Review - Infinite Days

by Rebecca Maizel
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Date of Publication: August 2010
Format: ARC
Pages: 336
Source: Goodreads giveaway

From Goodreads:

“Throughout all my histories, I found no one I loved more than you... no one.”

Those were some of Rhode’s last words to me. The last time he would pronounce his love. The last time I would see his face.

It was the first time in 592 years I could take a breath. Lay in the sun. Taste.

Rhode sacrificed himself so I, Lenah Beaudonte, could be human again. So I could stop the blood lust.

I never expected to fall in love with someone else that wasn’t Rhode.

But Justin was... daring. Exciting. More beautiful than I could dream.

I never expected to be sixteen again... then again, I never expected my past to come back and haunt me...

This ARC was the first book I had ever won in a giveaway. I thought the premise of the story was interesting as I have seen few stories where vampires can become human, so I was excited to see where this book would go.

First, the writing is elegant - that's the only way I can describe it. This did make for a slower read, but an enjoyable one. After all, the story is from the perspective of a former vampire queen who has been around for over five hundred years, so it would have been ill-fitting if she spoke and thought as if she were a modern teenager. The whole story reminded me slightly of Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles, the Gothic tone mingled with the current times, not to mention the struggle of good and evil that the narrator of the story, Lenah, has within herself.

Speaking of that former vampire queen, Lenah is a great character. I liked seeing the world through her eyes and watching her compare her new human experiences with her old vampire ones, which were mostly seen through flashbacks. These flashbacks were something I was worried about initially, as I usually don't enjoy flipping between a current plot and past events. However, the transitions were smooth and the fact that it was simply part of Lenah's character to think on her past life made them interesting and did not slow the story down. Truthfully, the story is not fast-paced or action heavy, but the story and the character of Lenah were written so well that I did not mind. I thought the learning experiences Lenah goes through were believable and really made her character endearing.

As for the other main characters, I deeply wish Rhode were a larger part of the plot. He does set the whole thing in motion, but we really only get to see him a little and mostly in flashbacks. Justin, the main love interest, was personally disappointing. As a reader, I want to fall for him as much as the main character does, but I was never sold on Justin. I thought it odd that someone who could date the typical mean girl and tease others along with her would be chosen by a smart and cultured Lenah. After reading this post by the author, however, I better understood why Justin was a good choice for Lenah, though I really didn't care any more for him than before.

I also had an issue with Justin's mean girl ex-girlfriend, Tracy. Though Lenah and her do not become true friends, the fact that Tracy's character also changes without any cause or explanation was hard to believe.  Sure, love or new boyfriends can change people, but what made them that way in the first place? Was she truly an awful person or just insecure? Maybe I'm being picky, but it was a bit too neatly tied up for me. I wouldn't have minded if the change in Tracy had been explored or explained in some way.

The character I am most looking forward to seeing more of is Vicken, Lenah's other lover from her vampire life. We get to see Lenah's view of him while he was still human and then we get to see him as a vampire when the action starts towards the end of the book. In both forms he made no excuses for what or who he was, and he seemed to be the man's man type, which I liked. What happened with him at the end has me really intrigued to see where the plot leads and how it involves him.

Overall, Infinite Days is a good novel and an elegant story of an old vampire's new life. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes paranormal YA and is looking to sink their teeth into something different. While I had my issues, the lovely writing, great main characters, and unique angle on vampires makes this a novel worth trying, and don't be surprised if you find yourself immersed in Lenah's world and end up wanting more. Speaking of more, look for book two in the Vampire Queen trilogy, Stolen Nights, coming in early 2013. 

Also, if you want to see something awesome, click here to see the author, Rebecca Maizel, read an excerpt from Infinite Days. She really captures the tone and character of Lenah, which shouldn't be surprising since she did create her. Go watch and enjoy!

Where you can buy Infinite Days:

Amazon / Books A Million / Barnes & Noble

*Note: This review originally appeared in its unrevised format on Writer Quirk.

Review - Stormdancer

by Jay Kristoff
publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
date of publication: September 18, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 322
source: Netgalley

From Goodreads:

A DYING LAND
The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST
The hunters of Shima’s imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger—a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

As with most books that come with much hype, people seem to either love or hate Stormdancer.  I knew that my personal tastes in books made for a high likelihood that I would be of the former group, but you just never know.  I should trust my intuition more often, however, as I thoroughly enjoyed Stormdancer for many different reasons.  I've seen the lauds and the complaints, but I have some of my own perspective that best explains why I had such a great time reading this book.  I just hope I can fully capture my thoughts in this review space.

Stormdancer is comprised of a cast of characters that I found to be utterly fantastic.  From Yukiko, the determined girl with a bitter past to Buruu, the grumpy, wise-cracking griffin (known as thunder tigers in the book), it is impossible to not be absorbed into the tale.  Each character has their own distinct personality, voice, and motive, all of which serve to fully form them within the reader's mind.  There is enough humor, emotion, and passion to keep a reader fully entertained.  These characters are more than capable of taking you along on their journeys.

When it comes to the way in which Stormdancer is written, there seems to be much difference of opinion between readers.  I can't speak for others, but I can share my observations and what I came away from the book with.  The way in which the story is laid down and the characters speak may be a bit difficult to grasp, at first, but I did notice that soon a certain rhythm began to emerge that made a lot of sense due to the type of story being told.  The way in which Yukiko and Buruu communicate is fascinating and I had a nice little pondering session to myself wondering whether Buruu actually understood the words being said by those around him or whether the two were speaking their own language, as it were.  I know what I think, but in the end, it is up to you to decide.  The setting is so completely vivid that I could easily picture every inch of this desolate country in my mind.  The descriptions given for the damage done to the land is conveyed very, very well.  It is difficult not to be affected by such a thought.

To sum it up, Stormdancer is one of those books that, when you put it down, makes you say, "Whoa."  I won't tell you how many surprises Jay Kristoff has embedded in Stormdancer, nor will I tell you at what part of the books these surprises occur.  Suffice it to say that I absolutely didn't see it coming, which is always so much fun.  If I'm not able to guess what will happen by the half-way point, I'm a very happy reader.  If you want a book full of action, awesome characters, writing that is almost lyrical in its narration, and one bad-ass griffin, then you definitely NEED this book.  Go.  Pick up Stormdancer.  You know you wanna.

Buy Stormdancer at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This digital review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

 

Stormdancer Blog Tour - Interview with Jay Kristoff

Hello, hello!  Welcome to today's installment of the Stormdancer Blog Tour!  Today I have the pleasure of sharing an interview with none other than Jay Kristoff, the author of Stormdancer (to be released in the US on Tuesday!), with all of you.  I hope you enjoy the interview.  The man definitely has some awesome answers!

Marla: Hi, Jay, and welcome to StNC! Thanks for stopping by today. My first question to you is: How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

Jay: Tall, angry, nerdy.  

Marla: On a good day, I'm two of the above.  If my neighbors are involved, then I hit the trifecta.

I love hearing about sources of inspiration. Where did the idea for Stormdancer originate?

Jay: It all started with a dream I had about a griffin with broken wings, and a little boy trying to teach it to fly. But “I had a dream…” is the SINGLE lamest answer and author can give to that question, so I’m going to make up a better one. Something with ninjas. Sex ninjas, maybe. Although I’m not 100% what it is sex ninjas do… 

I liked the idea of doing a steampunk book, but I felt like Victorian England had been done, and a lot of steampunk just seemed to be paranormal romance dressed up in a frock coat and goggles. No-one seemed to be playing with other cultures and steampunk from what I could see (remember I wrote Stormdancer nearly three years ago) so it seemed like a good way to have the book stand out from the pack. A lot of steampunk seems to look back on the advent of industrialization as some marvellous, liberating event in history, and gloss over all that unpleasantness about child exploitation and slavery and whatnot that came with it. I wanted to tell a story where the machine was the enemy. Where technology wasn’t just killing people, but the land they lived in. 

Not that I’m yearning for the days of rural bliss where we had to grow our own potatoes and died of tooth infection at age 24, but yeah… 

Anyways, sex ninjas were involved somehow.  

Marla: My father used to grow potatoes.  I can attest that there are much more fun things to do.

There are authors that one just loves to read and authors that make you want to write into the wee hours. Who are your biggest influences when it comes to writing?

Jay: William Gibson. Alan Moore. George Orwell. Stephen King (I was reading him when I was 10, which apparently makes him YA – who knew) Great storytellers and character writers like David Simon or David Knauf. And strangely enough, a lot of the lyricists of the bands I listen to. Telling a story in 100,000 words is easy. Telling in in three minutes with a few dozen is hard. 

Marla: This is all too true.

Being a writer in the early stages of a novel, I always wonder about authors' publishing experiences. What was your road to publication like?

Jay: I kinda half-assed it into being an author. It’s embarrassing to admit - I see a lot of authors telling stories about how they wrote their first book at 13 and it’s all they ever wanted to do. But to be honest, I always dreamed of being a rock star, or maybe the corrupt dictator of a small island nation, and when I was 13 I was too busy fantasizing about Dr Beverly Crusher in Star Trek: the Next Generation to write down much of anything….

As I got older, I wrote as a hobby, but never took it seriously. I worked in an advertising agency, and the last thing you want to do after writing TV scripts all day is come home and write more words. My first book began as a scene I scribbled down when I was bored at work, and somehow over the next 18 months, it became a book. A screaming train-wreck of a book, granted, but still a book. I discovered that I really liked the process, so I decided to get serious, learn how publishing actually worked and see where it took me.

After I wrote STORMDANCER, it all seemed to click. I got four offers of rep within a couple of months, and we had three publishing houses bidding for the book at auction. It’s just one of those moments of weirdness – after bumbling and stumbling around in the dark for five years, everything seemed to fall into place. In hindsight it happened very quickly, although I still remember having fulls out to literary agents, and every day waiting for a reply seemed like forever. 

Marla: It must be said: Griffins are fan-freaking-tastic! However, some readers may be curious about the choice to include griffins instead of dragons. Care to share your reason for the awesome decision?

Jay: Huzzah, another griffin fan! :D

Dragons get done a lot. Like, A LOT. I wanted to do something different with this book. I did a Japanese-inspired story because everyone was doing Steampunk in Victorian London. I did griffins because everyone was doing dragons. The market is so competitive now, there are simply SO. MANY. BOOKS out there vying for attention. If you write what everyone else is writing, you have to be very lucky to stand out, among agents, publishers, and  eventually readers.

The good news is, when everybody is doing the same thing, is really easy to stand out – you just write something different. Tell someone you wrote a steampunk book, they’ll say “Oh, cool.” Tell them you wrote a Japanese steampunk book, they’ll say “Oh, cooooooool!” 

Marla: Well, I want to say thank you for deciding to write about them!  I love seeing a book with a not-often-done creature angle within.

Quick! What are you reading and how would you describe it in a sentence?

Jay: I just finished The Book Thief by Markus Zusak yesterday. I’d describe it as “A beautiful book about the wonderful and terrifying power of words”. I really enjoyed it. Great book.

I think the next book I read will be King Rat by China Mieville. Or maybe Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. Not sure yet. Both are waiting on my nightstand. They might get into a knife fight soon (my money is on China).

Marla: That would be an interesting knife fight, indeed.

I have 1 last question for you. You find yourself in a foreboding wood and stumble upon a really pissed off griffin. Maiming is in the near future unless you act quickly. What would you do?

Jay: I think I might get eaten. Sadly, unlike Yukiko, I can’t speak to animals telepathically. :(

I’m really tall, so maybe I could grab a handful of branches, stand really still and hope it mistook me for a tree? Although I’m not sure if griffins mark their territory like dogs. Being mistaken for a tree might be all bad… 

Marla: Thanks for a great interview, Jay. Best of luck and congratulations on both your TorUK release and your rapidly approaching US release day!

Jay: Thanks so much for having me!

About the Author

photo by Christopher Tovo

Jay Kristoff is a tragic nerd, but has spent the last ten years dumping expeez into his Intimidation stat, with the result that nobody is brave enough to say it to his face. He grew up in the second most isolated capital city on earth and fled at his earliest convenience, although he’s been known to trek back for weddings of the particularly nice and funerals of the particularly wealthy. He spent most of his formative years locked in his bedroom with piles of books, or gathered around dimly-lit tables rolling polyhedral dice. Being the holder of an Arts degree, he has no education to speak of.

Jay prostituted his writing arm in the soulless crack-house that is “creative advertising” for over ten years. He’s hocked petrol guzzling monstrosities to sexually inadequate men, salty condiments to schoolchildren, and toilet paper to anyone with a bottom. He has won several awards that nobody outside the advertising industry gives a toss about.

Jay’s debut novel, STORMDANCER, a Japanese-inspired steampunk fantasy, will be published by Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press & Tor UK in 2012 as the first installment of THE LOTUS WAR trilogy. He is represented by Matt Bialer at Sanford J Greenburger Associates.

Jay is 6’7 and has approximately 13870 days to live. He abides in Melbourne with his secret agent kung-fu assassin wife, and the world’s laziest Jack Russell.

He does not believe in happy endings.

  
Where to Find Him: Site / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

About the Book

A DYING LAND
The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST
The hunters of Shima’s imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger—a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

Add Stormdancer on Goodreads 

Review - Glitch

by Heather Anastasiu
publisher: St. Martin's Press
date of publication: August 7, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 371
source: Netgalley

From Goodreads:

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

I'm not even sure where to start with this review.  Glitch left me a confused, frustrated mess as I did my best to finish the entire book.  I did so, but upon finishing I realized that very few things struck me as enjoyable.  Some of the quirks and occurrences gave me much pause and I debated whether or not I wanted to continue.  So much was uncomfortable to read and I couldn't help but wonder why such a thing would be included, especially since the main character never really realized the severity of the situation.  She didn't seem to learn from it, so why?  I still don't know the answer to that question, but perhaps someone with different insight than me can share their opinion with me.

I was not at all impressed with the main character, Zoe.  She just rubbed me the wrong way from the beginning.  If she's not freaking out about the spores found above ground, she's allowing herself to be treated like a possession by her wannabe boyfriend, Max.  He practically marked his "territory" and acted like a huge horse's behind.  I know Zoe is inexperienced in real human emotion, but you would think such behavior would frighten even the most naive girl.  As if that wasn't enough, she didn't seem to take anything away from the experience.  What was the point of including a verbally abusive, possessive ahole if she isn't going to realize the situation and impart a warning.  She just goes along with Max's constant bursts of anger.  It all left me with a sour taste in my mouth.  Adrien was the only character with even a shred of common sense, but one character just isn't enough to carry the whole plot, especially when that character is a supporting one.

I had several more questions in regard to the logistics of the plot.  For instance, the citizens of the Community are supposed to be continually wired in to an internet-like network that keeps them complacent.  This whole thing starts because Zoe is becoming more and more prone to disconnecting and acting "anomalous."  What I wonder is just how does she manage to fly under the radar when she gives herself away in many ways throughout the story?  It just didn't seem very consistent with the idea behind the plot.  The only piece that truly evoked interest in me were the powers that began to manifest when Zoe glitched more and more.  That part was actually kind of fun and lead to the one moment that I actually liked her.

Overall, I just wasn't a fan of Glitch.  It just didn't manage to suspend disbelief, which is a fatal flaw in any book.  If you don't often get hung up on small details, you may enjoy this book provided you don't mind the character's personality and behaviors.  As for myself, I wasn't very enthusiastic about it and don't yet know if I will continue with the series.  If the second book continues in the same vein as the last 2 or 3 chapters, I would consider it, but I just can't deal with a repeat experience.

Buy Glitch at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This digital review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - Taken at Dusk

by C.C. Hunter
publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
date of publication: April 10, 2012
format: paperback
pages: 380
source: purchased

From Goodreads:

Step into Shadow Falls, a camp for teens with supernatural powers.  Here friendship thrives, love takes you by surprise, and our hearts possess the greatest magic of all.

Kylie Galen wants the truth so badly she can taste it. The truth about who her real family is, the truth about which boy she’s meant to be with—and the truth about what her emerging powers mean.  But she’s about to discover that some secrets can change your life forever…and not always for the better.

Just when she and Lucas are finally getting close, she learns that his pack has forbidden them from being together.  Was it a mistake to pick him over Derek? And it’s not just romance troubling Kylie. An amnesia-stricken ghost is haunting her, delivering the frightful warning, someone lives and someone dies. As Kylie races to unravel the mystery and protect those she loves, she finally unlocks the truth about her supernatural identity, which is far different—and more astonishing—than she ever imagined.

I really liked the first two books in this series, Born at Midnight and Awake at Dawn, but Taken at Dusk hit all the right chords. I absolutely loved it and would have picked up the next book immediately if I had had it on hand. Alas, I must wait, but while I do, I'm going to tell you about all the things that made Taken at Dusk such a great read. This series just keeps getting better and better. I'm looking forward to seeing where it will go next.

Kylie continues to intrigue me as she discovers more and more about herself. I especially admire her determination to do right by the ghosts who seek her help. Her interactions with Miranda and Della run the gamut from easy jokes to heartfelt conversations, all of which provide hilarity and touching moments. Her moments with Lucas are, as always, quite intense, though I would love if she would just pick one guy already. I'm a wee bit impatient, you see. Also, as I learn more about Kylie's past, I feel for her. I am not afraid to admit that I was in tears by the end of the book. That's right. I cried.

Since the book takes place in the same setting as the first two books in the series, there's not much I can say to build upon that aspect. However, I will say that the writing in Taken at Dusk was, simply put, awesome. The story built up very well and contained just the right amount of twists and turns. I've already mentioned the ending that made me cry. It is but one of several poignant moments throughout the book.

I'm very much at risk of going all fangirly over this series. I can barely imagine how it can get any better than Taken at Dusk, but I am definitely open to surprises. As Kylie's story progresses, I am looking forward to finding out the entirety of her past. C.C. Hunter hasn't left me wanting yet when it comes to her stories. What I am waiting for is the next book, Whispers at Moonrise, but I have the feeling that it's well worth it.

Buy Taken at Dusk at the Following Locations:

Amazon /  IndieBound  /  B&N  /  The Book Depository

Review - This is Not a Test

by Courtney Summers
publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
date of publication: June 19, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 320
source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers

From Goodreads:

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self.

To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live.

But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside.

When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

This is Not a Test is an emotionally wrought twist on zombie novels. Though they are present within the story, the emphasis lies not on the zombies, themselves, but on the effects a cataclysmic event like a zombie apocalypse has on different people. The six teens we meet in This is Not a Test are a study in loss, grief, terror, and bravery. Each kid's reaction brought something different to the story, which made This is Not a Test such an engrossing read.

Sloane, the main character and narrator, is such a heartbreaking character. As the layers of who she is and what she has been through are peeled back, a complicated and truly damaged girl is revealed. I will admit that I found her motivation a bit difficult to understand, at first. While I don't agree with her rationalizations for wanting to give up, I can see how what she has been through causes death make sense to her. Her interactions with the other people in her group are actually somewhat heartening. Though she doesn't hold much value for her own life, she does respect the lives of her companions and seeks to make sure she doesn't put them at risk. Considering the behavior of a character such as Trace, it's even more surprising. While she isn't necessarily a character you can fully understand and like, she is definitely a fascinating one to get to know.

The setting for This is Not a Test couldn't have been more perfect. The outside world is a bleak, dangerous place and the inside world that the six teens inhabit has a level of safety that is tenuous, at best. I definitely appreciated that while the high school provided several of the things that the group needed, it wasn't safe enough to lull them all into complacency. However, the fact that so much of the story takes place in the high school definitely makes for some slow pacing, at times. While the group deals with its dramas and interpersonal struggles, the plot lagged at some points throughout the book. This was usually remedied rather quickly, however, so it didn't become too much of a problem.

This is Not a Test turned out to be so much more than I expected. I went in expecting nonstop attempts to fight off the zombie horde. What I found was a moving look at the human experience and what it means to different people. I think the question posed in the plot description lays it all out best: “When everything is gone, what do you hold onto?” The answer to that question is different for each character and different for each reader, as well. It brought a level of personal feeling into the story that came as a big surprise. This is Not a Test is truly an engrossing, though-provoking take on the zombie apocalypse theme.

Buy This is Not a Test at the Following Locations:

Amazon /  IndieBound  /  B&N  /  The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge via the publisher through Library Thing Early Reviewers. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - Awake at Dawn

by C.C. Hunter
publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
date of publication: October 11, 2011
format: paperback
pages: 383
source: gift from a friend
read it in: 3 days

From Goodreads:

Step into the world of Shadow Falls, a camp that helps teens tap into their special…talents. Once you visit, you’ll never forget it—and you’ll never, ever be the same.

From the moment Kylie Galen arrived at Shadow Falls Camp, she’s had one burning question: What am I? Surrounded by vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, fairies and witches, Kylie longs to figure out her own supernatural identity…and what her burgeoning powers mean. And now she’ll need them more than ever, because she’s being haunted by a new spirit who insists that someone Kylie knows—and loves—will die before the end of the summer. If only she only knew who she was supposed to save. And how…

But giving Kylie the most trouble is her aching heart. Gorgeous werewolf Lucas left camp with another girl, but he’s still visiting Kylie in her dreams. And Derek, a sexy half Fae who’s always been there for her when she needed him, is pushing to get more serious—and growing impatient, especially when Lucas returns. Kylie knows she needs to decide between the boys, and it’s tearing her up inside.

Yet romance will have to wait, because something from the dark side of the supernatural world is hiding in Shadow Falls. It’s about to threaten everything she holds dear…and bring her closer to her destiny.

Kylie and the gang are back with a whole new set of challenges to face as a mysterious threat menaces Kylie from the shadows.  As if that weren't enough, Kylie is receiving cryptic warnings from a ghostly woman covered in blood.  What's a girl to do when she's in danger, worried about an endangered loved one yet unknown, and has the biggest mess of a love life ever?  It's up to Kylie to figure it all out before it's too late.  Prepare to follow along as Kylie takes on an increasingly dangerous supernatural world.

Since not much time has passed between Born at Midnight and Awake at Dawn, Kylie hasn't really changed all that much yet.  As she begins to learn more about her characteristics, however, that won't be the case for long.  In many ways, Kylie is still the same stubborn girl that we saw before.  However, her approach to some very unusual occurrences is a clue that she is coming into her own at a rapid rate.  She develops some truly kick-ass characteristics that left me shocked and scrambling to come up with an explanation that fits, which is not as easy as it may seem, at first.  Where I liked the changes in Kylie, however, I found myself increasingly annoyed by Derek.  He becomes much more insecure and jealous in Awake at Dawn, which is just not becoming at all.  I came to prefer Lucas much more this time around and am definitely leaning toward that particular pairing at the moment.  He was a much more appealing male counterpart for Kylie this time.  I guess we shall see if that remains true in Taken at Dusk.

I really enjoyed the direction the plot took with Awake at Dawn.  It had every bit as much mystery and tension as Born at Midnight, all the while developing in its own unique way.  There was no repetition here, which I was very glad of.  Instead, the storyline is so fresh that there was no way for me to completely guess what would happen based upon the last book.  The pacing was wonderfully rendered and I was, once again, picked up and carried away along with the characters the plot revolves around.

Awake at Dawn is an excellent continuation to what promises to be a truly fun series.  Though I lost my patience with a couple of the characters, I still enjoyed the interaction between the varying members of the entire cast of characters, as well as the descriptions provided of both their physical appearances and their personalities.  I was fascinated enough with the story that I promptly bought book 3 in the series, Taken at Dusk, as well as preordered book 4.  This speaks volumes as to how much I've enjoyed this series, so far.  I hope for more great things to come. 

Buy Awake at Dawn at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Review - Born at Midnight

by C.C. Hunter
publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
date of publication: March 29, 2011
format: paperback
pages: 398
source: purchased
read it in: 2 days

From Goodreads:

Don’t miss this spectacular new series that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams, Welcome to Shadow Falls camp, nestled deep in the woods of a town called Fallen…

One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

Kylie is in a tough situation.  Stuck in the middle of warring parents and caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, she is sent away for the summer to what she is told is a camp for troubled teens.  What she finds, however, is that these teens aren't troubled in the typical sense of the word... and neither is Kylie.  Born at Midnight is the story of one girl's discovery of who (and what) she really is, all set in the lush world of Shadow Falls.  Prepare yourself for an adventure.

What can I say about Kylie?  She's a strong-willed character dealing with several problems that any girl would be stressed out by.  She's sassy, bright and, most of all, STUBBORN.  Her state of denial is a bit hard to deal with, at times, but her point of view is at least understandable.  Watching her learn about and interact with her new world made for a very interesting story and I enjoyed her interactions with her peers very much from a reader's stand-point.  Over all, she was a fun heroine to get to know and I can already tell that she's in for a lot of growth as the series progresses.

I had so much fun with the plot of Born at Midnight.  Not only does it include so many of my favorite fantasy characters, it has scads of romance and mystery, as well.  There is witty banter galore, which is always appreciated, and the interaction between characters was riveting.  The story's progression was at times bogged down by Kylie's excessive stubbornness, but when all is said and done, I had so much fun reading this book.  I loved the story and couldn't wait to move on to the next book in the series.

I have had Born at Midnight sitting on my shelf for quite some time now and, thanks to much encouragement from a dear friend, I finally worked it into my reading pile.  I have no qualms whatsoever against saying she was absolutely right.  Born at Midnight is a vastly entertaining story with some of my favorite figures from the fantasy genre.  In addition to that, there is a measure of mystery that piques your curiosity from the start.  This is an exceedingly fun book that just begs to become your latest summer read. 

Buy Born at Midnight at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Review - The Hunt

by Andrew Fukuda
publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
date of publication: May 8, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 293
source: Netgalley
read it in: 4 days

From Goodreads:

Don’t Sweat.  Don’t Laugh.  Don’t draw attention to yourself.  And most of all, whatever you do, do not fall in love with one of them.

Gene is different from everyone else around him.  He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood.  Gene is a human, and he knows the rules.  Keep the truth a secret.  It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood.

When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him.  He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity?

What do you do when you're prey in the middle of a city of predators?  Gene is a boy in just this type of situation.  As one of the few remaining humans in a world overrun with vampire-like beings who would tear him limb-from-limb if even a hint of his humanity was to be found out, Gene has all but annihilated all clues as to his true nature.  All of his carefully executed cleaning rituals are about to become all the more important, however, for Gene has been selected to take part in The Hunt.  If Gene fails to keep his true identity a secret, he faces the possibility of becoming an addition to the quarry selected for the slaughter... human beings.

Gene is a somewhat difficult character to figure out.  He spends much of the story worrying about keeping himself from gaining unwanted attention by hiding everything from his scent to the true extent of his intelligence.  However, while he knows he is human, he still seems to throw his lot in with the monsters surrounding him by using pronouns such as "we" and "us" in relation to them.  At times, I wondered as to whether or not he wanted his humanity.  It seemed as though it was more of an inconvenience to him, which made fully connecting to him as a character difficult.  Even when I figured out the nature of the creatures around him, I still didn't quite know what to make of Gene.  It remains a puzzle even now.

While the storyline and action found within The Hunt is riveting, the world in which Gene lives is just as confusing as Gene, himself.  There is little rhyme or reason to why things are the way they are.  There is no hint as to when the populace ceased to be human and became ravening monsters, nor is there any explanation as to how it came to be.  As a reader I like to be filled in on the origin of a book's setting.  I just didn't get that with The Hunt.  Instead, I was left to conjecture how it all came to be as I interpreted the nature of the monsters and the ways in which they operate.  I found myself the most disappointed by this aspect of the book.  I would have loved a few clues as to the history of this horrific world.  Instead, I was left with an inordinate amount of questions.

The Hunt has both its good points and its less than stellar points.  Amongst my favorite elements were the intriguing premise and the riveting action sequences.  My least favorite aspects of The Hunt come from its enigma of a main character and history deficient world-building.  As a story of the vampire variety, however, it is fresh and out of the ordinary.  If you are interested in a story surrounding a truly horrific race of vampires, The Hunt is a good choice.  It has some truly chilling moments that will leave you thinking of the days when vampires were meant to be frightening.  These certainly are! 

Buy The Hunt at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This digital review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.