Review: The Lipstick Laws

Author: Amy Holder
Pages: 238
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Source: Library
Synopsis: At Penford High School, Brittany Taylor is the queen bee. She dates whomever she likes, rules over her inner circle of friends like Genghis Khan, and can ruin anyone’s life with a snap of perfectly manicured fingers. Just ask the unfortunate few who have crossed her. For April Bowers, Brittany is the answer to her prayers. April is so unpopular, kids don’t know she exists. One lunch spent at Brittany’s table, and April is basking in the glow of popularity. But Brittany’s friendship comes with a high price tag, and April decides it’s not worth the cost. Inspiring and empowering, this is the story of one girl who decides to push back.

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The Lipstick Laws is a Mean Girls-type contemporary that was surprisingly fun to read. Usually with this kind of story it's very predictable, and the story was in a way, but there were some scenes and parts I adored that made up for it.

I hate comparing stuff. Saying a paranormal book is just like Twilight isn't really something I like to do. Every thing is individual, right? The problem is that some books start out with the same concept as some other movies/books with bigger success and it's hard to get that original idea out of your head. The Lipstick Laws always reminded me of Mean Girls based on the premise alone, along with other aspects like a pink book which is vital to the story and a certain boy two girls play around with. It's not Mean Girls but there are certain parallels and that's totally fine as long as the story is still entertaining, and The Lipstick Laws was.

April is too funny. She's one of those girls that has so much going for her but she doesn't seem to notice it. She's sarcastic and snarky but in a cute way, not an angst-y way. Her 'voice' had me giggling a lot and I loved how it was slightly self-deprecating which hinted at her insecurity but it also showcased her strength. Though she isn't the most mature girl ever, I could relate with April and understand her enough to like her and support her as the story went on.

April joins a posse of the popular girls who all follow The Lipstick Laws created by the Lipstick Queen, Britney (or Brat-ney) Taylor. Britney is hilarious. You will want to slap this girl so hard because she's such an idiot but she's one of those people the world makes exceptions for. Britney can make you feel special and appreciative as she hurls insult after insult masked as a compliment. I hated her guts which is why this story worked for me.

After getting kicked out of the group, April plots revenge in the form of the Lipstick Lawbreakers. There we meet new characters and April makes some new friends. The characters in the novel aren't very well developed. They're not very real and some are clichés. This isn't for those seeking a smart literary adventure filled with scintillating prose. If you're looking for light laughs though, The Lipstick Laws will more than suffice.

The shenanigans April, Britney, and the others went through weren't really OMG worthy but they were funny and cute. There were so many times where I was on my morning commute to school and had to stop giggling because I looked like an idiot. There's some typical drama involving boys and an insane tennis game but it was again fun. Overall, The Lipstick Laws is a feel good, fun, light read. 3,

***

Review: Untraceable by S.R. Johannes

Author: S.R. Johannes
Pages: 315
Publisher: Kindle
Source: Review Copy (thank you!)
Synopsis: 16-year-old Grace has lived in the Smokies all her life, patrolling with her forest ranger father who taught her about wildlife, tracking, and wilderness survival. 

When her dad goes missing on a routine patrol, Grace refuses to believe he’s dead and fights the town authorities, tribal officials, and nature to find him.

One day, while out tracking clues, Grace is rescued from danger by Mo, a hot guy with an intoxicating accent and a secret. As her feelings between him and her ex-boyfriend get muddled, Grace travels deep into the wilderness to escape and find her father. 

Along the way, Grace learns terrible secrets that sever relationships and lives. Soon she’s enmeshed in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder. And it’s going to take a lot more than a compass and a motorcycle (named Lucifer) for this kick-butting heroine to save everything she loves.

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It took me forever to read Untraceable. That shouldn't say much about the quality of the book though since I was actually very interested in the plot. Untraceable is a very unique book and it's very well done. I enjoyed reading about all the Survival Skills and that part was fun.

I'll start this review with a confession. I somewhat stupidly thought this book would be a paranormal mystery. I didn't read any reviews beforehand and the synopsis gives none of the twists away. I kept expecting something to happen and it took over a hundred pages for me to realize that, no, this was no paranormal. The author wrote a contemporary mystery.

After I realized that, the story flowed much more smoothly. There is an incredible amount of suspense in Untraceable. There are clues and suggestions everywhere that lead to a surprising ending. I honestly had no idea what to expect. Johannes writes a very unique plot twist and revelation that was probably the last thing I was expecting. I love that this story was unexpected. There was so much tension but I felt at times the story was slow. I was so confused- I had no idea what was happening and how to solve the mystery. For someone like me, some more hints would have been welcome. That being said I was impressed with the mystery.

The characters were a diverse group. I liked that a lot. Grace herself was independent and had this very admirable strength. There were many moments that I found I could relate to Grace, especially when she was vulnerable. She wasn't a bland character; she had personality. The side characters were well done too. I ended up being very upset with the actions of one specific character which was surprising because I never knew I cared that much about them.

Overall, Untraceable wasn't my usual type of read. That had its benefits but I would have liked to find the story more gripping. I know that other readers didn't have the same issue so take this with a grain of salt. If you enjoy a suspenseful mystery consider Untraceable. 3 stars,

***

Review: Witch Hunt

Author: K.C. Blake
Source: Review copy (thank you!)
Synopsis: A magical game of Hide n Seek begins.
Find the missing player and win.
The game resets; everyone forgets and starts to play it again.

Starr Hughes hasn’t believed in magic since her mother died. As a reporter for the school paper, she believes in hard facts. Hiding under the headmaster’s desk, planting bugs, and breaking into a fellow student’s home are all on her to-do list. So when she hears the mysterious group known as the It-Squad are about to start playing a secretive game, she wants to know more. She’s especially interested in the group’s gorgeous leader, Dylan Winchester.

With her boy-crazy best friend at her side, Starr is going to discover that not only are witches real, they need her help. Someone is using the game to steal their memories, their powers, and perhaps their lives.

Buy the book (Amazon /)

Witch Hunt is an entertaining book. It has what I call "readability". It's something that makes the reader pick up the book and instantly get into the story. There were a few things that I didn't like at all, but for some reason I just very much enjoyed the writing style of Witch Hunt to the point where the faults didn't bug me that much.

I'll start with my biggest issue. I didn't feel like any of the characters were realistic or likable. A lot of the plot was also unrealistic although I could accept that since the story wasn't meant to be realistic; just fun. I didn't like Starr at all in the beginning but somehow she grew on me. Privacy is so important to me, and Starr completely disregarded it. She was a classic snoop and I don't like those type of characters (or people) at all. That's a me thing though. I was a bit surprised that I didn't like most of the characters. They were so flawed and I didn't feel like their redeeming qualities were enough to, well, redeem them. So let's just get it out of the way that this is not a character oriented book.

The plot on the other hand was entertaining. I loved the premise and I had fun with what was happening. I keep saying the word entertaining because that's what this book was. Fun, and light. I always knew what to expect from this book: that I'd get into an engrossing read. The only part of the plot I didn't enjoy was something character related. I guessed the villain from the beginning so there wasn't much unexpected stuff happening.

After finishing Witch Hunt, I kind of love the world. This is the second book in the series but each book is about new characters so it isn't necessary to read the first book (I didn't). It was obvious to me though that the setting is somewhere with a lot of room for great stories. There's so many possibilities in this world. I would have enjoyed a few more details about the magical details but that didn't take away from the fun. It's been a while since I read about witches and now I'm wondering why it's been so long.

If you're looking for a light and fun read with a bit of magic, danger, and love, you should try Witch Hunt. 3 stars,

***

Review: The Assassin's Curse

Author: Cassandra Rose Clarke
Pages: 320
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Source: Review Copy- thank you!
Synopsis: Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to an allying pirate clan: she wants to captain her own boat, not serve as second-in-command to her handsome yet clueless fiance. But her escape has dire consequences when she learns the scorned clan has sent an assassin after her. 

And when the assassin, Naji, finally catches up with her, things get even worse. Ananna inadvertently triggers a nasty curse — with a life-altering result. Now Ananna and Naji are forced to become uneasy allies as they work together to break the curse and return their lives back to normal. Or at least as normal as the lives of a pirate and an assassin can be.

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The Assassin's Curse is really a rich, and solid fantasy read. It was a nice book to read in the sense that it captured my attention every time I opened the book, though not in the sense that it was a complete page-turner. When I had the book, I very comfortably immersed myself into the story but when I didn't have the book it wasn't begging for me to read it or lingering in my mind.

I think some parts of the story were under-developed. The world sounds very interesting what with the Confederation of Pirates and the Empire along with the magic but it wasn't explained. I didn't see much history or almost any explanation and that made it hard for me to imagine the surroundings and thus make it more real in my head. I kind of found it weird that a fantasy-ish novel didn't feel very much like fantasy because the most fantastical part -- the world -- wasn't really explained. It's especially confusing considering how dynamic the premise is. This is an awesome world -- the pirates, the magic, the Mists and it could have been a really strong part when it came to the book. I do hope in sequels there will be more explanations. I don't think it would bog down the plot either. The Assassin's Curse was relatively short (or at least it felt that way). I think it would add some more depth to a pretty good plot.

There was a genuinely interesting story. Ananna doesn't want to marry the guy her parents choose so she runs away and then an assassin is sent to kill her but instead she ends up saving his life thus initiating a curse. Ananna and Naji's story was really interesting. They both had their own story and strengths and didn't know how to deal with the other. I get the feeling that they were both very lonely so it was nice when they found each other. One issue both characters have is communicating. Naji has a hard time trusting Ananna and telling her anything (which is quite annoying) while Ananna is often in her own world and doesn't seem to notice. I did like both characters though. I liked reading of their insecurities and their personalities. Ananna is a strong character. She is very blunt and confident, and she can take care of herself. I enjoyed reading of her independent attitude.

Plot wise, I like the story. It was a good debut story though now that I've read the ending it's very obvious this was a 'set up' story. The characters are introduced, the general story arc is introduced, and we get a glimpse of the world. By the end of the book not much is resolved but some important information is learnt that will obviously influence the rest of the books. The bad thing about about this kind of plot is that the first book is a bit like a long intro. A lot of important stuff happens, but the overall story isn't furthered and the whole tension and suspense level is pretty slow. The Assassin's Curse was entertaining, but it's not yet spectacular.

I can't emphasize how much I loved the premise. It was seriously great in every way and I think that the sequel to this book will be much better with more descriptions of the world as well as the story arc firmly established and expanded. Till then, I liked this book so I'll give it 3 stars.

***

Review: Poltergeeks

Author: Sean Cummings
Pages: 320
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Source: Review Copy (Thank you!)
Release Date: October 2nd 2012
Synopsis: 15-year-old Julie Richardson is about to learn that being the daughter of a witch isn't all it's cracked up to be. When she and her best friend, Marcus, witness an elderly lady jettisoned out the front door of her home, it's pretty obvious to Julie there's a supernatural connection. 

In fact, there's a whisper of menace behind increasing levels of poltergeist activity all over town. After a large-scale paranormal assault on Julie's high school, her mother falls victim to the spell Endless Night. Now it's a race against time to find out who is responsible or Julie won't just lose her mother's soul, she'll lose her mother's life.

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Poltergeeks is a new story from Strange Chemistry and I am honestly so conflicted about what I felt. See, there were a lot of really awesome aspects to Poltergeeks but there were some stuff I liked a bit less. I'll settle by mixing the good and the bad in my review.

First, something I personally loved was that the story was by a Canadian author and took place in Canada! Me being Canadian and all, I loved that the story took place in Calgary (which is further from me than the States, but whatever). Not enough books take place in Canada so I get ridiculously excited when they do. Oh! And bonus points for mentioning Tim Hortons!

A negative would be the story felt a touch immature. I think the story is ideal for younger teens. It's very fast paced and moves along well. I think the entire book took place in two or three days. There's nothing wrong with being fast paced- I personally love it, but it left some scenes feeling underdeveloped and the slightest bit stereotypical. For example, Julie was very clichéd as the outsider with the nerdy friends. She always went on about how stupid the popular kids were and how she would rather be different than one of them. For the record, there was only one popular kid even mentioned by name in the books and he was your typical male bully. I honestly don't see that in my high school so characters like that are unrealistic for me.

Another thing I loved was the language. The story was full of humour. The writing wasn't severe- I absolutely freaking loved that Julie talked the way most teens talk. There was swearing, sarcasm, exaggerations and slang. The best parts were reading something Julie said and being all, "HEY! I said that yesterday!" (True story.) The language isn't very elegant but I consider it very realistic.

Julie herself won't make it to my list of favourite characters. See, she was sometimes a little bit too unreasonable, reckless, one might even say dumb. Like, "Look, some super powerful witch is attacking me and my family?! Grrr, I'm going to confront you all by myself, even when my mom told me not to." She was rebellious and made a lot of mistakes. I did think she matured towards the end. I'm curious to see in future novels how her character has progressed.

I think I've explained the bad things in the novel (slightly clichéd characters) so the rest is all the good. I like that Julie's mom was a huge part of her daughter's life. There was a real relationship between the two and they argued a lot but I liked it.

The ending had some pretty good twists to it. I wasn't really sure about some of the reasoning behind the actions, but I was surprised a bit. (Not too much though- see, I had my suspicions about the villain all along.) The ending also wrapped up the story pretty well but left room for a sequel.

The mythology was also very interesting and new. Ghosts, witches, immortals, oh my! There were a lot of interesting little tidbits (or should I say Timbits? I know, bad joke) of information about the supernatural world and I'm looking forward to reading more about that world in depth. I really liked Marcus and Julie's friendship and I thought they were both really cute together. Slightly awkward, but still sweet.

Overall, Poltergeeks was a good debut. There were some aspects to the story I didn't like but that didn't take too much away from the story. All in all, I enjoyed the fast paced action, the real teen speak, and I liked the the story was very light yet super entertaining. It was a good beginning and I'm really excited to see where the story goes from here. Since I liked it, I'm giving Poltergeeks 3 stars,

***

Review: Eternal

Author: Gillian Shields

Pages: 368

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Source: Library

Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge

Synopsis: This third book about the Mystic Sisterhood at Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies is another romantic thriller with paranormal elements and deep mystery. This time our heroine is Sarah Fitzalan, the dependable, faithful friend to Evie and Helen, her sisters in the Mystic Way. But this term Sarah finds that their friendship is tested to the limits. Evie is turning her back on the Mystic Way after the sisterhood laid her beloved Sebastian’s soul to rest; Helen is distracted; and a new girl, wild child Velvet Romaine, seems set on stirring up more trouble at Wyldcliffe. Sarah struggles to keep the sisterhood together as the threat of attack from the dark coven looms. 

All Sarah has to keep her going is her connection with her earth powers and a promise she cannot break. Must she sacrifice herself for the sake of her friends and sisters? Will her sisters join her, or will help come from unexpected sources, like her Romany ancestors, and a love she’d only just dared hope for?

Buy the Book (Amazon/)

I didn't know what to expect going into Eternal. I had read Betrayal and Immortal all in Evie's perspective so I was surprised upon getting the book that the story was about Sarah. That made sense; Evie's story was finished. I enjoyed reading about Evie's romance with Sebastian but Eternal was about Sarah.

Sarah has always felt like the supportive best friend. She's kind and helps everyone but secretly she wants her own story. I was fascinated by her character. She had a very distinctive personality and I was really curious about her part in the story.

The other characters we've known are there as well as Velvet Romaine, the rich rock star's daughter who's role in everything hasn't been revealed yet. I, again, liked the characters but I didn't love them. Some parts that were meant to be devastating got from me a reaction of basically thinking "That sucks!" and then continuing on. I'm not sure why I wasn't so emotionally invested in the story- I was more so in Evie's. Perhaps it's because I miss reading about Sebastian who I did care about.

Plot wise, there was a lot of suspense and build up. There was again a big mystery and almost the entire book was waiting for the big finish and what would happen. I liked that there was mystery and suspense but I wished all throughout there was as much action as in the end. I know that's impossible but just wanting more action to keep me more focused and hooked would have helped make the book even better.

Eternal is a book that was good but that didn't satisfy me. I think it's personal because I didn't love the story even though it was well done. If you've read the other books, be sure to read Eternal. It ends with a promise for much bigger and possibly awesome things to come . 3 stars,

***

Review: Wildefire

Author: Karsten Knight

Pages: 393

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Source: Library

Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge

Synopsis: Every flame begins with a spark. Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.

Buy the Book (Amazon/The Book Depository)

It really saddens me to write this review. In part because there wasn't anything really wrong with the book, except there wasn't that one thing that made me love it. Wildefire had all the makings of a great story but it never satisfied me. I say me, because there are probably many people who loved this book.

I'll start with the good.

1) The characters were all unique and had their own personalities. There were also many of them with a wide range of ethnicities.

2) The plot is twisty and very obviously complicated. It's fast paced and leaves you guessing.

3) The world is one you'll want to explore. The different lesser known Gods are awesome to read about and there will be many questions.

Wildefire had decent plot, characters, and setting. My problem was that I couldn't get into it. While reading, I rarely ever felt like I was experiencing the story rather than reading it. When bad things happened to the characters I didn't really feel much. I wanted to love this book though. That's probably one of the reasons I finished so quickly- I wanted to know what happened and to be so ecstatic and love it. I just didn't.

Another was that I never really connected with any character but the villain. Seriously, that was the character I was most interested in and so you can see the problems there. None of the characters called to me and there was a lot told about them but since there were so many characters, almost none of it was demonstrated.

The plot didn't leave me satisfied too. I know this is the first book in a series but it left me knowing that. Let me explain: I feel like a book should have a beginning, middle and ending which means an individual story. If it's in a series, that story should fit into a larger arc. Arguably, you could say that there was an individual story. Problem is, I don't like the conclusion.

The most important thing missing was my emotional investment. The story never really came through for me. Maybe that was because I already knew stuff like what goddess Ashline was as I saw it in some reviews and I was tired of it being such a big mystery for most of the book when I already knew. That affected my view of the story greatly. It could also have been my mood while reading- tired and with a headache. Whatever the case, I just wasn't impressed.

Overall, I will probably read the sequel because there is potential there and I do think I may like future books. I also may have been expecting too much due to hype. If this book seems interesting to you, read it, but i wouldn't say it's a must read. 3 stars,

***

Review: Twisted

Author: Sara Shepard
Pages: 320
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library
Series: Pretty Little Liars (#9)
Synopsis: It’s been a year since the torturous notes from A stopped and the mystery of Alison DiLaurentis’s disappearance was finally put to rest. Now seniors in high school, Aria, Spencer, Hanna and Emily are older, but they’re not any wiser. The Pretty Little Liars have more secrets than ever - twisted secrets that could destroy the perfect lives they’ve worked so hard to rebuild. 


Aria’s jealous of her boyfriend’s new exchange student. Spencer’s getting a little too cozy with her soon-to-be-stepbrother. Hanna’s one scandalous photo away from ruining her dad’s Senate campaign. And Emily will do anything to get a swim scholarship. 


Worst of all: Last spring break in Jamaica, they did something unforgivable. The girls are desperate to forget that fateful night, but they should know better than anyone that all secrets wash ashore … eventually.


Buy the Book (Amazon/The Book Depository)

Sara Shepard has a Twisted mind (hahaha... Yeah, not that funny). The drama in these books are unbelievable.

I know what you're thinking. I thought the same thing. A ninth book? But everything was closed off in the eighth! What else could possibly happen? This is ridiculous! Is there even a genuine story?

And I'll say that to enjoy this book, you're going to have to let go of some things. Let go of any preconceptions that Pretty Little Liars is realistic. Expect the unexpected. Don't even think "That's not possible!" because, it is. Ignore the need for characters to stop behaving the way they do and creating huge trouble for themselves. That trouble is what the story is based on. And as all the fans know, reading about the drama is an addictive, guilty pleasure. Accept the books for what they are: entertaining, fun, surprising.

That doesn't all come without a price though. This series has gone way down my list from being well thought out to amusing, to quick entertainment. It could have been so much more... But I should follow my own advice and accept the books for what they are.

Twisted begins with this huge secret that you don't know which was driving me insane. Curiosity was killing me. There were tantalizing little hints but not until later on do we fully piece what happened and still then we're left astounded. The plot is a bit slow and it seems like pointless drama for a bit till we get to the end and a revelation appears.

I have to say, I lost respect and faith in Spencer, Emily, Aria and Hanna. I thought these girls were capable of taking the good things they had and not messing up. They're good people- why can't that translate into actions? That wouldn't make much of a story though. I was frustrated with the way they all made decisions in Twisted.

I like these books. They're not the most eloquently written, not the most haunting story, but they're easy to read and make a great tv show. I say if you've read all the previous books, why not read one more? 3 stars,

***

Review: Kevin's Point of View (now known as Captain Disaster)

Author: Del Shannon
Pages: 402
Publisher: Flatiron View Books
Source: Review Copy- Thank you!
Synopsis: Kevin Tobin is a relatively ordinary 12-year-old dealing with the aftermath of his father's death in a mountain biking accident near their home in Boulder, Colorado. To escape from his emotional turmoil, Kevin has developed his imagination into a dangerous foil and a powerful ally. While he antagonizes his sister through his superhero antics on an average Wednesday morning, his ability to escape inside a character's head become critical to his survival after his life is once-again turned upside down a year after his father's death. A mysterious package arrives in the mail, Kevin and his best friend are hunted down by a ruthless villain set upon world domination, and after enlisting Kevin's teenage sister and her pizza-delivery boyfriend in a battle for control over time itself, the secret of Kevin's whole existence is revealed to him by a source we never expected. Del Shannon's imaginative story, appreciation for the powers of family and the desire of young boys to both escape reality and prove themselves within it, and fast-paced, adventure-filled storytelling style make this a book with wide appeal for readers of all ages.

Buy the Book (The Book Depository/Amazon)

Kevin's Point of View was a really imaginative read unlike anything I've read in a long time. Unfortunately, I didn't really feel like I was the right audience for the book and because of that it didn't work for me. However, I think this is just the read a bunch of younger boys I know of would enjoy, and I'll pass it along to them.

Kevin's Point of View is about a normal 12 year old boy with a heck of an imagination. Ever since his dad died, Kevin can retreat his mind to somewhere else if he doesn't like what's happening in the present. It's hard to explain, except that Kevin gets into a lot of trouble for it. Whenever Kevin isn't being, well, Kevin, the writing was italicized and I enjoyed watching how Del Shannon connected Kevin's imagination with real life. You really start to feel for Kevin. Under his annoying, 12 year old boy exterior, he's just another kid that misses his dad.

Some of my favorite part is when Kevin and Tony, Kevin's best friend and side kick, would talk about things they don't know. They'd mix up words and they were probably uncertain a lot but they had that arrogance that kids have and they'd go around thinking they're right. It was something I'd do all the time when I was younger so I could relate to it and I thought it was realistically done. Except, sometimes Kevin seemed really smart for his age and other times very immature. Like he uses words like "inherent" but doesn't know hypothermia? That puzzles me, but I guess since I'm Canadian we hear more about hypothermia than Kevin who lives in Colorado does!

The plot is really fast paced and fun. The Influxitron is a device that looks like a remote control but is really a time traveling machine. Something is always happening in this book, which I appreciate and I know other kids will too.

The presentation of this book is incredible. It looks professional, the cover had my little sister laughing and wanting to read the book even though she doesn't know how to read yet. The doodles inside the book were cute and I loved trying to guess how relevant they were to the chapter. Also, since each chapter was separated by a chapter page and sometimes a blank page or two, this book is perfect to read in small doses which is what younger readers will probably do. The book itself is long at about 400 pages but it's formatted and written in a way that makes it feel much shorter.

There was a lot of good to this book and I definitely recommend it. Even if I couldn't get into the story because it wasn't really the kind I like (some parts fell into place much too easily, some characters felt way overdone and lacking depth) I can see how others probably will enjoy it. Especially if you're a boy around 8 and up. 3 stars,

***

EDIT: It's been months later and Kevin's Point of View has changed names and will be published as Captain Disaster. As I don't know the extent of the differences between the two (since there was some editing and revision done) I've decided to keep my review above and refer it to Kevin's Point of View. 

Review: Ashes, Ashes

Author: Jo Treggiari
Pages: 341
Publisher: Scholastic
Source: Library
Synopsis: A thrilling tale of adventure, romance, and one girl's unyielding courage through the darkest of nightmares. 


Epidemics, floods, droughts--for sixteen-year-old Lucy, the end of the world came and went, taking 99% of the population with it. As the weather continues to rage out of control, and Sweepers clean the streets of plague victims, Lucy survives alone in the wilds of Central Park. But when she's rescued from a pack of hunting dogs by a mysterious boy named Aidan, she reluctantly realizes she can't continue on her own. She joins his band of survivors, yet, a new danger awaits her: the Sweepers are looking for her. There's something special about Lucy, and they will stop at nothing to have her.


Buy the Book (The Book Depository/Amazon)

Ashes, Ashes is the story of a post-apocalyptic world in which a girl named Lucy is trying to survive. I had very high expectations for this book but even though there was potential, the story didn't appeal to me.

Lucy was a survivor. She was temperamental but hardworking. She was very independent and though I usually like these characteristics in a character, I didn't really connect with Lucy. After finishing Ashes Ashes the characters don't seem very fleshed out to me. They remain a bit of a mystery and because I never really found a character I could relate to the story fell flat.

Most of the book was about descriptions and the world. Lucy explained everything early on about how the world became so bad. There were many grim descriptions of her lifestyle and it was a bit scary. However I'm not much into descriptions so that also factored into my enjoyment. Though Ashes Ashes is a decently long book I don't feel like much happened in the story. The good thing was that the mood Jo Treggiari was trying to give the readers was clearly felt.

The plot was interesting in the sense that I had no idea what was going to happen next. Though the ending was a bit predictable, the story had me caring enough to continue until the end. There were parts that were slow and parts that were full of action so I guess that means it was moderately paced. I didn't like the direction the story went in the end though. I was hoping for more to happen, bigger twists.

Other reasons I kept reading was that I was interested to see how the people could survive at such a time. The commune and the dynamics were vastly interesting to me. That part was very realistic.

All in all, Ashes Ashes was a story of survival set in the backdrop of a crumbling post-apocalyptic world. It was a good read. 3 stars,

***

Review: Sliding Beneath the Surface

Author: Doug Dillon
Pages: 294
Publisher: Old St. Augustine Publications
Source: Review copy- Thank you very much!
Synopsis: Just as Jeff Golden is about to start classes at St. Augustine High, he finds himself up to his eyeballs in paranormal experiences that are rooted in one of Floridas most important historical events. Scared out of his wits, he relies on his friend, Carla Rodriguez, and Lobo, an old Native American shaman, for help. Despite this guidance, things get even worse, making Jeff realize he is in danger of losing his sanity and even his life. Finally, forces he doesnt fully understand push him to leap headlong into the unknown in order to save himself. In doing so though, Jeff risks something even more valuable to him than his own existence.


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Sliding Beneath the Surface was one of those books that was super hard to review. There are so many mixed feelings I have about it but ultimately I think it's a great story that needs a bit more work.

The story features a bit of everything: romance, time travel, ghosts, shamans, OBE, history, and more. There's a lot being set up and it's no wonder the entire book takes place in about a day. It's a very busy day though and there is honestly so many paranormal experiences that I was left reeling and confused- about the same way as the main character, Jeff. I couldn't get a clear picture of some events because often, Jeff told the reader he couldn't understand how to begin to describe them. That's okay though- I followed the overall plot.

Jeffrey Golden was our MC. He's the kind of smart, manipulative guy that doesn't say much in class. He's friends with Carla, a girl he obviously has feelings for. Carla is a feisty history buff and she is not afraid to argue. Neither is Jeff, with his fast temper. The next most important character is Lobo, Carla's infuriating shaman neighbor who may be the only one that can help Jeff. Lobo is that character who is kind of mean, but obviously wise and good at heart albeit his tough exterior. I didn't overly connect with the characters but I did appreciate how unique each character was. I loved that they all had different ethnicities. We need more of that in YA.

The thing that threw me off about this book was the writing- mainly Jeff's POV.

It was written in third person and like Jeff was recounting it to the reader. That's a unique style, but what didn't work for me was the constant mentions to the reader. There were often questions (of the rhetorical kind) or simply a "you know" at the end of the sentence. This is very strong character voice which is usually good but it wasn't good for my personal reading experience because I'd often stop reading the story because I'd be focusing so much on the words. A perfect book would have writing that is beautiful but fades into the background so that you can picture everything that is happening. This is something that really affects my reading, though I'm not sure how much of an impact it will have on others. I've seen other people have no problem with the writing so it may be a me-thing.

The two other things about the writing I noticed was that there was a lot of telling, especially in the beginning. A bit more showing would have been more fun. Also, I did notice there were some small errors in the book, things like missing/extra apostrophes, missing words, little errors like that. They didn't hugely impact my reading but they kind of made me think that this novel needs a bit more work. I'm not sure if they'll be later edited or something.

All in all, Sliding Beneath the Surface demonstrates great ideas and is completely different from mainstream YA. I think that it needs a bit more work though to let the gem of a story shine through. This is just my personal opinion though. I have no clue what to give this book for a star rating. There were aspects done really well, and there were other parts I didn't care for as much. 3 stars seems the most right though, since I liked the book.

***

Review: The Locket

Author: Stacey Jay
Pages: 288
Publisher: Razorbill
Source: Library
Synopsis: On her seventeenth birthday, Katie discovers a locket and decides to wear it for good luck. But when her boyfriend Isaac finds out she cheated on him - with their mutual best friend Mitch, no less - he dumps her, leaving her devastated. 


 And then a miracle happens. The locket burns on Katie's chest and she feels herself going back two weeks in time, to the night she cheated with Mitch. At first, Kate is delighted to be a better girlfriend to Isaac this time around. But as other aspects of her life become inexplicably altered, she realizes that changing the past may have had a dangerous effect on her present. 


 Can she make things right before the locket destroys everything - and everyone - she loves?


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The Locket was the story of Katie using a locket to go back two weeks in time so she wouldn't repeat a mistake. Of course going back in time isn't without its consequences and Katie will learn the significance of choices and their impact on the world.

Romantic tension all the way through between Katie and Isaac, her boyfriend who cares a bit more about basketball than her, and Mitch, her best friend that may want to be more. I had a good idea of what would happen in the end and so I wasn't surprised with the conclusion. I just wanted to yell at Katie that she would hurry up and make the right choice already. It was a pretty clear choice to everyone except Katie, it seemed.

Katie irritated me a lot. She was so scared of a bunch of things and that lead her to not stand up for herself. She let people treat her wrong and I guess it would be a hard habit to get rid of after a lifetime of it, but I didn't like it. Katie's character did grow in the end though. She wasn't all bad. She was funny, wanted other people to succeed and didn't care for the spotlight. She was supportive and nice but never struck me as special.

The locket part of the story was written in a way where it was important but not that important. I mean that there wasn't an overwhelming magic part to the story. I'd think of this book as contemporary with a bit of time travel. That locket created so many problems and it was very creepy. Things worked out for the best though.

I liked the story but the book didn't hook me in completely. It was a cute story and I enjoyed it. 3 stars,

***

Review: The Darlings Are Forever

Author: Melissa Kantor
Pages: 336
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Source: Library
Synopsis: Jane, Victoria, and Natalya. Together, they are the Darlings. Best friends forever. They have matching necklaces, their own table at Ga Ga Noodle, and even a shared motto: May you always do what you’re afraid of doing. 


 When the friends begin freshman year at three different high schools in distant corners of New York City, they promise to live by their motto and stay as close as ever. The Darlings know they can get through anything as long as they have each other. But doing scary new things is a lot easier with your friends beside you. And now that the girls aren’t spending all their time together, everything they took for granted about their friendship starts to feel less certain. They can’t help but wonder, will they really be the Darlings forever?


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I wish I had read The Darlings are Forever before I started high school. It was an awesomely adorable story of friendship.

I related to all three of the protagonists, though sometimes I was thinking "that was a really stupid choice" but in the way that I wanted them to realize that. Jane, Victoria and Natalya were all going to different schools but their friendship didn't wane. They learned new lessons and I was grinning the whole time. This book captured high school very well for girls with different personalities.

The story lines were interesting. Each girl had her own personality and made choices that lead to a certain point. They weren't too unbelievable but they didn't surprise me much either. This kind of story of friendship is often told so I knew what to expect.

What I wish was more focused on was the girls' friends at school. I learned about two names for each and I thought that could be (and maybe will be) explored more (in the future?). This was a very sweet version of high school but it could also have delved deeper. That part of it was a little unrealistic.

All in all, this was another contemporary read that I enjoyed. I wouldn't say this is for older YA fans, Maybe young teens and tweens. 3 stars,

***

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,

***

Review: Bree's Fire

Author: Eva Roy

Pages: 300

Publisher: iUniverse Star

Source: Library

Synopsis: Bree Blake is just a normal teenager, living a normal life with her normal friends and normal family. She's normal, sure ... if it's normal to be able to spy on her boyfriend through visions and summon windstorms when she's angry. So maybe Bree Blake isn't so normal after all, but her uniqueness is her own little secret-that is, until the arrival of Andrew-a handsome Scottish boy who insists on becoming Bree's friend.

Bree suspects that Andrew may be onto her. She suspects he may know about her mysterious abilities, and this worries her. More worrisome, though, are the recent attempts on her life, which seem to coincide with Andrew's arrival.

Should Bree trust the sexy Scot, or should she avoid him altogether? Does she even have the willpower to avoid him? She may not have the freedom to make her own decision, as the secrets of her past bring them closer together. A story of love, magic, and mystery, Bree's Fire will make you believe in the unbelievable, as one young woman navigates her path through the ways of Wicca ... and, perhaps, love.

Bree's Fire is a magical tale of romance and action narrated by a fierce protagonist.

There is much magic in this book. Bree herself contains many abilities and later on even more are revealed by herself and others around her. The magic is a very strong element in this novel and it's a nice part. It all makes sense and fits together.

Bree, our protagonist is fiery. She's impulsive and blunt. I wasn't too fond of her though. She was a bit too inconsiderate of others at times, but she's lived a hard life. I guess having magical abilities you can't control takes a toll on you.

Bree and Andrew's romance is nice. I'm glad that Bree is a bit more sensible than the typical YA teenager who falls in love with the gorgeous guy and when she discovers their secret, she still loves them unconditionally. Bree takes things slow and is mistrustful but still realistic.

One thing I wasn't too fond of was the page layout of the book. The words were very dark and close together. This may not bother other people but I didn't like reading that way. I was focusing on the pages more than the story. An amazing story is one that you forget you're reading- it's just so real that you ignore choice of word and you don't remember that an author wrote this all. I didn't feel that with Bree's Fire.

The plot was decently paced and surprising. There were many parts that I never would have guessed and they were original. Bree's Fire was interesting to read.

All in all, Bree's Fire is a tale that will appeal to all of those fond of heavy magic and a bit of Wicca. I didn't get hooked into the story but it was still a good story. 3 stars,

***

Review: Mad Love

Author: Suzanne Selfors
Pages: 336
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Source: Library
Synopsis: 

When you're the  daughter of the bestselling Queen of Romance, life should be pretty good. But 16-year-old Alice Amorous has been living a lie ever since her mother was secretly hospitalized for mental illness. After putting on a brave front for months, time is running out. The next book is overdue, and the Queen can't write it. Alice needs a story for her mother-and she needs one fast.

That's when she meets Errol, a strange boy who claims to be Cupid, who insists that Alice write about the greatest love story in history: his tragic relationship with Psyche. As Alice begins to hear Errol's voice in her head and see things she can't explain, she must face the truth-that she's either inherited her mother's madness, or Errol is for real.

Mad Love was a nice story but it left me a bit unsatisfied. I think it's because the premise of the Cupid and Psyche story was so original and interesting that I became excited and expected something different.

Since this book has Cupid who shoots love arrows, it would be considered a paranormal novel (or urban fantasy, I still don't understand the difference much) but I thought it felt more like a contemporary book. The Cupid and the Gods story line wasn't as major as the Queen of Romance or all the parts about Alice's mother. There were some parts that I felt made little logical sense. I'm not sure if Mad Love is a series because it read like a standalone but there were some story lines that dangled but were never fully explained.

I have to say, Errol is a brilliant name for Cupid. It's unique but close to Eros. Every time I read Errol, I'd giggle a bit. I don't hear the name much so I loved its use.

The characters had problems, faults and merits. I could see all that but I never really connected with any character. I still feel like I don't know some of them well. There was just something missing, the life in them, if you know what I mean.

I read on other blogs about the 50 page rule so while I finish everything I start, I check at 50 pages to see how I feel the story moved along. When I checked in Mad Love, I was surprised that not much happened. We were introduced to Alice's life and she first met Errol. The pacing could have been a bit faster, but the author was very thorough with what she explained.

Overall, Mad Love had fabulous potential but it wasn't the book for me. An nice romantic book, it gets 3 stars.

***

Review: Aries Rising

Author: Bonnie Hearn Hill
Pages: 304
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Source: Library
Synopsis: Aquarius Logan McRae is a high school sophomore in Terra Bella Beach, CA and has been working all semester to impress her teachers in order to get into the summer writing camp she desperately wants to attend. But when this ordinary girl finds an extraordinary book, Fearless Astrology, her life is changed forever. Applying what she’s learned about the zodiac, she lands her own column in the school paper and a date with the hottest guy in school!


But when Logan threatens to catch the members of a secret society called The Gears, who have been vandalizing school property by reading the stars, she quickly learns that she is in over her head. Will Logan be able to catch The Gears, save her love life, keep her newspaper column, and get into the writing camp of her dreams all through the use of astrology?


I love reading about astrology (I'm born on the Libra-Scorpio cusp by the way) so I was super excited to read Aries Rising.


Aries Rising is about Logan. Logan is a pretty average girl with awesome friends, but I wasn't too interested in her character. Logan has issues with her mom who's always away so when she sees the book "Fearless Astrology" she knows it will change her life. From there we see how Logan's life changes with the help of astrology.


I loved the astrology. It was written in an easy to understand way. I tried researching astrology and it is hard but Aries Rising presented the information in a fun way. That was my favourite part of the book. There are parts that you'll need research to understand but most of it is pretty straightforward.


The story itself didn't really pull me in too much. The characters felt empty. They didn't feel distinct and I hoped the plot would pick up faster. The ending was interesting but still not big enough. Logan's life was too normal for me. I want a bit more drama and I wasn't getting that in Aries Rising. If you like books about normal people with something different, this book is a great choice.


Overall a nice reading experience enhanced by astrology. I actually would read Fearless Astrology if it was a real book since it sounds like so much fun! I will be reading Taurus Eyes, the sequel. 3 stars,


***

Review: Siren

Author: Tricia Rayburn
Pages: 368
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Source: Library
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Vanessa Sands is afraid of everything--the dark, heights, the ocean--but her fearless older sister, Justine, has always been there to coach her through every challenge.  That is until Justine goes cliff diving one night near the family's vacation house in Winter Harbor, Maine, and her lifeless body washes up on shore the next day. 

Vanessa's parents want to work through the tragedy by returning to their everyday lives back in Boston, but Vanessa can't help feeling that her sister's death was more than an accident.  After discovering that Justine never applied to colleges, and that she was secretly in a relationship with longtime family friend Caleb Carmichael, Vanessa returns to Winter Harbor to seek some answers.

But when Vanessa learns that Caleb has been missing since Justine's death, she and Caleb's older brother, Simon, join forces to try to find him, and in the process, their childhood friendship blossoms into something more. 

Soon it's not just Vanessa who is afraid.  All of Winter Harbor is abuzz with anxiety when another body washes ashore, and panic sets in when the small town becomes home to a string of fatal, water-related accidents . . . in which all the victims are found grinning from ear to ear. 

As Vanessa and Simon probe further into the connections between Justine's death and the sudden rash of creepy drownings, Vanessa uncovers a secret that threatens her new romance, and that will change her life forever.
There was a question on a blog hop that asked me do I pick books to read based on covers, and I said yes. Siren is an example of that. I've been super excited to read books about Sirens for a while now so two things drew me in. A) the creepy blue cover with the silver eyes and B) the title of the book. Yes, I'm that superficial and I'm not afraid to admit it. I don't buy books so the worst thing that could have happened was me going to the library and deciding I didn't want to check out the book.

Anyway, Siren is about Vanessa, a quiet, scared girl who loves her sister above all. Too bad her sister dies within approximately 30 pages of the book. Seriously, the book started with Justine's death and Vanessa trying to cope.

Siren had amazing potential. Sirens aren't done much in books (or at least in the ones I've read... If you have heard of a book about sirens, let me know about it!) so there were so many possibilities. Sadly, Siren didn't reach it's full potential. I guessed many of the plot twists, I wasn't interested in my main character's romance, and at times the plot wasn't moving fast enough for me.

Guessing what was going on was a huge part of the novel, but once again the title of the book ruined it for me. I would have loved to be wondering what was happening, I wanted to be scared and on the edge of my seat imagining the possibilities until *gasp* I find out the story is about sirens. Naming the title Siren ruined all that. I was anxious for the main character to be on the same page as me and was annoyed when poor Vanessa wasn't.

There were many good things in the story though. Some of the characters were unique and complicated (Justine) and they were fun to read about. Vanessa is nice and sweet and she loves her family. Her family struggles and relations were life like. There was a very interesting backstory and overall this book lead me to believe that the sequel has the possibility to be stunning.

The plot was interesting and the suspense rose with the death toll. I suspected the criminals but how to stop them was another matter. I was stumped but the way Vanessa and her friends concluded the story was good though I have a hard time believing it's real. This is fantasy so that doesn't matter too much. Once again I realized how important the little details in a book are to the absolute story.

All in all, Siren is a suspenseful blend of love, danger, and startling revelations. It's a good read for fans of paranormal books, especially underwater type books but it's not a must read. 3 stars, a nice read,

***

Review: Life on Hold

Quick note, this is my 101th post! This book blogging thing is so much fun and when I started I wondered if I would stick with it. The answer's YES. Yes I will. Thanks to the support of everyone following. The fact that what I say matters is mindblowingly awesome. ☺♥


Author: Karen McQuestion
Pages: 168
Publisher: AmazonEncore
Source: Free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis (from Amazon): Fifteen-year-old Rae Maddox just wants to stay in one place like everyone else, but there’s no chance of that happening—not with a free-spirited mother who thrives on cross-country moves. When the two of them land in Wisconsin sophomore year, things are off to a great start: her mom promises they’ll stay until graduation, Rae makes two good friends and finally gets a chance at love. Her newfound happiness is jeopardized when the vice-principal at the high school pairs her with Allison Daly, a new girl with a bad attitude. As Allison’s secrets unravel, and Rae’s mother gets involved, Rae is forced to take charge of her own life or risk losing everything important to her.

Life on Hold is the story of Rae, a cool sophomore in high school who's family never stays anywhere for more than a year because of her mother, Gina. Gina finds moving an adventure but Rae craves stability. It's also the story of Allison, a new girl at Rae's school that Rae has to show around and help assimilate. Allison has gone through a hard time and the principal is depending on Rae to make sure everything works out for her.

Rae's a pretty normal girl. She moves around a lot but that way she learns to quickly make friends. She loves her mother Gina but she wishes her mother would stop moving around. She gets along with most people and is all around a good, normal kid. I can easily imagine Rae as a teenager at my school.

One of the most amazing things about Life on Hold was that somehow I ended up feeling everything Rae felt. When she was annoyed, I was too. When she was happy, I was happy. When she loved and hated something I completely agreed with her. It was very easy to be pulled into her life.

I loved that this story was readable. Once starting I was completely immersed in the story and Rae's situation. Karen's writing is easy to read and her world is complicated but light. Rae's story felt real but also entertaining enough to read.

My one problem with Life on Hold was that sometimes I didn't feel much for the other characters, Allison for example in most of the book. (The end made me think otherwise.) I felt disconnected and that could be a personal problem but it prevented me from loving the story.

Overall, a nice real read. Life on Hold teaches you the importance of small, little actions and the impact they can make on someone's life. I liked it so I'm giving it 3 stars,

***

Review: Fallen Angel

Author: Heather Terrell
Pages: 336
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library
Synopsis (from Goodreads): Heaven-sent?

Ellie was never particularly good at talking to boys—or anyone other than her best friend and fellow outcast, Ruth. Then she met Michael.

Michael is handsome, charming, sweet. And totally into Ellie. It’s no wonder she is instantly drawn to him. But Michael has a secret. And he knows Ellie is hiding something, too. They’ve both discovered they have powers beyond their imagining. Powers that are otherworldly.

Ellie and Michael are determined to uncover what they are, and how they got this way . . . together. But the truth has repercussions neither could have imagined. Soon they find themselves center stage in an ancient conflict that threatens to destroy everything they love. And it is no longer clear whether Ellie and Michael will choose the same side.

In this electrifying novel, Heather Terrell spins a gripping supernatural tale about true love, destiny, and the battle of good versus evil.

Fallen Angel was an interesting debut. It was about Ellie, a girl that started to gain these supernatural abilities that she had no clue what to do with.

I didn't overly connect with Ellie. She was a nice girl who always tried to help the world. She was friends with a girl named Ruth- a much more interesting character in my view- who had problems letting people in after her mom died. Ruth was super overprotective and possessive about Ellie and Ellie knew that so she tried her best to always protect Ruth. I didn't think that Ellie should have done that. Ruth loved her and would do anything for her, so she should have trusted her best friend. Ruth was a really great, unique character.

The beginning of Fallen Angel took a long time to get me interested. It's basically all about Michael and Ellie discovering their abilities. The problem for me was that I didn't like Michael at all. He wasn't really special in any way and I get that he was supposed to be mysterious what with him having met Ellie before but she not remembering him. I found their romance a bit cliché. I think the title also ruined the book a bit for me. Fallen angel. The whole time Ellie and Michael were trying to guess what they were and I knew it already. I wish the title hadn't clued me in because I think the revelation would have been shocking and fun instead of me thinking "Finally!"

After that the story got much more interesting. The whole good versus evil fight hooks me every time. It was really cool to see how the author wove in mythology and there were some interesting surprises.

Overall, I would give this book 3 stars because it's interesting with a great premise but for a good while I felt like nothing significant was happening. I am a thriller movie kind of chick so maybe it's just that I love super fast paced plots, but if you're interested in trying Fallen Angel, I wouldn't discourage you and I definitely will be checking out the sequel.

***