Review - Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

by Stephanie Perkins
publisher: Dutton Books
date of publication: September 29, 2011
format: Hardcover
pages: 338
source: purchased
series: Anna and the French Kiss #2
buy it:

From Goodreads:

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion...she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit--more sparkly, more fun, more wild--the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket--a gifted inventor--steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

This book has been sitting on my shelves for the longest time, yet I'm just now getting to it.  Why is that?  Heck if I know.  Once I pulled it down and opened that shiny cover, I got sucked in and didn't want to give up reading it. Lola and the Boy Next Door made for a great companion to Anna and the French Kiss, and while it's been quite some time since I read Anna, it still brought back many of the same feelings I had when I did.

Lola Nolan is a girl struggling to figure things out.  She sees herself as much more mature than she really is, evidenced by her choice of boyfriend, a man 4 years older than herself.  That may not seem like much, but at 17, Lola is still figuring out who she is and what she needs.  Seeing Lola get treated like dirt by Max made me very frustrated, almost to the point of putting down the book.  One of her greatest moments of redemption comes in the wake of something horrible he says to her, and it was then that I realized what potential she had as a character.  As she works through the tumult of her thoughts and comes to the realization of who she really is, she really shines.  It is then that you see that Cricket is there to highlight all of the best of her while Max highlights all of the worst.  It made for an interesting contrast and I really enjoyed seeing the culmination of that conflict.

Stephanie Perkins is a very funny writer.  In spite of the heavier issues at hand, she never failed to make me laugh when it was most needed.  The blend of seriousness and humor really worked for Lola and the Boy Next Door and the delivery was much appreciated.  I also loved the subplot involving her dads and her biological mother.  The circumstances surrounding Lola's birth and the lingering effects they left upon her really lent perspective to her overall character.  When combined, it made for an engrossing read that left me alternating between laughter and sniffles.

While I didn't get quite the same level of experience reading Lola and the Boy Next Door as I did Anna and the French Kiss, I still found Lola to be an enjoyable read that ultimately left me with a smile on my face in the end.  The ways in which Perkins incorporated humor and even characters from Anna into the storyline made it even more engaging.  If you're looking for a fun read with some weight at the root of it, Lola and the Boy Next Door should do very nicely.  I would definitely recommend it to all.

Review - The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

by Marie Rutkoski
publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux Books for Young Readers
date of publication: March 4, 2014
format: ARC
pages: 355
source: publisher
series: The Winner's Trilogy (#1)
buy it: The Winner's Curse (Winner's Trilogy)

From Goodreads:

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love.

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction.

Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined. 

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

Having just finished The Winner's Curse, I find myself pondering the best way in which to tell you what I thought of this book.  First, it isn't quite what I had expected.  What I got instead was something so much better.  Expecting a war-time romance, what I found was a story of distrust, betrayal, passion, and grave danger.  The tale of Kestrel and Arin is not a tidy one by any means.  Theirs is not an easy love and by the end of The Winner's Curse you will see their individual struggles between what is right and what is wrong when it comes to both love and country.

Kestrel is one of the most cunning, intelligent characters I have been faced with in a long time.  Even though she has the mind of a strategist, she has a love that outshines any ambition for the military life her father wishes for her.  Kestrel is a gifted pianist and it is her love for music that ultimately changes the course of her destiny far beyond anything she ever expected.  Arin is one of those characters that makes you tease out every little facet, every little blip of information from them.  He is strong, silent, and defiant.  What's more, he is not who he first appears to be.  When these two come head to head, there is no denying the nature of their relationship.  There is distrust.  There is heartache.  First and foremost, there is a series of hard choices that ensures a struggle for their love beyond their wildest dreams.

The landscape of The Winner's Curse is both desolate and rich at the same time.  I'm still not sure how Rutkoski pulled this off, but suffice it to say she did.  The impression of isolation from the rest of the empire is there, yet there is frequent mention of the bounties the region boasts.  When bolstered with details of Harrani turned Valorian estates, sumptuous balls, and high-stakes games of chance, the full picture is painted.  Harran is the now jewel of the Valorian empire, one which the Valorians ruthlessly made their own.

In the end, the first line in the book's above description has it right.  Winning isn't always the thing you need or want the most.  Kestrel and Arin learn this the hard way and take us along for the ride.  The Winner's Curse isn't just about freedom or possessions or even romance.  At the heart of it, betrayal, redemption, and heartbreak are the ongoing themes.  The fact that it isn't a perfect love story is part of its appeal.  It really makes you think and, in doing so, you are drawn right into the story, not knowing who is right.  Perhaps no one is.  Either way, The Winner's Curse is rife with emotion and beauty.  You would be hard pressed to find a better story, at least during this half of the year.

Review - Wings of Arian

by Devri Walls
publisher: Stonehouse Ink
date of publication: April 24, 2012
format: ebook
pages: 462
source: from the author for review

From Goodreads:

Kiora thought she had never heard a lie until she was sixteen. But she was wrong. Her entire existence was based on nothing but. She thought that evil did not exist. Lie. That magic was not real. Lie. And that the land of Meros was all there was. One more lie.

With Aleric telling her that evil is knocking on the door and that she is the only one who can stop them she has a choice to make. Refuse, or start the wildest most painful ride of her life.
She reluctantly dips her toe into her new existence of magic and threads, dragons and shapeshifters, and the person who wants to take control of it all: the evil Dralazar.

However, this journey was never meant to be hers alone. She will be accompanied by a Protector. To her disbelief, and utter irritation they name the hotheaded, stubborn, non -magical, (albeit gorgeous) Prince Emane. They will have to trust each other with their lives, but right now Kiora would settle for a non hostile conversation.

And now it comes down to this, If you had never heard a lie, would you know when you heard one? Is knowing good from evil innate? Kiora finds herself having to decide who lives and who dies on those very questions.

First off, I really need to thank Lindsay from The Violet Hour for pointing me toward this book.  Otherwise, I don't know when I would have heard about it and might not have had the chance to read it when I did.  Wings of Arian is just the sort of tale of fantasy and adventure that I like, plus there is such a nice amount of romance that becoming immersed in the story is simply a matter of sitting down and diving in.  Now that I know this series is out there, I'm sure to be well supplied with great fantasy stories.

Kiora and Emane give the impression of getting along as well as cats and dogs at first glance.  However, as they are thrown together in the dangers and adventure Kiora is to face as a budding magician and soon-to-be heroine, they begin to uncover qualities about each other that changes their dynamic from then on.  Their interactions are well done and engaging and I very much enjoyed reading of their journeys and the discoveries they made in the far reaches of their kingdom.

The world building in Wings of Arian was lovely.  From the verdant forests where Kiora undertakes the first part of her training to the deep caverns of the shape shifters' realm, there are so many wonderful places to experience right along with the characters.  Not only is the world building enchanting, but there is also a cast of characters of every fantastic variety imaginable: dragons, faeries, shape shifters, wizards, pegasus, and more.  All come together to form a great framework of magic and action that is sure to entertain fantasy lovers everywhere.

The only thing about Wings of Arian that gave me pause was the high number of typographical errors and punctuation mistakes.  However, the version I read was a review copy, so I do not know if those problems remain in the finished version or not.  For that reason, I can't fault the quality all that much, especially when the story, itself, is so wonderful.  I feel very glad to be able to look forward to reading the next installment in the series, Wings of Tavea, very soon.  I am eager to find out where Kiora will go and what she will experience next.  Devri Walls has laid the foundation for a fun, magical tale and I, for one, will be following along with enthusiasm.

Buy Wings of Arian at the Following Locations:

Amazon / B&N

Obligatory legal statement: This digital review copy was provided to me free of charge by the author. 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 - Revived

by Cat Patrick
publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
format: hardcover
pages: 336
source: from the publisher for review
score: 3.5 out of 5

From Goodreads:

As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency's true goals, she realizes she's at the center of something much larger — and more sinister — than she ever imagined.

Right away you know that Revived is going to be quite interesting.  The first chapter opens with Daisy in the midst of dying.  This isn't the end of Daisy, however.  We soon find out that Daisy is different than the majority of kids: she can be brought back from the dead and be a living, breathing girl all over again.  Since she can't exactly show back up around town when so many saw her die, she and her guardians make another move that will wind up changing Daisy's life in many ways.  What ensues is a story full of mystery, intrigue, espionage, love, and heartbreak.  

Daisy has been on the move for so long that she has become a bit of a loner.  I felt for her as it struck me as a lonely existence.  In spite of this, however, she seems amazingly well-adjusted and has a great voice as a character.  Her dialog is so engaging that the pages fly by quite easily.  Her burgeoning friendship with vivacious Audrey and her budding romance with Audrey's brother, Matt, round out the most frequently seen characters.  I enjoyed all 3 of them, though I felt that Daisy shared her secrets with Matt too soon, making her perhaps a bit too naive.  Over all, though, it's a nice cast of characters that make for a smooth read.

The aspect of the book that I was the least sold on was the background.  It is lacking in further information on the who, how, what, and why involved in the making of Revive.  While you're reading it doesn't register so much, but once you put the book down there are so many questions left without answers.  Also, the threat didn't really strike me as especially urgent.  I think it's partly due to the delivery and partly the lack of information on the culprit once they are apprehended.  Knowing a motive would have been great, too.  

In spite of its flaws, Revived proved to be a fun read for a rainy Saturday afternoon.  With great character interactions and its premise, Revived is worth checking out.  I'm glad that I finally had the time to read it.  I will warn you, however, that if you are prone to becoming very emotional you will need tissues on hand.  A particular part of the book hit me pretty hard due to a past event in my life, so it's something to keep in mind.  If you're looking for a book that's a little bit sci-fi, a little bit romance, you may want to give Revived a chance.

  

Buy Revived at the Following Locations:

Amazon /  IndieBound  /  B&N  /  The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This finished 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 - So Close to You

by Rachel Carter
publisher: HarperTeen
date of publication: July 10, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 320
source: Around the World ARC Tours

From Goodreads:

Lydia Bentley has heard stories about the Montauk Project all her life: stories about the strange things that took place at the abandoned military base near her home and the people who've disappeared over the years. Stories about people like her own great-grandfather.

When Lydia stumbles into a portal that transports her to a dangerous and strange new reality, she discovers that all the stories she's ever heard about the Montauk Project are true, and that she's in the middle of one of the most dangerous experiments in history.

Alongside a darkly mysterious boy she is wary to trust, Lydia begins to unravel the secrets surrounding the Project. But the truths behind these secrets force her to question all her choices--and if Lydia chooses wrong, she might not save her family but destroy them . . . and herself.

I seem to be going through a time travel phase at the moment.  So Close to You is set in one place at two very different points in history: 2012, where Lydia is a high school student with a conspiracy theorist grandfather; and 1944, a year in the thick of WWII to which Lydia unwittingly travels and where she finds herself in the midst of a dangerous conspiracy.  So Close to You is a novel with clean, simple writing and an interesting plot.  With its vibrant characters and a phenomenal setting, this book completely drew me in.  Even with a few hitches, I came to enjoy So Close to You very much.

Aside from her descending into the creepy, dark underground bunker (if this were a horror movie, she would be toast), I liked Lydia pretty well.  There were some points at which her stubbornness frustrated me simply due to her refusal to consider the consequences of meddling with history.  I don't know exactly how I would react if in a similar situation, but I can say that I hope I would maintain enough common sense to be very careful of what I do.  I actually enjoyed her great aunt, Mary (a teenage girl at the time Lydia visits), even more.  She is a kind yet spunky girl with a bubbly personality and little to no guile.  As for Wes, I found him to be an enigmatic character, but I wasn't fully convinced as to why he became a love interest for Lydia.  I definitely want to find out more.

My favorite aspect of So Close to You was the setting.  The depiction of 1944 Montauk was so vivid and lively that picturing Lydia's surroundings became a pleasure.  If you need a frame of reference for the fashions mentioned in the book, The Notebook would serve as an excellent example.  Everything from the description of the town to the clothing to the social functions were fantastic.  I wanted to dive right in, myself just so I could see every single detail for myself.

Though So Close to You started out a little bit slow for me, it certainly didn't remain that way.  The premise is intriguing, the plot contains just the right amount of tension in all the right places, and the descriptions are well-rendered.  Even with their peculiar moments, the characters were portrayed fantastically and I came to enjoy learning about them.  If you enjoy time travel novels, this one is well worth trying.  It's a fun, quick read that will leave you begging for more.  There is a bit of a cliff-hanger at the end, but your curiosity will be piqued.  I know mine was!   

Buy So Close to You in the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

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

Review - Once

by Anna Carey
publisher: HarperTeen
date of publication: July 3, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages:
source: Edelweiss

From Goodreads:

When you're being hunted, who can you trust?

For the first time since she escaped from her school many months ago, Eve can sleep soundly. She's living in Califia, a haven for women, protected from the terrifying fate that awaits orphaned girls in The New America.

But her safety came at a price: She was forced to abandon Caleb, the boy she loves, wounded and alone at the city gates. When Eve gets word that Caleb is in trouble, she sets out into the wild again to rescue him, only to be captured and brought to the City of Sand, the capital of The New America.

Trapped inside the City walls, Eve uncovers a shocking secret about her past--and is forced to confront the harsh reality of her future. When she discovers Caleb is alive, Eve attempts to flee her prison so they can be together--but the consequences could be deadly. She must make a desperate choice to save the ones she loves . . . or risk losing Caleb forever.

In this breathless sequel to "Eve," Anna Carey returns to her tale of romance, adventure, and sacrifice in a world that is both wonderfully strange and chillingly familiar.

After my experience with Eve, I wasn't so confident heading into Once that I would enjoy it. However, after Eve's ending, I felt that there was still a chance that the story would turn into something I could really enjoy. It also takes a lot for me to abandon a series after just the first book. Fortunately, Once managed to capture my interest more firmly than Eve did, so I was more able to enjoy the story this time around. Thanks to an unexpected plot twist and some harrowing events, Once has a storyline that I can appreciate.

Eve has grown as a character since the events at the end of the first book. She has become more self-sufficient, though she is still prone to impulsive decision-making. This habit of hers still gets her into plenty of trouble, which is readily apparent even near the beginning of the book. Gone, however, is the girl who obsesses over what her old teachers would think of her actions. She has embraced how she feels for Caleb and finally understands just what it is the king has done to the country. You have to admire her for the lengths she is willing to go to in order to help those who are most at his mercy. I just wish she could be the type of female MC who uses common sense every once in a while. Eve still managed to drive me a bit batty in Once, just not quite as much as she did in Eve.

In Once, we get the chance to visit not one, but two new settings: Califia and the City of Sand. The differences between the two are so drastic that it is easy to see just how corrupt the king is, as if there was any doubt before. The pacing is much more even this time, which makes the chain of events easy to follow. All in all, the story-building was better this time around, so there wasn't as much to distract me from the plot. The ending had great tension and left me wanting to know what would happen next.

While the Eve series still doesn't appear amongst my favorites, I was sufficiently entertained by the story and interested in how Once ends. I probably won't make up my mind entirely until I've read the full trilogy. There are some things that I would like to see happen in Rise as far as Eve's character goes. The story is moving right along and I'm starting to get a better sense of how the world works in this series. I hope to learn more about the citizens of the City of Sand and I am especially curious as to whether the king will get his comeuppance. I'll be staying tuned until then.

Buy Once 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 - Venom

by Fiona Paul
publisher: Philomel
date of publication: October 30, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 432
source: Around the World ARC Tours

From Goodreads:

Cassandra Caravello is one of Renaissance Venice’s lucky elite: with elegant gowns, sparkling jewels, her own lady’s maid, and a wealthy fiancé, she has everything a girl could desire. Yet ever since her parents’ death, Cassandra has felt trapped, alone in a city of water, where the dark and labyrinthine canals whisper of escape.

When Cass stumbles upon a murdered woman—practically in her own backyard—she’s drawn into a dangerous world of courtesans, killers, and secret societies. Soon, she finds herself falling for Falco, a mysterious artist with a mischievous grin... and a spectacular skill for trouble. Can Cassandra find the murderer, before he finds her? And will she stay true to her fiancé, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for Falco?

Beauty, love, romance, and mystery weave together in a stunning novel that’s as seductive and surprising as the city of Venice itself.

Venom is one of those books that captures your attention immediately and compels you to check out its description. It's rare for me to read pure historical fiction without any supernatural elements these days, but Venom brought me back to a well-loved genre that hasn't received enough of my attention recently. As I delved into the book, the pages seemed to fly by. To call Venom captivating would be a gross understatement. There is so much to discover between its covers and I enjoyed every minute.

Cassandra was a vastly appealing character for many reasons. At first, she is a naïve, sheltered girl with very little experience with the less opulent side of Venice. However, as she gets to know the flirtatious and mysterious Falco, she begins to see her sheltered life as a cage that she longs to escape. Her loyalty to her late friend and her dedication to seeding justice make her a fiery character that I very much enjoyed getting to know. Falco, too, is a great character that I enjoyed immensely. His mischievous nature makes him just a fun character to read, all around.

Venom is best described by one word: lush. Everything from the background to the writing is surprisingly sensuous. I was pleasantly surprised to see Venice portrayed so well through the overall writing. The descriptions are so well rendered as to make you sink right in until you feel as though you are floating along the canals, yourself. The pace takes a few chapters to build, but it is more than worth the wait. Once the background was established and the plot was underway, I was thrilled enough to forget all about the slow start. That's the sure sign that the author has done something right.

As a lusciously detailed mystery and thriller, Venom has earned every bit of anticipation it has drawn. Fiona Paul has written a beautiful yet dangerous tale of murder, secrets, and darkness. Filled to the brim with chilling moments, Venom is a book that makes for a great read, especially on a stormy evening, as I found out. If you enjoy a good historical romance with a mystery involved, then Venom is the book for you. Prepare yourself for a thrilling, vivid reading experience.

Preorder Venom at the Following Locations:

Amazon /  IndieBound  /  B&N /  The Book Depository

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

Review - Lies Beneath

by Anne Greenwood Brown
publisher: Delacorte BFYR
date of publication: June 12, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 303
source: Netgalley

From Goodreads

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistable good looks and charm on ususpecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.

Just when I thought that I wouldn't find a mermaid novel that I enjoyed 100% of the time, along came Lies Beneath to change my mind. Though there have been many mermaid books in recent months, Lies Beneath managed to introduce a story that I became fully immersed in. With a look at the dark side of mermaids, Lies Beneath gave me chills and made me sit up and take notice all at once. With a main character in the midst of a transformation and villains who are quite literally cold-blooded, this book drew me in hook, line, and sinker.

Calder White came as a complete surprise. At first, he is not someone you would want to encounter. The homicidal tendencies of mermaids is first introduced through him and, I have to say, he is very successful at establishing the lore present in this world. As the story continues, however, it is revealed that there is more to Calder White than meets the eye. He is all at once both less and more than his sisters, which was a really great aspect to his character. Following along as he attains some humanity is fascinating and, at times, moving. Lily Hancock, the catalyst which brings about the changes Calder goes through is both naive and stubborn. At times, I couldn't decide whether to cheer her on or yell at her for some of her decisions. All in all, the entire array of characters present in Lies Beneath made for a truly interesting reading experience.

The pacing is what you might expect from a story of this time. As it takes place in a sleepy town and centers around a plot that requires calculation and a steady build-up, the pace moves along at just the right clip. I didn't feel as though I was being rushed along, nor did I feel bogged down by too many details. The writing was very easy to keep up with. The descriptions of everything from the settings to the people were capable of making these elements easily imagined. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of Calder's journeys underneath the water. They made the story come to life bit by bit until I had a full understanding of everything that was going on in this intriguing world.

Lies Beneath would make for an excellent beach read. Its intriguing premise and entertaining characters make it a great pick for a day of reading whether on vacation or at home. It ended in such a way that left me content and satisfied, which is a definite mark in its favor. These aren't the mermaids you may remember from childhood fairy tales. What you get here is a glimpse at what came before there were things such as Disney's The Little Mermaid. If you enjoy books that incorporate different folklore, then Lies Beneath is definitely one you need to check out.

Buy Lies Beneath 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 - For Darkness Shows the Stars

by Diana Peterfreund
publisher: Balzer + Bray
date of publication: June 12, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 398
source: from a friend

From Goodreads:

Generations ago, a genetic experiment gone wrong—the Reduction—decimated humanity, giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot’s estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth—an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.

But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret—one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved, even if she’s lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen’s Persuasion, For Darkness Shows the Stars is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

For Darkness Shows the Stars has the surprising distinction of being an adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion AND a post-apocalyptic novel.  Being a huge fan of Jane Austen's works and an especially appreciative fan of Persuasion, I knew that this would be a book that I just had to read.  I was fortunate in that a dear friend was able to send me a copy that she obtained at a conference.  Reading For Darkness Shows the Stars proved to be an intriguing experience that made me think about both the similarities between the two books and the variations on the themes present in Persuasion.  

If I had to describe Elliot North, I would say that she's a more stubborn, outspoken version of Anne Elliot.  The ways in which she deals with her heartbreak over Kai are filled with more anger than we see with Anne.  Though we only got a second-hand view of Anne's feelings due to a difference in narration, Elliot came off as a much more fiery girl than Anne did.  She was both similar enough to Anne that I enjoyed reading about her as an extension of Anne, and different enough that I enjoyed her as a character in her own right.  Kai, in keeping with the intensifying emotions present in For Darkness Shows the Stars, makes for an intriguing version of Captain Wentworth.  Though his cruelty is much more pronounced and, at times, hard to hear, we also get to learn more about the ways in which Elliot's refusal to run away with him as she originally promised affected him as a person.  Overall, these characters, while not the embodiment of their sources, proved to be successful in giving Jane Austen's story both new life and a new audience.

The setting in For Darkness Shows the Stars is an interesting one.  The estate system that is in place has similarities to the Antebellum plantations that were present in the south during the 19th century, as well as to the colonies held by England during the Victorian era.  That it all takes place on an island just added another nuance to the story, one that added credence to the importance of the maritime pursuits of the Post-Reductionists.  The hierarchy created for this story was also a novel addition to this story.  It upped the stakes for both Elliot and Kai and gave the post-apocalyptic setting a point of contention that added to the problems and conflicts present.

I've read several variations on Jane Austen's work and, I have to say, For Darkness Shows the Stars is my favorite, so far.  Thanks to its setting, societal issues, and intensified versions of the characters found in Persuasion, For Darkness Shows the Stars proved to be well worth the time it took to read it.  I found the experience to be one of both reminiscence and discovery as I explored the new world that Peterfreund created.  If you're a fan of Jane Austen, you must give this book a try.  Even if you aren't, I still recommend it.  It is my hope that this book finds not only many fans for itself, but also new fans for one of my favorite authors of all time.  Read For Darkness Shows the Stars.  Read Persuasion.  It just might rock your world.

Buy For Darkness Shows the Stars at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Review - Unraveling

by Elizabeth Norris
publisher: Balzer + Bray
date of publication: April 24, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 445
source: DAC ARC Tours
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From Goodreads:

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl's fight to save hers,elf, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.

What I Thought

There once was a time when science fiction novels just did not manage to capture my attention.  Luckily for me, that has been changing.  Otherwise, I probably would have missed this little gem of a novel, and that would just be sad.  Unraveling packs such a surprising amount of scientific jargon, intrigue, and romance into one book that I was completely caught up.  The story I was about to sink into was a total treat, one which held several good points for me.

Janelle is a pretty no-nonsense character, all things considered.  I can only imagine that what happens to her completely knocks her for a loop.  As Janelle is a very analytical and observant person, however, she is readily able to accept her own memories of the incident and, rather than fall apart about what happened, Janelle sets out to find answers.  Ben was a bit of a surprise for me.  At first, I was expecting a typical bad boy type.  However, the truth behind Ben was more than that and I found myself liking him as Janelle's love interest in this story.  After all, it's hard to ignore a guy who knows his literature!  These two characters work very well together, so I am left without a single complaint, on that front. 

The pacing of Unraveling started out a bit laboriously, leaving me concerned that I was going to find finishing the book to be a struggle.  This wasn't the case, however, as things began to progress fairly quickly after that.  The premise is very interesting and has something for almost everyone: science; crime investigation; mystery; romance; and action.  Ms. Norris weaves these various threads together into a very compelling story.  You would be hard-pressed to not find something about Unraveling that you like.

I certainly hope that Unraveling is the beginning of a series, as I enjoyed both the characters and the premise immensely.  The ending left my eyes damp and my curiosity piqued, so I have all the more reason to hope for at least one more installment.  If you're looking for a fun blend of science fiction and romance, Unraveling would be an excellent choice.  Elizabeth Norris has written a fun, harrowing story that will both challenge your mind and leave you with butterflies in your stomach.  If at first you find yourself concerned with the pacing, keep at it.  You won't want to miss out on this book.

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

Review - Grave Mercy

by Robin LaFevers
publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
date of publication: April 3, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 509
source: from the publisher for review
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From Goodreads:

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

What I Thought

Anticipation for this novel has been high ever since I first read the plot description.  I was intrigued by the concept of a seventeen-year-old assassin trained in the deadly arts by a convent.  As if that wasn't enough, the fact that it takes place at the high court of medieval Brittany and is based upon the events surrounding the real-life Anne of Brittany boosted this novel near the top of my must-read list.  Now that I have had the chance to read it, I can gladly say that Grave Mercy lived up to every one of my expectations... and more!

Ismae is, perhaps, one of the strongest female main characters I have had the pleasure of reading in quite some time.  She is born during a time when women are basically sold at a young age in marriage and have little to no choice in what becomes of them.  That she goes from being a victim to being a formidable young woman who can more than take care of herself is a marvel of character development.  Her experiences do leave their mark upon her, however, which makes her all the more complex and easily related to.  Her male counterpart, Duval, is one of my favorite male characters that I have encountered in a while, as well.  While he does hold concerns about Ismae's welfare, he isn't over-the-top with it.  I really liked that Ms. LaFevers made him into a remarkably open-minded young man in a world where so few men would take a woman's theories and strengths seriously.  It was very refreshing and, I must say, the hints of romance were all the more compelling for it! 

The world of this assassin is one filled with both danger and beauty and I simply could not get enough of it.  Having recently learned of my own familial ties to both this time period and era, I quickly found myself drawn into this rich, intricately woven world of politics, intrigue, and betrayal.  The storyline is wonderfully complex and, though I thought I had figured a few things out, the plot twists were nothing short of brilliant and ensured that there was much to take me by surprise.  The overall package reminded me of some of my all-time favorite historical novels and left me feeling similarly excited upon finishing the last page.  This book fully engaged my mind and left me wishing to learn even more about the time and people that inspired it.  This is the mark of a great novel.

The only complaint I have about Grave Mercy is that I have to wait an entire year to read the next book.  It was one of those books that I felt sad upon finishing simply because it was over.  I'm beyond thrilled that there will be 2 more books, however, and can't wait to see what else the world of His Fair Assassin has in store.  If you're a history buff that enjoys a little fantasy in their novels, then you absolutely have to read Grave Mercy.  Even if you're not so interested in history, I still highly recommend this book.  It has made it into my top 5 for the year so far and I can not wait to have a finished copy on my shelves, just so I can read it all over again.

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

Review - Goddess Interrupted

by Aimee Carter
publisher: Harlequin Teen
date of publication: March 27, 2012
format: eGalley
pages: 299
source: Netgalley
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From Goodreads:

Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry’s first wife, Persephone.

What I Thought

Goddess Interrupted, the next installment in the Goddess Test series, picks up 6 months after the events from The Goddess Test.  As a result, a certain level of continuity is achieved, though it wasn't the type of continuity I was expecting.  Where I expected amazing advancements in the story, I just didn't get what I had hoped for.  In many ways, continuity isn't the best thing.

Kate, Kate, Kate: what can I say about Kate?  I wasn't very sure how I felt about her this time around.  While she had a certain amount of uncertainty in The Goddess Test, Kate was well beyond that in Goddess Interrupted.  Instead of wary uncertainty, she is one big bundle of insecurity.  As for Henry, all I can say is, "What the heck?"  Truthfully, he's a pretty big jerk in Goddess Interrupted.  It's almost as if his behavior from The Goddess Test was kicked up a few notches into the realm of insensitivity and inconsiderateness.  All in all, both Kate and Henry continued down the path their attitudes and issues were leading toward and didn't really branch out into very much positivity.  With the exception of Diana, I just couldn't get behind most of the characters this time around. 

The plot had a nice amount of tension behind it, which is just what you would expect when Kronos is gunning for Kate and her new Olympian family.  Calliope is a formidable foe thanks to her mental status and the belief that she has nothing to lose.  That she believes she can order a Titan about attests to her instability and delusions.  I know I wouldn't want to come up against someone like her.  The premise serves as the highlight of this book and I can at least say that I enjoyed that aspect.

I had seriously hoped to be blown away by this book.  However, that just didn't happen.  While the premise is a good one, the behavior of the characters was enough to turn me off and made enjoying the book difficult.  I know I will likely be the odd duck with my rating.  Nevertheless, I felt that Goddess Interrupted didn't quite come up to the standard presented by The Goddess Test.  As a result, I have chosen to give Goddess Interrupted 2 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 - Spellcaster

by Cara Lynn Shultz
publisher: Harlequin Teen
date of publication: March 27, 2012
format: eGalley
pages: 376
source: Netgalley
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From Goodreads:

Finding your eternal soulmate - easy.

Stopping a true-love-hungry evil - not so much…

After breaking a centuries-old romantic curse, Emma Connor is (almost) glad to get back to normal problems. Although...it's not easy dealing with the jealous cliques and gossip that rule her exclusive Upper East Side prep, even for a sixteen-year-old newbie witch. Having the most-wanted boy in school as her eternal soul mate sure helps ease the pain-especially since wealthy, rocker-hot Brendan Salinger is very good at staying irresistibly close....

But something dark and hungry is using Emma and Brendan's deepest fears to reveal damaging secrets and destroy their trust in each other. And Emma's crash course in über-spells may not be enough to keep them safe…or to stop an inhuman force bent on making their unsuspected power its own.

What I Thought

It's a little hard to believe that just a year ago Spellbound was one of my first ever Netgalley review books.  That was my introduction to the awesomeness that is Cara Lynn Shultz.  I adored Spellbound with every fiber of my being, so imagine my excitement when Spellcaster popped up on Netgalley.  Though I had to wait to read it, I was still just as excited to begin as the day I received it.  Now that I've read it, I find myself in a bit of a quandary.  You will soon see why.

Emma and Brendon are back in all their witty, sarcastic glory.  After surviving the violent attack of their former classmate, Anthony, the happy couple are ready for rest, relaxation, and lots of kissing.  Little do they know, however, that things are about to get dangerous once more.  As Emma and Brendon face this new enemy, they remind us about who they are and how they operate.  As Emma develops magically, she also begins to grow stronger as a person.  She learns much more about herself than she could have bargained for, which adds even more interest to the story.  Brendon, however, is thrown into unfamiliar territory when he learns just what fear is.  He, too, must learn more about himself in order to grow in strength and perseverance.  All of these character developments combined with loads of witty banter that kept me giggling throughout the book makes for a really fun, engrossing read that I simply couldn't get enough of.

Spellcaster improves upon all that I enjoyed about Spellbound, in that the threat is so much more insidious and spine-chilling.  Ms. Shultz has really ramped up the effectiveness of Emma and Brendon's opponent this time.  I found myself beyond creeped out by all that is thrown at the two this time.  The amount of magic involved is also much more, which definitely made me very happy with the plot.  The pacing of the story was all the more stimulating because of these factors.  I had to know what was going to happen next, making it very hard to put the book down.  I couldn't have asked for a better storyline.

Now we arrive at the dilemma.  What do you do when you're so pleased with a book that you don't feel your top rating is enough?  Spellcaster has definitely made me reconsider my rating system to the point that I am contemplating an addition.  In any case, Spellcaster is one of those books that will have you reading all through the night or, in my case, until the battery in the ereader is depleted.  If you're looking for a read with both humor and chills, Spellcaster is the way to go.    

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.