Review - Ten

by Gretchen McNeil
publisher: Balzer + Bray
date of publication: September 18, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 304
source: from the author

From Goodreads:

And their doom comes swiftly.

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.

But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.

Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

I don't make a habit of reading many murder mysteries.  They usually just don't manage to grab my attention all that much, as I like my books both fanciful and thrilling.  When I found out that Gretchen McNeil had written Ten, however, I knew I had to give it a go.  She successfully scared the crap out of me with Possess, so I was confident she would write a mean murder mystery.  As it turns out, my assumptions were correct and I was treated to one heck of a thrill ride.  Ten brought on the mystery plot with a whole lot of ominous tone.  From the first page, I knew I was in for it.

When it comes to Meg and her best friend, Minnie, the description above does not do justice to the true nature of the relationship between these two.  To say that Minnie is codependent and Meg is an enabler is an understatement.  From the start, you know that what you're reading isn't a typical friendship.  Instead, it's based on something more akin to baby-sitting and walking on egg shells.  Meg starts out as such a push-over that you have to wonder just how the story is going to play out in regard to her.  However, as she begins to realize more and more the consequences of her enabling behavior, she becomes a bit stronger and a more sympathetic character.  I wanted someone to put a gag in Minnie's mouth half the time, but I can't deny that she added a lot of edge to the story's undercurrents.

I simply loved the setting for Ten.  It doesn't get much spookier than a heavily forested, storm-ravaged island along the Pacific Northwest coast.  It added so much more urgency to the teens' plight and made for a heck of an atmosphere.  Between that and the enigma that is the identity of the killer, you'll be kept on the edge of your seat.  I truly could not deduce the killer's identity until they revealed it themselves.  Consider my mind blown.  When a book comes along that takes me completely by surprise like that, I'm a happy reader, indeed.

It's safe to say that Ten left me very satisfied in the thrills and chills department.  Though I would have liked to see some more depth to Minnie's character (I honestly couldn't define what Meg saw in her), the variety in the cast worked out very well.  With a foreboding setting, character conflict, and a tight lid on the killer's identity, Ten makes for a pretty great mystery.  If you're a fan of the genre or want to try it out for yourself, Ten would definitely be a good place to start.

Buy Ten at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

This advance review copy was provided to me by the author as part of a contest.  No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - Cold Fury

by T.M. Goeglein
publisher: Putnam Juvenile
date of publication: July 24, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 313
source: from the publisher via LibraryThing Early Reviewers

From Goodreads:

Jason Bourne meets The Sopranos in this breathtaking adventure

Sara Jane Rispoli is a normal sixteen-year-old coping with school and a budding romance--until her parents and brother are kidnapped and she discovers her family is deeply embedded in the Chicago Outfit (aka the mob).

Now on the run from a masked assassin, rogue cops and her turncoat uncle, Sara Jane is chased and attacked at every turn, fighting back with cold fury as she searches for her family. It's a quest that takes her through concealed doors and forgotten speakeasies--a city hiding in plain sight. Though armed with a .45 and 96K in cash, an old tattered notebook might be her best defense--hidden in its pages the secret to "ultimate power." It's why she's being pursued, why her family was taken, and could be the key to saving all of their lives.

Action packed, with fresh, cinematic writing, Cold Fury is a riveting and imaginative adventure readers will devour.

  
Upon first meeting Sara Jane Rispoli, one might think they aren't going to be treated to such a gutsy character.  Such a misconception is not bound to remain for long, however, as Sara Jane's past is recounted, revealing a girl tougher than anyone around her can possibly know.  In this action-packed thriller, perseverance is everything as one teenage girl takes on a shadowy band of corrupt authority figures, a jealous uncle, and quite possibly the eeriest villain I've encountered in a book this year.  I can only say that I was wrong to think that Cold Fury would be a slow, convoluted book.  It turned out to be anything but!

If I were to sum up Sara Jane in one word, that word would be "backbone."  Beneath her quiet exterior lies a fiery core that is capable of more than Sara Jane herself even realizes.  As she takes on all those who would seize or harm her, the full extent of not only her strength, but her intellect shines through, making her a very intriguing character to follow.  She isn't perfect by any means, but her strength makes her a compelling character, nonetheless.  Such an intelligent, determined, and loyal main character is one well worth reading about.

The pacing of Cold Fury worried me in the beginning as I slowly waded through the narrative of Sara Jane's early years.  However, things soon picked up and the information learned during that narrative proved to be very useful in understanding all that was going on throughout the rest of the book.  In addition to pacing, Cold Fury has some exemplary settings.  The numerous Capone doors (a really clever means of escape) and the unpredictable streets of Chicago made for such a fantastic backdrop.  Each one fit the actions and tones of the story perfectly.  I couldn't wait to see where Sara Jane would find herself next.

Cold Fury is one of the more action-filled books I've read this year and I'm very glad to have had the chance to read it.  It made for a perfect change of pace from my typical fantasy/dystopian/supernatural reading habits, a very important thing for someone in a bit of a reading rut.  If you have a fascination for spy or mob movies, you should definitely check out Cold Fury.  With its imposing main character, action, and unique settings, you're sure to find something you like in the pages of Cold Fury.  Trust me when I say that you won't be bored.

Buy Cold Fury 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 via Library Thing Early Reviewers. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Nerve Blog Tour - A Review

It's time for another great blog tour stop, this time for Nerve by Jeanne Ryan (September 13, 2012 from Dial Books).  I have for you all today my review of this technologically-driven thriller where nothing is as it seems and trust isn't guaranteed.  Be sure to keep scrolling after the review for your chance to win a signed hardback copy of Nerve!

by Jeanne Ryan
publisher: Dial Books
date of publication: September 13, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 304
source: Netgalley

From Goodreads:

A high-stakes online game of dares turns deadly

When Vee is picked to be a player in NERVE, an anonymous game of dares broadcast live online, she discovers that the game knows her. They tempt her with prizes taken from her ThisIsMe page and team her up with the perfect boy, sizzling-hot Ian. At first it's exhilarating--Vee and Ian's fans cheer them on to riskier dares with higher stakes. But the game takes a twisted turn when they're directed to a secret location with five other players for the Grand Prize round. Suddenly they're playing all or nothing, with their lives on the line. Just how far will Vee go before she loses NERVE?

Debut author Jeanne Ryan delivers an un-putdownable suspense thriller.

Vee has spent much of her life in the shadow of her vivacious, dramatic friend, Sydney.  Behind the scenes both on the stage and in everyday life, Vee longs for two things: a career in fashion and a date with the object of her affection, Matthew.  When Vee experiences jealousy toward her friend, she decides to do something no one would expect: she completes a very public (and very embarrassing) dare for the live game NERVE.  From then on out, both temptation and a need for revenge lead Vee to do some of the most unspeakable dares NERVE can throw at her.  She stands to win everything she wants most... but at what cost?

Nerve takes a well-known concept (reality game shows) and gives it a whole new twist with a mysterious game of dares watched by thousands and taking place completely online.  I found some of the themes to be very appropriate due to current events and enjoyed thinking through all of the conundrums Vee faces as she advances through the rounds.  The sheer pervasiveness of NERVE made it a very frightening idea to ponder.  The fact that they are able to dig up information beyond the realm of the characters' expectations exhibits the perfect type of threat for such a storyline.

At first, I was a bit put off by Vee.  While she comes off as sweet for much of the first few chapters, it quickly becomes apparent that she is a flawed character.  Her penchant for letting her feelings for an obviously undeserving boy dictate her actions was a hard pill to swallow.  However, this can be used as a lesson in self-knowledge.  Vee reasons that she wants to shake things up when, in reality, she wants to gain the attention of the object of her affections.  The fact that this is a gateway that opens her up to greed which will put her life in danger further illustrates the dangers of her actions.  Seeing her figure all of this out and stand up for herself is an amazing thing after all of this, making for an action-packed conclusion.

Nerve proved to provide oodles of action and a lot of nail-biting moments.  Some of the scenes, while distasteful to me personally, illustrate just how much is wrong with this game of dares.  It all lends a chilling atmosphere that keeps your interest right up to the end.  Fans of conspiracy theories and spy scenarios should really enjoy this one.  If you want a thriller with a technological angle, give Nerve a try.

Buy Nerve 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.

The Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check Out the Other Stops!

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 - Dark Companion

by Marta Acosta
publisher: Tor Teen
date of publication: July 3, 2012
format: hardcover
pages: 368
source: from the publisher for review

From Goodreads:

Orphaned at the age of six, Jane Williams has grown up in a series of foster homes, learning to survive in the shadows of life. Through hard work and determination, she manages to win a scholarship to the exclusive Birch Grove Academy. There, for the first time, Jane finds herself accepted by a group of friends. She even starts tutoring the headmistress’s gorgeous son, Lucien. Things seem too good to be true.
They are.

The more she learns about Birch Grove’s recent past, the more Jane comes to suspect that there is something sinister going on. Why did the wife of a popular teacher kill herself? What happened to the former scholarship student, whose place Jane took? Why does Lucien’s brother, Jack, seem to dislike her so much?

As Jane begins to piece together the answers to the puzzle, she must find out why she was brought to Birch Grove—and what she would risk to stay there….

It's obvious from looking around my blog that I enjoy YA literature. However, my first literary loves both contain the name “Jane.” If you get me started about Jane Austen's books or Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, you will find that I can't shut up about them. Jane Eyre is a particular favorite, so when I learned that Dark Companion contained parallels with one of my favorite works of literature, I took notice. When I heard that it had a Gothic tone, I knew that I absolutely, without any shadow of doubt, had to read this book. I am happy to say that Marta Acosta met my expectations and then proceeded to surpass them. I warn you now: this review is about to become one of the longest I have ever written. I have so many thoughts to share that writing a shorter review just won't cut it.

Jane is a more contemporary version of her counterpart, Jane Eyre, in every way. As a street-wise, intelligent, hard-working orphan, Jane seeks to change her fate and propel herself toward a better education and a life free of abusive foster parents. She is such a complicated character that, just when you think you have her figured out, she throws you for a loop. I didn't always agree with her choices, but in this case, the story just wouldn't have been the same had she not made the decisions she did. That does not mean that Jane is without a little humor in her life. Jane's best friend at Birch Grove Academy, Mary Violet, very nearly stole the show at times. Her bubbly personality and all around hilarity did a great job at providing a bit of a break from the intensity of Dark Companion's plot. I adored her as a character and thought she was a great foil for Jane. Jane's friends aren't the only interesting secondary characters, however. The sons of Birch Grove's headmistress, Lucian and Jack, were so completely different from each other. Lucian, the suave, handsome brother, is a temptation for Jane. Her interactions with him are thought-provoking and make you think about the greater picture and the workings of the plot not yet at the forefront. Jack, however, does a fantastic job at poking at Jane with jibes and jokes until she begins to emerge from her shell. He's a fantastic modern version of Mr. Rochester. Overall, the characters were very engaging and intriguing.

While Birch Grove Academy is no Lowood Institute, there is something inherently mysterious about it. It's more like the woodland and creek-side areas that surround Lowood that you will find in Jane Eyre. The setting for Dark Companion was absolutely perfect. If you take Stepford and combine it with one of Ann Radcliff's imposing chateaus, you will get an idea as to what I'm talking about. It made for the perfect backdrop for the events that take place. As Gothic literature places great emphasis on setting, I payed particular attention too all of the places Jane visits. The thing I liked most that, while Birch Grove isn't the hulking, dark castles you often find in Gothic fiction, it does have a certain sinister undertone that becomes more and more apparent. I found Jane's evenings in her little cottage downright spooky to read about, at times. I could not get enough of the settings and moods that are found within this novel.

I'll admit that I am an enthusiastic fan of books and usually find the ones that I know I will enjoy the most. Dark Companion, however, goes beyond everything that I usually experience while reading a book I enjoy. Though I was taken by surprise by some of the occurrences, I was able to adjust my thinking and understood the hows and whys of them.  With its fantastic cast of characters and, at times, menacing undertones, it was a great, spooky read that would make for a great read on a foggy autumn evening. You name it, this book has it: atmosphere; vibrant characters; humor; romance; suspense; and chills galore. Dark Companion is definitely this Jane Eyre fan's cup of tea. I hope it will be yours, as well.

Buy Dark Companion 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 - 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 - I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

by Barry Lyga
publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
date of publication: April 3, 2012
format: hardcover
pages: 359
source: from the publisher for review
read it in: 4 days

From Goodreads:

What if the world's worst serial killer...was your dad?

Jasper (Jazz) Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say.

But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could--from the criminal's point of view.

And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod.

In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret--could he be more like his father than anyone knows?

Jazz Dent is not like other teenagers in Lobo's Nod.  Being surrounded by the infamy that being the son of the world's most prolific serial killer brings on, Jazz is a boy struggling to figure out who he really is.  Is he a meant for solving murder cases... or something far more lethal?  I Hunt Killers is a chilling peek into the mind of a boy damaged by the psychological scars inflicted upon him by his murderous father and the repercussions those scars have upon his life.  Turn on the lights, lock the doors, and sit down for a thrill like none you've ever experienced before.

Jasper "Jazz" Dent, while often charming, is a character with many skeletons (almost literally) in his closet.  He possesses both a keen intellect and an eye for detail that gives local law enforcement a run for their money.  It's difficult not to feel pity for him due to the brainwashing perpetrated by his father, Billy Dent, the world's worst serial killer.  He is a boy on the brink of tumbling into a dark abyss of murder and depravity.  His struggle to avoid this fate makes him a surprisingly admirable character, as does his loyalty to his best friend, Howie, who is as different from Jasper as it is possible to be.  The overall experience of being so immersed in Jazz's head is both enlightening and frightening.  He is definitely one of the most unique characters I have ever read about.

The plot of I Hunt Killers, while somewhat bogged down with Jazz's frequent inner monologues in regard to his true nature, is made up of an intricately woven mystery of the most frightening sort.  The brief glimpses into the point of view of the killer are chilling and do a great job at imparting a thick atmosphere of foreboding.  There are some truly horrific dream descriptions within that are more than capable of making you nervous, a sure sign that you are in the midst of a riveting, if not disturbing, book.  I must give one warning, however, if you are easily suggestible and prone to nightmares, be careful about when and where you read I Hunt Killers.  With the right surroundings, you could successfully scare yourself silly with this one!    

I Hunt Killers is quite possibly one of the most eerie books I've ever read.  Jazz is a very engaging character, even if he does manage to make you worry from time to time.  The plot is intense and full of some truly stunning twists that leave you scrambling to figure out the culprit behind the crimes.  The ending is truly an explosion of surprise that left me reeling after I turned the last page.  If you're looking for an intense, creepy read, you simply must try I Hunt Killers.  Thrills and chills abound and you'll be perpetually on the edge of your seat.

Buy I Hunt Killers 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.

DNF - The Book of Blood and Shadow

by Robin Wasserman
publisher: Random House Children's Books
date of publication: April 10, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 449
source: Netgalley
read it in: tried for 8 days; did not finish

From Goodreads:

It was like a nightmare, but there was no waking up. When the night began, Nora had two best friends and an embarrassingly storybook one true love. When it ended, she had nothing but blood on her hands and an echoing scream that stopped only when the tranquilizers pierced her veins and left her in the merciful dark.

But the next morning, it was all still true: Chris was dead. His girlfriend Adriane, Nora’s best friend, was catatonic. And Max, Nora’s sweet, smart, soft-spoken Prince Charming, was gone. He was also—according to the police, according to her parents, according to everyone—a murderer.

Desperate to prove his innocence, Nora follows the trail of blood, no matter where it leads. It ultimately brings her to the ancient streets of Prague, where she is drawn into a dark web of secret societies and shadowy conspirators, all driven by a mad desire to possess something that might not even exist. For buried in a centuries-old manuscript is the secret to ultimate knowledge and communion with the divine; it is said that he who controls the Lumen Dei controls the world. Unbeknownst to her, Nora now holds the crucial key to unlocking its secrets. Her night of blood is just one piece in a puzzle that spans continents and centuries. Solving it may be the only way she can save her own life.

I went into The Book of Blood and Shadow with a level of anticipation and enthusiasm that made the prospect of reading the book even better.  However, when I began to read, what I found was a combination of elements that made reading this book difficult.  I had much trouble connecting to the main character, Nora, due to her often disjointed way of thinking.  I did enjoy the historical aspects of the novel... at first.  After a while, however, it became more and more prevalent until I felt as though I was being inundated with it.  It wasn't presented in a way that made it appealing to me, making the going very, very slow.  I read 50% of the book and originally planned to finish.  However, when I was contemplating picking it back up this evening and realized that I was dreading it, I knew that I would be doing both the book and myself a disservice.  It's unfortunate, as I had really wanted to enjoy this book, but it just wasn't happening.

If you feel that you would enjoy The Book of Blood and Shadow, you can purchase it in the following locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository 

Review - The Last Echo

Kimberly Derting
publisher: HarperTeen
date of publication: April 17, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 358
source: SBB ARC Tours
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet's talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it's Violet's job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by "the girlfriend collector" she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new "relationship" and Violet may have caught his eye....

What I Thought

We've finally come to the third installment in the riveting Body Finder series by Kimberly Derting.  The past 2 books have been wonderfully entrancing and intense.  I worried as to whether or not The Last Echo could evoke the same feelings that The Body Finder and Desires of the Dead, but I needn't have worried.  In fact, it went above and beyond and has become my favorite book in the series yet!

Violet has made a lot of changes since we first met her in The Body Finder.  This time, she has new challenges to face and she definitely shines.  As she goes up against the absolute creepiest adversary yet, the tension and thrill surrounding the events she encounters is amazing.  While she still holds onto a few bad habits that seem to have quite the hold on her, Violet proves to be a very strong character.  She has to be, due to all that she has gone through and all that she has yet to face.

The Last Echo has an amazing plot and quick, edge-of-your seat pacing that doesn't quit.  It was my favorite storyline yet and I was left very, very happy at the end due to the amazing plot twists and well-developed characters.  This book has fully cemented my appreciation of mysteries and thrillers.  I was left wanting more and more.  It was simply that engrossing!

I don't want to risk saying too much more about The Last Echo, as I know there are several of you out there who haven't read it yet.  If you've made it this far into the series, keep going!  If you have yet to pick up the first book, do it!  This is a series that keeps building upon itself and getting better every time.  The Last Echo has earned the highest rating of any book in the series.  It finally reached the full potential I was expecting and I couldn't be more impressed. 

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 - Slide

by Jill Hathaway
publisher: Balzer + Bray
date of publication: March 27, 2012
format: eGalley
pages: 187
source: Netgalley
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

What I Thought

I have become more and more interested in YA murder mysteries as of late, especially if they contain some element of the paranormal.  When I initially read the description of Slide on Netgalley, I knew that I had to give it a go.  The concept of a person being able to see through the eyes of a killer is an intriguing one, and for that person to be a teenage girl is even more interesting.  That it lacks the typical psychic angle confirmed my need to read this book.  I am glad that I did.

Vee is an emotionally bruised girl who wants nothing more than to hold herself back from those around her.  Fearing disappointment and heart-break, she has resorted to shielding herself through her outward appearance as well as her outward attitude.  Her armor is about to be cracked, however, as the body count begins to rise and an unexpected attraction to the new boy makes her reconsider everything.  I felt very empathetic toward Vee as I learned more and more about her and her past.  Though she maintains a stubborn veneer throughout the novel, I couldn't bring myself to be irritated by her.  Instead, she evokes much concern until you find yourself wishing for something to come along to make things better for her.  She is a very well-written main character that I very much enjoyed reading about, as well as an effective narrator.  She made the story easy to comprehend and provided a fantastic amount of useful information.

Slide is a very evenly paced, well-written mystery that kept me guessing right up until the end.  As I often am able to glean enough information to figure out the culprit at the wrong stage, the fact that this story threw me for a loop left me feeling very satisfied.  The plot twists are excellent and the themes touched upon (i.e. bullying, underage drinking, and suicide) are important ones.  The impact of such themes are exhibited, which provides important insight into the dangers.  Overall, Slide is an excellent paranormal mystery with an added layer of import.

Slide has left me with a stronger interest in mystery novels thanks to its impeccable storyline and ability to provide a complete surprise as to the perpetrator and their motive.  Jill Hathaway has written an engaging, imaginative story that will make most anyone a fan of mystery novels.  If you're looking for an engrossing, well thought-out story, I recommend Slide.  Whether it is to remain a standalone novel or is the beginning of a series, Slide is an enjoyable book that should not remain absent from your TBR shelves for long.  I give Slide 5 hoots for ease of reading, intrigue, and re-readability.

  
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 - Illuminate

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

From Goodreads:

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

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

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

What I Thought

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

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

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

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

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

Review - Desires of the Dead

by Kimberly Derting
publisher: HarperTeen
date of publication: February 15, 2011
format: hardcover
pages: 368
source: purchased
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.
Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered--and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

What I Thought

If there is one thing you can say about Kimberly Derting, you can definitely say that she is consistent.  Desires of the Dead reads as though it is an extension of The Body Finder, only with a different mystery and a different level of tension.  Derting succeeds in being consistent without being predictable, something that I was very appreciative of as I read this installment in The Body Finder series.

Instead of a serial killer, Violet must contend with new challenges: the worrisome attentions of the FBI, a seriously creepy stalker situation, and, of course, the discovery of some bodies along the way.  There is also her intense relationship with her once best friend, Jay, to punch up the wow factor in the storyline.  Though there are moments of frustration along the way (Violet doesn't always know when she should confide in people or when she should stay silent much of the time, which is very nearly insanity-inducing, at times), the portrayal of the characters is done well and keeps the story from dragging.

Overall, Desires of the Dead was an enjoyable read.  Though I was somewhat frustrated with key aspects of the novel, I found both the tension and the element of surprise to be on a fantastic level.  I enjoyed the ways in which the story built and the tension level raised until things came to a head.  Though I was a bit flabbergasted with the outcome with the stalker, I had a great time sitting down to read this one.  It is an easy read to become absorbed with.  If you're looking for a fun read with a good mystery at its foundation, Desires of the Dead may be the book for you.

 

Review - Harbinger

by Sara Wilson Etienne
publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons BFYR
date of publication: February 2, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 320
source: Southern Book Blogger ARC Tours
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Girl, Interrupted meets Beautiful Creatures in this fast-paced thriller.

When sixteen-year-old Faye arrives at Holbrook Academy, she doesn't expect to find herself exactly where she needs to be. After years of strange waking visions and nightmares, her only comfort the bones of dead animals, Faye is afraid she's going crazy. Fast.

But her first night at Holbrook, she feels strangely connected to the school and the island it sits on, like she's come home. She's even made her first real friends, but odd things keep happening to them. Every morning they wake on the floors of their dorm rooms with their hands stained red.

Faye knows she's the reason, but what does it all mean? The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain she can't trust him; in fact, he may be trying to kill her - and the rest of the world too.

Rich, compelling writing will keep the pages turning in this riveting and tautly told psychological thriller.

What I Thought

By simply reading Harbinger's description, I knew that there would be some creepy elements to the book.  What I wasn't prepared for was the rich detail injected into the story through the use of ancient history and a surprising amount of the supernatural.  All of these details combined made for an eerie, intriguing read that constantly left me guessing and floored me with its final outcome.

Harbinger's setting was both interesting and confusing.  The woodlands of coastal Maine added to the overall creep factor of Holbrook Academy, which is so full of spooky areas that it is difficult to read without a sense of foreboding.  However, some elements of the world in which the story takes place aren't as clear as I would have liked.  There is much mention about a war, but relatively few descriptions of it.  One gets the sense that the struggle is fuel source based, but that's the extent of it.  There is no real indication as to who was involved, what the catalyst event was, or even exactly when it took place.  Another thing that I had questions about was the cooperatives.  I got the sense that they were closed neighborhoods, but little else.  They are frequently mentioned, but not fully explained, which left me somewhat confused as to their importance.

The main character, Faye, is very well portrayed.  It is easily apparent that she is a girl with much inner conflict, which is portrayed beautifully by her inner dialogues and her interactions with her Family (the group of teens which she is placed with in the home).  She teeters on the edge throughout the book, so part of the intrigue is in finding out whether or not she will manage to rise above her problems or succumb to the pressures put upon her by the tyrannical Holbrook staff, as well as her own nightmares. 

The story line definitely has its pros and cons.  The entire concept was thrilling, creepy, and enjoyable.  However, there were definitely a few things that caught my attention and left me feeling puzzled.  The idea of ecological consciousness becomes a big part of the story, but I noticed that Faye wasn't overly concerned about it, at first.  When she arrives at Holbrook, she mentions feeling intimidated by the forest, then practically ignores it as far as something to be concerned about.  It came across as somewhat wishy-washy and I still am not sure of what to think.  However, when Faye does begin to pay more attention to it, her reactions are very intense and observant.  I did like that preservation of natural resources played such a role in this book.  Another aspect of the story that was, perhaps, left unexplained was the source of the Family's red hands.  There are some clues as to what the cause may have been, but no definitive answers, which I found to be a little disappointing, as I had been very curious about that particular event.  I will say that it did punch up the thrill factor and really clued the reader in that something serious was going on.  Overall, it was a very eerie story that I found to be entertaining and interesting.

Harbinger wasn't what I had hoped it would be, but it was a good read that provoked much thought and did a great job at keeping me guessing.  It has great elements of mystery and a definite feel of a thriller.  In spite of a few plot holes, I found that I liked the story and would definitely like to read more by Sara Wilson Etienne in the future.

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.