Review: The Diviners

by Libba Bray
publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
date of publication: September 18, 2012
format: hardcover
pages: 592
source: from the publisher for review

From Goodreads:

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

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

Upon first glance, you might think that The Diviners is a daunting book to read due to the sheer size of it.  I can happily say, however, that it truly is not that daunting.  It may be thicker than your typical YA novel, but it makes up for it in several ways.  I hope to share those ways with you today so that, just maybe, you will decide to give this book a try.

The Diviners is a great mixture of humor and horror and is made up of several wonderful characters.  There is a nice balance of vibrant, buoyant characters such as Evie, as well as more reserved, level-headed characters such as Evie's uncle Will and her best gal pal, Mabel.  By placing such an array of characters in a truly fascinating setting (New York City in the Roaring Twenties), Bray has laid the foundation for a remarkable series.

The thing that I enjoyed most about The Diviners was the sheer horror and eeriness that serves as an undercurrent to the entire story.  With a villain such as Naughty John, who wouldn't be creeped out.  It isn't often that you come across a villain so thoroughly frightening as Naughty John.  When those villains come with their own creepy song, you know you are in for some scares.

"Naughty John, Naughty John, does his work with his apron on. Cuts your throat and takes your bones, sells 'em off for a coupla stones."

-excerpt from The Diviners by Libba Bray

With the exception of some slow-moving chapters and a romance that seemingly popped up out of nowhere, The Diviners proved to be an excellent read well worth the time it took to finish.  With its references to flapper fashions, gritty locations, and truly awesome characters, I can posi-tute-ly recommend this one to you all.  Whether you enjoy historical fiction or not, I have the feeling you will enjoy this one thanks to its paranormal and horror elements.

Buy The Diviners at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

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

Review - Throne of Glass

by Sarah J. Maas
publisher: Bloomsbury USA
date of publication: August 7, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 416
source: Netgalley

From Goodreads:

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men—thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the kings council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

There are some books that just grab hold of your attention and won't let go.  There are others that rekindle diminished interest in particular subjects or genres.  There are also books that cause you to lose sleep because you just can't stop thinking about how great it was.  As I came to learn, Throne of Glass is all 3.  Every single bit of hype this book has received is very much well-earned and I am so glad to have read it, even if I did stay up all night reading and finished it within a 10 hour period (those pesky meals cut into reading time, after all).

Celaena Sardothien is one of the most amazing female characters I have had the pleasure of being introduced to.  From the very beginning, you can see that she is fierce, sarcastic, and fearless, all of which are great qualities in an assassin.  It's obvious that she has a strong will as evidenced by her strong will and resilience.  To have survived the things she has is proof positive that she is a force to be reckoned with.  The leading males in the story, Prince Dorian and Captain Westfall, each have their strengths and weaknesses that make them fascinating to learn about.  Where Dorian appears to be conceited and abrasive on the outside, inside he is a sad young man with little to no say in his future.  Captain Westfall, on the other hand, is enigmatic, churlish, and difficult to figure out.  Once you do, though, it's hard to dismiss him, which is a nice quality to see in a character.  When they take you by surprise when you least expect it, it's an awesome thing.

This story is truly an epic one.  It could last for several installments and I would be happy to read every single one.  The action and events seen within are nothing short of gripping.  The threats Celaena encounters and the way she deals with them are captivating.  I say captivating because I really was reluctant to put the book down at all due to the driving need to see what would happen next.  The settings range from horrific (the mine), to spectacular (the palace), to spooky (the passages).  They really set each scene with vivid descriptions and thorough attention to detail.  Each is explained so well that picturing each one is wonderfully easy.  This is storytelling at its best.

There are some spectacular books coming out this summer, and I can vouch that Throne of Glass is one of the best.  If you are a fan of fantasy stories and kick-ass heroines, you can't do better.  With fascinating characters, awesome backdrops, just the right amount of tension, and a fantastic plot, Throne of Glass ensures you will have a great reading experience.  Get yourself to your local bookstore quickly.  Throne of Glass is a must-read that would be well-placed at the very top of your TBR pile.

Buy Throne of Glass 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 - Girl of Nightmares

by Kendare Blake
publisher: Tor Teen
date of publication: August 7, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 332
source: from the publisher for review

From Goodreads:

It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on. 

His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live--not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.

Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor.

Last year, Anna Dressed in Blood completely rocked my world.  Being a huge fan of ghost stories, I was looking forward to an eerie story with lots of action.  Did it ever deliver!  As I prepared to read Girl of Nightmares, I was nervous as I always am with sequels to beloved books.  Would it have the same level of spookiness, the same punch as Anna Dressed in Blood?  There was really only one way to find out, so I immersed myself into the world of Thunder Bay once more.  What I found was nothing short of amazing.  Girl of Nightmares delivered in every way and was a fantastic follow-up for Anna Dressed in Blood.  It is now left up to me to write a review free of spoilers and excessive gushing.  I'll do my best, though, because every single one of you seriously need to read this series!

We find Cas with much the same personality but a lot more forlorn.  He is visited nightly by visions of Anna undergoing horrible tortures due to his inability to determine whether or not he is losing his mind in addition to his inability to do anything to help.  As he determinedly searches for a way to pull Anna out of Hell, he shows the true extent of his resolve.  He's all the better for it as it adds even more to his character and gives him further depth.  Anna is truly heart-breaking this time around.  She is trapped in a bleak and brutal place without any hope of escaping the torment she is going through.  She cemented my opinion of her and she continues to be my favorite ghostly character ever.  She is so unique in that one moment she can bring you to tears and the next she can scare you as well as any movie monster can.  You've got to give her credit where credit is due.

I thought the premise for Anna Dressed in Blood was compelling, frightening, and thrilling.  Little did I know that Girl of Nightmares was about to turn up the level on all of the above, and then some.  From start to finish I was sucked in and did not want to put it down.  This story line is tear-jerking, spine-tingling, and breath-taking.  The settings are nothing short of spooky and provide the perfect backdrop for the events that take place.  I dare you to read the factory scene and tell me you weren't even a little freaked out.  Once again, Ms. Blake's writing wins the day with great characters, eerie settings, and a gripping plot.

To say that I loved Girl of Nightmares would be a vast understatement.  This has become one of my top 5 favorite series and I very much doubt that any other ghost series can ever top it for me.  If you haven't read either book, take my advice and do so.  If you've read Anna already, go get Girl of Nightmares now!  These books should be read frequently and are perfect for a chilly fall evening read.

Buy Girl of Nightmares at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

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

Review - The Unquiet

by Jeannine Garsee
publisher: Bloomsbury USA
date of publication: July 17, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 388
source: Netgalley
rating: 4.5 out of 5

From Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Rinn Jacobs has secrets: One, she’s bipolar. Two, she killed her grandmother.

After a suicide attempt, and now her parents' separation, Rinn and her mom move from California to the rural Ohio town where her mother grew up. Back on her medications and hoping to stay well, Rinn settles into her new home, undaunted by the fact that the previous owner hanged herself in Rinn's bedroom. At school, her classmates believe the school pool is haunted by Annaliese, a girl who drowned there. But when a reckless séance goes awry, and terrible things start happening to her new friends—yet not to her—Rinn is determined to find out why she can’t be "touched" by Annaliese...or if Annaliese even exists.

With the help of Nate Brenner, the hunky “farmer boy” she’s rapidly falling for, Rinn devises a dangerous plan to uncover the truth. Soon reality and fantasy meld into one, till Rinn finds it nearly impossible to tell the difference. When a malevolent force threatens the lives of everyone she cares about--not to mention her own--she can't help wondering: who should she really be afraid of?

Annaliese? Or herself?

The Unquiet is one of those books that comes out of nowhere and takes you completely by surprise.  I hadn't heard much by way of buzz about this book, but the premise looked promising.  Little did I know I would quickly become immersed in the book past the point of reason.  What was only supposed to be a perusal of the first chapter in order to select my reads for the month turned into an 18-hour read fest that left me glued to my computer screen.  I didn't even want to stop long enough to load it onto my ereader!  I hate reading on my computer screen, so that is a pretty strong recommendation in its own right.

The cast of characters took me by surprise, as well.  Rinn Jacobs is the type of character you don't come across every day.  Her struggle with bipolar disorder and the ramifications of a tragic accident have left her on shaky ground, simply trying to maintain her footing.  When she moves to her mother's tiny hometown in Ohio, Rinn has the chance for a fresh beginning.  As more and more of her background and personality are revealed, she becomes even more captivating as a character.  She's socially naive due in part to her illness that had run rampant for so long, but she's also witty, sarcastic, and empathetic.  All of this makes her a fantastic main character that I enjoyed very much.  Nate, her neighbor and love interest, isn't an especially deep character, but his sweetness and stability are great for keeping Rinn grounded.  I just wish he had more of a spark on his own, not just when he was flirting and verbally sparring with Rinn.  A little more character development would have made it easier to see exactly why Rinn developed feelings for him aside from his appearance.  As for Rinn's friends, I just don't get it.  Two of them (Tasha and Meg) seem like nice girls on their own, but the third, Lacy, is nothing short of horrible.  I couldn't understand why any of the girls, let alone Rinn, would continue to be friends with her.  She became over-the-top and distracting in a detrimental way.  It was a little too much to believe and became a proverbial bucket of cold water that jarred me out of the reading experience more than once.

The premise for The Unquiet is nothing short of eye-catching.  I'm always in the mood for a good ghost story.  The Unquiet definitely delivers with a frightening ghost, Annaliese, and a spooky lair for her to hide in.  To say that Annaliese is vengeful is a vast understatement.  If she doesn't manage to make your spine tingle at least once, I'll be surprised.  The settings that are visited throughout the story are varied in their details.  The school and Rinn's house are vividly portrayed with clean, descriptive writing.  However, I wanted to know a bit more about the town, itself.  It felt as though it was glossed over more than it was given its share of descriptions.

The Unquiet turned out to be awesomely creepy, suspenseful, jarring, intense, and attention-grabbing.  The story has a wonderfully developed main character in Rinn and a truly intimidating adversary in the form of Annaliese.  With its theme of reality questioned, The Unquiet leaves you thoroughly considering whether everything is in Rinn's head or actually occurring.  It made for an even more intriguing book that held my attention for hours upon hours.  If you're a fan of horror fiction revolving around ghosts, this one should not be missed.  The Unquiet is now on my to-buy list, as I'm sure I will want to revisit this story in the future.

Buy The Unquiet 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 - Long Lankin

by Lindsey Barraclough
publisher: Candlewick
date of publication: July 10, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 448
source: Netgalley

From Goodreads:

Beware of Long Lankin, that lives in the moss. . . .When Cora and her younger sister, Mimi, are sent to stay with their elderly aunt in the isolated village of Bryers Guerdon, they receive a less than warm welcome. Auntie Ida is eccentric and rigid, and the girls are desperate to go back to London. But what they don't know is that their aunt's life was devastated the last time two young sisters were at Guerdon Hall, and she is determined to protect her nieces from an evil that has lain hidden for years. Along with Roger and Peter, two village boys, Cora must uncover the horrifying truth that has held Bryers Guerdon in its dark grip for centuries -- before it's too late for little Mimi. Riveting and intensely atmospheric, this stunning debut will hold readers in its spell long after the last page is turned.

From the very first page, Long Lankin has such a bleak tone that you know you're in for an eerie read.  At the onset, Cora and Mimi are in a bad situation.  Being shipped off to an unsuspecting elderly relative by their distracted father and then dropped off to make their way up the long road to their destination by the uncouth man their father entrusted their safety to doesn't speak well for the happiness quotient.  When they lay eyes on their great aunt's house for the first time, you just know that things are about to get worse.  The stage is set for a spooky read.  Just how spooky remains to be seen, but rest assured that you are in for a frightening story.

Long Lankin is told from the perspective of three characters: Cora, the outspoken older sister to Mimi; Roger, one of the Bryers Guerdon neighborhood boys who becomes Cora's friend; and Mrs. Eastfield, Cora and Mimi's troubled, reclusive great aunt.  Each character has their own distinctive speech pattern and personality, insuring that as many details as possible are covered from multiple perspectives.  I really came to enjoy each character over time, though I was very much put off by Mrs. Eastfield, at first.  Once you learn more about her, however, you come to realize that she is a woman in torment from her past, all thanks to the story's antagonist: Long Lankin.  Oh, my.  Long Lankin (aka Cain Lankin) has to be the most frightening monsters I have read about in a long time and reminded me very much of Rawhead and Bloody-Bones, a figure from Yorkshire folklore that is absolutely horrifying.  I made the mistake of finishing the novel at night and let me tell you, I was very jumpy as I read about the main conflict with Long Lankin.  Don't say I didn't warn you.

It took me a little while to grow accustomed to the style in which Long Lankin is written.  I soon got into the dialog and the pacing and came to realize just how beautifully done it all was.  The alternating perspectives are a little different than one usually sees in multiple p.o.v. books.  Rather than alternating chapters, the three characters take turns sharing their thoughts, feelings, and observations on an event as they each experience them.  This really brought the story to life and injected so much detail into the narrative.  The pacing may seem slow at first, but it soon begins to make sense.  The truly frightening horror stories take time to build and Long Lankin is no different.  It added to the level of foreboding inherent in the plot and didn't allow me to let my guard down for a second.  It is very easy to be on edge the entire time you are reading this book.

I haven't been this freaked out by a story since I read Rawhead Rex by Clive Barker.  Much like that story, Long Lankin will stay with me for years to come.  Part monster tale, part ghost story, Long Lankin provides an unbelievable amount of thrills and chills and leaves you jumping at your own shadow.  As a fan of a good scare, I am a happy customer after finishing Long Lankin.  I will be reading this one again in the future just so I can see what other nuances I discover.  If you enjoy a good horror story, you must try Long Lankin.   

Buy Long Lankin 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 - Arise

by Tara Hudson
publisher: HarperTeen
date of publication: June 5, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 246
source: Edelweiss


From Goodreads:

Amelia—still caught between life and death—must fight for every moment of her relationship with the human boy Joshua. They can hardly even kiss without Amelia accidentally dematerializing. Looking for answers, they go to visit some of Joshua’s Seer relatives in New Orleans. But even in a city so famously steeped in the supernatural, Amelia ends up with more questions than answers…and becomes increasingly convinced that she and Joshua can never have a future together.Wandering through the French Quarter, Amelia meets other in-between ghosts, and begins to seriously consider joining them. And then she meets Gabrielle. Somehow, against impossible odds, Gaby has found a way to live a sort of half-life...a half-life for which Amelia would pay any price. Torn between two worlds, Amelia must choose carefully, before the evil spirits of the netherworld choose for her.

Even though weeks have passed, Amelia is still in much the same situation as before.  Struggling to keep her relationship with Joshua going and trying to figure out the cause of her random dematerializations is a lot for one ghost girl to handle!  When Amelia tags along to Joshua to his family's Christmas celebration in New Orleans, she finds a surprise waiting for her, one that could mean big changes for Amelia.  All is not as it seems, however.  There is yet another threat that could put both herself and Joshua in danger and provide the demons with something they will stop at nothing to possess: Amelia.

When I read Hereafter, I completely flipped over Amelia and her story.  I enjoyed everything from her voice to her background.  For some reason, however, I wasn't quite feeling it this time around.  I don't know if it was her reticence about her relationship with Joshua or her wishy-washy attitude over what needed to be done in the face of certain danger, but I just could not get into Amelia's story in Arise as well as I did in Hereafter.  I did enjoy the new characters that were introduced, however.  I was especially intrigued by Gaby and wish she had come into the story a little sooner.  She helped bring back the some of the spark that made Hereafter such a fun read for me last year.

I really enjoyed that there was a change of setting for Arise.  The extra feeling of mystery that was added by its new New Orleans setting made Arise a fun book to read so far as scenery goes.  I have to say, though, that I felt as though the pace lagged a little bit and I found myself getting distracted while reading, something I wouldn't expect from a book set in one of my favorite literary settings.  The descriptions were very well rendered, though, and I have no complaints about the ways in which the atmosphere was portrayed.

My reaction to Arise really surprised me.  Knowing how much I had enjoyed Hereafter, I was expecting to be blown away once again.  Unfortunately, it just didn't quite happen for me.  While I enjoyed the premise, there were a couple of snags that kept me from getting completely lost in the story.  I definitely plan to continue with the series, however, as the ending left me with the impression that there are amazing things to come in book 3.  Overall, I liked Arise, but I just didn't fall head over heels in love with it.

Buy Arise 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 Edelweiss. 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 - Glimmer

by Phoebe Kitanidis
publisher: Balzer + Bray
date of publication: April 17, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 352
source: SBB ARC Tours
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

What if you forgot your identity and had to rely on other people to tell you who you were?

And what if to discover your true self, you first had to unravel a mystery so big and terrifying you were not sure you’d survive solving it?

When Marshall and Elyse wake up in each other’s arms with zero memory of how they got there or who they are, it’s the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future.

Terrified by their amnesia, the two make a pact to work together to find the answers that could jog their missing memories. As they piece together clues, they discover they’re in the idyllic mountain resort town of Summer Falls, where everyone seems mysteriously happy, but as Marshall and Elyse quickly learn, darkness lurks beneath the town’s perfect facade. Not only is the town haunted by sinister ghosts, but none of its living inhabitants retain bad memories of anything—not the death of Marshall’s mom, not the hidden shame in Elyse’s family, not even the day-to-day anguish of high school.

Lonely in this world of happy zombies, Marsh and Elyse fall into an intense relationship...but the secrets they uncover could be the death of this growing love—and the death of everyone, and everything, they love in Summer Falls.

Glimmer first piqued my interest when I read the plot description on the Southern Book Bloggers site.  As it was coming up for an ARC tour, I signed up and anticipated an interesting read.  After all, I am a huge fan of ghost stories, so a town overrun by "sinister ghosts" and residents with a Stepford-like quality sounded too good to miss.  However, what you see isn't always what you get.  While the above-mentioned elements do make up a sizable chunk of the story, there is also a number of quirks that made Glimmer somewhat confusing to read.

When we are first introduced to Elyse and Marshall, they are in a very unusual predicament.  The two wake up naked, in bed together, and with absolutely no memory of who they are or how they got there.  From that point on, these two are one big bundle of confusion and accusation as they set out to figure out who and where they are.  Whether due to the nature of their situation or some other reason, I found these two characters to be very difficult to connect with.  I vacillated between liking and disliking the both of them, which made the reading experience less smooth than I would have liked.

The premise is a very interesting one.  I definitely agree with the description of sinister for the ghosts.  Their habit of appearing out of nowhere and smiling maniacally as they try to catch various people succeeded in giving me the creeps.  Also, the town itself was surprisingly sinister in its own right.  Things might appear to be happy and idyllic, but there are some seriously odd things going on in Summer Falls.  I enjoyed the plot the most out of all the elements in Glimmer.

Glimmer had both good points and bad points for me.  Among the good points were the great setting and plot.  They really made for a unique and enjoyable read.  My main point of contention lies with the main characters.  They both ran very hot and cold and I found myself having a difficult time gaining a lock on them.  This added a level of detachment that was detrimental to the reading experience.  Overall, however, I enjoyed the book.  If you enjoy ghosts in your reading choices and are looking for a new approach to them, pick this one up!

Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Southern Book Blogger ARC Tours. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - Shattered Souls

by Mary Lindsey
publisher: Philomel
date of publication: December 8, 2012
format: hardcover
pages: 336
source: purchased
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

A thrilling debut story of death, love, destiny and danger

Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

What I Thought

If it involves ghosts, I'm there.  The premise behind Shattered Souls held much appeal for me and I had been eagerly awaiting a chance to sit down and read it.  The idea of reincarnation added to a good ghost story sounded aces to me, so not reading this book wasn't really an option for me.  Though it started out somewhat slow for me, Shattered Souls soon developed into an eerie, spooky story of past lives and spirits both benign and malevolent.  

The progression of the storyline was a tad awkward due to the rapid cycling of emotions and opinions that the main character, Lenzi, goes through.  Some of her decisions were altogether too sudden to be totally believable.  The 180 she performs with regard to her feelings for Zak and Alden was enough to give me literary whiplash and I found myself wishing for a bit more internalization from her.  Once Lenzi had fully learned about her background and abilities, however, things began to pick up and I quickly became enmeshed in the story.  The sheer creepiness of the primary antagonist along with the sometimes comical encounters with the more benign spirits Lenzi comes in contact with made for a very fun read.  I only wish there had been just a little more challenge in the big altercation.  I do wonder what will happen next, however.

While it wasn't quite what I expected, I came to enjoy my time reading Shattered Souls.  It has an intriguing premise, interesting background information, and a sinister threat, all of which make for a fun read for a cold afternoon.  I look forward to seeing how things progress as the series continues (though it looks like there will be a 2 year wait at this point).  I rate Shattered Souls at 3.5 hoots, earning it a 4 hoot distinction.

Bump in the Night Brawl #1: Ghosts

It's Haunted Monday and that means that it's time to get this party started! Today I, myself, will be telling you all about my favorite thing that goes bump in the night. That's right, ladies and gents, I am here to talk about ghosts.   They hover invisibly where you least suspect them.  Some can launch object across the room, perhaps even at unsuspecting standers by.  They whisper chilling words and phrases in tones just low enough to have you questioning whether you heard anything at all.  It is said that some are dangerous.  How can any other entities compare?

If you ask me, the phrase "bump in the night" was tailor made for ghosts. When you think ghosts you may also think haunted houses.  There are certainly a lot of bumps and creaks in one of those.  There's just something about a dark, creepy house that really gets your imagination and heart rate pumping.  It would be difficult not to look at something like the house below and think, "I'll bet that house has some ghosts in residence."

Not my idea of a vacation home.

 What's scarier than something lurking about that you can't even see but yet know it's there? We're not talking sheet-shrouded Caspers here. No, we're talking about the whispering, pick-things-up-and-throw-them variety. I know I wouldn't want to be locked inside a haunted house. No, thank you.   How would you like to wake up and find something like this hovering next to your bed?  No?  I didn't think so.

Now THIS is what I'm talking about!

I grew up with a healthy respect for ghosts thanks to the many ghost stories told in my hometown. My family is full of them and my aunt told me some of the very best stories I've ever heard. There's even a festival dedicated to ghost stories every year! I've done an extensive folklore paper on the subject. I've done my research many times over! That's just how fascinated I am by the subject.  Stories of ghostly stage coaches that return to the same stretch of abandoned road year after year to frighten away those who would cause mischief are but some of the stories I was surrounded by in my youth.  We take our stories seriously, and with good reason.  When there's a village just down the highway that is the site of many hauntings, you're bound to hear some chilling stories.

Growing up near places like this guarantee that you hear good stories.

Speaking of stories, why don't we talk books for a moment? I just reviewed Anna Dressed in Blood. Now that is a ghost that puts all others to shame. With an example such as Anna to contend with, how can any other supernatural being compete? Have you read the descriptions of Anna?  Now that's some scary stuff!

 Anna is descending upon me, coming down the stairs without taking any strides.  Her feet drag horribly along like she can't use them at all.  Dark, purplish veins cut through her pale white skin.  Her hair is shadow-less black, and it moves through the air as though suspended in water, snaking out behind and drifting like reeds.  It's the only thing about her that looks alive.

She doesn't wear her death wounds like other ghosts do.  They say her throat was cut, and this girl's throat is long and white.  But there is the dress.  It's wet, and red, and constantly moving.  It drips onto the ground.  [...]  I can't take my eyes off her eyes.  They're like oil drops.  It's impossible to tell where she's looking, but I'm not foolish enough to hope that she can't or hasn't seen me.       -from page 76 of Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

An experienced ghost hunter such as Cas Lowood got his butt handed to him by Anna. Now that is some serious haunting. Just the thought that a ghost like this may be out there somewhere is totally chilling.  My spine tingles just thinking about it. 

This one is in the bag, folks.   Look no further, for ghosts are the be-all, end-all of things that go bump in the night.  Don't you think an entity like Anna should win the day?  You'll be hard-pressed to find a more intimidating adversary.  All others need not apply.  We'll see you at the polls!