Review: Bite Club

Author: Rachel Caine
Pages: 340
Publisher: NAL Hardcover
Source: Library
Synopsis: After discovering that vampires populate her town, college student Claire Danvers knows that the undead just want to live their lives. But someone else wants them to get ready to rumble. 


There's a new extreme sport getting picked up on the Internet: bare- knuckle fights pitting captured vampires against each other-or humans. Tracking the remote signal leads Claire- accompanied by her friends and frenemies-to discover that what started as an online brawl will soon threaten everyone in Morganville...


Buy the Book (The Book Depository/Amazon)

I ♥ Morganville. Not the town because it sounds terrifying to live in but the books. Why? Imagine having a beautiful, perfect dream and then waking up. You're lucky though- the next time you go to sleep the dream continues. That is the Morganville Vampire books to me. I can't help if I'm addicted to them.

Rachel Caine has the best story ideas. I envy how she can always come up with a new heart-pounding action-packed novel with the same characters in the same setting and make it work. That takes major skill; that 10 books in, I don't want to ever stop reading these books. The second I pick up a Morganville book, that's it. I don't do anything except read that book. Any second not reading is wasted.

Bite Club (love the name) is about a dangerous new situation and this time Shane's the one in danger. He's not acting like himself- he's aggressive, dangerous, and withdrawing from Claire. Basically acting like a jerk, but he can't help it. Parts of Bite Club were written in Shane's perspective and I loved it. Shane is a complex guy, he's been through so much. He's scarred for life. I couldn't help but feel terrible for him and root for him.

The other characters were as awesome as ever. They're all such strong friends and work so well together as a team. There was a huge awesome surprise that I found totally welcome. I'm all excited about it. I think those who've read it already will know what I'm talking about. There were little bits of storylines that I think will be important in future novels. I'm really curious about them.

Overall, another great addition to the Morganville series. There's really not that much else to say. 4 stars,

****

Cover Wars: Incarnate vs. The Treachery of Beautiful Things

Cover Wars is a fun little feature I do on Tantalizing Illusions all about celebrating the gorgeousness of covers. It's my way of appreciating them and featuring them. Every week there is a winner based on readers's votes that will go against a new cover.

Last week, Incarnate had much support and eventually won against Of Poseidon. Now Incarnate is against the cover for The Treachery of Beautiful Things (fabulous title btw) by Ruth Frances Long which will be releasing really soon and looks fantastic. Who will win? It's in your hands! Remember to vote on the right!

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Pretty right? I'll be picking up both of those books since they're both winners... except when it comes to Cover Wars! Vote on the right and let me know what you think in the comments section! ☺☻

Top Ten Tuesday: Halloween Picks

Top 10 Tuesday is a meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. It's all about making bookish lists so I thought I'd give it a try and see what happens. This week the list is books perfect for Halloween.

1. Possessions by Nancy Holder. This book is really creepy. I read the trilogy and there are some huge twists and turns you don't want to miss. I was really nervous while reading this book in the dark and that doesn't happen often.

2. Bad Girls Don't Cry by Katie Alender. This book surprised me with how well it was done. It's the usual scary story but the way it's done makes it awesome. I loved this book.

3. Savannah Grey by Cliff McNish. This book is a standalone and it was so different from anything else I've ever read. The monsters were described as scary so I think this book is perfect for Halloween!

4. Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. Have you even seen the photos? Those are all creepy and the presentation is so fabulous that this will be a great pick for Halloween.

5. Slayed by Amanda Marrone. This book isn't all that creepy but we have vampires and some other monsters. It's more of the light Halloween and it's still fun to read. Also a standalone that can be finished pretty quickly!

6. Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink. This is a satisfying trilogy about two sisters that can save or destroy the world. The suspense and overall mood is so creepy that it's a perfect fit for Halloween.

7.  Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey. What would Halloween be without a ghost story? This one is also historical so doubly perfect!

8. Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton. Magic with BLOOD! I can not say how creepy this book was. Magic is a given at Halloween and is made 10 times more scary once you bring in the blood. 

9. Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow. This book excels in action, doesn't shy away from the dark and gritty plus we meet a lot of the supernatural. Definitely great for Halloween. 

10. Blue is for Nightmares by Laurie Faria Stolarz. There's a lot of rituals, mystery, and suspense as you struggle to find out who is the antagonist. 

So those are my picks for Halloween. I tried to pick books that all have creepy or suspense factors as the usual paranormal doesn't scare me too much though they are fun to read. Have you read anything from my list? Tell me about yours and be sure to leave a link! Happy Halloween everyone! 

Review: XVI

Author: Julie Karr
Pages: 325
Publisher: Puffin/Speak
Source: Library
Synopsis: Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world-even the most predatory of men-that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina's mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past-one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer.


Buy the Book (Amazon / The Book Depository) 

XVI was a really cool book. The dystopian premise was interesting with the world building and the characters and their experiences were readable.

Nina dreads her 16th birthday where she will get a tattoo on the wrist proclaiming that she is legal for sex. She lives in a terrifying society where girls are taught that being a "sex-teen" is the way to be. These girls will go as far as the guy wants them to. They don't have a very big choice. Nina of course isn't like that- she thinks outside the box. Her mom taught her differently. I liked Nina. She was an obvious independent thinker but she didn't know what to do about the problems in her society. She focused instead on keeping her friends and family safe. Nina is a great character- strong but not a superhero, she has doubts and weaknesses too.

Nina's relationships with the other characters helped shape XVI's world and made it more real for the reader. You meet Sandy, typically wannabe sex-teen who Nina cares for deeply and you can't help but like Sandy, even if she annoys you 3/4s of the time. Then there's Sal, mysterious and gorgeous who you like but you're not sure whether to trust. Nina's romance with Sal is sweet and I supported it. It was a romance you'll root for. Nina also has other friends, Mike, Derek and Wei who are awesome in their own rights. I just loved the relationships and how real they felt in this book.

The world of XVI was different from ours with lots of strange lingo. When I first started reading I got confused and while I learned more what specific words meant, there are still some I don't know of. I did like that the author's world was well thought out enough to have lingo. This is not a society I'd like to live in and it's unforgettable in that sense.

While XVI kept me interested, it wasn't always very action packed. Nina was kept in the dark by her mother so she didn't act much and instead worked on getting the answers. I wasn't sure where the story was going at times. I hope the next book will feature more action and a bit less of mystery.

All in all, a good dystopian read, XVI is another title for your TBR list. 4 stars,

****

In My Mailbox (19)

In My Mailbox is an awesome meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren all about the fabulous books people have gotten in their mailbox. It's a way to promote books and to share bookish love. 

This week I went to the library and was surprised... there were A LOT of books there waiting for me *winces* So I have 10 new books to read!

Modelland by Tyra Banks (Amazon / The Book Depository)
Stupid Fast by Geoff Herback (Amazon/ The Book Depository)
The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch (Amazon / The Book Depository)
Lost in Time by Melissa de la Cruz (Amazon/ The Book Depository)
Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier (Amazon/ The Book Depository)

Luminous by Dawn Metcalf (Amazon/ The Book Depository)

Exile by Rebecca Lim (Amazon/ The Book Depository)

The First Kill (The Slayer Chronicles) by Heather Brewer (Amazon/ The Book Depository)
Stay With Me by Paul Griffin (Amazon / The Book Depository)
Brother/Sister by Sean Olin (Amazon / The Book Depository)

I'm actually so excited to read these. Some of them are titles I really haven't heard much about but some are ones that are hyped up. All of them I can't wait to read!

Thanks for visiting Tantalizing Illusions! I hope you like my new autumn-themed design. I'd love if you entered the giveaway going (Link above, under the tabs) and leave a comment with link so I can visit you too. What did you guys get in your mailboxes? Have a great week everyone!

Review: Vesper

Author: Jeff Sampson
Pages: 304
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/ HarperCollins
Source: Library
Synopsis: Emily Webb is a geek. And she’s happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old horror flicks, she’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for midnight parties. And she’s definitely not the kind of girl who starts fights or flirts with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that . . . the same night one of her classmates—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered. 


 The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing any of this. By day, she’s the same old boring Emily, but by night, she turns into a thrill seeker. With every nightfall, Emily gets wilder until it’s no longer just her personality that changes. Her body can do things it never could before: Emily is now strong, fast, and utterly fearless. And soon Emily realizes that she’s not just coming out of her shell . . . there’s something much bigger going on. Is she bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely— something not human? 


 As Emily hunts for answers, she finds out that she’s not the only one this is happening to—some of her classmates are changing as well. Who is turning these teens into monsters—and how many people will they kill to get what they want?


Buy the Book (The Book Depository/ Amazon)

Vesper is a really interesting debut to a sure to be awesome series.

The first noticeable thing about Vesper was the readability. The moment I opened the page and read Emily's transcript I was hooked and almost finished the book in one sitting (I didn't because I had to sleep). It was easy to read and not too long or short. There could have been more details but it was mysterious and never boring.

The story is about Emily's transformation between regular girl to Nighttime Emily who's a total wild child after the other Emily, Emily C. is killed by a bullet. What's causing this transformation is the main sort of conflict and I was just as stumped as Em was. Emily is a likable character. She was a bit scared of people but she was genuinely cool and funny. Nighttime Emily was awesome. She was crazy and a risk taker but she never went too far. She was clever. Both Emilys together made an even better girl who was thoughtful but daring.

The mystery of the story revolved about Emily's transformation. During the transcripts we'd get brief little clues as to what was happening. I love this way of telling the story- you know there is a bigger picture and you get little clues that help you figure it out but everything is revealed only in the grand finale. There were many surprises while reading Vesper and it was fun.

Overall, a quick fun read full of mystery, action, and a bit of friendship. Vesper debuts a series to keep your eyes on. All it was missing was some answers. 3 stars,

***

Ratings- What They Mean to Me

This has been on my mind for a while so I thought I'd share. Ratings. Many (I would even say most) bloggers have their own system of them. Some like them, some don't. I like to have them around so people can see which books I love above all (the 4-5 stars) and which books didn't work.

Over the last few months, I've been noticing a trend in my ratings.

Down. I'm not rating book as high anymore. These are ratings from reviews that haven't been posted yet so it may not be noticeable yet, but it is there. It's not because the books I'm reading are awful. I've read some awesome titles. I think it's more because I'm getting more confident in expressing my opinions and reviewing.

When I first started blogging I was just so excited and wrote very positive reviews. I didn't really feel right posting to the internet negative thoughts. My reviews were honest but more on a sugar coated positive scale as I was learning what to do.

Now after some time, I've reviewed a lot and I know what I like and don't like. I'm confident that if I had an issue with a book, it's worth being mentioned seeing as someone else may have had the same issue. I've learned to not be influenced so much by the hype. This results in rethinking my rating system.

I'm going to be even more honest now.

1 star will mean this book incited very negative feelings. As in, OMG I hate this book. (I'll never say that though. I won't even bother reviewing a one star book because this means I can't think of the positive.)

2 stars means the book was okay. I didn't really think much of it- it wasn't good or bad. It was lacking and there was some stuff I didn't care for.

3 stars means I liked it. It's more good than bad, so I like it. It's not amazing though.

4 stars means it's really good. You could even say great. I really liked this book and 4 star books are usually among my favourites.

5 stars (which will now be very very rare) are books that all throughout had me amazed and in awe. Nothing was wrong with this book. I was satisfied in every way.

To make sure I'm giving the right rating, I'm also employing a "find the average" system. Every book is given a 1-5 score on 4 fronts: Characters, World, Plot, and Interest. I'll then find the average and if needed (like 3.25 score) I'll round it up or down.

This all being done so that books with high scores deserve them. All books shouldn't get 4s. It's my way of being even more honest and improving my reviews.

So what do you think? Do you give high ratings a lot? Are you harsh? Are you forgiving? Do you think a lot when it comes to ratings? Do you even rate?

Review: Thin Air

Author: Lynn Seresin
Pages: 437
Source: Review copy (thank you!)
Synopsis: Alice Ayre is no ordinary teenager. She took her first name from a statue in Central Park, pulled her last name out of the air (literally), and she’s actually almost a thousand years old. In fact, the only “ordinary” thing about Alice is that she’s in love. 


 Alice was a sylphid—a winged air spirit—when she spotted Daniel Field camping in the Adirondacks and lost her heart to the handsome NYU student. Intangible to the human senses, her only hope of winning his heart resides in becoming mortal, even though transmutation is forbidden by Paralda, ruler of the air. Risking punishment, however, seems a small price to pay for a chance at true happiness. 


 Tracking down Daniel in New York City ends up being surprisingly easy. Getting noticed by him for all the right reasons is another story, especially when the human world keeps tossing challenges in Alice’s path. Just when she’s mastered zippers and buttons, she catches herself dropping a sugar packet into her coffee and mistaking a photo of John Lennon for one of Daniel’s relatives. 


 Her eccentricities raise the occasional eyebrow with Daniel and his friends, but her quirky charm, sweetness, and sincerity win out. Before long, she lands a job, begins a relationship with Daniel, and starts settling into her new life—until her past comes after her.


Buy Thin Air (Amazon)

Thin Air was a love story with action. a fantastic cast of characters, and a really interesting world. What would you give up for love? If you're Alice, you'd do quite a lot.

What's apparent early on while reading was the singular writing style. I don't usually talk about the writing as I'm no particular expert but there was so much distinctive voice here that made Thin Air feel different from other reads. I liked it and I thought it fit the novel well. It appeared elegant and whimsical, almost lyrical for me. If this book was a dance, it would definitely be contemporary/modern.

The world concept is intriguing. It's the kind of world you wouldn't mind knowing more about. Instead of regular fairies, there are elementals which are invisible spirits that are kind of in charge of nature (in a way). I enjoyed learning about elementals and their hierarchies. Salamanders in particular interest me, as do the specifics of how everything works.

I also really liked the variety of characters. The "gang" (Shane, Nicky, Wren, Daniel, Giovanni, and DANTE!!) were awesome. Guess who I liked reading the most about? The characters were unique in the way that they were very people like and not all the same. They each had problems and distinguishing characteristics and I would love more from them. I loved how Wren had feelings or how spontaneous and funny Dante was. Shane was so sweet in helping Alice and Giovanni was a character I wouldn't mind spending more time with. They were all decent, real people which was so refreshing.

Thin Air was very fairy tale-ish. By that I mean there were many times when I questioned how real the story could be. Sometimes situations seemed slightly too convenient. For example, when Alice was learning how to be human there were times when I thought she should have had more difficulty but that wasn't really needed for the story. This didn't take away from the story but it's something I noticed. I recommend just enjoying Thin Air and accepting what happens.

Now, on to the love part of the story. Something I know some people may not like is the insta-love. Thin Air has that, but at the time Alice is an air elemental so you know she acts differently. Maybe it's an elemental thing. Also, Thin Air is all about what happens because of that love so I think it can be justified. I was rooting for Daniel and Alice and I liked reading about them falling in love. Daniel's protectiveness was adorable. Daniel himself won me over early on. Pigs! :)

The plot was NOT what I was expecting at all. There were sweet scenes and scenes where my jaw dropped. The villain at the end fit and though I would have liked more development for them, I thought they were as good a villain as many. All throughout the book there was an urgent feel and I was constantly nervous for Alice. I'm certain she'll be fine though if she sticks to Daniel.

There was more dark material and mature subject matter in Thin Air than you'd expect. All the characters were in college and there were some disturbing scenes so I wouldn't recommend this to younger readers. I was actually so shocked at some of the events. Alice didn't have an easy time.

Overall, Thin Air is an original, fantastical tale of love with danger mixed in. There's a colorful cast of lovable characters and the book will leave you wanting more. You'll still be satisfied though- the book is long enough to give you that plus it ends without a real cliffhanger. There is mystery though! 4 stars,

****

Attention all Caregivers!

Hey guys, Tantalizing Illusions is primarily a blog about books. That doesn't mean I won't spontaneously post about something else, like right now.

Recently it was brought to my attention how hard it is for caregivers. I couldn't imagine it. After reading of books like A Blue So Dark I can only begin to imagine all the difficulties and effort it takes to take care of someone.

If you are a caregiver though, there is a new online community and game just for you. It's where you can relax, learn resources and basically make connections. There are celebrity authors, journals, puzzles, and more. For more information click the pink link and enjoy!

Caregiver Village

Cover Wars: Of Poseidon vs. Incarnate

Cover Wars is a fun little feature I do on Tantalizing Illusions all about celebrating the gorgeousness of covers. It's my way of appreciating them and featuring them. Every week there is a winner based on readers's votes that will go against a new cover.

Last week Of Poseidon triumphed against Deadly Cool. Now it's against a very different sort of pretty: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows. Will Of Poseidon be able to win again? Or is it Incarnate's chance to shine? Vote on the right to figure it out!

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Remember, vote on the poll to the right! And don't forget to tell me what you think in the comments. :)

Review: Something Deadly This Way Comes

Author: Kim Harrison
Pages: 256
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Library
Other books in the series: Once Dead Twice Shy (Madison Avery #1) (The Book Depository/Amazon) Early to Death, Early to Rise (Madison Avery #2) (The Book Depository/Amazon)
Synopsis: I'm Madison Avery, in charge of heaven's hit squad . . . and fighting it all the way. 


 When Madison died the night of her prom, she knew her life would never be the same. Now she has a powerful amulet, a team of rogue angels by her side, and the ability to flash forward into the future to see the shape of destiny. And of course, now she's finally with Josh—a perfect boyfriend who doesn't even mind that she's dead. 


 But being dead has its disadvantages, too. Madison feels caught between the light and the dark, and between her real life and her timekeeper status. When Madison has the opportunity to get her body back—to be alive again—she faces her most difficult decision yet. If she claims it, she could return to being a normal girl—and have a chance at a real relationship with Josh. But would having the one thing she wants most in the world also mean giving up everything she's worked so hard for?


Buy the Book (The Book Depository/Amazon)

Something Deadly This Way Comes was another addition to the fabulous Madison Avery series by Kim Harrison. It was probably my favorite of them all.

Upon starting the novel, I was a bit nervous because I didn't remember everything from the previous novels. I was worried I wouldn't understand what's happening but I shouldn't have worried since everything important came back to me. The book also had Madison explain or reference what had happened before a bit to refresh my memory.

I love Kim Harrison's world. She's using angels but in an original way that works. There is a lot of theory behind the magic and the angel hierarchies and it's well thought out. The main struggle of these novels is to find the middle ground between ending someone's life to save their soul or saving someone's life risking their soul. Madison wants it all: life & soul. I couldn't help but agree with her.

It's why Madison's such a great character. She wants change and she works for it. Hard. People throw her down and there are many setbacks and failures. There are also successes and Madison's courage is inspiring. She's a great character; strong, unique, but real. She's not totally selfless and works to get what she wants but she's a good person. The supporting characters are just as good and complex- even better sometimes. (I love Nakita! She's awesome!)

The best and worst thing about this book however was that it went by in a blur. That's great because I was hooked, flipping pages all through out but also not so good because the story kind of went by too fast. It's a short story and most of it is focused on one goal: saving Tammy's soul. As a story, it felt a bit short. This makes me sad because I enjoy these books. The world building and characters and overall plot is interesting but every time I read a book I'm left craving for more. That may be the desired effect though. Or it's just me.

All in all, another great installment to a great series filled with darkness, light, fate and choice. Madison Avery is a series you should be reading. 4 stars,

****

Some Awesome Book Trailers

I was browsing Youtube and I saw these. Enjoy!



Dark Eden looks like a must read. I got a Shutter Island-esque feeling and I love Shutter Island so maybe I'll love Dark Eden.




I love how this trailer was done. I already want to read this book since I really like Bright Young Things. Overall, I waannt this book.




I know, I know, Bloodlines has already been released. I just had to post it since this was the first time I saw it and maybe some other fan will see it? Anyway, I loved the book and I like the trailer. I swear, these books should be a TV show!

In My Mailbox (18)

Hey guys, I'm so excited to be doing my 18th IMM! In My Mailbox is all about the fabulous books you got this week and is created by Kristi from The Story Siren. 

This is kind of a late IMM because I didn't have the time to do it the last few weeks. Weirdly, I didn't get very much last week. This week, I went to the library... 

Before that, I went to the Smart Chicks Kick it Tour in Ottawa. They. Were. Awesome! It was my first signing so I was super nervous and starstruck so I was kind of quiet and didn't ask the questions I wanted to ask. Nevermind that though- the panel was so great. It was full and everyone was so happy to be there. And the line for the signing was over two hours long! Totally worth it though. I was near the end and got Enthralled, along with some bookmarks, a bracelet and a tattoo. 

Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions (The Book Depository/Amazon)

It's an antho from authors who've books I've enjoyed. I think I've read one of every author there so I'm SUPER psyched to read this! 

From the library:

Love Story by Jennifer Echols (The Book Depository/Amazon)

I can't wait to read this. I've never read anything about Jennifer Echols before but I've seen some awesome things being said.

Twisted by Gena Showalter (The Book Depository/Amazon)

I've read the others in the series and they're such fun, action packed reads. I'm curious as to see what happens next. If you love paranormal, or urban fantasy, definitely check this series out.

Burnout by Adrienne Maria Vrettos (The Book Depository/Amazon)

I honestly don't know anything about this book except that I liked the cover. It is a nice cover, isn't it?

The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal (The Book Depository/Amazon)

The premise of this book was what pulled me in. I mean, a false princess? Being a princess one day and then suddenly not would be hard. I wonder what happens...

Bargains and Betrayals by Shannon Delaney (The Book Depository/Amazon)

I originally wasn't a huge fan of the series. I didn't really like 13 to Life but Secrets and Shadows blew me away. I loved it! I can't wait for Bargains and Betrayals and I hope I'll like it. 

My Boyfriends' Dogs by Dandi Daley Mackall (The Book Depository/Amazon)

The title is why I chose this book. It looks like a light and fun contemporary read but I also don't know much about it.

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake (The Book Depository/Amazon)

The title. The cover. The synopsis. The reviews. All that translates into a MUST read. :)

Sass & Serendipity by Jennifer Ziegler (The Book Depository/Amazon)

Cute, contemporary, fun, light... perfect after scary paranormal ghost stories!

Until the End by Christopher Pike (The Book Depository/Amazon)

It's by Christopher Pike. That in itself is a reason to check it out as he writes original, exciting paranormal stories.

My Beating Teenage Heart by CK Kelly Martin (The Book Depository/Amazon)

Another of those random books I don't know much about. Something about this book just made me want to pick it up. I hope I like it!

That's what I got in my mailbox. Thank you so much for visiting and please leave a link so I can visit you too. Also, feel free to enter the giveaway I have going (link is above). What did you get in your mailbox?