up lacking common sense at those moments. Even if he didn't know what mousse was, he could have easily read the label. Maybe his nerves caused him to act that way. Either way, the scene wasn't such a huge deal, but it wasn't something I could dismiss.

There were a few other things that I couldn't help but notice like how on some parts the pacing was too quick or how the high school scene was the same old same old (mean girls and such). But overall, they were minor in the scheme of things and really didn't overshadow my enjoyment of the book. (Plus, there was way more college scenes than high school scenes, so that's always great.) Caterpillar was an enthralling read for me from the very beginning. I liked the characters, the romance, and the story, and I cannot wait to know what happens to Cara and Will next. A good read!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Review: Sanctum by Sarah Fine

Title: Sanctum (Guards of the Shadowlands, #1)
Author: Sarah Fine
Pages: 433
Publisher: Amazon Children's Publishing
Release Date: October 16, 2012

"My plan: Get into the city. Get Nadia. Find a way out. Simple."

A week ago, seventeen-year-old Lela Santos's best friend, Nadia, killed herself. Today, thanks to a farewell ritual gone awry, Lela is standing in paradise, looking upon a vast gated city in the distance – hell. No one willingly walks through the Suicide Gates, into a place smothered in darkness and infested with depraved creatures. But Lela isn't just anyone – she's determined to save her best friend's soul, even if it means sacrificing her eternal afterlife.

As Lela struggles to find Nadia, she's captured by the Guards, enormous, not-quite-human creatures that patrol the dark city's endless streets. Their all-too-human leader, Malachi, is unlike them in every way except one: his deadly efficiency. When he meets Lela, Malachi forms his own plan: get her out of the city, even if it means she must leave Nadia behind. Malachi knows something Lela doesn't – the dark city isn't the worst place Lela could end up, and he will stop at nothing to keep her from that fate.

My Thoughts: I love the feeling of going into a novel, not knowing what to expect, and realizing right away that I'm going to like it. And that as I get further in the story keeps getting better and better, and that once I'm done I just want more people to know about the book and to read it too! Sanctum was that type of read for me. The characters were multilayered and extremely likeable, the world was fascinating, and the story made it hard to stop reading. I can easily say that it is one of my top five favorite books this year! I'm so excited to read the next book in this series.

"Welcome to Suicide Gates!"

Those words and the frightening, otherworldly city where she first heard them have haunted Lela ever since she tried to end her life two years ago. Lela knows that place is where she could have ended up if she had died, but she doesn't realize how true that is until her best friend Nadia commits suicide. Lela starts having nightmares, visions, about Suicide Gates through her friend's eyes, and she becomes determined to save Nadia from that dark place even if she has to sacrifice herself in the process. The journey is nowhere near easy though. Suicide Gates is a harsh and bleak world. Everyone who ends up there must work hard to come to terms with what happened to them and to find strength within themselves so that they can finally move on. And not everyone is able to do that.

Lela's feelings towards Nadia were powerful and the driving force behind most of her decisions in Sanctum. She did everything she could to save Nadia, even if she later regretted the choices she made. This is one of the few books where I truly felt the strong bond a character has with a friend. I remember thinking that I wanted Lela to succeed, I wanted Nadia to be saved, and I wanted happiness for them both. It really was heartbreaking, and it made me just admire and adore Lela even more. She felt so real to me. She's been through so much in her life, yet she stays strong and focused for the friend who believed in her and made her a better person.

Not only is Sanctum about friendship and sacrifice, it's about love and overcoming gripping fears bit by bit. After Lela arrives at Suicide Gates, she's captured by the Guards of the city. They know she's different from the humans who are suppose to be there, and she's interrogated by their brave and intimidating Captain, Malachi. Lela and Malachi don't trust each other at first, but once they open up, Lela begins to feel safe around Malachi and he begins to feel protective of her. There's a gut-wrenching reason why Lela wanted to die two years ago, and when Malachi finds out he helps her overcome some of her fears of allowing anyone, especially a man, to touch her. He's so respectful and let's her be in control. I absolutely loved their relationship. It was sweet and beautiful and touching. They are amazing people and brought out every single bit of goodness in each other. They are also kickass and helped each other survive along the way to finding Nadia. They're the main reason why I cannot wait to read the next book.

Sanctum brings up many heavy, emotional subjects and there are plenty of terrifying moments, but it still manages to be filled with hope and love. And when a story is awesome and has wonderful characters and relationships, it makes me really happy. The ending freaked me out so much though. (I was scared and praying it wouldn't end at a cliffhanger!) It also made me pumped for book two. I wish I could talk more about the unique world in Sanctum, but it's complex and something you need to discover and experience yourself. I highly recommend Sanctum, especially to those looking for a dark, yet hopeful read. It's easily one of the best YA urban fantasy novels I've ever read!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Amazon Children's Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of Sanctum!

Mini-Reviews: Harmony by Sonya Bria & Hell on Wheels by Julie Ann Walker

The following mini-reviews are for books I've read in the past couple of months. I hope I managed to get my feelings across in each of these mini-reviews.

Harmony by Sonya Bria 
Released: June 1, 2012 / Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Sophie has recently started having recurring nightmares revolving around her mother's death and has even started hearing the voice of Ian, someone she has dreamed about for years, in her mind. She beings to realize that these dreams might be real after all when Ian reveals himself to her. Harmony was a fast-paced read filled with romance, vampires, and hints of Irish magic and lore.

I think the parts I liked the most were actually the scenes from Ian's perspective. I have always liked reading from a male's perspective and reading from Ian's view made it interesting. While the events in the book go by quickly and some things seem to have an easy resolution, not everything is resolved by the end. I guess that's why it's a planned series.

I would recommend this book to those who can't get enough of YA vampire novels.

---

Hell on Wheels by Julie Ann Walker
Release Date: August 1, 2012 / Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

First off, I just loved the fact that some of the book was set in my hometown Jacksonville, NC. That was really neat!

Hell on Wheels was about the relationship between Ali and Nate and how they worked together to take down the person who killed Ali's brother and Nate's best friend. I really liked the premise, but I felt only half the book was about the main characters. I think part of the reason the perspective switched to other characters was to set up stories for future books in the series. I realized I didn't mind as much in some instances, since I really enjoyed reading about Frank and Becky. However, I think it might have led to me not quite connecting with Ali and Nate. They did have some great moments, and I'm pretty much happy with how their story ended. I just wish I felt more connected with them.

Overall, it was a fun and interesting read, and I would recommend it to romantic suspense fans!

Mini-Reviews #4

The following mini-reviews are for books I read MONTHS ago. Even though I wish I had, I didn't write full reviews for these for different reasons, but I hope I managed to get my feelings across in each of these mini-reviews.

Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar / Released: June 29, 2009
There were a lot of things I loved about this book. The writing and the characters, especially. I don't know anything about surfing, so I admit I wasn't always able to visualize what was happening during those parts. But, I just went with it and it didn't effect how I felt about everything else. I just wish the book didn't have to end. Carly was very easy to like. I've never been through, and I personally don't know anyone who's been through, what she has, but I could sympathize with her. I felt like I understood her anger and shame and fear, and I think the author did a wonderful job with Carly's character. I can't wait to read more from this author! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren / Released: Feb. 1, 2011
Although the historical genre doesn't interest me all that much, I ended up being pretty curious about Waterfall after reading some great reviews. I just had a feeling I would like it. And after seeing this post (now if that doesn't convince you to read this book...), I knew I needed to read it! This book was way better than I could have ever hoped for! I loved the relationship between Gabi and Marcello. Both were amazing and likable characters. And there was a lot of kick-butt action that made me an even bigger fan of the characters. The author did such a great job, and I seriously cannot wait to read the second book and the rest of the series! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Blood Destiny by Tessa Dawn / Released: December 1, 2010
I remember thinking that some characters were a bit too perfect and that I didn't feel like I knew the leading female character Jocelyn. Apparently she's a Homeland Security agent, but honestly, if I didn't know that before reading the book, it would have never crossed my mind. There was another female character, Joelle, and her story was extremely heartbreaking. I wish things had ended differently for her because she deserved so much better. I would also like to mention that this book has very graphic and disturbing, gory violence. I think some readers will probably be very put off by that. So, just giving a warning to those who don't like to read those types of books. Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Mini-Reviews #3

The following mini-reviews are for books and ARCs I've read. I didn't write full reviews for these for different reasons, but I hope I managed to get my feelings across in each of these mini-reviews.

Everneath by Brodi Ashton / Release: Jan. 24, 2012
I managed to read this in one day because it was that easy to get sucked into the world of Everneath. I liked the main character Nikki's determination. Sometimes she didn't make the best choices, but I can't completely fault her for that because of...Cole. He really knows how to influence a person. I don't think I quite understand him or his agenda. As for the romance, I'm glad I didn't dislike the love-triangle, but I can't say that I completely enjoyed it. I am rooting for the other guy Jack. Out of all the characters, I liked him the most, even though my connection to him wasn't very strong. Other than that, I thought it was a great start to the trilogy. Alternating between the past and present was done really well, and the ending was definitely a shocker! I look forward to reading the sequel. Rating: 4 out of 5

Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis / Release: April 17, 2012
These same words kept popping up in my mind while I was reading this book: strange, weird, lost, bizarre, crazy. Because it was! Which was not a bad thing at all. The book alternates between the POV of Elyse and Marshall as they try to regain their memories and figure out what's wrong with the too perfect town of Summer Falls. Those first few chapters... Well, let's just say it was probably one of the most intriguing beginnings to a story I've ever read! Glimmer was fast-paced and full of mystery and ghosts and lots of...heatnaps. And magic. Cannot forget the magic. It ended up being no where close to what I expected; it was such a different kind of read. I think that's why I enjoyed it so much. Another great thing about it was that it definitely seemed like a stand-alone. Props to the author! Rating: 4 out of 5

Madly by M. Leighton / Released: June 2011
This is a novelette, and I feel like this is a very promising start to the series! Madly is about mermaids, but it seems there are other fairy tale characters in it, which I thought was pretty fascinating. Madly, the main character, was awesome. I loved that she took charge. Jackson was...smoldering. Really interested in reading more about their relationship! I would have liked more of Madly's friends Aidan and Jersey. They were completely overshadowed whenever Jackson was around. Jersey and Jackson are even siblings, and it didn't feel that way. But since this is only a glimpse into the series, I'm sure we'll get more of them in the second book. I thought the writing was great, and I'm looking forward to more! I would recommend this to fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout! Rating: 5 out of 5

Review: The Marked Son by Shea Berkley

Title: The Marked Son (Keepers of Life, #1)
Author: Shea Berkley
Pages: 334
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Release Date: August 2, 2011

Seventeen-year-old Dylan Kennedy always knew something was different about him, but until his mother abandoned him in the middle of Oregon with grandparents he's never met, he had no idea what.
When Dylan sees a girl in white in the woods behind his grandparents' farm, he knows he's seen her before...in his dreams. He's felt her fear. Heard her insistence that only he can save her world from an evil lord who uses magic and fear to feed his greed for power.

Unable to shake the unearthly pull to Kera, Dylan takes her hand. Either he's completely insane or he's about to have the adventure of his life, because where they're going is full of creatures he's only read about in horror stories. Worse, the human blood in his veins has Dylan marked for death...

My Thoughts: Whoa. That was awesome.

I didn't realize how much I would end up loving The Marked Son. Before I read this book, I read some reviews and opinions seemed kind of mixed. It's amazing how different people's reading experiences can be when reading the same book. I found The Marked Son to be such a thrilling read! I was captivated from the very beginning. I thought the main and supporting characters were very likable and had great relationships. I loved the writing, and the story was unique and filled with magic, romance, action, and some surprising twists that I never saw coming. The Marked Son just really did it for me!

For years Dylan Kennedy has had dreams about the same beautiful girl. He tries not to think much about it, but that all changes when he actually sees the girl in the woods where his grandparents live. Dylan decides he has to find her, and when he does, she opens his eyes to a whole other world, a magical one. One that may explain why his mother ended up abandoning him and why he has always felt ignored and forgotten by people. But that magical dimension is dangerous and after becoming marked for death, Dylan has to decide whether to stay in the human world and forget everything he just learned or fight to protect both worlds and the girl from his dreams.

The world the girl is from is called Teag, and it's filled with fantasy and mystical beings. Most of the people from Teag are firsts. They are Keepers of Life, and they have the ability to use magic to control nature. Some are more powerful than others. There was a time when they could cross the barrier to the human world, so there are even half-bloods, people with human and first blood, in Teag. Firsts can be very selfish, and when it comes to love, they can become obsessive and end up hurting people. As one of the characters stated: "Love is our curse." There are also creatures like the tiny pux, who are a type of sídhe that are a real nuisance and can be frightening when in a large group; and the ones created by magic like the bug-like millispits, who are extremely scary because their only purpose is to kill. I thought the world of Teag was completely fascinating, and I hope to learn more about it in the next book.

As for the characters, Dylan was so great. Even though he didn't have the best life growing up, he managed to become a person who is caring, determined, and passionate. I loved that the book was from his point-of-view because I enjoy reading from the male POV, and I think the author did a wonderful job on making his voice believable. I really loved his character. Kera, the girl from Dylan's dreams, was a great character as well. We got to know her through the parts that are from her perspective, and she was pretty kick-ass. I loved how protective she was of her people and Dylan. The only thing I wanted to know more about were the dreams Dylan and Kera shared throughout the years. We get a glimpse of the dreams in the beginning and the dreams were mentioned a little throughout the book. I really rooted for Dylan and Kera, and I believe they truly love each other. But it all started with the dreams. And I would have liked more insight about those dreams just so that I could get a better understanding of their connection. Either way, I loved their relationship, and I cannot wait to know more about both Kera and Dylan in the sequel.

There were other great characters in this book: Dylan's grandparents, Bodog, Leo, Jason, Pop, Lucinda (she made me laugh!). I even liked the bad guy Navar because he actually made me feel really nervous and worried for the other characters. Not many villains can get that reaction out of me. This guy didn't hold back. However, I have a feeling there might be others who are capable of more evil and damage than Navar, so it should quite interesting finding out what Dylan and the others are going to have to go through.

The Marked Son was a fast-paced and consuming novel. With the way it ended, I'm already excited to read the rest of the trilogy (the second book is The Fallen Prince and the third is The Bastard King) to come back to the world and the characters the author has created. I pretty much loved everything about it, and it's one of my favorite YA fantasy/paranormal novels this year! A really awesome debut!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Mini-Review: Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson
Released: August 4, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books
Buy it: The Book Depository || FishpondWorld

17-year-old Lila has two secrets she's prepared to take to the grave. The first is that she can move things just by looking at them. The second is that she's been in love with her brother's best friend, Alex, since forever. Or thereabouts.After a mugging on the streets of South London goes horribly wrong and exposes her unique ability, Lila decides to run to the only people she can trust - her brother and Alex. They live in Southern California where they work for a secret organisation called The Unit, and Lila discovers that the two of them are hunting down the men who murdered her mother five years before. And that they've found them. Trying to uncover the truth of why her mother was killed, and the real remit of The Unit, Lila becomes a pawn in a dangerous game. Struggling to keep her secrets in a world where nothing and no one is quite as they seem, Lila quickly realises that she is not alone - there are others out there just like her - people with special powers -and her mother's killer is one of them...

I recently finished reading Hunting Lila and gave it 5 out of 5 stars! If you haven't read it, then you need to! :D

Reasons you should read Hunting Lila:

• It's way different than the usual paranormal! Your first indication should be the lovely cover, which doesn't feature the cliché moody-looking girl wearing a prom dress in the middle of the woods. ;) And how can you not be lured in by the cover? Those red heels are HOT!
• American characters speaking fancy British words like mum (for mom) and vest (for undershirt) and using what we Americans like to call military time. It's always good to brush up on your British! If you're a clueless American like me, of course. ;D
• Jack and Alex (do yourself a favor and click that link!). Normally I get turned off by male characters named Alex because well...I have a similar name and it's weird to me if I start swooning over a character that basically has the same name as me... But this Alex is the exception! hehe Anyway. *ahem* Jack and Alex, two very fine military men. Marines, to be exact. Damn. *fans self*
• And most importantly, you don't want to miss out on a fast-paced and action-packed story (there's guns and fast vehicles!) with awesome characters and a pretty sexy romance (NO love-triangle in sight! Heck yeah!). I totally believe this book would make a great movie or TV series. I heard film rights were already sold so it's well on it's way!

Since Hunting Lila is only available in the United Kingdom and Australia at the moment (what are you waiting for USA?), you can order it at The Book Depository or FishpondWorld, both of which provide FREE worldwide shipping! Very good deals, in my opinion. Really, you don't want to miss out on this book! I'm already eagerly anticipating the sequel Losing Lila, which will be published in August 2012. :)

Btw, Sarah Alderson is giving away an ARC of Fated, her newest paranormal that will be released January 2012! Find out how to enter by visiting the competition post on her blog HERE.

Review: Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart

Title: Blood Song (Lharmell, #1)
Author: Rhiannon Hart
Pages: 290 (ARC copy)
Publisher: Random House Australia
Release Date: September 1, 2011

I wanted to turn but I was held captive by the song on the wind. I’m coming, I told the voices. Please, wait for me.

When her sister becomes betrothed to a prince in a northern nation, Zeraphina’s only consolations are that her loyal animal companions are by her side – and that her burning hunger to travel north is finally being sated.

Already her black hair and pale eyes mark her out as different, but now Zeraphina must be even more careful to keep her secret safe. Craving blood is not considered normal behaviour for anyone, let alone a princess. So when the king’s advisor, Rodden, seems to know more about her condition than she does, Zeraphina is determined to find out more.

Zeraphina must be willing to sacrifice everything if she’s to uncover the truth – but what if the truth is beyond her worst nightmares?

My Thoughts: Blood Song first came to my attention after finding out it was written by an Australian author. (If you don't already know, I love to read Australian YA!) I became even more curious after reading some great reviews. Fantasy seems to be one of the genres that I tend to pay less attention to. I'm not sure why. I have read some young-adult fantasy that I really love and are some of my favorite books. I'm really glad I had the opportunity to read Blood Song because I'm finally able to add another YA fantasy and Aussie novel to my favorites!

For the past few years, sixteen-year-old Zeraphina has had a strange craving for blood. Although she has never tried any, there are times where she can't stop thinking about it. What's worse is that she has felt an urge, a pull to go North. She practices archery to keep herself distracted, but it's in the back of her mind all the time and every day these urges and cravings seem to slowly intensify, causing her immense pain. She finds relief when her older sister becomes engaged to a prince from Pergamia, a northern country of Brivora. By accompanying her sister to Pergamia, Zeraphina has a chance to figure out why she's drawn northwards and why she hungers for blood. But the answers she desperately wants and eventually finds end up making her life much more complicated than before.

As soon as I read the first chapter, I knew I was going to love Blood Song. Zeraphina and her sister Lilith and mother Renata were making me laugh with some of the things they said. I love when a book gets me to laugh! I didn't even know there would be a bit of humor, so it was a nice surprise. (Other readers might not find it quite as hilarious I did, but oh well, maybe it's just the kind of humor I like.) What I loved about it is that it showed how close they were as a family. It was so great to read about two sisters actually getting along. There was no rivalry between Zeraphina and Lilith, and while Renata is just a little overbearing, it's obvious she cares deeply for her daughters and only wants the best for them.

"I knew what you were the minute I saw you [...] and you seemed so fierece, so...human, that it gave me hope."

That is part of one of my favorite quotes in the book. I couldn't include the entire quote and the next line because it might be a bit spoiler-y. But I can say that is was Rodden Lothskorn speaking to Zeraphina. Rodden is the 22-year-old advisor of the Pergamian king. He's mysterious and intriguing but also arrogant and infuriating. From the moment Zeraphina meets him, they can't seem to get along. Zeraphina is clever and pretty sarcastic and she can hold her own, so her clashing with someone like Rodden wasn't surprising. Their bickering kept me laughing, and I loved it.

Zeraphina doesn't know if Rodden can be trusted and he seems to feel the same way about her. I can understand Zeraphina's frustration, since Rodden is part of the reason why her life gets even more complicated. He hints at having the answers she wants but avoids giving them to her...until she starts figuring him out. I'm very happy it didn't take the entire book to get some answers. There is still a bit of mystery from Rodden, though, because he never goes into detail about his past. I really look forward to knowing more about him in the next book, and hopefully there will be more moments between him and Zeraphina because their connection was something that I really loved about the book.

I recommend Blood Song to Kristin Cashore fans and fans of Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder. And if you're not a huge fantasy fan, you should still give this book a read! It's hard not to get sucked into the story from the very beginning. There's enough suspense and action, and the world in Blood Song is beautiful but not overwhelming. Plus, who doesn't like awesome and kickass characters? Blood Song is the first book in a trilogy, and I'm already anxious and excited for the second book. So, if you get the chance, be sure to read it!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Huge thanks to Nomes @ inkcrush for sending out her ARC!

(FYI: Blood Song can be ordered at FishpondWorld with free shipping worldwide.)

Review: The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

Title: The Probability of Miracles
Author: Wendy Wunder
Pages: 336
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: December 8, 2011

Dry, sarcastic, sixteen-year-old Cam Cooper has spent the last seven years in and out hospitals. The last thing she wants to do in the short life she has left is move 1,500 miles away to Promise, Maine - a place known for the miraculous events that occur there. But it's undeniable that strange things happen in Promise: everlasting sunsets; purple dandelions; flamingoes in the frigid Atlantic; an elusive boy named Asher; and finally, a mysterious envelope containing a list of things for Cam to do before she dies. As Cam checks each item off the list, she finally learns to believe - in love, in herself, and even in miracles.

A debut novel from an immensely talented new writer, The Probability of Miracles crackles with wit, romance and humor and will leave readers laughing and crying with each turn of the page.

My Thoughts: This is mostly what I kept thinking while reading the book: 'Hmm...' Which equaled other sentences like 'When am I going to get hooked to this story?' and 'I'm not feeling it.' Basically this book didn't quite do it for me. I really wanted to like it. In fact, I was hoping to LOVE it. But it didn't happen. I didn't hate it though. I thought it was just okay.

The Probability of Miracles reminded me in a way of an Australian young-adult title I read last month: Girl Saves Boy by Steph Bowe. Both are quirky, both have main characters who've had cancer since childhood and have a dead parent, and both even have a "Let's save a lobster!" scene (which was totally weird because what are the odds of that happening in both books?). But I liked Girl Saves Boy a bit better, although there wasn't enough closure in that one. Unlike that book, I couldn't connect with the characters or the story in The Probability of Miracles.

For the past several years of her life, sixteen-year-old Campbell (or Cam) Cooper has been fighting a battle with cancer, and after a recent visit to her doctor, it's not looking good. With the little time she has left, Cam decides she wants to do some of the things on her Flamingo List, a list she created a year earlier of all the rebellious things she wanted to do. Cam manages to complete some before her mother takes her and her younger sister on a road trip to Promise, Maine in search of a miracle. It is there in the mysterious and almost magical town of Promise that Cam meets and falls for a guy named Asher, completes her Flamingo List and creates a new one, and finds her miracle.

As I mentioned, I didn't have a connection with the characters. Cam was dry and sarcastic, and while I usually like that in a character, I never REALLY warmed up to her. And I felt like I never really knew the other characters. This was a problem because it resulted in me not being able to become emotionally invested in the story. The story was about cancer and death and miracles, and I needed that emotional connection in order to feel for the characters and understand their actions. But sadly, I couldn't get myself to become invested in that way.

I thought some things were rushed. The romance between Cam and Asher wasn't developed enough. Or maybe I didn't feel anything for it. Or maybe it was both. Either way I felt like it happened, like most of the things in this book, just so that Cam could experience what she hasn't yet been able to and probably won't be able to. I also thought some of the events that occurred were weird and random. I think the story was suppose to be bizarre (what with the town of Promise being sort of "magical" with the purple dandelions, flamingos in Maine, Killer Whales in the bay, etc.), but it was almost too bizarre. I honestly started to think that Cam was actually in a hospital bed dying and having an extravagant hallucination or dream.

So, it was a bit strange. I may not have felt much for the story or the characters, but here's what I really liked about The Probability of Miracles:

• The cover! The font is cool, the girl is beautiful, and the pink is HOT. It fit the story.
• Cam is half Samoan and half Italian. She gets her looks from the Samoan side of her family, and her Polynesian heritage was integrated into the story.
• There was a road trip. From Orlando, Florida to Promise, Maine. They stopped in South Carolina, North Carolina, and New Jersey.
• A whole chapter dedicated to a tourist trap Cam and her family stopped at in South Carolina called South of the Border! Have you guys ever been there? I have. A couple of times. It's not that I enjoy going there (it's gross and offensive and probably the CREEPIEST place I've ever been to), but it's something I'm a bit familiar with. And I thought it was hilarious that it was in this book. Here are some pictures of that place:

Notice the flamingo in the night shot on the left? ;) The bottom

picture is one of the MANY billboards found along the interstate.

Note: I did not take these pictures. Found them online.

• Writing in the ARC. It was fun. You should try it, especially if others are willing to read and write in your ARC. It made me want to finish reading it, and I was able to enjoy the story more. The picture on the right is what I wrote on the first page of chapter 12.
• The last couple of paragraphs, especially the last few lines, in the book. Those finale words... I thought it was beautiful. And heartbreaking. I wish the entire book had been written like that because it got a reaction out of me. It really made me feel for Cam and all the people who love her.

Overall, I didn't love or hate The Probability of Miracles. It was an okay read. Even though it wasn't what I was hoping it would be, I'm sure other readers will like it. I've already seen some who've read it and really liked it, and I think those who are still curious should give this book a read and make up their own mind about it. It's something you have to experience yourself.

Rating: 3 - 3.5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Penguin & LibraryThing for the ARC!

Review: Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Half-Blood (Covenant, #1)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pages: 281 (ARC copy)
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Release Date: October 18, 2011

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi pure-bloods have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.

Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:

Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.

Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

My Thoughts: Once I was done reading Daimon, I was so glad I had an ARC of Half-Blood in hand and hoped it was as good as the prequel. I can safely say that Half-Blood exceeded any expectations I had! I completely loved it! It was so awesome that it's now one of my favorite YA paranormals, and if this keeps up, I know Covenant could end up being a definite favorite series of mine!

After three years in hiding with her pure-blood mother, 17-year-old Alexandria Andros is finally back with the Covenant, a place where pure-bloods, the children of Hematoi (who are descendants of demigods), and half-bloods, the offspring of mortals and Hematoi, live away from the mortal world. It's also where some are trained as Sentinels and Guards whose purpose is to kill daimons and protect pures. Halfs also have a chance of becoming docile servants to pures if they aren't cut out for Sentinel duty or if they break the rules. As a half-blood who broke the rules by running away with her mother and living in the mortal world, Alex chances of becoming a servant are high. To gain back the trust of the leaders she has to prove her loyalty and that she has what it takes to become a Sentinel by catching up with the three years of training she missed before the end of the summer. But following the rules is easier said than done, especially when Alex starts to fall for a pure and finds out the real reason her mother took her away from the Covenant.

Daimon, prequel
to Half-Blood.

First, I have to quickly mention the setting. There are Covenants located around the country like Tennessee and New York, but this particular Covenant is located on an island off the coast of North Carolina. Being on an island sounds awesome, and I like that the author chose a fitting name for it: Deity Island. And I have to admit that I'm pretty bias to anything North Carolina, so of course I'm happy that it's located there!

Now on to the characters. Alex was just awesome! She's funny and kickass. Strong, yet vulnerable. Her interactions with the rest of the characters, like her best friend Caleb and another fellow half-blood Seth, were great. Those characters were very likable as well, and I loved that they were all important to the story. Another character I really liked was Aiden St. Delphi. He's the pure-blood who volunteered to train Alex, and if you've read Daimon, he's actually the 'older guy' Alex use to have a crush on. I knew there was a chance I would swoon over him, but I didn't realize just how much! Aiden's such a sweet and protective and patient and nice (and I could go on!) guy, and I completely understand why Alex would fall for him, even while knowing a relationship between a pure-blood and half-blood is forbidden. I absolutely loved their moments together, and it makes me so happy when I really like the main character and the lead male character. I cannot wait to read more of their interactions!

I think this is my first experience reading a YA paranormal book where the characters are descendants of gods. I'm impressed with how the author incorporated Greek Mythology into the story, and I have a feeling Half-Blood will stand out among the other YA books with Greek Mythology released recently. I've already mentioned how much I love the characters, the relationships and the romance, and I think another aspect readers will enjoy is the action. Half-Blood is filled with it! It was never boring. There are plenty of scenes where Aiden is training Alex, and I loved that Aiden did not go easy on her. There are also parts with the daimons, which were pure-bloods who changed into dangerous creatures after drinking the aether, a pure's esscene, from another pure. They're powerful and ruthless, and I never knew what to expect from them. Another was finding out the reason Alex's mother took her away from the Covenant; it was a bit surprising, and I really want to know how Alex will continue to deal with this sudden revelation and what the outcome will be.

When I finished Half-Blood, all I wanted was more! I was satisfied with everything. The author is a great storyteller, and I'm extremely excited for the second book Pure! It's being released in less than a year, but I wish it was out already. I look forward to finding out what happens next with Alex and the rest of the characters and to learn more about their world. If you're a YA paranormal fan, you don't want to miss out! Definitely check out this series!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Daimon is available for free download here.
Thanks to the author, Jennifer L. Armentrout, for the ARC tour!

Review: Winter's Shadow by M.J. Hearle

Title: Winter's Shadow
Author: M.J. Hearle
Pages: 424 (ARC copy)
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Release Date: June 1, 2011

Blake Duchamp...

He's all that Winter Adams can think of. Ever since their fateful meeting at Pilgrim's Lament. Ever since he looked at her with those emerald eyes. Ever since he saved her life.

But Blake isn't all that he seems. There is a strangeness about him, something dark and otherworldly. Something dangerous. In his attic is a secret he would kill to defend, but Winter seems to have a special ability to make him forget his duty. And he is her only protection against the gathering darkness.

The only problem is, to protect Winter, Blake must risk exposing her to an even greater danger. Himself.

My Thoughts: While taking photos inside an old, abandoned church for the school newspaper, Winter Adams is saved by a man she's never seen before in her small town after the church's roof collapses. His name is Blake Duchamp, and he's beautiful with mesmerizing green eyes. After their encounter, Winter can't stop thinking about him. She knows there is something different and dangerous about him, but she can't stay away and neither can Blake, no matter how hard he tries. As their connection grows, Blake tries to protect Winter from others who want them dead...and from the danger lurking inside himself.

I love to read young-adult books from Australia, and since I haven't read much paranormal from there, I was very excited to read Winter's Shadow. What I liked about this book was that the writing really set the mood of the story. The atmosphere is dark and creepy and mysterious. I thought it was a good setting for a paranormal novel. I found the supernatural aspect to be pretty original. It's definitely not the usual vampires, werewolves, or angels. It was something I don't believe I've ever come across in other YA paranormals. I felt like I learned enough about it to be satisfied, but not too much so that I would continue to stay curious.

While it did have it's own unique moments, I felt Winter's Shadow mostly had what is usually seen in YA paranormal romances. If I had read this about a year ago or even months ago, I probably wouldn't have minded as much. However, I'm getting to a point where I'm starting to want something more than the typical storylines and characters with instant romances that include some kind of paranormal twist. I want all of it to be unexpected, instead of just moments in the last half of the book. And if it's going to have some of the usual, then I want to feel that it stands out among the rest by the time I get to the very end. As I mentioned, it did have it's moments, but overall, this was a case where I felt it wasn't too different from other YA paranormals I have read.

I think Winter's Shadow will appeal to YA paranormal fans who aren't necessarily looking for a story that diverges from the usual characteristics found in paranormal books. The book ends in a way that should leave readers wanting more. Thankfully it seems the author is currently working on a sequel, and after what happened, I'm hoping that the sequel will be a bit different. Because if it is, I look forward to reading it.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Nic @ Irresistible Reads for sending this out! :)