Recent Reads: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Incarnate (Newwoul #1), Jodie Meadows

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Age Group / Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Published: 1/31/2012, Katherine Tegen Books (HarperCollins)

# of Pages: 384 (Hardcover)

Buy It:


Source:  I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a thoughtful and honest review. This has in no way affected my review.

Synopsis from Goodreads:  New soul

Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

No soul

Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

Heart

Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies--human and creature alike--let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.

My Review:  I think I benefitted from not having any expectations about this book going in. Yes, I had seen the INCREDIBLE cover and I knew the story involved reincarnation and the introduction of a new soul, but that was about it. I'd avoided reviews and all the hype surrounding its release. There was nothing for it to live up to, so I guess I was simply able to enjoy it.

I will admit that I found it to be a little slow and the writing style a little jerky in the beginning. And while I didn't click instantly with Ana, the story was very romantic and Sam was incredibly dreamy, so I was easily drawn in by the developing love story. I was also unable to tear myself away from the mystery that is Ana. Where did she come from? Will she be reborn? Why was she born in Ciana's place? And what the heck is up with that temple? Why do the dragons attack? Where do the Sylph come from? I felt like I was reading the Lost of books. I had to keep turning pages because there were so many questions and theories swirling around in my head.

Incarnate is unique and deeply intriguing, filled with tons of mystery and romance. And for such a slow-paced, almost laid-back book, I found my pulse accelerating an awful lot. There were just these moments that captured my attention (usually when Sam was on the page) and made me want more. More what? I don't know. I just felt like there should have been more. I don't know, I guess I'll have to wait until the end of the series to be fully satisfied.

The ending felt a bit rushed and a lot is thrown at the reader all at once. It does take some effort to wade through and process, but overall Incarnate is a great read and I highly recommend it to lovers of YA fantasy and romance. The sequel is definitely on my must read list!

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Looking into the Dark

Today was my day to post to The Indelibles website. I decided to tackle dark themes in YA literature. Here's a preview:

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Thinking of a blog post is never easy. In fact, until last week I had absolutely no idea what I would write about. You all may not know this about me but I'm intensely shy. I suffer from severe stage fright. It's ridiculous, I know. Still, it's a part of who I am and I worried that whatever I had to say would fail to meet the expectations of this wonderful group that I'm lucky to be a part of.

Fortunately something happened last week (and not the my-laptop-broke something) that provided inspiration.

I've been blogging on my own blog A New Kind of Ordinary for almost a year now. At some point during this time, my blog became a book blog. It was a natural transition given my profound and undying love for the written word. I've posted reviews on my blog regularly along with other content and never really thought my opinion was affecting anyone. I wrote mostly for me because I love to talk books.

However, last week I received not 1 but 4 pieces of hate mail. Now, I've deduced that these emails are related since, well, they all showed up in my inbox on the same day and they all made reference to a positive review of Various Positions that I had posted to Amazon that morning.

I'm a writer. I can take constructive criticism. I've conditioned myself to handle negative reviews. As a reader, I've realized that not everyone will hold the same opinion that I do about any particular book. Yet, these emails were hard to stomach. Mostly because they weren't constructive and they had little to do with my actual review. These ladies had no problem with how my review was written. They made it quite clear that the problem they had was with my promoting and praising a book that they deemed inappropriate for a young adult audience.

To continue reading, head over to my post on

The Indelibles blog!!!

Recent Reads - Pieces of Us by Margie Gelbwasser

Pieces of Us, Margie Gelbwasser

 5 of 5 Stars

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Pages: 336

Publication:  3/8/2012, Flux

Buy It:


Why I Chose It:  I received an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) from the publisher in exchange for a thoughtful and honest review.

Synopsis from Goodreads:  Two families. Four teens. A summer full of secrets.

Every summer, hidden away in a lakeside community in upstate New York, four teens leave behind their old identities…and escape from their everyday lives.

Yet back in Philadelphia during the school year, Alex cannot suppress his anger at his father (who killed himself), his mother (whom he blames for it), and the girls who give it up too easily. His younger brother, Kyle, is angry too—at his abusive brother, and at their mother who doesn’t seem to care. Meanwhile, in suburban New Jersey, Katie plays the role of Miss Perfect while trying to forget the nightmare that changed her life. But Julie, her younger sister, sees Katie only as everything she’s not. And their mother will never let Julie forget it.

Up at the lake, they can be anything, anyone. Free. But then Katie’s secret gets out, forcing each of them to face reality—before it tears them to pieces.

My Review:  So, um, wow, this one still has me reeling. I haven't read Margie Gelbwasser's debut novel, Inconvenient--I'll have to do that as soon as I can get my hands on a copy--but let me just tell you that she is a phenomenal writer. Amazing. A gift to the Young Adult literary world.

First, I have to tell you that I love books that take place in my geographic area and this one has scenes in Philadelphia and Cherry Hill, NJ. Second, I will admit that I wasn't supposed to read this book so early, but I have this habit of reading the first few sentences of every book I receive. Kind of to get a feel for if I'm going to like it or not. With this book, all it took was a few words and I was hooked. I was incapable of putting it down.

It's hard to say that I loved any of the characters because they're all so broken and warped that they're not really loveable--make no mistake, these are some majorly flawed and damaged people we're dealing with--but they're definitely sympathetic. I felt for each of them in a different way. Katie I adored because she was so perfect and happy and it is all ripped apart by a single moment of indiscretion. She was naive but still hopeful. Alex is damaged and abusive. Julia is bitter and selfish. And Kyle may have it worst of all but is the most redemptive character of the four. He's inherently good in a way that the others are not.

To say it was an intense read would be a gross understatement. It was arduous, incredible, emotional. Reading it, I felt as if I was being thrown against a wall and shattered into a million little pieces. The tension will push the reader to a breaking point. I spent the whole time with my stomach in knots, feeling the pain of the four main characters in this book, worrying and praying that everything would work out. That they would survive. By the end, I was so emotionally invested that I felt hollow when I was no longer a part of their story.

Honestly, I loved every second of it, yet it is so completely distressing that I won't recommend it for those who can't handle being torn apart by a book. Or for those who are opposed to swearing or sex in YA because there is plenty of it.

I have no idea why I'm drawn to dark stories with bleak themes, but I am and Pieces of Us gave me exactly what I wanted. So if you're like me, I suggest you get your hands on a copy as soon as it's released.

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Recent Reads - Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky #1), Veronica Rossi

 5 of 5 Stars

Genre: Young Adult, SciFi/Fantasy Dystopian

Pages: 400

Publication: 1/3/2012, HarperCollins

Buy It:


Why I Chose It: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) from the publisher in exchange for a thoughtful and honest review.

Synopsis from Goodreads:  Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY.

My Review:   I finished this one in the early morning around 2 am and I awoke hours later feeling very depressed that it was over. I felt like I'd lost a friend. I wasn't prepared for it to end--although it has a much more satisfying ending then some other series I've read recently. That being said, I will admit that it took me a while to get into the story. I found myself stopping and starting a few times, unsure of whether I liked it or not, but once it got going, I was completely enthralled.

Under the Never Sky has so much going for it. The dystopian world Veronica Rossi has created is all kinds of spectacular. You have a government within Reverie trying to cover up the loss of one of its pods and an attack on Aria, so they send her from her cozy little world into the real. Into the Death Shop.

Outside, you have a world scorched and dying from what they call Aether storms. You have tribes who use knives and arrows, and fight for land and barter for food. Not to mention cannibals and people with mutant-like powers they call Senses. This, as the name implies, is the heightened ability of one of the human senses. SO. COOL.

On top of that, you have a quietly strong heroine who is more amazed than anyone by how well she fares in the real world. And Perry. Oh Perry. How I love you. It was weird at first because his full name is Peregrine and I kept thinking about Pippin from Lord of the Rings (which I don't think is a bad thing because I have an uber crush on Billy Boyd who played him in the movie). You can't read or write. But you can hunt and you can kill and you're loyal, and brave, and noble, and oh so many wonderful things. For me, Perry is the best type of hero. Strong and kind, even if a little damaged.

This is not insta-love people. This is the real deal. Starting from a mutual disgust and hatred and building over time into something intense and beautiful.

By far one of the best post-apocalyptic/dystopian reads for me. This one is full of action and romance. I absolutely adore this story and the love between Perry and Aria. I can hardly wait for the next installment. Recommended to everyone.


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Recent Reads - Hushed by Kelley York

Hushed, by Kelley York

  5 of 5 Stars

Genre: Young Adult, Dark Thriller

Pages: 260

Publication: 12/06/2011, Entangled Publishing

Why I Chose It:  I received an ARC as part of the Hushed blog tour.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  He’s saved her. He’s loved her. He’s killed for her.

Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn’t protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he’s never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn’t matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another—Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed.

Then along comes Evan, the only person who’s ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is.

But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer’s committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn’t get what she wants… And what she wants is Evan’s death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

My Review:  Everyone lets you down, it's a fact of life, Marissa told him once. The key is to know when they're doing it because they don't care enough to try not to.

I love this line from Kelley York's debut novel, Hushed. The truth within it is undeniable. Add to it this passage--

He remembered back to several weeks ago, when Vivian stood silhouetted by the light against the windows of her apartment...

This was different. Evan was different. The light didn't wrap around him like it did with Vivian. He dominated the place it wanted to occupy, and it crowded against the outline of him, envious of his brightness.

Archer's skin prickled. His body ached to move closer. He was no better than the moonlight, wanting so desperately to share space in any way that he could.

And it's easy to see why this is one of my favorite books of the year. Can you say SWOON?

Kelley York is a brilliant writer. In Hushed she's brought to life characters so flawed, so conflicted, so human, I have trouble believing they're fictional. It's these kinds of characters, these kinds of stories that leave me giddy when I've turned the final page.

Archer and Vivian were the best of friends, but time and circumstance have turned their once innocent friendship into a toxic relationship. Vivian is selfish and manipulative and I found myself screaming at her throughout the book. Yet, everything that Vivian did to Archer that I despised, Archer did to Evan. Still, I found him to be the more likeable of the two.

It's incredible to believe a story can make you root for a murderer--as Evan tells Archer at one point, there's nothing noble about taking a life--but this one did. I found myself praying the entire time that he wouldn't be caught. I didn't want to imagine a world where Evan's love wouldn't be enough to make Archer change. I needed them to end up together. I needed love to be enough.

Hushed is dark and disturbing and definitely for an older, more mature YA audience, but it's also amazing and honest and brutal. At it's heart it's a story about friendship, loyalty, love, and redemption. It explores how far we're willing to go to save another and just how hard it is to save ourselves.


Interested in reading this one? It's on sale now. Buy a copy for yourself.

Recent Reads - The Juliet Spell

The Juliet Spell, by Douglas Rees

 3 of 5 Stars


Genre: Young Adult, Magical Realism

Pages: 304

Publication: 09/27/2011, HarlequinTeen

Why I Chose It:  I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a thoughtful and honest review.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  I wanted the role of Juliet more than anything. I studied hard. I gave a great reading for it—even with Bobby checking me out the whole time. I deserved the part.

I didn't get it. So I decided to level the playing field, though I actually might have leveled the whole play. You see, since there aren't any Success in Getting to Be Juliet in Your High School Play spells, I thought I'd cast the next best—a Fame spell. Good idea, right?

Yeah. Instead of bringing me a little fame, it brought me someone a little famous. Shakespeare. Well, Edmund Shakespeare. William's younger brother.

Good thing he's sweet and enthusiastic about helping me with the play...and—ahem—maybe a little bit hot. But he's from the past. Way past. Cars amaze him—cars! And cell phones? Ugh.

Still, there's something about him that's making my eyes go star-crossed....

My Review:  Okay, so it wasn't a literary masterpiece, but it wasn't trying to be so I don't feel the need to judge it as such. It wasn't deep or thought-provoking, it was merely what it set out to be--a fun, light, quick read. One which I found enjoyable if a little simplistic.

There were a few things that left me scratching my head, like the fact that everyone seems to so easily accept the fact that there's this boy from Elizabethan England that Miranda magically transported to present day. Fine, I knew this was going to happen but I would've expected a little more shock and disbelief before everyone just started making him feel at home.

Other than that, I really liked it. It reminded me a little of the teen-girl movies I love watching. They make little sense but it doesn't make them any less enjoyable. As long as you're not expecting too much, I think you'll find The Juliet Spell worth your time.





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Recent Reads - The Poisoned House

The Poisoned House, by Michael Ford

 4 of 5 Stars

Genre: Young Adult, Horror

Pages: 328

Publication: 08/01/2011, Albert Whitman & Company

Why I Chose It:  I received an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley in exchange for a thoughtful and honest review.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):   The year is 1856, and orphan Abigail Tamper lives below stairs in Greave Hall, a crumbling manor house in London. Lord Greave is plagued by madness, and with his son Samuel away fighting in the Crimea, the running of Greave Hall is left to Mrs Cotton, the tyrannical housekeeper. The only solace for the beleaguered staff is to frighten Mrs Cotton by pretending the house is haunted.

So when a real ghost makes an appearance - that of her beloved mother - no one is more surprised than Abi. But the spirit has a revelation that threatens to destroy Abi’s already fragile existence: she was murdered, and by someone under their very own roof.

With Samuel returned to England badly wounded, it’s up to Abi to nurse him back to health, while trying to discover the identity of the killer in their midst. As the chilling truth dawns, Abi’s world is turned upside down.

My Review:  This one gets 4 stars for the simple fact that I began reading it right before bedtime and stayed up until after 2am to finish. I really should start rating books based upon how many hours of my precious sleep time I'm willing to sacrifice.

The Poisoned House, had me turning pages into the wee hours of the morning because even though there were enough clues for me to figure out who was responsible, I couldn't for the life of me figure out why. And to be honest, I didn't want it to be true so I kept hoping I was wrong.

Still, I have to admit that this one is hard to review because it's not like there was anything about it that was over-the-top ah-Maaaz-ing. It's a simple ghost story. But I loved the fact that I wasn't overburdened with a complex plot, a large cast of characters, or an author trying to change my view of the world. It was just pure, fun, entertainment.

It's fast-paced with a very likeable main character. Abi was endearing-if a little naive-and I couldn't help but find myself invested in her story. The setting is creepy with a few chilling moments where Abi encounters the ghost. Nothing too overtly scary, although there is a particularly disturbing incident involving kittens.

The ending felt a little rushed, but it wrapped everything up nicely. Overall, it was a very enjoyable read that I would recommend to anyone in the mood for a good ghost story.

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Recent Reads - Eve by Anna Carey

Eve (Eve #1), by Anna Carey

 3 of 5 Stars

Buy It:  Barnes & Noble  /  Amazon


Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian

Pages: 318

Publication: 10/4/2011, HarperCollins

Why I Chose It:  I received an ARC in exchange for a thoughtful and honest review.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  Where do you go when nowhere is safe?

Sixteen years after a deadly virus wiped out most of Earth’s population, the world is a perilous place. Eighteen-year-old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a future as the teachers and artists of the New America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school’s real purpose—and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Arden, her former rival from school, and Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust . . . and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

In this epic new series, Anna Carey imagines a future that is both beautiful and terrifying. Readers will revel in Eve’s timeless story of forbidden love and extraordinary adventure

My Review:  Let me start by saying that 3 out of 5 stars is not a bad review. It's a good review. And just because a book isn't my favorite, it doesn't mean others won't love it. Other than that, I'm not sure what to say about this one. It wasn't bad, well some of it was bad, but for the most part it was just meh. I don't hate it. It just wasn't extraordinary. And in a year filled with extraordinary reads for me, I was left wanting.

Let's start with what I liked:

1) World Building - I felt some things were left unexplained or grazed over, but I see all sorts of potential and I'm excited to see where it goes in the remainder of the series.

2) Arden - Eve's rival at school, she takes off, fleeing school before Eve discovers the truth about her future. Once Eve escapes, she runs into Arden in the wilderness and they team up to survive. Arden was strong, brave, complex. All the things I want from a heroine. She has a back story that's more than simply her life at the school. It gave her character a depth I failed to find in Eve. I probably would have liked the story more had it centered on Arden.

Some things I found lackluster:

1) Caleb - I didn't fall in love with Caleb. Nothing about his description appealed to me. In fact, I kept thinking how dirty he must have been. Not exactly a guy I want to snuggle up to.

And now for things that really bugged me:

1) Eve - This girl was annoying. She was supposed to be super smart and special, but she made stupid mistakes. She was naive. And not in a cute, isn't-she-so-adorable sort of way. In a dangerous sort of way. She got people killed.

I get it. She is the way she is because of the life she lived and the way she was brought up, but I just couldn't get behind her and root for her. Too often I wanted to smack her.

2) It was slow. I know not everything can be told at a break-neck pace, but I found myself able to put this book down quite a few times. And when I did, I rarely had the desire to return to it. I could leave it sit for days on end without craving another paragraph, just one more chapter. That for me is how I know a book has hooked me.

3) The Ending - Really?! Seriously?! Come on now. If I'd been through all Eve and Caleb had been through, if I'd loved him the way Eve was supposed to, I never would have accepted what happened at the end. No way. I don't want to say too much, because I don't want to spoil it, but really, come on.


I will cautiously recommend this book. It's worth a read. I've seen rave reviews. And while I personally cannot gush about it, I will definitely read the sequel to see where the story is going.

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Recent Reads - Without Tess

Without Tess, by Marcella Pixley

   4.5 of 5 Stars

Buy It:  Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble

Genre:   Young Adult, Contemporary

Pages: 224

Publication:   10/11/2011, Farrar, Straus & Giroux

Why I Chose It:  I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.

Synopsis (from Good Reads):   Tess and Lizzie are sisters, sisters as close as can be, who share a secret world filled with selkies, flying horses, and a girl who can transform into a wolf  in the middle of the night. But when Lizzie is ready to grow up, Tess clings to their fantasies.

As Tess sinks deeper and deeper into her delusions, she decides that she can’t live in the real world any longer and leaves Lizzie and her family forever. Now, years later, Lizzie is in high school and struggling to understand what happened to her sister. With the help of a school psychologist and Tess’s battered journal, Lizzie searches for a way to finally let Tess go.

My Review:  Growing up my sister Katie was my best friend. My family moved around a lot so she was oftentimes the only constant in my life. She was creative, exciting, adventurous. All the things I longed to be myself. And I truly believe that I would have followed her anywhere and done anything she'd asked. Perhaps this is why Without Tess has affected me so profoundly. It was a story that immediately resonated with me and I found myself tearing up just a few short pages in.

Tess is ill, that much is clear from the pages of her journal and Lizzie's recollection of their relationship. She lives in a fantasy world. She is delusional and is in equal parts protective of and cruel to her younger sibling. She often makes Lizzie feel like she is inferior or requires that she do something dangerous in order to prove her love for Tess.

As Lizzie grows up and away from Tess, Tess becomes desperate to keep Lizzie believing in her fantasies. She doesn't want to participate in therapy or take medication that will take away the magic. Eventually, she becomes depressed and chooses to end her life, leaving Lizzie with an intense guilt for having been unable to save her sister.

Now a teenager, Lizzie must come to terms with what happened and through her sister's journal entries understand why it happened.

The prose is lyrical, poignant, incredible. Ms. Pixley knows how to create a daring, dark, and emotionally taut experience for her readers.

Her characters are well-developed, multi-faceted, complex. There were times I despised Tess's behavior and times I wanted to cry for her. And Lizzie. I adored Lizzie. Especially younger Lizzie who blindly follows Tess. Who worships her older sister. Who reminded me so much of me.

I cannot say enough about this book. I LOVED it. Seriously Ms. Pixley, I need more books like this in my life. Please. I beg of you, write more like this and I will continue reading. This story broke my heart. It's a painful look at mental illness, love, loss, and guilt that will take me a while to recover from. I recommend it for anyone who likes an emotional contemporary or who finds themselves in need of a good cry.


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Recent Reads - The Shadowing: Hunted

The Shadowing (Hunted) Hunted #1, by Adam Slater

  4 of 5 Stars

Buy It:  Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble

Genre:   Young Adult, Paranormal/Horror

Pages: 208

Publication:   9/13/2011, Egmont USA

Why I Chose It:  I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Synopsis (from Good Reads):   Once every century, the barrier between the human world and the demon realm begins to break down. Creatures gather, anxiously waiting to cross the divide, to bring death and destruction from their world to ours. This time is called The Shadowing.

Callum Scott has always known that there is a supernatural world out there—he’s seen ghosts for as long as he can remember. Lately, he’s had visions of children being brutally murdered by a terrifying creature. Then the visions start coming true, and Callum realizes that he’s being hunted, too.

Driven by a dark destiny, he must stand against the demons that threaten our world.

And The Shadowing is almost here. . .

My Review:  Love. So. Much. Love. This book was amazing and creepy and exactly what I needed following a string of lackluster reads. I picked this book up from NetGalley because the synopsis sounded awesome (the cover does nothing for me. Sorry. I really think a new cover would benefit this book.), but I was apprehensive going in. However The Shadowing did not disappoint.

I don't want to give too much away because there is a lot of stuff the reader should experience on their own. But I will tell you that it's dark, shocking, and all-around full of awesome. And it's DIFFERENT. For one, it's told from the POV of a teenage boy. It was super refreshing to not only find a male mc, but one that I could connect with and root for. I generally read a lot of adult novels as well as young adult, but I've been on a straight YA kick for some time now, so this has been seriously lacking in my reading.

It was sufficiently disturbing and the pacing was excellent. Slater's writing style was good, skin-crawlingly (yeah, I made that word up. So?) good. It was sometimes repetitive, but not enough to distract me from my overall enjoyment of the book. And the plot--again, just so much love. I can't wait for the sequel, Skinned!!

I'm going to go ahead and recommend this book to anyone who likes a darker paranormal story. Those looking for a heavily romanticized read with gorgeous/sparkling supernatural creatures should look elsewhere.

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Recent Reads - Deviant

Deviant, by Adrian McKinty

DNF - Did Not Finish

Genre: Young Adult, Thriller

Pages: 368

Publication: 10/1/2011, Amulet Books

Why I Chose It:  I selected this ARC from NetGalley because the cover was creepy and the synopsis sounded promising.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Danny Lopez is new in town. He made a mistake back home in Las Vegas, and now he has landed at an experimental school in Colorado for “tough cases.” At the Cobalt Charter School, everything is scripted—what the teachers say, what the students reply—and no other speaking is allowed.

This supercontrolled environment gives kids a second chance to make something of themselves. But with few freedoms, the students become sitting ducks for a killer determined to “clean up” Colorado Springs.

My Review:  Okay, since this was a DNF this review will be short. I'm simply going to state my reasons for not completing the book.

1) There was too much head-hopping. This book randomly switched perspective in the middle of scenes. In the very first chapter it went from the killer's point of view to the cat's. And it didn't stop there. I'd be following along with Danny and then all of a sudden be inside his stepfather's or his mother's head. It was hard to follow and kept me from really connecting with ANY of the characters.

2) Characters were flat. I got a hundred pages in and I still had no sense of who the characters were, nor did I care what happened to them.

3) Dialogue was unrealistic. For me, this book just never really captured the YA voice. The dialogue and Danny's internal thoughts seemed more like those of an adult.

Overall, the book just wasn't for me. I know some people have raved about it, but I can't recommend it.


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Recent Reads - LIE

LIE, by Caroline Bock

 3.5 of 5 Stars

Buy It:  Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble

Genre:   Young Adult, Contemporary

Pages:  224

Publication:   8/30/2011, St. Martin's Griffin

Why I Chose It:   I was given an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) in return for an honest review.

Synopsis (from Good Reads):   Everybody knows, nobody’s talking. . . .

Seventeen-year-old Skylar Thompson is being questioned by the police. Her boyfriend, Jimmy, stands accused of brutally assaulting two young El Salvadoran immigrants from a neighboring town, and she’s the prime witness. Skylar is keeping quiet about what she’s seen, but how long can she keep it up? 

But Jimmy was her savior. . . .

When her mother died, he was the only person who made her feel safe, protected from the world. But when she begins to appreciate the enormity of what has happened, especially when Carlos Cortez, one of the victims, steps up to demand justice, she starts to have second thoughts about protecting Jimmy. Jimmy’s accomplice, Sean, is facing his own moral quandary. He’s out on bail and has been offered a plea in exchange for testifying against Jimmy.

The truth must be told. . . .

Sean must decide whether or not to turn on his friend in order to save himself. But most important, both he and Skylar need to figure out why they would follow someone like Jimmy in the first place.


My Review:  Lies can take you a lot of places, but never back.

This is my favorite line in the whole book. It speaks to the part of me that knows that even when the truth is hard, lying--and living with that lie--is harder.

The story is told from multiple, and by multiple I mean like ten, viewpoints which I thought was going to be disconcerting but wasn't. I actually liked getting to see the story from different angles. To get a sense of how a vicious hate crime affects everyone involved. How a community as a whole can be ripped apart.

While I liked Skylar, her relationship with Jimmy is full-on dependence and is borderline abusive. Not physically, but mentally. There's a moment in the story where Skylar convinces herself that everything will be okay once she sees Jimmy. That Jimmy will tell her what to think. I realize this kind of relationship exists in real life, but for me it's still a little hard to swallow.

Other than that I spent a lot of the time hating the remaining characters in this story, except for Skylar's father. He had his flaws, but in the end he tried to redeem himself.

I enjoyed the writing style in this one. It was sharp, concise, tense, but it was a lot of telling. You spend most of the story inside the characters head as they recall the night the beating took place and consider the consequences. If you're looking for action, look elsewhere.

Overall it's worth a read for anyone that enjoys a character-driven, emotional, contemporary novel, but it won't make it to my favorites shelf.

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Recent Reads - Shut Out

Shut Out, Kody Keplinger

 3.5 of 5 Stars

Buy It:  Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble

Genre:   Young Adult, Contemporary

Pages:   288

Publication:   9/5/2011, Poppy

Why I Chose It:   I received an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) through Goodreads First Reads.

Synopsis (from Good Reads):   Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention

Then Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. But what Lissa never sees coming is her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling...

My Review:  Well Cash Sterling is officially my Fictional Guy Crush of the Week. There should be an award for that. If there was, I'd vote for Cash. I adore him. I just wanna cover him in something sweet and lick it off.

That being said, I will tell you that he was the biggest highlight of a book that while cute, sweet, and oftentimes funny, is not one of my favorites. In fact, I finished this a few weeks ago and, aside from my deep love for Cash, I'm having trouble remembering what I felt about it.

Bear in mind that this is in no way a reflection on the writing ability of the author. I haven't read DUFF, Kody Keplinger's debut novel, but I can tell you from Shut Out that she is a phenomenal talent. I just don't know if I cared for Lissa. She was bossy, neurotic, and decided to use sex as a weapon.

I can't say I blame her. Her boyfriend was a jerk. I knew this despite the number of times she tried to convince me that he was a nice guy.

Her control issues were at times overwhelming and made me want to scream at her. But none of this deterred me from flipping through the pages at a rapid pace. I couldn't put it down. It's written that well.

So, I guess the bottom line is that while I failed to connect with Lissa, I still connected with the story line. I still laughed my way through and wanted to see her end up with Cash in the end. I would definitely recommend to those who enjoy a good romantic comedy for teens.


Fair warning--there is talk of sex and a few steamy scenes involving Cash, but you should know this from the synopsis. It's the basis for the whole plot.

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Recent Reads - The Secret Year

The Secret Year, Jennifer R. Hubbard

 5 of 5 Stars

Buy It:  Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble

Genre:   Young Adult, Contemporary

Pages:   192

Published:   1/7/2010, Viking Juvenile

Why I Chose It:   I loved the cover and the paperback edition of this book is super smooth. It feels like satin. I was rubbing it in the YA section of Barnes & Noble and I'm pretty sure I looked like a crazy freak. But it's just so awesome.

Synopsis (from Good Reads):   Colt and Julia were secretly together for a year, and no one ever knew, not even Julia's boyfriend. Why would they-they were from two different crowds. Julia lived in her country club world and Colt . . . didn't.

Then Julia dies in a car accident. Colt is devastated but can't mourn openly, and he's tormented that he may have played a part in her death. And when Julia's journal ends up in his hands, he is forced to relive their year together-just when he is trying to forget. The problem is, how do you get over someone who was never really yours to begin with?

My Review:  Wow. I wasn't even supposed to be reading this book yet. I certainly hadn't planned on finishing it in one day and posting this review so soon, but here I am. And the only reason I can give you is that after reading through the first few pages I couldn't stop and once I'd finished I just wanted to tell the whole world to read this book.

The story is told from Colt's point of view with snippets from Julia's journal entries. From the beginning Colt was a character I could relate to. I'd been there. Of course nothing as traumatic as the person I loved dying. But I've been unable to grieve for the end of a relationship because as far as the world was concerned, it had never existed.

It's not an easy position to be in. Pretending you don't hurt. Trying not to flinch at the mention of their name. Wondering it they ever truly loved you or just the idea of being with you and the freedom from reality which that entailed.

For Colt, Julia's death has left him broken, but not in the pitiful my-whole-life-is-over-I-can't-exist-without-you kind of way I've seen portrayed in other books (Hubbard captures the male POV perfectly). He's left with questions he thinks he'll never know the answer to, until Julia's brother gives him Julia's diary. Her words, her voice, haunt him as he tries to get over her and move on with his life.

I truly fell in love with this book. With Colt. With his struggle to understand his place with Julia and his place in a world which is divided by class. It's incredible. Raw and emotional. Heart-achingly beautiful. The kind of writing that sticks with you long after you've finished reading the final page.

Fair warning: there is sex. And swearing. And drinking. To me it was absolutely necessary to the storyline and adds to the authenticity of the characters, but if this is something you shy away from when reading YA, this book may not be for you.

Other than that there is not a single person I wouldn't recommend this book to. It is now one of my favorites. A book I will visit time and time again.


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Recent Reads - Possess

Possess, Gretchen McNeil

 5 of 5 Stars

Buy It: Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble

Genre:   Young Adult, Horror/Paranormal

Pages:   384

Published:   8/23/2011, Balzer + Bray

Why I Chose It:   For my reasons see my TBR post from last Thursday. There's a hardcover giveaway!!!

Synopsis (from Good Reads):     Fifteen-year-old Bridget Liu just wants to be left alone: by her mom, by the cute son of a local police sergeant, and by the eerie voices she can suddenly and inexplicably hear. Unfortunately for Bridget, it turns out the voices are demons – and Bridget has the rare ability to banish them back to whatever hell they came from.

Terrified to tell people about her new power, Bridget confides in a local priest who enlists her help in increasingly dangerous cases of demonic possession. But just as she is starting to come to terms with her new power, Bridget receives a startling message from one of the demons. Now Bridget must unlock the secret to the demons' plan before someone close to her winds up dead – or worse, the human vessel of a demon king.

My Review:  So here is a list of things that definitely did not happen while I was reading Possess:

1) I did not have to sleep with the lights on.

2) I did not fall asleep clutching my rosary & mumbling a prayer.

3) I did not wake up in the middle of the night in a pitch black room to find glowing eyes staring at me.

4) And I certainly did not screech, jump out of bed and knock over my nightstand only to realize those eyes belonged to my cat.

Okay, so clearly all of those things did in fact happen. But it's not my fault. I blame Gretchen McNeil. This book is creepy. Creepy, and engrossing, and wonderful. I couldn't get enough. And this is another book I went into with extremely high expectations so it had to be awesome to satisfy me.

Bridget is an incredible heroine. I can't even explain how much I loved her. She reminded me of myself at that age. You know, if I'd have been a kick-ass teenage exorcist instead of a girl who would've locked herself away if the walls had begun talking to her. She's intelligent, funny, and snarky. I never once found myself questioning her behavior. I could gush about her forever, but I'm going to force myself to move on.

The supporting cast is equally as amazing. Each character fully fleshed out with their own little intricacies and secrets. I adored Matt. He's handsome, charming, and super supportive of Bridget even as she does her best to push him away.

The story line is truly original. It wasn't the same old story with different characters. I was fully engaged, anxiously turning pages to see what would happen next. There are lots of spine-tingling moments and action scenes that had me holding my breath and biting my nails. The book definitely came to a successful conclusion, and as far as I know it's not part of a series, however I'd love to see more of Bridget and her world.

If you're a fan of YA horror or paranormal, or simply a fan of incredible writing, this book is for you.


Note: If you haven't entered my giveaway, what are you waiting for? You need this book. Open until 9/15/2011

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Winner - The Secret Year Giveaway!!!!

And the Winner of my first ever blog giveaway & a copy of The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard is...

 

Keriann Greaney Martin




Please email me your mailing address at Melanie(dot)M(dot)McCullough(at)gmail(dot)com and I will send you this beautiful book. You'll love it!!!

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Recent Reads - Enclave

Enclave (Razorland #1), Ann Aguirre

 4 of 5 Stars

Genre:   Young Adult, Science Fiction/Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian

Pages:   259

Published:   4/12/2011, Feiwel & Friends

Why I Chose It:   It was recommended by a friend who assured me I would love it. I like the cover. It might not stop me in my tracks in a store, but it definitely has the whole post-apocalyptic feel to it.

Synopsis (from Good Reads):   WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE

In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first, she thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.

My Review:  I am actually surprised by how much I liked this book. I mean I knew going into it that there were zombie-like creatures known as Freaks and that alone should have appealed to me, but for some reason I went in thinking that there was no way the author would pull it off in a way that would satisfy me.

I was dead wrong. Deuce is kick-ass from the start. She wastes no time trying to find her inner strength. She's been trained from a young age to kill freaks, and that she does. And does it well. She's been taught to be strong, hard. To not let little things like emotions get in way of the greater good of the enclave. Yet there are moments when her innate compassion boils to the surface and you see that there is more to her than just being a Huntress.

Her relationship with Fade builds over time as the two are forced through one life threatening ordeal after the next. I loved Fade. Physically he may not have been my type (I think it was mostly his hair. I don't like guys with long hair and his was described as falling into his face at one point) but he's strong and complex. He's a fighter. A survivor. There was no doubt in my mind at any point in time that he would die if it meant saving Deuce.

I will tell you that it wasn't perfect. There were moments where I felt the author was repeating herself. Almost as if she didn't trust that I was intelligent enough to remember something she'd said just a few paragraphs/pages back. And on occassion events transpired to help our heroes that seemed a little too convenient.

Then of course there was the love triangle. I didn't like it. The third player should never have been able to come between Deuce and Fade. There was absolutely nothing redeemable about him. Although Deuce may have found things in him to respect and admire, I found him deplorable and never would have been able to forgive his actions and/or inaction the way she was able. In fact, I found myself waiting and wanting for the Freaks to get him. But there was enough action and suspense to warrant a higher rating.

Bottom line, if you like a kick-ass heroine and a fast paced thrill ride, Enclave is for you. I was through it in just a few hours and hungry for more. Highly recommended.


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Recent Reads - Matched

Matched, Ally Condie

 5 of 5 Stars

Genre:   Young Adult, Sci-Fi Dystopian

Pages:   384

Published:   11/30/2010, Dutton Juvenile

Why I Chose It:   Um, look at the cover. Pretty. And shiny. Do I need to say more or are you guys starting to understand my addiction?

Synopsis (from Good Reads):    Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

My Review:  Oh. My. God. I cannot even begin to describe how much I loved this book. It was everything I could have ever wished for from a dystopian and more. I just want to squeeze it. Or sleep with it under my pillow until I'm clever enough to dream up something as brilliant.

It was tender and touching in a way that reminded me of my profound love of Lois Lowry's The Giver. The Giver is the book that changed my life. The one I read at a young age that made me want to be a writer. Made me want to affect people with words. So to find a book reminiscent of it has made me insanely happy.

Condie's writing is superb. Beautifully crafted. Every word has a point. A purpose. And was specifically chosen to create a society that is easy to understand, destined to be hated, and impossible to forget. From the very beginning, there were parts that made me tear up. Which is not something I do easily. My heart ached for Cassia and for Ky. For the choices that were seemingly beyond their control.

I do have to warn you that this is not a Hunger Games-style dystopian. The pace isn't slow, but it's steady. Gradually building until the final climax. There is no overt action, it's all done very subtly, but the story is intense nonetheless. It's haunting and thought provoking. It's an incredible love story set against the backdrop of a society that believes choice leads to failure. And in a way, they're right. The instant Cassia begins making choices her once "perfect" world begins to crumble. But it is the freedom to choose that makes us human.

I was always intrigued, wondering when the Society would exert their control and attempt to destroy the growing love between Cassia & Ky, but in the end, it all comes down to choice and the consequences of those choices.

It's just amazing. I can always gauge my love of a book by my willingness to lose sleep over it. This one I read in one sitting, staying up until about 3 am to finish despite the fact that I was ill. Recommended to everyone. I personally feel it should be read and adored by the world.

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Recent Reads - Loramendi's Story

Loramendi's Story, Angela Carlie

 3.5 of 5 Stars

Genre:   Young Adult, Paranormal Romance

Pages:   210

Published:   8/7/2011, DarkSide Publishing

Format: e-ARC

Why I Chose It:   I was given an e-ARC by the author but it was an e-ARC I had requested after reading about the novel on the author's website.

Synopsis (from Good Reads):   Lora wants nothing more than to be the wind behind sexy windsurfer Chance's sails. But fulfilling that wish just became...complicated. After seventeen years of normal life, someone wants Lora and her family dead. And the attempted massacre isn't nearly as strange as the reason behind it.

My Review:  Loramendi's Story is the first in the new Lord of the Shifters series from Angela Carlie and it shows. The novel ends just when I was most anxious to see what happened next. I found myself staring at the page on my e-reader willing more words to appear.

But this is a good thing. Despite a rocky beginning in which there was a few moments where the writing and description choices made me cringe and pulled me from the story, by the time it ended I wanted more.

Lora was occasionally a little gross. At one point belching several times in a friend's face and another describing a moment in which she didn't care if she was swallowed whole and pooped out. I know they are probably real life actions and thoughts, but they weren't exactly moments I wanted in a paranormal romance.

However the story was intriguing enough to keep me turning the pages. And Chance more than made up for any of Lora's shortcomings. He was tall, dark, handsome, and just as dreamy and protective as I want my heroes to be.

All in all it was a really good story that introduced me to an interesting new world. A great start to a series that I definitely want to see more of.

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