Review: Quicksilver

Author: R.J. Anderson

Pages: 314

Publisher: Monarch Books

Source: Review Copy (thanks so very much!)

Synopsis: Back in her hometown, Tori Beaugrand had everything a teenaged girl could want—popularity, money, beauty. But she also had a secret. A secret that could change her life in an instant, or destroy it.

Now she’s left everything from her old life behind, including her real name and Alison, the one friend who truly understood her. She can’t escape who and what she is. But if she wants to have anything like a normal life, she has to blend in and hide her unusual... talents.

Plans change when the enigmatic Sebastian Faraday reappears and gives Tori some bad news: she hasn’t escaped her past. In fact, she’s attracted new interest in the form of an obsessed ex-cop turned investigator for a genetics lab.

She has one last shot at getting her enemies off her trail and winning the security and independence she’s always longed for. But saving herself will take every ounce of Tori’s incredible electronics and engineering skills—and even then, she may need to sacrifice more than she could possibly imagine if she wants to be free.

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Quicksilver by R.J. Anderson is a very interesting read as it is written similarly to Ultraviolet but with a different tone that is executed very well because the overall personality of the book is much more Tori than Allison. I think that's fantastic because these two characters are so different and that should be reflected in their stories.

It didn't take long for Tori to win me over. After returning from space with Allison, Tori has to leave her hometown and friends in an attempt to evade scientists of all kinds and live a semi-normal life. At this point, we don't know very much about Tori beyond Allison's experiences and I was fascinated and excited to get to know her. For good reason too. I really like Tori.

Tori is just a really resourceful, practical person. She's someone who's decisions I can understand and I connected with her as a reader. I think I'd like her in real life too. She's very reserved, and for good reason, but she ends up being well liked by many because she's so good at reading people. Also, the fact that she is an alien is really interesting. It factors into her personality in some ways and some of my favourite details about Tori was when she talked about how her parents raised her. Tori has her issues with her parents but loves them anyway. There were a lot of scenes in which you see a family just trying it make a hard situation work.

I haven't talked much about Milo but I adore the guy. Milo is great in so many ways. He's a loyal, genuinely good guy that's all kinds of adorable. He thinks for himself too. For example, even though his parents want him to be a doctor, Milo knows that's not the right career path for him so he's planning something different. He doesn't know how to tell his parents this. This is such a tiny piece of information about Milo but I love it because it's something so many people around me are dealing with. Also, Milo is Korean Canadian so he brings some diversity into the book and some of the issues people have with that (which I loved even more).

Like Ultraviolet, Quicksilver's plot is like an avalanche. It starts slow but picks up speed as it goes along. Although this book doesn't feel slow. It's the strangest thing- I'm so into the story and trying to figure out what will happen next. The ending, I thought, was satisfying. One personal note is that I think the plot in Ultraviolet is stronger but the characters in Quicksilver are stronger. It's a wash because the plot is interesting; it's just that I read this book to know what will happen next to Tori and Milo, not to figure out the mystery. Who knows what others think though.

Once again a solid read. These books are different from what's out there and I like them a lot. I'm curious to see what's next for R.J. Anderson. Very deserving of 4 stars,

****

Review: Ultraviolet

Author: R.J. Anderson

Pages: 416

Publisher: Orchard

Source: For Review

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Alison has been sectioned in a mental institute for teens, having murdered the most perfect and popular girl at school. But the case is a mystery: no body has been found, and Alison’s condition is proving difficult to diagnose. Alison herself can’t explain what happened: one minute she was fighting with Tori—the next she disintegrated. Into nothing. But that’s impossible. Right?

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Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson is all kinds of impressive. The story is incredibly original but I think my favourite part about this book is the fact that it's a fascinating book to read. Not just the overall story but the individual chapters were filled with enriching details.

 It's incredibly rare for me to mention the presentation of a book in a review but I have to say something this time because I was so impressed. It begins with the beautiful cover. It's gorgeously metallic in person and my copy of the book was small, compact, and crisp. Each chapter had a designated colour or basic sensation and all three of the parts of the book were separated by a page of black. It ends up looking and feeling really nice and I, like many others, tend to enjoy nice things.

 Now, on to the actual content. One thing that excited me right off the bat was that Ultraviolet is set in northern Ontario. I live in south eastern Ontario and I've never gone to the north but there is something so cool about a book being set in the same country, nonetheless province as you. It doesn't happen too often since not many authors I read write about Canada but there were some cultural things I loved and it's something rare that probably won't mean as much to you as it does to me.

 Ultraviolet begins with Alison waking up in a hospital. Isn't that creepy? She doesn't remember anything, but something terrible has happened and a girl has gone missing, and Alison is the last person to see her. It should also be mentioned that Alison is different. She perceives the world differently; she tastes things in the air, she sees colors from sounds, and the stars sing to her. There is a fair bit of mystery in Ultraviolet and it's great in the sense that for the longest time, you have no idea what type of book this is. Something is not right, and is this wrongness supernatural or just contemporary? You'll never know as even the end leaves the door open. I love the openness and that the author very obviously knew what she was doing when she wrote this book because it comes off as very polished.

Ultraviolet isn't too suspense filled, nor is it an insanely fast paced action read so it doesn't fit my prototype of plots I know I'd love. However, it does something I love even more than a fast plot: character development. As more information is revealed about Alison, I couldn't help but like her even more. Also, most of the book is set in a psych ward so of course that in itself is fascinating enough. There's enough really interesting subplots and interaction with other characters to keep me interested. The ending does whirl by a bit and it throws me out of the loop a bit. There are clues but this book is so open that anything could be interpreted from the details. (Let me know if you guessed the twist in the comments and what you thought of it.)

 I liked the ending. It was surreal in a way but enjoyable and I'm not a usual fan of companion novels but as soon as this book ended I was insanely happy to have gotten a copy of Quicksilver from Monarch Books. 

Some other aspects I enjoyed that won't spoil this book for anyone else includes the fact that Alison likes piano, the flashbacks, and Alison's relationship with her mom. It wasn't the best or most healthy relationship but it was sufficiently complex and the feelings underneath everything rang true.

 All in all, reading Ultraviolet was a cool experience because this book is strong in so many ways. I thought it was solid and never disappointed me. The book is a little bit odd because it's definitely different from most of what's out there but if you give it a chance you could be surprised in a good way. 4 stars,

 ****

Review: Prodigy

Author: Marie Lu
Pages: 384
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Source: ARC

Synopsis: June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long. 

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

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In case you were wondering, yes, Marie Lu's dystopia series is the real deal. It's such an exhilarating read and this series has already become one of my favourites. There's so much to love.

First, I love the plot pace. Strangely enough, I felt like the plot was paced very quickly although in reality not as much as I thought would happen actually happens. That just goes to show how it feels to read Prodigy -it's a blur with some incredible action scenes, crazy twists, and at some point near the end I almost exploded. Well, not really, but wow. I'm a little bit scared of Marie Lu right now.

The weird thing is that I didn't enter this book with any expectations. I'm fortunate enough to have an ARC and beyond what my friend told me after she read it (which wasn't much) I decided not to read the synopsis so everything would take me by surprise. A lot of it did, although some stuff was a little too easy to figure out. I didn't really care about that because I was entertained. This book had action, explosions, possible revolutions, and romance. This is so my type of book.

Before I even realized it, I loved the characters. June's way of describing and observing everything and the way she can be so cold compared to Day's more emotional perspective was a great contrast proving they belong together. What's even better is June and Day together. They're an unstoppable duo as they build trust for one another. They compliment each other so well and I love that while they're a couple, they're also independent and resourceful on their own. Simply, together they're better and there's really nothing I can imagine them incapable of. There were some new characters introduced and some old characters, or at least seldom seen ones, appeared here and there but in general June and Day totally stole the show.

Prodigy digs a little deeper into the ethics of the Republic as June and Day encounter the Patriots and one of the most fascinating scenes was when more information about the rest of the world was revealed. Part of the Legend series' allure is the setting that seems to be so realistically different and it was cool to see how the rest of the world was like. It's so diverse in many ways.

I feel like I've done an awful job conveying my thoughts, except that this is a great sequel to Legend. It has a lot of the same stuff that made you like Legend in the first place and in addition, you learn some more about the characters. This is a thrilling book with a killer ending that'll leave you desperate for more. 4 stars,

****

Review: Legend

Author: Marie Lu
Pages: 305
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Source: Library

Synopsis: What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

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I really liked Legend! It was totally my kind of read and I couldn't help but find myself enchanted by the characters, thrilled by the plot, and addicted to the story. It's just that kind of read, the high action type similar to Divergent which I adore.

Warning: Kickass characters lie ahead. If you're tired of that you may not like June or Day. If you do like them like me, you'll love them. June herself is a prodigy. There's these things called Trials that every kid goes through in Legend and June scores a 1500 out of 1500. She's the only kid who has ever done that and her high school guarantees her a life of success. She's brought into the military from a young age and she's a bit arrogant. Some of the tricks she could do were so cool and I'm in total awe of her. She's still a real person though. June lost her parents when she was young and her brother Metias was the one to really raise her until he was killed too. That's where Day comes into the picture.

Day is like June but he failed his Trials and is a criminal. The most wanted boy in the Republic, in fact. I like Day a lot. He's a rebel with a cause. He cares about his family deeply and has this confidence that you can't help but admire. I was rooting for him completely and I think he and June are great together.

These two characters tell the story. They have similar voices but you can mostly tell them apart by the fact that in my copy, Day's part was in gold font while June's was in black. Can I say how much I adore colored font? It's a little touch that I appreciate. Anyways, these characters aren't really normal or ordinary. They are special people and yes, it's a bit amazing what they can do but if you just go with it you'll enjoy the story like I did.

World wise, I liked Legend. It's nothing that is completely new but it works with what it has very well. The Republic is creepy and needs to be stopped. I can't wait to learn more of it's secrets. I also like that there is evidence of a rebellion. People still care which is so refreshing when I think of other books where it seems like everyone just lets the government do anything they want.

I said before that I love this type of story. The kind with action and fighting. The kind where lives are on stake and it's up to our heroes to save the day. I like when characters have almost no chance of succeeding but they do. I like the adrenaline rush you get, the thrill of the fights. I especially love that I couldn't put Legend down at times. I had to force myself to slow down. That is the read I'm looking for.

All in all, Legend is perfect for me. I love the characters, the world is exciting, and the plot is filled with action. I really liked it! 4 stars,

****

Review: The False Princess

Author: Eilis O'Neal
Pages: 319
Publisher: Egmont
Source: Library

Synopsis: Princess and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, Nalia's led a privileged life at court.  But everything changes when it's revealed, just after her sixteenth birthday, that she is a false princess, a stand-in for the real Nalia, who has been hidden away for her protection.  Cast out with little more than the clothes on her back, the girl now called Sinda must leave behind the city of Vivaskari, her best friend, Keirnan, and the only life she's ever known.

Sinda is sent to live with her only surviving relative, an aunt who is a dyer in a distant village. She is a cold, scornful woman with little patience for her newfound niece, and Sinda proves inept at even the simplest tasks.  But when Sinda discovers that magic runs through her veins - long-suppressed, dangerous magic that she must learn to control - she realizes that she can never learn to be a simple village girl.

Returning to Vivaskari for answers, Sinda finds her purpose as a wizard scribe, rediscovers the boy who saw her all along, and uncovers a secret that could change the course of Thorvaldor's history, forever.

A dazzling first novel, The False Princess is an engrossing fantasy full of mystery, action, and romance.

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I was a big fan of The False Princess ever since I heard of the concept. Living your life as a princess and then one day, being told you're not? Then promptly being replaced? That sounds awful. And it sounds like a great idea for a story.

Meet Sinda; false princess, magician, and lost girl. Sinda at the beginning was a weak character, IMO. If anything like that had ever happened to me I would have been far more enraged and less empathetic and acceptant. Her character does grow though, which is something I do love.

The other characters were all charming in their own ways too. Kiernan was gorgeous and I'd have a crush on him if I ever met him; Sinda's aunt was a unique, in depth character. The only character I didn't think was really well done was the villain who was very typical.

The plot was a great adventure. This is the kind of fantasy I like; with strong characters carving the way of the story instead or complex settings. The fantasy aspect really worked for the story and wasn't overwhelming. Everything made sense and I could clearly imagine the settings.

I liked the storyline too. It was placed really well- not on-the-edge-of-your-seat action but enough action that the story felt balanced and moved on in a good pace. The ending was very complete too. I'm not sure if The False Princess is a series but it could be read as a standalone. The ending was refreshing and satisfying.

One thing I felt I was missing was the X/it factor. I really liked this book but I never really loved it. I can't name why though.

Overall, The False Princess is a solid read with an intriguing premise, delicious romance, and an exciting quest. This book is a really solid read. 4 stars,

****

Review: Uncontrollable

Author: S.R. Johannes
Pages: 300
Publisher: Coleman & Stott
Source: Review copy (Thank you!)
Sequel to: Untraceable (The Nature of Grace #1)
Synopsis: As Grace recovers from tragedy, her science class is chosen by Agent Sweeney at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to help with research on the new "Red Wolf Reintroduction Program". 

While she’s excited about helping with the conservation of the endangered wolves, Grace knows this means being outdoors in the worst winter recorded, in a place she no longer feels comfortable. It also means working closely with Wyn (her ex) and his annoying girlfriend (Skyler), a girl whose idea of getting close to nature is picking silk plants and growing fake plants. 

After a couple of wolves show up dead, Grace almost quits. However, when a fellow project team member goes missing, Grace continues the assignment under a renewed suspicion that someone might be sabotaging the conservation program. She quietly begins to hunt for clues. 

Little does she know, she is being hunted too. 

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Untraceable took me two weeks to read. Uncontrollable was finished in less than a day. Since I knew what to expect in this series everything in the sequel flowed very well and I liked the story even more.

The thing I was so impressed with was how everything was not tidy. Asheville was shaken by the events at the end of Untraceable and there was grief and anger. Grace did what she thought was right and there were severe consequences for her decisions. Seeing the hurt she caused others, the pain she kept within herself, and everyone's struggles to let go and move on gave this book some real depth. There were two scenes in particular that stood out for me; one with Skyler, one with Tommy.

Grace herself grew into a character that I liked a lot. She's been through a lot by now and it's obviously she's crumbling at times. She isn't broken. Grace has this incredible fighting spirit. She's someone that just plain cares about the world and although she still does have a tendency to make completely irrational, impulsive decisions it's more endearing now that she sometimes thinks her plans through.

I enjoyed the side characters a lot. I said this story has great depth- the side characters helped with that. Although Uncontrollable is another mystery, it's also the story of people trying to heal. I loved some of the quirky characters like Birdee. One thing I didn't like was the love triangle. I feel like someone might get hurt and the would make me sad because I liked both love interests.

I also developed a real appreciation for nature. I'm a city girl but I've always been fascinated by forests and conservation. There's a pretty big national park near where I live and I even saw a black bear there once so I could easily picture what Grace was seeing. I love that Johannes is using her books to inform people about animals like red wolves. I know a lot of people would care about these types of issues but there isn't enough coverage for the average person to hear about unless they specifically went looking for it.

Overall, I enjoyed Uncontrollable a lot. Although I ended up guessing who the villain was beforehand, I liked the direction of the story. This book felt much more compact and action packed than it's predecessor. It kept me into the story and I'm excited to read more! 4 stars,

****

Review: Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft

Author: Jody Gehrman
Pages: 293
Publisher: Magic Genie Books
Source: Review Copy (thank you!)
Synopsis: Falling in Love, baking a magical cake, fighting an evil necromancer—it’s all in a day’s work for Audrey Oliver, seventeen-year-old witch-in-training. 

When her mother goes missing and her twenty-one-year-old witchy cousin shows up out of the blue, Audrey knows something’s gone horribly, dangerously wrong. Now it’s up to her to get her own magical powers up to speed before everyone she loves is destroyed by the sorcerer intricately connected to her mother’s secret past.

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Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft was another really fun read. There was so much good about this book. There were actually no real flaws and I enjoyed reading this.

I liked that the characters made an impression on me. I could clearly picture them and their different personalities. Audrey feeling like a wallflower, Meg shining with infinite coolness, Bridget's sweetness... Each character had some defining traits that stood out very well and none of them were boring. I also thought Audrey was a nice character to connect to. She had insecurities but she's a cool person that would do anything for the people she loves. I adored her habit of writing things down in a notebook type thing. The voice in the writing, sarcastic and insightful, was also really well done.

I'm going to talk about the writing shortly because I really liked it. I don't know enough about writing to be too technical but there didn't seem to be any mistakes whatsoever. Everything flowed so very well and I got into the story and was swiping page quickly. Especially at the end- that was kind of crazy. There were a lot of great one timers and stuff. Only thing I'd maybe nitpick about is one of the references- I know it's impossible to keep to date on current pop culture references but if an author doesn't use the right reference it will date their book.

There really isn't much to complain about in this story. I got to read another story about witches, which is awesome. They're not done- there are still so many possibilities with all the cool stories they could have so I love reading about witchcraft. I liked Audrey's world- it fit the story and was original. There were some new concepts that I'd love to explore.

Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft is another novel meant to entertain and it does a pretty darn good job. It's funny, it made smile, and I was totally into it. Sometimes though, I would have liked if some characters were more defined and if the story went in more depth (i.e. Dallas, and the villain's motivation). I'm glad this is a series and the world will hopefully be explored more in the future.

If I can find the sequel, I definitely hope to read it. Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft is one of those books that's a pretty good package and solid in every aspect. I did try to include negative things in my review for the sake of balance, but there is no major or real issues. Overall, Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft is pretty great so I'm giving it 4 stars.

****

Review: The Talk-Funny Girl

Author: Roland Merullo

Pages: 320

Publisher: Crown

Source: Review Copy- thank you!

Synopsis: In one of the poorest parts of rural New Hampshire, teenage girls have been disappearing, snatched from back country roads, never to be seen alive again.  For seventeen-year-old Marjorie Richards, the fear raised by these abductions is the backdrop to what she lives with her own home, every day.  Marjorie has been raised by parents so intentionally isolated from normal society that they have developed their own dialect, a kind of mountain hybrid of English that displays both their ignorance of and disdain for the wider world.  Marjorie is tormented by her classmates, who call her “The Talk-funny girl,” but as the nearby factory town sinks deeper into economic ruin and as her parents fall more completely under the influence of a sadistic cult leader, her options for escape dwindle.  But then, thanks to a loving aunt, Marjorie is hired by a man, himself a victim of abuse, who is building what he calls “a cathedral,” right in the center of town. 

Day by day, Marjorie’s skills as a stoneworker increase, and so too does her intolerance for the bitter rules of her family life.  Gradually, through exposure to the world beyond her parents’ wood cabin thanks to the kindness of her aunt and her boss, and an almost superhuman determination, she discovers what is loveable within herself.  This newfound confidence and self-esteem ultimately allows her to break free from the bleak life she has known, to find love, to start a family, and to try to heal her old, deep wounds without passing that pain on to her husband and children.

By turns darkly menacing and bright with love and resilience, The Talk-Funny Girl is the story of one young woman’s remarkable courage, a kind of road map for the healing of early abuse, and a testament to the power of kindness and love. 

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The Talk-Funny Girl is the gritty story of a girl trying to find her place in the world. Marjorie has had so many obstacles holding her back, from her parents to a lack of money. She's still able to rise above everything and be better than even she thought she could be.

The story is contemporary and it shows the life of a reclusive country family. I thought the small town life felt realistic, but I've never lived in the country so I'm not sure how true that statement is. Nonetheless, this book had a certain realness to it that most books don't. Life wasn't shiny and pretty in The Talk-Funny Girl. Life was messy. There are so many little things in life that sometimes people choose to overlook because they're not pleasant. These tiny details were included in Roland Merullo's book.

This isn't a story for everyone. It's not a story written just to be entertaining, there's more to it than that. I started out only mildly interested, and my interest grew as the story progressed. There are awful stuff in this book. There was one scene near the middle that enraged me. The things done to Marjorie were not fair and just seeing the way her parents reacted... The most incredible thing in this story is that the author gets the reader to understand the main character. She has love for her family but what they do is so wrong. That's such an important part to the novel and I think it's so skillful.

The most impressive part of the story to me, as a reader, was how the author brought all the characters to life, especially Marjorie's abusive parents. There are so many subtleties to their characters- you want to believe that deep down they're good, especially since there are glimpses of it, but then they act in another manner and it's heart breaking. Marjorie deserves better- all parents should be better. The reader hopes for redemption, or even retribution, but what happens fits. When it comes to the characters in the story, a lot of them have been through awful things but it's the way they respond that makes them who they are. Some hide from the world; some try to ease their pain by making the people around them suffer; some give back in an effort to make the world better for someone else than it was for them. That was powerful.

Overall, the little things in The Talk-Funny Girl are what make the novel special. There is suffering, there is hope, and there's life. 4 stars,

****

Review: Waterfall

Author: Lisa T. Bergren

Pages: 369

Publisher: David C. Cook

Source: Library

Synopsis: Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives among the romantic hills with their archaelogist parents. Stuck among the rubble of the medieval castles in rural Tuscany, on yet another hot, dusty archaeological site, Gabi and Lia are bored out of their minds...until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy. And worse yet, in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces.

Suddenly Gabi's summer in Italy is much, much more interesting.

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Waterfall was one of those books that had it all and was executed perfectly. I've read so many reviews of people being surprised at how much they liked it. I'm one of them. Time travelling is generally something that doesn't always interest me as the storyline will be very similar in all stories but for Waterfall it worked.

I'd like to first say I love Gabi. Gabriella is strong, clever and loyal. I can sometimes get so annoyed with main characters throwing themselves at guys or general stupidity but Gabi was smart! She talked with the voice of a teen and I loved reading in her perspective. The way she adapted was impressive and I love reading about resourceful people.

I enjoyed most of the other characters. Fortino for example was a side character but well drawn out. I liked him a lot. The obvious mean girl would have been Lady Rossi so I was pleased when Lisa T. Bergen gave her more depth as a character.

Marcello the love interest was divine. You'll love Marcello. Sexy Italian, commanding, and a gentleman. His best friend, Luca, did garner my interests too. I was happy with that.

The setting... I thought it was great. I know about nothing about that era and I can't begin to remember the last book I read that took place in Italy. There were many differences from modern NA culture that were evident from speech to how women were treated. I do have to say that Gabi had a fair bit of fortune on her side. I'm not sure how historically accurate Waterfall is but I was having too much fun to care.

The plot was really good. There was always something happening and the story progressed at a good pace. I wasn't really ever bored. Waterfall had action, battles, blood, but there was romance and more day to dayish scenes. And of course there were many questions: Will Gabi ever find her way back at home? Will she ever see her family again? The ending was also well done. At one point there was an ending that I thought for a split, frenzied second that it was going to be a cliffhanger. But nope, I flipped the page and there was more.

Overall, I recommend this to many people. It's honestly just a solid story that will appeal to many for lots of different reasons. Romance, history, action, time travel, court life... All that and more can be found within these pages. 4 stars,

****

Review: Falling Under

Author: Gwen Hayes

Pages: 324

Publisher: New American Library

Source: Library

Synopsis: Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

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>
The beginning of Falling Under was pretty average and typical as far as a paranormal romance goes but the last parts blew me away. I need the next book!

Falling Under started out as a typical PNR with a few exceptions. Girl meets guy and instantly falls in love. Guy acts like a douche but she still thinks there's more to him. They fall in love. Guy warns girl to stay away because he's dangerous. Girl doesn't listen. The same formula didn't enthrall me. Don't worry though, it got better.

Till we get to that awesome part I'd like to mention the characters a bit. Theia was this repressed English girl living in the US. She was locked under the watchful eye of her father because her mother was dead. I actually liked Theia and her father's dynamic. They were quiet and had big issues they needed to overcome but they loved one another.

Theia's friends didn't annoy me. I honestly loved the dynamic between them. They were true friends and had distinct personalities that fit with each other. I could see them at my high school. Donny was loud but honest and I loved reading about her and Gabe (whom I'm totally crushing on). Ame was so sweet and I'm really curious how her storyline goes. That's the other thing I liked; the BFFs had their own lives and weren't inserted into the story just for Theia to talk to occasionally.

Haden... He was very hot and cold. He was very typical and called Theia a lamb a lot (which admittedly is kind of weird). But he was also so sweet when he wasn't being furiously evasive. Haden had his secrets and he was very good at keeping them. In the end I ended up really liking Haden. When he was less angst-y (totally justified though) he was great. Plus, Falling Under had the rare alternating perspectives when needed for the story thing so we got a peek into Haden's head. It helped me relate to him.

Now, after the frustrating task of finding out Haden's secret, the story became very interesting. The plot appealed to me a lot. There were some "OMG" moments and the story ended in the best way: leaving me wanting more. There was also a fair bit of awkwardness too, which is always great. Life is awkward and this book had me giggling at some of the moments. There wasn't too much action but that may change in the sequel. Falling Under had all the great makings of an awesome series and now that we're past the typical, set up part, I can't wait to see where this story goes.

The premise is great-- not overly done. The characters I like. The plot has potential. I'd say fans of the paranormal YA will enjoy this book if they stick with it. 4 stars,

****

Review: Rival

Author: Sara Bennett Wealer

Pages: 336

Publisher: HarperTeen

Source: Library

Synopsis: What if your worst enemy turned out to be the best friend you ever had?

Meet Brooke: Popular, powerful and hating every minute of it, she’s the “It” girl at Douglas High in Lake Champion, Minnesota. Her real ambition? Using her operatic mezzo as a ticket back to NYC, where her family lived before her dad ran off with an up and coming male movie star.

Now meet Kathryn: An overachieving soprano with an underachieving savings account, she’s been a leper ever since Brooke punched her at a party junior year. For Kath, music is the key to a much-needed college scholarship.

The stage is set for a high-stakes duet between the two seniors as they prepare for the prestigious Blackmore competition. Brooke and Kathryn work toward the Blackmore with eyes not just on first prize but on one another, each still stinging from a past that started with friendship and ended in betrayal. With competition day nearing, Brooke dreams of escaping the in-crowd for life as a professional singer, but her scheming BFF Chloe has other plans. And when Kathryn gets an unlikely invitation to Homecoming, she suspects Brooke of trying to sabotage her with one last public humiliation. 

As pressures mount, Brooke starts to sense that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had. But Kathryn has a decision to make. Can she forgive? Or are some rivalries for life?

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There's nothing like reading a great contemporary novel. Since blogging, contemporary has been one of the genres I've been reading more of as I hear about all the recommendations other bloggers have. With contemporary titles you can directly relate what happens in the story to your own life. It's an escape but a real one if that makes sense. Rival was a great example of it.

There were two perspectives in Rival: Brooke and Kathryn. They're enemies though you won't find out why until later on. They both have one important passion in common: music. They're both incredibly talented.

Brooke is honestly a very different kind of character. All she cares about is music. She hates being fake and isn't into the popularity thing. Of course, she is the most popular girl in school. Brooke doesn't care about it though except to use her influence when she needs it. She doesn't think she deserves to be that popular either, it's something about her. She fascinated me. I loved and hated Brooke. She had seemingly everything but she felt so lonely. She hurt Kathryn without even thinking it. She has her issues though, like how she feels like she's way too tall.

Kathryn is our Cinderella. She lives with her whole family and is embarrassed by her sweet dad and having her mom make her clothes. Kathryn needs money and unlike Brooke, has practically no friends with the exception of Matt, her geeky friend. Matt was stereotypical but there were some very cute moments with him. I wish we could have seen more. Kathryn herself had me rooting for her and rolling my eyes at her. I think this is exactly what Sara Bennett Wealer wanted.

At the end of the day, I can't pick which of the two girls I like better. Both of them I've hated and loved. Not one of them is better than the other. That's exactly how it should be and I'm pleased to feel that way.

What I liked most about Rivals were two things: the music, and the characters.

I'm not a huge music buff so most of the references didn't mean much to me but I loved that Brooke and Kathryn had something they both cared for so much. They knew about music the way some bloggers know books- intimately well. That was their passion and I loved reading of it. I think everyone should have something they care about like that- something that takes time and energy and work. It needs to be rewarding though and music was. I understood that.

The characters (and by this, I mean mostly Chloe) were very unique and memorable. Chloe was the popular girl's best friend. She was always trying to make sure Brooke "fulfilled her duties". Those were running homecoming campaigns, taking down anyone in Brooke's way and finding the next generation of popular people. She wasn't really a friend and acted fake all the time. It was so easy to hate Chloe but then you'd learn something about her that had you wondering. Chloe is the character who I consider needs the most help and I would love to read a book about her to get to know her better. It's rare that a side character leaves that kind of impression.

The plot itself wasn't the special part. As plots go, I'd say it was fairly good. The way it was done was the great part. If you haven't done so already, I recommend you check out Rival to see what you're missing. 4 stars,

****

Review: Demonglass

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Pages: 359

Publisher: Hyperion

Source: Library

Other Books in the Series: Hex Hall 

Synopsis: Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch. 

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

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Demonglass is one of those awesome books that are so much fun to read. It has some supernatural mayhem, a smexy love story and a funny protagonist. It also has a really dangerous plot that isn't overloaded with angst. I love it!

Honestly, it's been a long time since I read Hex Hall and I didn't remember it 100%. I remembered Sophie, Archer, Jenna, and the cover but it took some time before everything clicked again. This is not a fault of Rachel Hawkins but one of mine- that after reading 250 books ever year, I didn't really remember all the details of every single story (note- currently I read less than I have before so this statement is no longer valid). I had the pleasure of reacquainting myself with Sophie's world and Sophie herself.

Sophie: I love her. She's too funny; I literally laughed out loud at her sarcastic comments. She reminds me of Evie in Kiersten White's series (Paranormalcy). Both girls are kickass but don't have total warrior personality. They make jokes. It makes for delightful reading. At the same time, Sophie wasn't all sunshine and daisies. She did have to deal with issues and make important choices.

There is romance in this series. I was worried about a love triangle and those fears weren't unreasonable but Sophie knows who she wants. I'll let you read Demonglass to figure out who that is if you don't already know. Archer or Cal? I gotta say, there was great romantic tension. I was enjoying this romance a lot.

The plot does not disappoint. The revelations surprised me but I enjoyed them. I loved meeting Nick and Daisy and I want to read more about them. I had no trouble at all getting into the book and losing track of the outside world. It was a perfect escape!

One thing I would have enjoyed is, well, more. I can't really say more what though. I really do love Rachel Hawkins' series but there's something about it I can't explain that doesn't make it 5 stars for me. I love to read when I have the books but three months after reading an installment I don't think "Damn, I want to know what happens next!" unless I see some blogger with the newest ARC. It's not a series that will change my life or that I'll never ever forget. It is though, one of the most fun books to read and I enjoy these books while I can.

Are you still there after all that rambling? Sorry about that. Anyway, there's no other conclusion than to give this book 4 stars. Read this series if you love original, supernatural fun.

****

Review: Code Name Verity

Author: Elizabeth Wein

Pages: 339

Publisher: Doubleday

Source: Review copy- thank you

Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge

Synopsis: Two young women from totally different backgrounds are thrown together during World War II: one a working-class girl from Manchester, the other a Scottish aristocrat, one a pilot, the other a wireless operator. Yet whenever their paths cross, they complement each other perfectly and before long become devoted friends.

But then a vital mission goes wrong, and one of the friends has to bail out of a faulty plane over France. She is captured by the Gestapo and becomes a prisoner of war. The story begins in “Verity’s” own words, as she writes her account for her captors.

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Code Name Verity is one of those books that reminds me why I love to read. It's one of those hidden gems that readers are always searching for. It opens up a whole new world to the reader, and by the end of the story we feel like we know the characters so well they could be our friends.

The story takes place in Ormaie, France during the early stages of World War 2. A Scottish spy has been caught by the Gestapo and they are trying to glean information from her through any way possible. So the girl makes a deal. She has two weeks to write down everything she can remember about the Allies, their plans, and stuff about their aircrafts. Code Name Verity is her story of the events leading up to how she got caught. Moreso, it's a story of friendship.

Through her words, we get to know our main character very well. She is beautiful, strong and proud. She's also flawed in many ways- vain, temperamental. Her writing has so much voice that I couldn't help but keep reading. When the words stop, that will mean she has died. It's terrible to think about and the story isn't overly graphic but it is very dark with this threat lying in the background. She is a prisoner and it doesn't seem like she has any chance of getting rescued but as reader I couldn't help but hope for the best.

I said Code Name Verity is about friendship. In the poor girl's writing, we meet her best friend, Maddie. Maddie is a pilot and the two are a sensational duo. I enjoyed how they got to know each other despite their differences. Friendship isn't featured enough in YA so this was very refreshing for me.

The plot is very twisty. I can't reveal almost any details from the story because if I do, it will inevitably spoil some very important, powerful scene. I never knew where the story was going and there were some very shocking scenes. I stayed up very late to finish this book and it captured my attention very well. The only thing I didn't like about the book was that at some points, it felt a little long. Most of the length was necessary though, and I didn't realize why until later on. It's a book that is very easy to get into and also very memorable.

Ultimately, Code Name Verity is a unique view of World War 2 that shows how girls contributed to the war. Historically, it was very interesting learning of the technology back then and women's growing rights. It's not a very historical book though. The story is one of friendship and that is most definitely timeless. 4 stars,

****

Review: A Need So Beautiful

Author: Suzanne Young

Pages: 267

Publisher: Balzer & Bray

Source: Library

Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge

Synopsis: We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten...

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.

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A Need So Beautiful was so different from every other angel story out there. Yes, I know everyone says that but this time I'm 100% serious. For one, the girl is the angel. Second, she's a different kind of angel. Third, her story was so emotional for me.

The scariest thing I can imagine is being forgotten. I can't imagine losing myself and not existing. That's exactly what poor Charlotte has to go through as she will be Forgotten. That concept hit true. We met Charlotte's friends and family and ended up bonding and loving them just to end up with this dilemma.

I really liked the characters. Charlotte was such a cool character; all supportive and sweet without being a passive pushover. Her love for everyone in her life was genuine and I wasn't ever bored with her.

The side characters were just as good. Harlin was the perfect romantic interest. Finally we have a relationship that's been ongoing since before the book begins. A relationship that is healthy, I mean. He (like all the other side characters) is unique and has history. Sarah, Charlotte's best friend also called to me. She was damaged and hurt but impulsive and passionate. Her relationship with her dad and her search for the one really made me sympathize with her though the story wasn't that long.

I actually read this book in one sitting. The story was on the short side but still very satisfying. Except for the ending. Watch out for that curveball! After the last page, I'm left having absolutely no idea what could possible happen next. (Side note- I've read what happens next, and that's pretty good too!)

The plot itself was more emotional than action packed. It was about Charlotte making a choice and discovering who she was. I thought as a plot it was solid- not overly enthralling, but calm and evenly done. Enough action to keep you interested, but not too much. This kept me flipping pages but I can't say this was the most suspenseful book I've ever read.

What really distinguishes this book is the overall tone of the mythology. Honestly, there isn't too much angel lore thrown in. I think that it's possible for someone who doesn't read about the supernatural to enjoy A Need So Beautiful. I'm sure the mythology will grow but I felt less like I was reading a paranormal than I was reading a contemporary. Which to me, isn't really bad or good but to someone else that may be a selling point. What was there was thought provoking and I had many questions.

A Need So Beautiful is a promising start to what I think will be a great series. I really liked this book and thought it was exactly what I needed. 4 stars,

****