Review - Sweet Evil

by Wendy Higgins
publisher: HarperTeen
date of publication: May 1, 2012
format: paperback
pages: 453
source: purchased

From Goodreads:

Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

Sweet Evil is a book that I have heard much about since it was released late this past spring.  Though it is a theme that I have seen often in books, the premise of Sweet Evil was enough to pique my interest and led me to buy a copy soon after its release.  I had some worries going into the book that I would find more about the story objectionable than I would find to be enjoyable.  Fortunately, Sweet Evil delivered with an entertaining story and some surprisingly steamy moments.

Anna Whitt turned out to be a surprisingly enjoyable character.  While at first I feared she would prove to be a Mary Sue type of character, she surprised me with some unexpected layers that gave her character a nice amount of depth.  Her friendship with Jay reminded me a lot of a friend of mine and made me smile, which was a very nice touch.  It was Kaidan, however, that left me with "meh" feelings.  There comes a point when the bad boy character becomes just too much to handle.  While his character brought an important element to the story, I just fail to find the bad boy type all that appealing.

The hidden world in which Anna finds herself immersed is an immensely intriguing one.  On the surface she lives in a small town just outside Atlanta.  Beyond the visual scope of everyday humans, however, lies a much darker world inhabited by frightening beings bent on leading humanity astray.  Where there is dark there is light, however, and I found the ways in which the light were included to be very appealing.  When you include the background for both sides, you have an engaging book that makes for a great reading session.

Even though I am not as much of a Kaidan fan as others who have read and enjoyed this book, I found Sweet Evil to be a fun weekend read all the same.  With such a good main character, a sinister hidden world, and a classic conflict, Sweet Evil makes for a very nice reading experience.  I, for one, plan to continue with this series and look forward to finding out what will happen next.

Buy Sweet Evil at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Review - Embrace

by Jessica Shirvington
publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
date of publication: March 6, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 369
source: won in a giveaway

From Goodreads:

It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before.

Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.

A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…

Having heard all the hype surrounding Embrace, I went in expecting a great story with lots of romance and butt-kicking. I was intrigued by the premise as it was described and had been eagerly awaiting the time that I could pick it up and give it a read. Unfortunately, that's where my enthusiasm left off. Though the premise is, indeed, an interesting one, there were several aspects of the book that left me with feelings of disappointment.

The first issue I had with the book was the main character. I'm going to be completely frank here: Violet drove me absolutely bonkers. I don't expect flawless, goody-goody characters, but Violet is something else entirely. Even before there is any excuses for her behavior, she was so irrational and bratty that I soon found myself wishing that Embrace had an alternating point-of-view plot line. Unfortunately for me, it doesn't have that, so I was stuck with Violet for the duration. Not only is her reaction toward Lincoln when her secret is revealed above and beyond what is reasonable, but she constantly flouts warnings of the danger she will be in if she wanders around and does it anyway. It was absolutely maddening and I have the feeling it will be a while before I ever attempt the second book.

Usually, I don't mind the usual love triangle trope that you often see in YA books. However, I have decided that the love triangle featured in Embrace is the mother of all love triangles. It was so over the top and overwhelming that it very nearly consumes all other aspects of the story. The pacing was actually done well, but I almost missed out on that fact due to the utterly distracting relationship quandaries Violet finds herself in. I really wish that the Grigori aspect of the book had had more prominence than it did. Not much else about the storyline really stood out thanks to the near-constant angst that arose from the love triangle.

I wasn't sure about writing this review, but I realized that not writing one wouldn't be honest. I know several people have enjoyed this book, and I really wish I had been one of them. Unfortunately, I wasn't, so now the onus is on me to explain why. Disappointment does not sit well with me, so I hope that my review allows me to get it all out and let it go. I might someday give the series another chance and read the second book, but I think I'll be waiting for quite a while.

Buy Embrace at the Following Locations:

Amazon/ IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Review - A Temptation of Angels

by Michelle Zink
publisher: Dial
date of publication: March 20, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 448
source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Even angels make mistakes in this page-turning epic romance...

When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen-year-old Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendants charged with protecting the world's past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong, because temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel.

Michelle Zink masterfully weaves historical fantasy with paranormal romance to create a gripping tale of love and betrayal.

What I Thought

Since I received this ARC back in December, I have been highly anticipating getting the chance to read this book.  This is my first experience reading anything by Michelle Zink, so I had no preconceptions whatsoever with regard to what I should expect.  As it turns out, A Temptation of Angels was a great introduction to Michelle Zink's work.  I was treated to an engrossing tale that was every bit as entertaining as it was detailed.

Helen is an interesting character.  She is somewhat reserved when it comes to certain emotions, although she is also stubborn, naive, and caring.  When the book begins, we are introduced to Helen as she faces immediate danger.  Early on, one can begin to get a sense of just who Helen is based upon how she faces her struggles.  It is who she comes to be, however, that I found most intriguing.  While some of her actions may seem foolhardy at best, you have to admire her tenacity and spirit.  Griffin, one of the primary male characters and a source of attraction for Helen, is also an enjoyable character to get to know.  He is debonair, kind, and adventurous all at once, which makes for a great counterpart to Helen, as well as a pretty swoon-worthy male lead.  The character I felt most conflicted about, however, was not Darius, Griffin's sardonic brother, but Raum, the mysterious boy from Helen's childhood.  I didn't know whether I found him abhorrent or someone to be pitied.  Even by the end, he was as much of a mystery to me as when he first appeared in the book.

The construct of A Temptation of Angels is very absorbing.  It moves along at a nice clip and provides enough background information without causing an overload.  The premise is fresh and entertaining and has a nice helping of romance.  However, there is a love triangle involved, which I just don't feel so inclined toward.  For me, it detracts from Helen's decisiveness and the concept of love triangles overall is beginning to wear on my patience.  In the end, however, it doesn't effect my overall enjoyment of the book, nor does it put a damper on my desire to read more.

A Temptation of Angels is a great book that I will not hesitate to recommend in the future.  It is probably high on my list of angel books that I enjoy and I really hope to see more books set in this world in the future.  Michelle Zink has created a wonderfully imaginative take on the battle between angels and demons that will set your imagination alight.  If you enjoy books centered around angels and the theme of good vs. evil, then A Temptation of Angels would be a great choice.

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 - Illuminate

by Aimee Agresti
publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
date of publication: March 6, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 534
source: from the publisher for review
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit.

     As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel’s jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel?

     Illuminate is an exciting saga of a teen’s first taste of independence, her experience in the lap of luxury, and her discovery she may possess strength greater than she ever knew.

What I Thought

Illuminate, the story of an awkward teenage girl who finds herself in an extraordinary situation, is much more than I had originally expected.  Set against a lush backdrop of glitz and glamor, this story has an exceptional amount of menace and mystery.  The full scope of the situation at hand in this book is something that must be seen to be believed.  This story of self-discovery and danger will have you on the edge of your seat.

Haven is one of those characters that you will find yourself mentally pleading with, berating, and cheering on.  Even in her most frustrating moments, I found myself liking her.  She doesn't easily lose sight of the big picture and lives up to the intelligence she is credited with having.  She is the perfect foil to Aurelia in all her mercenary glory.  Both characters are the perfect example of things never being as they may first seem.

Illuminate did move along at a somewhat slow pace, at times.  Taking place over a 3-4 month period of time, there is much information to digest.  At some points it felt as though there was a bit too much information, making the story nearly come to a grinding halt at inopportune moments.  However, the overall plot is a great one and I really enjoyed the sense of mystery, danger, and glamor that was injected into the story.  I found myself fully drawn into Haven's adventures as she sets out to discover the truth behind the luxurious facade.

Overall, I really enjoyed Illuminate and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to readers who like their paranormal reads chock full of mystery and menace.  Illuminate is a nail-biter with rich imagery and a top-notch main character.  The villains are truly insidious and the development of all of the primary characters is handled very well.  Despite its potentially overflowing information, Illuminate is a fun read that will provide you with hours of thrills, chills, and intrigue.

 
Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge by the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. Many thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Review - Hallowed

by Cynthia Hand
publisher: HarperTeen
date of publication: January 17, 2012
format: eGalley
pages: 242
source: Netgalley
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

What I Thought

WARNING: Spoiler Alert!  Do NOT read this review is you have not read Unearthly.

I had no idea what I was in for with regard to the next book after I finished reading Unearthly last summer.  I thoroughly enjoyed that book, but wondered how I would react when reading the sequel.  Would the dreaded middle book syndrome strike again?  Would I like it as much as the first book?  All of these questions, and more, ran through my mind as I began reading Hallowed.  There are noticeable differences, as well as a few things scattered throughout the book that struck me as overly convenient, but overall, I really enjoyed my time reading Hallowed.

The first noticeable difference is in Clara.  Gone is the awkward, obsessively distracted Clara of the bright orange hair.  In is the more self-confident Clara, no longer with orange hair and gone completely over the moon about her boyfriend, Tucker.  She is a much less painfully awkward character to read about in Hallowed and is less likely to make readers feel sorry for her.  However, she isn't necessarily at her best, either.  She is a much more conflicted character in Hallowed.  Her problems aren't always met with the best reactions and she spends an inordinate amount of time worrying about her love life, no matter what alarming events are occurring in the periphery.  This made for an overwhelmingly conflicted love triangle that came to be too much, at times.  Overall, it made her more difficult to connect with as a character this time around which, I have to say, I found a little disappointing.

The sense of danger was handled very well this time.  The menace of the Black Wings is much more up front in this book, which makes for a more intense sense of danger.  Samjeeza is an alarming villain thanks to his ulterior motives and his total lack of morals.  He holds an insidious presence throughout the book that not only imparts a feeling of dread, but also leaves behind a sense that something larger is going to happen.  His madness and desperation come together to form a truly dangerous, unpredictable character.

Hallowed was just as absorbing as Unearthly and I found myself reading chapter after chapter in an attempt to find out what was going to happen next.  While I didn't agree with all of the choices made in the plot of this book, I wound up being just as intrigued.  For all of the characters' foibles and my misgivings about certain plot elements, I couldn't help but sink right into this book until I reached the very last page.  This is definitely a book that I encourage readers to read in order to come to their own conclusions.  There is a lot going on here and it can't be summed up by one reader alone.  Personally, however, I give Hallowed 4 hoots.

Obligatory legal statement: This eGalley 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 - On a Dark Wing

by Jordan Dane
publisher: Harlequin Teen
date of publication: December 27, 2011
format: eGalley
pages: 314
source: Netgalley
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

From Goodreads:

The choices I had made led to the moment when fate took over. I would learn a lesson I wasn't prepared for. And Death would be my willing teacher.
Five years ago, Abbey Chandler cheated Death. She survived a horrific car accident, but her "lucky" break came at the expense of her mother's life and changed everything. After she crossed paths with Death—by taking the hand of an ethereal boy made of clouds and sky—she would never be normal again.

Now she's the target of Death's ravens and an innocent boy's life is on the line. When Nate Holden—Abbey's secret crush—starts to climb Alaska's Denali, the Angel of Death stalks him because of her.

And Abbey finds out the hard way that Death never forgets.

What I Thought 

On a Dark Wing is an intriguing combination of romance and an examination of the nature of Death.  Upon first reading the plot description, I was intrigued.  I had never quite read a novel wrapped up in Death's infatuation with a woman before, let alone a teenage girl.  I knew that this book would give me new ideas to consider and, to an extent, I was correct.  However, there was much more to the story than I initially thought.  Some, while containing good messages, somewhat confused me in their presence.  There were also a few other parts of this novel that left me with a wrinkled brow (not a good thing to be doing as I grow older) and a sense of bewilderment.  While On a Dark Wing is an intriguing story, I will be focusing on some of my concerns within this review.

The main current of the plot of On a Dark Wing is most definitely an interesting one.  Abbey's traumatic past, in which she lost her mother and suffered life-threatening injuries, makes for a heart-breaking scenario and has a great deal to do with the way in which the story unfolds.  She is a broken girl who barely functions in life.  The idea that her prior brush with Death caught his attention and led him to become infatuated with her is an interesting idea, especially when the aspects of Death's nature, as well as his duties, are revealed.  The ravens that appear throughout the novel are eerie, enchanting, and symbolic all at once, which added to the overall idea of Death as a universal entity.  All of this makes for an enthralling reading experience.

However, there are other parts of the plot that somewhat threw me off and gave me pause, not because of their subjects, but because of the ways in which they are included.  One such topic is that of cyber bullying.  Now, cyber bullying is a great thing to warn against in YA books.  I have no complaints on that count.  However, the way in which it is introduced and dealt with in this novel don't quite mesh.  By the end, it feels more like an afterthought and comes off somewhat like an after-school special.  It felt somewhat forced, to be perfectly honest, and I didn't quite know what to think about it.  Another issue I encountered was the rapidly changing point-of-view within each chapter.  Sometimes, there is a heading denoting whose thoughts are being expressed or where the events are taking place.  Unfortunately, this isn't always the case, so I caught myself having to pay careful attention to which character was being detailed at any given time.  Not only that, but the type of p.o.v. changes.  For instance, Abbey speaks in first person, past tense, while other characters are represented with a third person, omniscient p.o.v.  It isn't my favorite way of constructing a book, but it isn't horribly written, so I'm not too disappointed.

The main character, Abbey, is, to be frank, a mess.  She is utterly broken and doesn't seem to be able to put herself back together, resulting in an awkward, alienated existence.  She is emotionally isolated from everyone around her, with the possible exception of her best friend, Tanner.  Her pain is truly heart-breaking and I felt for her very much as she endured her own guilt and the torment she endured at the hands of her peers.  However, some aspects of Abbey's habits make me uncomfortable and a little freaked out.  Her flippant use of the term "stalking" in relation to the subject of her own infatuation, Nate, is disturbing and creepy.  I don't find stalking to be a subject to be taken lightly.  I may just be particularly sensitive to the subject, but it definitely made parts of the book difficult to read without frustration.  Other than that, however, Abbey is a good character to follow, since she does a great deal of growing as a person throughout the novel.  Her friend Tanner, however, is probably my favorite.  He has a no-nonsense attitude and a great sense of humor, which definitely comes in useful for him due some of the events that occur during the story.  He has the patience of a saint in dealing with Abbey, and you can't help but love him for it.   

The setting in this book is, simply put, spectacular.  Dane does a great job at portraying both the beauty and reality of life in Alaska.  As a reader, I really got the sense that, while Alaska has its beauties, it also has serious dangers about.  Both are touched upon in On a Dark Wing, which I really liked.  When it comes to the setting, I have absolutely no complaints and no regrets.  It is a wonderful part of this book that I enjoyed all the more for having read very few books that take place in Alaska.  I will definitely be open to reading more in the future.

Overall, On a Dark Wing is a fun read, even when it comes to the more sobering topics.  While there are a few aspects that I wasn't quite satisfied with, I definitely enjoyed the book and feel as though I can safely recommend it as a book to be read.  When it comes to the premise, I think you will be well-satisfied.  Fans of paranormal romances featuring angels will want to give this book a try.  If you're looking for something with some thought-provoking ideas, you may also be interesting in this one.  You will definitely be given food for thought. 

Obligatory legal statement: This eGalley 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: The Space Between

by Brenna Yovanoff
publisher: Razorbill
date of publication: November 15, 2011
format: hardcover
pages: 363
source: purchased
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

From Goodreads:

Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped - and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

This second novel by rising star Brenna Yovanoff is a story of identity, discovery, and a troubled love between two people struggling to find their place both in our world and theirs.

What I Thought 

I had very high expectations for The Space Between, as I had loved The Replacement so very much.  Brenna Yovanoff's writing is so fully of grit, yet has a flawless quality that makes my English major heart go pitter-pat.  The description promised an intriguing tale full of eeriness, sadness, and beauty.  While the book did deliver on several of those aspects, there was a little something missing for me that I had counted upon finding within.  While the plot was everything I hoped it would be, other areas failed to capture my full attention.

First and foremost, the plot was amazing.  The whole idea of a story surrounding the daughter of Lucifer and Lilith who has grown up lonely in a steel-forged world is intriguing and unique.  The background information and politics that lay the groundwork for the events that take place are truly mind-boggling and so amazingly detailed that I found myself very impressed by the groundwork that has been laid to support every other aspect of the book.  How the demons do things in this book was much more surprising than I would have originally thought.  There were some truly horrific things in Pandemonium.  However, there was an added element of business included that took me completely by surprise.  It all came together to provide me with a unique reading experience, as well as a new take on things that maintain the horror while offering something fresh.

The characters, while very compelling by the time the main action commenced, were difficult for me to connect with, at first.  Daphne was somewhat flat (though this is somewhat explained by the nature of the world she lives in) and Truman, in all of his dysfunction, almost completely lost me.  I felt for him, but I found it difficult to keep up with his thoughts, at times.  However, once he began to clear up and started working with Daphne to find Obie, I grew to respect him much more.  He is a boy who has had a difficult time and lacks a certain something that will carry him through.  Seeing him begin to come to a realization and begin to fight was beautiful, and I loved how he developed as a character, in the end.

The setting is what I had the most difficulty with.  I am not sure exactly why it is so, but I found myself having a hard time picturing everything clearly.  The most clear setting was Pandemonium, but when it came to the descriptions on earth, I became a bit lost.  In a way, it speaks to the nature of both Daphne, who has existed for her entire life in Pandemonium, and Truman, a boy cut off from his surroundings and reality.  For me, however, I didn't feel as much of an impact and wasn't left with many impressions of the backgrounds outside of Pandemonium.
If you are looking for a new take on demons in a book, you should definitely give The Space Between a try.  Although it didn't ring all of my bells, it still proved to be a pretty good read.  I don't regret having read it and am already eager to see what else Brenna Yovanoff will write in the future.  The writing is truly lovely, so if you appreciate good prose, you will definitely want to check this one out!