Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Summary:
Lyrical, imaginative, and wholly original, this New York Times bestseller with 8 starred reviews is not to be missed.  Rachel Hartman’s award-winning debut will have you looking at dragons as you’ve never imagined them before…
 
In the kingdom of Goredd, dragons and humans live and work side by side – while below the surface, tensions and hostility simmer. 

The newest member of the royal court, a uniquely gifted musician named Seraphina, holds a deep secret of her own. One that she guards with all of her being.

When a member of the royal family is brutally murdered, Seraphina is drawn into the investigation alongside the dangerously perceptive—and dashing—Prince Lucien. But as the two uncover a sinister plot to destroy the wavering peace of the kingdom, Seraphina’s struggle to protect her secret becomes increasingly difficult… while its discovery could mean her very life. (from GoodReads)

Review:
On paper, Seraphina should be the kind of book I don't like. I usually shy away from high fantasy because if the world building is less than stellar, I won't enjoy the book. And Seraphina is high fantasy in every conceivable way: dragons that take a human body, new vocabulary, an entirely made-up world. I loved every minute of it.

Rachel Hartman brings the world of Goredd to life. I'm still not sure of how everything works, but it felt like I was thrust into this new world and have to learn as I go along. Everything is so believable and well-done and thought-out. She has some imagination!

I also love the character of Seraphina. She was smart, talented (musically and otherwise), curious, strong, conflicted, sometimes rude, witty, loving, I could go on. She's definitely one of the more fleshed out and developed YA characters out there. The inner turmoil she feels about being half-dragon was so relatable, as I'm sure we've all felt like we've had to hide part of ourselves (though not to extent that Seraphina had to endure). Seraphina's struggle was very heartbreaking and Hartman does a wonderful job of relaying her emotions to the reader.

An important part of the novel is the hatred between dragons and humans, and the stereotyping, prejudice and bigotry that goes along with it. I could definitely see this as a metaphor for present day struggles. The book has the wonderful message of acceptance and tolerance that I'm sure people today could use.

I am so glad that the author is planning a sequel because I thoroughly enjoyed Seraphina and want to spend more time in this world! Too bad I have to wait until 2015!

Rating: 9 out of 10.
FTC: library.

2012/Random House/512 pages

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Summary:
After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

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

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another.

Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined. (from GoodReads)

Review:
So this book was like a mash-up of The Hunger Games, The Selection, Falling Kingdoms and Midnight Thief (newish book that I've yet to review). It was really interesting seeing elements from other books I've read make their way into this one. I'm not saying the author did this on purpose, especially because Throne of Glass was published long before Midnight Thief (so maybe it was the other way around?). Pretty much what I'm saying is, if you liked those other books, you'll probably like this one.

I thought that Throne of Glass was really easy to read and I rushed through the pages unlike some other books I've read recently. The world-building was pretty good and the plot interesting but also easy to understand. I really liked Calaena, especially because she's supposed to be a cold-blooded murderess, and I really like seeing kick-ass heroines. And while she lived up to the title of assassin for the most part, I wish we could see Calaena in action more often. We know she's killed a lot of people and she tells us frequently how she can disarm so-and-so before they even blink, but there's not a whole lot of showing. What the reader does see is a pretty, feminine girl who cares about her people and plays piano and likes to gossip. I love the idea that Calaena can be both of these things and obviously that's the point, but I wish the author did a better job of integrating these two sides of the character.

And while I enjoyed the two male leads, Prince Dorian and Chaol who is the captain of the king's guard, to me they were the same person. Not much personality differences between the two which is odd when it's supposed to be a love triangle. Usually the girl must choose between two opposites. So that was weird. Hopefully they are more fleshed out in the next novel.

Overall, this book was extremely easy to read and fun for the most part. I enjoyed it besides those two things I didn't like. Hopefully they are corrected in the sequel!

Rating: 8 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library.

2012/Bloomsbury/404 pages.

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

Summary:
In this dazzling and long-awaited conclusion to the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary's own brother.

Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.

The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris - but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?

When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee - even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned...

Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the word in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments!(from GoodReads)

Review:
I finally finished this book! It's been sitting on my nightstand since the beginning of summer, with only about a hundred pages left. Oops. I guess that's sort of an indication of how I felt about City of Heavenly Fire: I could take it or leave it.

Honestly, and I hate to say this because I really do love the Shadowhunter world, this series should have just been a trilogy. Looking back on all six books, the first three are really good and the last three are just so-so. I liked them and enjoyed them, but were they really necessary? I think Clare would have been better spent putting time into the upcoming Dark Artifices series, which I am actually excited about. I should have Shadowhunter fatigue, especially after the Infernal Devices too, but something about forbidden love just gets me.

Anyway, City of Heavenly Fire just isn't that exciting, quite unlike what you expect from a conclusion. If you do venture into this world, you would be fine to just stick to the first three. Or go straight to Clockwork Angel, because I think the Infernal Devices are a hundred times better.

Rating: 6 out of 10.
FTC: bought

2014/Margaret K. McElderry/725 pages.

Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes

Summary:
Love, power, and magic collide with war in the second book of the Falling Kingdoms series

Auranos has fallen and the three kingdoms—Auranos, Limeros, and Paelsia—are now united as one country called Mytica. But still, magic beckons, and with it the chance to rule not just Mytica, but the world...

When the evil King Gaius announces that a road is to be built into the Forbidden Mountains, formally linking all of Mytica together, he sets off a chain of events that will forever change the face of this land, forcing Cleo the dethroned princess, Magnus the reluctant heir, Lucia the haunted sorceress, and Jonas the desperate rebel to take steps they never could have imagined. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I not a huge fan of high fantasy but Morgan Rhodes does such a great job world-building. Her story and writing is similar to that of G.R.R. Martin, though not quite as grand. I thought I would have trouble getting back into the plot because it's been a year since I was last in Mytica but it's very easy to get sucked back into these books.

I don't remember everything that happened in Falling Kingdoms but I know enough to enjoy the story. Morgan Rhodes employs the method of using different point-of-views which gives the reader a ton of information. There's a lot going on but it all connects back together which is nice.

I can tell that Morgan Rhodes is a fan of romance. Instead of focusing on the relationship between two characters as the primary romance, almost every character begins to have feelings for another person with whom they share page time. This is the worst with Cleo; almost every male character she encounters has some sort of romantic feelings for her (Theon in the last book and now Jonas, Magnus, Aron, and Nic). It's ridiculous! This prevents any of the relationships from developing meaningfully because there's several people waiting in the wings for their chance. That was the one flaw with this book.

Other than that, I really enjoyed the story and can't wait to see what happens in the rest of the series.

Rating: 8 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library.

2013/Razorbill/416 pages.

Ink by Amanda Sun

Summary:
On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.

Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive. (From GoodReads)

Review:
I am of two mind when it comes to Ink. Some parts I really liked and others I could have done without. Why do authors have to make it so hard to figure out my feelings about books?!

We'll start with the good. I loved the setting. Japan is awesome and we got to see the country from an American (non-tourist) perspective, making it easy to relate to Katie. She talked a lot about the food, language, culture and education, making it a super informative read. It seemed like the author knew a lot about Japan and I would love to visit there someday. The other part I enjoyed was the mythology. The ability for your drawings to come to live seems really cool, but we learn that it's more of a curse than a blessing. I just love the originality and Ink is definitely a breath of fresh air to the YA fantasy genre.

What I didn't like was the romance between Katie and Tomohiro, the hero of the story. Sometimes I would really enjoy their interactions and then Katie would go and say how she couldn't live without Tomohiro, even though she's only known him about a month. We get the classic story of boy ignores girl, tells her to stay away from him because he's "dangerous," girl pursues boy anyway and they fall in love. It's just so predictable and Katie comes off as a stalker in the beginning. I was also disappointed in the ending. I thought for once we would have the heroine actually make the choice that is best for her, but alas that doesn't happen. 

So I don't know what to think. Ink has both good and bad qualities. I suppose you'll have to decide for yourself.

Rating: 7 out of 10.
FTC: copy sent by the publisher.

2013/Harlequin Teen/326 pages.

Endlessly by Kiersten White

Summary:
Kiersten White’s New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy comes to a breathless conclusion with a signature mix of wit, romance, paranormal creatures, and a truly original heroine.

In Endlessly, pink-loving, butt-kicking Evie has way too much on her to-do list. Paranormals are begging her to open a faerie gate so they can leave the human world, something Evie’s not sure she has the power to do. The Dark Queen is torturing humans and must be destroyed.

On top of all that, Evie’s prom is coming up. She’s not sure what to wear, and, oh, yeah, her shape-shifting boyfriend, Lend, has been cursed so that he falls into an enchanted sleep whenever he and Evie are in the same room…and even Evie’s ex-boyfriend, the faerie Reth, can’t reverse the dark magic.

An epic battle is looming, and the choices Evie makes will determine the fate of whole paranormal world—and her own life. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I started this series a long time ago, so when I finally picked up the conclusion I wasn't sure what to expect. Luckily a lot of the events of Paranormalcy and Supernaturally started coming back to me as I continued reading.

One of my long-standing comments about this trilogy is that the covers make the book seem darker than it actually is. This is especially the case in the first one, but even in Endlessly Evie is a pretty girly teenager: she likes pink, dresses, and watching reality TV. Even as the events become more serious, Evie remains the cheery and bubbly girl that she's been from the beginning. It's a weird dynamic and prevented me from taking the books too seriously. But for those who like lighter books, this would definitely be a good pick.

I like that there is a wide array of characters, which includes different supernatural creatures. And even though some of those characters should be or seem to be evil, they actually help Evie out a lot. This is definitely the case with Jack and Reth. I loved their character development and seeing them fight for the good side.

I don't have any strong novels about this book or the series as a whole. It was cute read and I'm glad I finally finished the trilogy.

Rating: 7 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library

2012/Harper Teen/385 pages.

Shadows in the Silence by Courtney Allison Moulton

Summary:
Your strength in heart and hand will fall. . . .
Ellie knows that the darkest moments are still to come, and she has everything to fight for:

She must fight for Will.
The demonic have resorted to their cruelest weapons to put Will in mortal danger, and Ellie makes an unlikely alliance to save him and to stop Lilith and Sammael, who seek to drown the world in blood and tear a hole into Heaven.

She must fight for humanity.
As the armies of Hell rise and gather for the looming End of Days, Ellie and her band of allies travel to the world’s darkest and most ancient regions in her quest to come into her full glory as the archangel Gabriel.

And Ellie must save herself.
Her humanity withers beneath the weight of her cold archangel power, but Ellie must hold tight to who she is and who she loves as she prepares for the ultimate battle for Heaven and Earth.

In this final installment in the Angelfire trilogy, Courtney Allison Moulton brings her dark world of epic battles and blistering romance to a blazing bright conclusion. (From GoodReads)

Review:
I am such a bad reader because this is one of my favorite trilogies and yet I've waited almost a year to read the conclusion. Luckily for me I finally got my hands on a copy of Shadows in the Silence and really enjoyed it!

This is probably strange, but I think I liked the second book in this trilogy the best, which never happens. That's not saying I didn't like this one; I absolutely adored the three books, but I wasn't quite as impressed with Shadows in the Silence as I was in the first two. I'm not even sure why - taste is fickle I suppose.

Even so, Shadows in the Silence picks up right where Wings of the Wicked left off. And it's a good thing too, because the last book left off on a major cliffhanger. Ellie continues to be the fierce warrior that we all love and this time the stakes are even higher because she's trying to save the world from demons. I just love how strong she is and how she's capable of taking on all sorts of supernatural creatures. It might be because she's the archangel Gabriel, but human Ellie is pretty awesome herself. The blending of these two characters was really interesting and made for a fascinating dynamic. She's human and angelic, so she's gets the best of both worlds: strength and compassion.

Ellie's relationship with Will remains one of the highlights of the series. I love how much they love each other and how developed their romance is. It makes sense, because Will and Ellie have know each other for hundreds of years. No insta-love here, my friends.

Even though so much has happened in the Angelfire trilogy, there are still surprises to be had in this novel. The book is exciting, action-packed and even a little funny. Ellie becomes closer to the demonic reaper Cadan and his character growth is great. I liked how his side of the love triangle kind of snuck up on us and wasn't as in your face as other ones. But I also liked that it was never going to be a true love triangle, because everyone (including Cadan) knows that Will and Ellie are meant to be. The ending will surprise you, but I loved it all the same.

I'm so glad I finally got a change to finish this trilogy. It's definitely one of my favorites that everyone should read!

Rating: 10 out of 10.
FTC: Christmas gift.

2013/Katherine Tegen Books/469 pages.

Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

Summary:
Supernatural meets The Da Vinci Code in this action-packed paranormal thriller, the first book in a new series from New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia.
I never believed in ghosts. Until one tried to kill me.
When Kennedy Waters finds her mother dead, her world begins to unravel. She doesn’t know that paranormal forces in a much darker world are the ones pulling the strings. Not until identical twins Jared and Lukas Lockhart break into Kennedy’s room and destroy a dangerous spirit sent to kill her. The brothers reveal that her mother was part of an ancient secret society responsible for protecting the world from a vengeful demon — a society whose five members were all murdered on the same night.

Now Kennedy has to take her mother’s place in the Legion if she wants to uncover the truth and stay alive. Along with new Legion members Priest and Alara, the teens race to find the only weapon that might be able to destroy the demon — battling the deadly spirits he controls every step of the way.

Suspense, romance, and the paranormal meet in this chilling urban fantasy, the first book in a new series from Kami Garcia, bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures novels. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I was a little a wary reading Unbreakable because I'm not the biggest fan of Beautiful Creatures and this book is by one of the authors of this series. It's always interesting reading a book by two people because you never know who is writing what. Anyway, reading Unbreakable gave me a chance to see what Kami Garcia is like writing solo.

I was attracted to Unbreakable because it's been likened to the TV show Supernatural so of course I had to read this. A lot of people on GoodReads have noticed how similar the stories are and I agree that the premises are very similar. Also if you've seen season 4 of Supernatural you will identify with the ending and twist of Unbreakable. I think Kami Garcia watches the show. But in all honesty, I liked the demon/paranormal creature hunting in the book and it was an exciting part of the story. The book moves along very fast and almost too fast because the characters figure out clues quickly and efficiently. It shouldn't be that easy to solve this supernatural mystery.

My qualms with this novel is the romance. Of course the book wouldn't be complete without a love triangle, this time between Kennedy and two twin brothers. It was very contrived and for most of Unbreakable I couldn't even tell the difference between the two boys. I won't tell you which one Kennedy is drawn to, but their relationship progresses way too fast and isn't based on much besides physical attraction. So the romance was pretty disappointing.

But I did enjoy the plot (even the Supernatural-esque twist) so I plan to continue the series. If you like the TV show I would definitely recommend reading this book.

Rating: 7 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library.

2013/Little, Brown/305 pages.

A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont

Summary:
In this stunning, imaginative novel, Eve Marie Mont transports her modern-day heroine into the life of Jane Eyre to create a mesmerizing story of love, longing, and finding your place in the world. . .

Emma Townsend has always believed in stories--the ones she reads voraciously, and the ones she creates. Perhaps it's because she feels like an outsider at her exclusive prep school, or because her stepmother doesn't come close to filling the void left by her mother's death. And her only romantic prospect--apart from a crush on her English teacher--is Gray Newman, a long-time friend who just adds to Emma's confusion. But escape soon arrives in an old leather-bound copy of Jane Eyre. . .

Reading of Jane's isolation sparks a deep sense of kinship. Then fate takes things a leap further when a lightning storm catapults Emma right into Jane's body and her nineteenth-century world. As governess at Thornfield, Emma has a sense of belonging she's never known--and an attraction to the brooding Mr. Rochester. Now, moving between her two realities and uncovering secrets in both, Emma must decide whether her destiny lies in the pages of Jane's story, or in the unwritten chapters of her own. . .
Review:
I read A Breath of Eyre over a month ago, and somehow forgot to review it. So I don't remember the exact thoughts I had after finishing this book, but I do know that I really liked it.

Jane Eyre is one of my favorite classic novels so I love reading YA that's inspired by this great work. Eve Marie Mont did a wonderful job of incorporating the aspects and themes of Jane Eyre into A Breath of Eyre. Not only does Emma get catapulted into the actual story of Jane Eyre and becomes Jane, but her real life mirrors the book pretty well too. Her mother is dead and she feels isolated, especially at her boarding school. That is, until she makes a new friend. Romantic interest Gray is also a parallel to Mr. Rochester and has his own secret that Emma must figure out.

Even though I know how Jane Eyre ends, that didn't stop me from enjoying this book. First off, when Emma is in the story, she changes the ending. She doesn't act the same way that Jane does and that really surprised. I liked seeing Emma become her own character with more depth. Apparently there are two more books in this trilogy and I'm really curious as to how the author makes those stories work too. Though the next book is A Touch of Scarlet and I've never read The Scarlet Letter. I guess now I better get on that.

Rating: 9 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library.

2013/Kensington Publishing/353 pages.

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Summary:
Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose...

It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians—including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks... This year, St. Vlad’s annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price... (From GoodReads)

Review:
Now that I'm hooked on the Vampire Academy series, I'm going to have to read all six books. Better get started while I'm on break! Luckily for me, the second book was just as good as the first.

It will be hard to review these books because I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but I'll try my best. Rose is still the awesome character that she was before but she's learning some self-control and how to rein in her impulsive behaviors. I love character development and these are important lessons for any teenager, but especially one who deals with the paranormal on a daily basis. I loved seeing the relationship between Dimitri and Rose development. It's forbidden (in a few ways) which makes it even more exciting. On the other hand, the friendship between Lissa and Rose was not as strong in Frostbite which was disappointing. Lissa now has a boyfriend which is the obvious reason but Rose had her own issues which distanced herself from her best friend. In the next book I would like to see the two girls become close again.

Onto the next book!

Rating: 8 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library

2008/Razorbill/327 pages

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Summary:
St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever. (from GoodReads)

Review:
So Vampire Academy is going to be a movie! My friend wants to see it and suggested that I read the book first, which is the obvious course of action. So I dutifully borrowed her copy and I am so glad I did. Vampire Academy was a very exciting and fast-paced novel that I can't believe I've waited this long to read.

Vampires aren't all the rage anymore, but a good vampire story still works. That was definitely the case with Vampire Academy. The mythology is different than what we're used to. There's vampire royalty with their own laws and customs. Vampires (or Moroi in this book) can do magic, but only use it for peaceful methods. There are half human, half vampire creatures called Dhampirs, which use their heightened senses and strength to protect the Moroi. The teenage Moroi and Damphirs train and learn together at a boarding school colloquially referred to as "Vampire Academy." After you understand all the background, the story is super easy to get lost in and the pages fly by.

The book centers on Rose, who is a dhampir and is training to be a Guardian to her best friend Lissa. Since Lissa is the last member of her royal family, she's a pretty important person. I loved the relationship between the two girls. There is definitely a lack of great female friendships in YA and there needs to be more like this one. I could really tell that Lissa and Rose cared about each other and it was just a great bond. Speaking of Rose, she is a pretty awesome character. She's impulsive, emotional, tough, strong and she'll kick anyone's butt who messes with her. Rose is a not a traditional female character which I love. She talks back in class, gets in fistfights and is a force of nature. Not that those are traits everyone should have, but it was so refreshing to see such a rebellious character.

Like I stated earlier, the plot is very exciting. There's a twist and I guessed half of it, but I was still surprised by the actual ending. I really enjoyed reading about the secret world of Moroi and Dhampirs and can't wait to see what happens next. Luckily for me there are five other books in this series! I'll have plenty of reading material.

Rating: 9 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from a friend.

2007/Razorbill/332 pages.

Witchstruck by Victoria Lamb

Summary:
If she sink, she be no witch and shall be drowned. If she float, she be a witch and must be hanged.

Meg Lytton has always known she is different; that she bears a dark and powerful gift. But in 1554 England, in service at Woodstock Palace to the banished Tudor princess Elizabeth, it has never been more dangerous to practice witchcraft. Meg knows she must guard her secret carefully from the many suspicious eyes watching over the princess and her companions. One wrong move could mean her life, and the life of Elizabeth, rightful heir to the English throne. With witchfinder Marcus Dent determined to have Meg's hand in marriage, and Meg's own family conspiring against the English queen, there isn't a single person Meg can trust. Certainly not the enigmatic young Spanish priest Alejandro de Castillo, despite her undeniable feelings. But when all the world turns against her, Meg must open her heart to a dangerous choice. The Secret Circle meets The Other Boleyn Girl in Witchstruck, the first book of the magical Tudor Witch trilogy. (From GoodReads)

Review:
I am obsessed with the Tudors and will pretty much read anything I can get my hands on if it's about this famous family. Sometimes what I read isn't that great, but luckily I really enjoyed Witchstruck!

What's fun about Witchstruck is that it isn't just plain historical fiction. Meg is a witch, so there's fantastical elements too, which made the story more interesting. I liked the twist on the original story. Meg tries to use her powers to help Elizabeth because she wants to see her on the throne. Since witchcraft is illegal there's the added suspense if Meg is going to be caught and what will happen afterwards.

My favorite part of the novel was Meg's relationship with the soon-to-be Spanish priest Alejandro. Their relationship was a tad unrealistic but the forbidden nature of it made it hard to resist. Not only is Alejandro about to be a priest there's also another secret preventing him from getting too close to Meg. I'm curious to see how these two beat the odds in order to pursue a relationship. Unfortunately the odds aren't in their favor.

Even though I had a lot of fun reading Witchstruck, it had its flaws too. Meg was a little too careless using her magic and there were many times that she was almost caught. She should have had more discretion. The characters, including Elizabeth, Alejandro and Meg could have been developed more and that goes the same for Meg and Alejandro's relationship.

Overall I am looking forward to the next book in the trilogy! It's an exciting story and I want to find out what evil is lurking and if Elizabeth will ever get to be queen (though I think we know how that turns out).

Rating: 8 out of 10.
FTC: received copy from author

2013/Harlequin Teen/320 pages

All Our Pretty Songs by Sarah McCarry

Summary:
The first book in an exciting YA trilogy, this is the story of two best friends on the verge of a terrifying divide when they begin to encounter a cast of strange and mythical characters.

Set against the lush, magical backdrop of the Pacific Northwest, two inseparable best friends who have grown up like sisters—the charismatic, mercurial, and beautiful Aurora and the devoted, soulful, watchful narrator—find their bond challenged for the first time ever when a mysterious and gifted musician named Jack comes between them. Suddenly, each girl must decide what matters most: friendship, or love. What both girls don’t know is that the stakes are even higher than either of them could have imagined. They’re not the only ones who have noticed Jack’s gift; his music has awakened an ancient evil—and a world both above and below which may not be mythical at all. The real and the mystical; the romantic and the heartbreaking all begin to swirl together, carrying the two on journey that is both enthralling and terrifying.

And it’s up to the narrator to protect the people she loves—if she can. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I really didn't know what to expect when I started reading All Our Pretty Songs and I certainly didn't expect it to be a retelling of the Greek myth Orpheus. I'm not a big mythology person, so that probably contributed to my dislike of this book.

The weirdest part about All Our Pretty Songs is that the narrator is never given a name, and surprisingly it's possible to get through the book without knowing that seemingly important fact. I really want to know why the name is withheld - there must be a reason. Our narrator has a close sisterly bond with her best friend, Aurora, and she spends a lot of time looking after her. Aurora is beautiful, wild, fun and a little flighty. The narrator, on the other hand, is described as introverted and homely compared to her friend. This is the usual YA friendship dynamic it appears. However, the change comes when a mysterious musician named Jack falls for the narrator instead of Aurora. That doesn't prevent the narrator from thinking that he's going to leave her for Aurora, though.

I liked the relationship between Aurora and the narrator, especially how close they were and I thought it was written well. The romance between the narrator and Jack is a different story and feels forced. It doesn't help that they fall madly in love instantly and little to no development occurs. I think the point was their love was supposed to be whirlwind, but to me it falls flat.

The one positive of All Our Pretty Songs is that the writing is beautiful and reads like poetry. Unfortunately there is a lot of narration for 200 page book and the flowery prose was at times excessive. I was able to skim long passages and not miss any pertinent information.

At the end, I realized I just didn't really care about what happened to the characters. I don't think the book is necessarily bad, either, just not really my style. I don't like mythology for the most part, I don't like unrealistic romance and I'm not a fan of a lot of narration. I could see some people really enjoying All Our Pretty Songs and I invite them to give it a chance. The book ends oddly which makes more sense once I realized this is going to be a trilogy. So if that sounds like it's up your alley, go for it!

Release Date: July 30, 2013
Rating: 5 out of 10.
FTC: reviewed through LitPick

2013/St. Martin's Griffin/224 pages.

Chameleon by Kelly Oram (Blog Tour & Giveaway)

Summary:
For small-town rebel Dani Webber magic and monsters are no more real than the Easter Bunny… until the day she accidentally stops time. Dani quickly discovers that not only do supernaturals exist, but she herself is one of them. This is great news for her life-long best friend Russ, who can finally come clean about his own supernatural status and his undying love for her. Before the two can start to enjoy the long overdue relationship, Dani is taken by a powerful council of supernaturals who believe she is the Chosen One destined to save them from extinction.

As if being kidnapped and expected to save the world isn’t bad enough, an ancient prophecy warns of the Chosen One’s dark nature: “Only the truest love will keep her an agent for good.” The council believes they know who this “true love” is and, unfortunately, that person isn’t Russ. The mysterious, powerful and devastatingly handsome Seer is the last person Dani wants in her life, but when she starts having visions of a horrific future, she has no one else to turn to for help.

Soon Dani finds herself torn between two very different boys with two very different opinions of whom she can trust. With the visions getting worse and time running out, Dani is forced to put aside her feelings and work with both the Seer and Russ before an ancient evil is unleashed upon the earth. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I'm a huge fan of Kelly Oram and I've previously read her two contemporary novels: Serial Hottie and V is For Virgin. So Chameleon is the first fantasy novel I've read by this author. While I enjoyed Chameleon, I think I like her contemporary books better.

There were both things I liked and disliked in Chameleon. First, I thought Dani was a kick-ass heroine. She's super powerful (but doesn't know it until her abilities manifest) and thrown into the supernatural world so she has no idea what's going on. Even so, she remains a strong and tough protagonist. She's intent on doing the right thing and is able to navigate this new environment while trying to figure out who to trust.

The supernatural world of Chameleon was very interesting and features the creatures we're used to seeing in other YA books, such as fairies, vampires and warlocks. However, Dani is the most powerful creature there is because she can change forms when she touches a different being - a so-called "chameleon." I liked that spin and the fact that there are "Seers" who get visions of the future. The mystery of who is killing the supernatural beings was interesting and I was caught off guard by who the villain ended up being. I was not expecting that twist at all!

The only thing I disliked in Chameleon was the love triangle between Dani, Russ and Gabriel. Russ is Dani's childhood friend who also happens to be a warlock and Gabriel is a Seer that Dani is "married" to by the Council in order to forge a powerful supernatural bond. Naturally this doesn't sit well with Russ, who believes that Dani belongs to him. I thought the triangle was a distraction from the actual story and made the novel unnecessarily long. It didn't help that I didn't like the two love interests: Russ acted like a jerk and Gabriel was too formal and proper. I would have much rather read about the new supernatural creatures we're introduced to and spent more time on the actual plot.

Overall, I enjoyed Kelly Oram's spin on the popular fantasy genre. She always writes great female leads who are strong and kick butt throughout the story! I can't wait to read more of her work.

Rating: 7 out of 10.
FTC: PDF sent by author

2013/Bluefields/356 pages

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Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Summary:
Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.
Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy?

Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute.

A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I have been anxiously waiting for the release of Clockwork Princess for over a year now, which was when I finished Clockwork Prince. I haven't been this excited about a book for a long time - especially because all our questions would be answered: who is Tessa going to end up with? What exactly is Tessa? How will Mortmain be defeated? So it's no surprise to say that my expectation were extremely high. I'm delighted to say that Clockwork Princess surpassed my expectations! It was seriously one of most satisfying conclusions I ever read and I adored it!

It's no secret that I'm obsessed with Cassandra Clare and her two series: The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices. I actually think I like The Infernal Devices better because of the historical fiction and the love triangle is actually good. So when I say Clockwork Princess is amazing, I'm taking into account all the other books I've read by Cassie. I can't believe that Cassandra Clare is still able to come up with great novels, but I'm so glad she does.

I know most people are interested in the romance (me included) so we'll start there. Most of the time love triangles are so overdone, but the tension between Will, Jem and Tessa was actually believable and made for a good story. Since they all love each other a lot (Will and Jem are parabatai), it was difficult to envision an ending where everyone was happy. Let me tell you, no matter what "team" you're on, the ending is so satisfying. I couldn't be more pleased with the way Cassie resolved everything. Some might say it's a "cop-out" but I was totally okay with it!

Speaking of other endings that are satisfying, the arc with Mortmain was resolved nicely and just fit in so well. Everything ties together and you won't expect how the day is saved, but I loved it! There were a few new characters and characters that had a lot more page time, like Cecily, Gabriel and Gideon. I actually enjoyed reading about all of them and getting some of their POVs. The brotherly relationship between Gabriel and Gideon was a lot more interesting than I was expecting and I was pleasantly surprised.

So, pretty much, if you haven't read Clockwork Princess yet, you need to do that ASAP because you won't be disappointed! I whole-heartedly recommend this entire trilogy. I laughed, I cried (multiple times) and just fell in love with this world and all the characters. I'm so glad there are more Shadowhunter books coming because I don't know what I'd do otherwise.

Rating: 10 out of 10.
FTC: bought!

2013/Margaret K. McElderry/568 pages.

The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting

Summary:
In the end, all that’s left is an echo.

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... (from GoodReads)

Review:
I am really enjoying this series and was excited to see that it's going to be longer than just a trilogy - the fourth book, Dead Silence, will be released this year.

The concept of The Body Finder series is so chilling; even after three books that fact that Violet can sense dead bodies and murderers is still super creepy. But I must say, it makes for great reading. In The Last Echo, Violet has started working with a team of psychics in order to help the police solve baffling crimes. It was nice to see Violet actively use her ability for good; in the previous novels she would accidentally stumble upon cases and then try to help the police. Also it was good for Violet to be around people like her and in The Last Echo you could see her open up more to the other members of the team.

The villain in The Last Echo is so creepy and I loved his chapters the best! Getting inside his mind and seeing how he thinks was extremely interesting, especially for me as a psychology major. Kimberly Derting is so good at writing scenes that make your skin crawl.

I wish we could have seen more of Violet's school friends and her boyfriend Jay - they were lacking in this book. Potential love interest Rafe definitely had a bigger role and I can't tell if I enjoy the love triangle or not. I like Rafe but Jay and Violet work so well together that I hope the author doesn't mess that up.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Last Echo and the rest of the series as well. If you like thrillers definitely pick this up. You won't be disappointed.

Rating: 8 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library.

2012/HarperCollins/360 pages.

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer

Summary:
What happens when happily ever after... isn’t?

Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah.

And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom.

Delilah and Oliver work together to attempt to get Oliver out of his book, a challenging task that forces them to examine their perceptions of fate, the world, and their places in it. And as their attraction to each other grows along the way, a romance blossoms that is anything but a fairy tale. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I was so excited that Jodi Picoult was coming out with a YA novel - I love her adult fiction and hoped she would be just as amazing with a younger audience. I didn't know that she wrote this book with her teenage daughter - and it definitely shows. 

Between the Lines is supposed to be YA, but reads more like Middle Grade. Delilah is 15 and is an immature 15-year-old at that. She is obsessed with a fairy tale and is surprised when the protagonist, Prince Oliver, starts talking to her. This story line is something I would have really enjoyed in early middle school or maybe even younger (for those who are advanced readers).

I think that was my biggest problem with the book - that I was nowhere near the target audience but I was lead to believe that I was. Between the Lines had none of the depth, character or plot development that I've come to expect from a Jodi Picoult novel. Delilah falls in love with a book character and while many readers have been in that situation (myself included), I thought it was unrealistic that Delilah would give up everything - her mom, her best friends - for Oliver.

I think Between the Lines would be perfect for the 10-14 age range, especially with the beautiful illustrations. If you're older, you may feel underwhelmed by the simplicity.

Rating: 6 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library.

2012/Simon Pulse/358 pages.