April's review of 'The Haunted' by Jessica Verday

The Haunted (The Hollow #2) by Jessica Verday
Publication Date: August 31, 2010 
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Number of Pages: 467
Format: Hardcover 
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Description:  An impossible truth. An impossible love.

After months spent reclaiming her sanity and trying to forget the boy she fell in love with - the boy who must not exist, cannot exist, because she knows that he is dead - Abbey returns to Sleepy Hollow, ready to leave the ghosts of her past behind. She throws herself into her schoolwork, her perfume making, and her friendship with Ben, her cute and funny lab partner, who just might be her ticket to getting over Caspian once and for all.

But Abbey can never get over Caspian, and Caspian has no choice but to return to her side, for Caspian is a Shade, and Abbey is his destiny. They are tied not only to each other, but also to the town of Sleepy Hollow and to the famous legend that binds their fates - a legend whose dark truths they are only beginning to guess...

I wasn't impress anymore than I was impress with the first book. Even though I'm not familiar with the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, I love how the series connects to it. I just couldn't really connect to Abbey. I tried I really did. And I can't even really ship Abbey and Caspian. Even though I did started to like them better towards the end of this book. Though I did start to like them, I don't understand. Yes you can't help who you love, but he is a ghost. What kind of future does Abbey think she can have with him?  I do wish Abbey and Ben would of got together.

I thought this book was pretty much boring. I kept reading so to get through the book. It wasn't till the end of the book that things got interesting. We finally learned who killed Kristen, and honestly I'm still a little disappointed in that. I thought there would be more to it. And we got to see some of Caspian's childhood. Even though we know he died in a car wreck, I still want to know what exactly happen. 

I have an issue with timing. You're reading one scene and she ends it with a thought, and next thing you know it's weeks later. It just didn't flow right with me. I'll read the last book just to see how everything plays out. 

Rating: 3/5 

 

Jen's review of 'Burn Bright' by Marianne de Pierres

Burn Bright (Night Creatures #1) by Marianne de Pierres

Publication date: March 1st, 2011

Publisher: Random House Australia

Number of pages: 316

Format: Paperback

Add to Goodreads

Description: Into a world of wild secrets and deadly pleasures comes a girl whose innocence may be her greatest strength. 

In Ixion music and party are our only beliefs. Darkness is our comfort. We have few rules but they are absolute . . .

Retra doesn’t want to go to Ixion, the island of ever-night, ever-youth and never-sleep. Retra is a Seal – sealed minds, sealed community. She doesn’t crave parties and pleasure, experience and freedom.

But her brother Joel left for Ixion two years ago, and Retra is determined to find him. Braving the intense pain of her obedience strip to escape the only home she’s ever known, Retra stows away on the barge that will take her to her brother.

When she can’t find Joel, Retra finds herself drawn deeper into the intoxicating world of Ixion. Come to me, whispers a voice in her head. Who are the Ripers, the mysterious guardians of Ixion? What are the Night Creatures Retra can see in the shadows? And what happens to those who grow too old for Ixion?

Retra will find that Ixion has its pleasures, but its secrets are deadly. Will friendship, and the creation of an eternal bond with a Riper, be enough to save her from the darkness?

Listen well, baby bats. Burn bright, but do not stray from the paths. Remember, when you live in a place of darkness you also live with creatures of the dark.t

My thoughts -- I can't believe I took this long to read this book. I remember starting the book last year, but then put it down for some reason and hadn't had the chance to read it again since.

 And when I recently decided to pick this up again, I was so glad that I did.

The story takes place in the future. I am not sure when... as I'm not sure it says, but the world is different and  is separated into different areas. Where Retra lives, it's more like a compound where you are pretty much enclosed in like a community, but she especially gets monitored after her brother left her all alone. When he escaped to a 'fun' and carefree place called Ixion.

We follow Retra as she goes on a journey to somewhere she has only heard about but never been, in search of her brother. But when Retra does arrive, so soon realizes that not everything is as she thought it would be. It'll change her whole perspective forever, and she might never want to leave.

We see a sort of triangle... in a way. Retra likes a guy, who doesn't seem to share her affections, and then we have this other guy from Ixion who seems to be obsessed with her. he also protects her from the others who might want to cause her harm.
Its not your traditional triangle.

This book was quite different.  It was full of mystery and raw emotion. Of family loyalty and new friendship. It was about one girl discovering a new lease on life that she never thought she had before.

I didn't realize this author was Australian until I read that she was, nor did I know was this only available here in Australia. I do hope the US and other places manages to get this release at some point, as I can see this is the kind of book that would do well overseas, especially given the genre.


I look forward to reading the next book in this trilogy. I have heard many good things about it.

Rating:  4 out of 5

Jen's review of "Until I Die" by Amy Plum

Until I Die (Revenants #2) by Amy Plum

Publication date: May 8th, 2012

Publisher: HarperCollins

Number of pages: 358

Format: Paperback

Add to Goodreads

Description: I wish there was only today, just right now, and no forever.

It seems fitting that I fell in love in Paris, the most beautiful city in the world. And if I pretend, I can almost believe that my life is normal and everyone I care about is safe.

But as long as I’m with Vincent, “normal” doesn’t exist. Gorgeous, charming, and witty, he’s everything you could ask for in a boyfriend—but his destiny is so much more.

Even more terrifying than his destiny are his dangerous enemies, enemies who will kill for immortality. How are Vincent and I supposed to be together forever if we’re always in danger?

I know I’ll do whatever it takes—even if it means lying to the people I love—to fight against a fate that is trying to tear us apart.

Until I Die, is the exhilarating and explosive sequel that we have been waiting for. Ever since the end of Die for Me, I know I have been anticipating on what will happen next for our favourite characters, Kate, Vincent and his family. 

One might think that what Kate and Vincent have has come quickly, but in a world like theirs, the bond and connection they have with one another is unique and really are each other's perfect other half.
There really is nobody else that will be able to understand them like each other. Their love just goes from strength to strength. 

Jules, is one of my favourite character. He loves to flirt and a playboy, but Kate doesn't take it seriously because they both know it means nothing just a bit of harmful fun.

Kate has been through so much, with losing her parents, and then having to battle all sorts of things since she arrived in Paris, but two things has kept her sane. Her sister, and Vincent. Without them she probably wouldn't be who she is today.

Vincent has made her a promise that isn't easy keeping, so Kate goes on a mission to find find a way for him to keep it and to help him in the process, but this journey isn't an easy one... and the consequences...  might be deadly.

I have been to Paris myself, but I didn't have the impression that Kate does of the city. I found a new perspective through her eyes than I did with me, and gave me a new way of seeing it.
I love the way she describes her life she has there. Its breathtaking and enchanting. I wouldn't mind going again someday with this new knowledge.

Die for Me was honest and full of life. Until I Die is beautiful and honest. I can't wait to see what the next book brings.
If you loved the first book... be sure to pick this one up, if you haven't done so yet.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Jen's review of "The Girl in the Clockwork Collar" by Kady Cross

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles #2) by Kady Cross

Publication date: June 1st, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Number of pages: 416

Format: Paperback

Add to Goodreads

Description: Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade—the dangerous device Jasper stole from him…for the life of the girl Jasper loves.

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.

From the rough streets of lower Manhattan to elegant Fifth Avenue, the motley crew of teens with supernatural abilities is on Jasper's elusive trail. And they're about to discover how far they'll go for friendship.

More than ever, Finley Jayne will rely on powerful English duke Griffin King to balance her dark magic with her good side. Yet Griffin is at war with himself over his secret attraction to Finley…and will risk his life and reputation to save her. Sam, more machine than man, finds his moody heart tested by Irish lass Emily—whose own special abilities are no match for the darkness she discovers on the streets.

Now, to help those she's come to care for so deeply, Finley Jayne must infiltrate a criminal gang. Only problem is, she might like the dark side a little too much….

In the sequel to 'The Girl in the Steel Corset', Finley and the gang find their way heading toward New York City to help out their friend, Jasper who has been arrested for something he may or may not have done. 

Upon arriving, they soon discover that not everything as it seems, and nor are the people. Each one of them will have to navigate their way around the city to try discover the real truth of what went down and find a way to free their friend from this mess he has found himself in.

Meanwhile, Griffin and Finley's relationship takes an interesting turn, as they try to work out just how they feel about one another.
I have loved these two ever since she ran into him at their first meeting in the first book of this series. I knew, I was definitely Team Griffin back then, and I never swayed.
There is this push and pull factor with them. Either they don't think they are good enough for the other, or some other reason, so I was glad there was definite progress made in this book. I can't wait to see where things go next from here on out.

Sam and Emily also have an interesting relationship. She is into him. He is into her, but neither has had the guts to tell the other. Sam thinks he is into Jasper, and Emily just won't acknowledge her feelings enough to tell him.
It was nice to see some progress for these two as well, even if they are side characters. They are important ones.

Last but not least, Jasper learns some valuable lessons in this book, as he finally understands where his true friends life, the truth about his past .. along with some shocking deceptions that he won't see coming.
But by the end, I feel he is better for the things he discovers and knows, which will help him in the long run.

A great sequel, and I can't wait to see what is next.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Jen & April' review of "Blue Bloods" by Melissa de la Cruz

Blue Bloods (Blue Bloods #1) by Melissa de la Cruz

Publication date: April 25th, 2006

Publisher: Hyperion

Number of pages: 302

Format: Hardcover

Description: When the Mayflower set sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires.The vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue bloods of American society.

The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapated mansion. Schuyler is a loner...and happy that way. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times. Then a popular girl from her school is found dead... drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to think, but she wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger?

Jen's review --

I have read this series many times, but each time I always find something I didn't know and brings a whole new perspective to the story.

I really loved the whole history of the Mayflower and the settlement, along with the mixture between angels and vampires. Melissa gives a whole new meaning to this genre and it's one of the reasons why this series is one of my favourite in the vampire genre.

We have three different girls from different background. Schuyler, Mimi and Bliss. They find themselves thrown together, and not always in the best way possible.

When Schuyler discovers that she is a blue blood, or at least half of one, she finds herself deep within a tragic and mysterious world she never thought possible.

Finding herself falling for a boy who is meant for someone else sure doesn't help matters either. With a deep lore of mythology, forbidden love and mystery to boot, this is a book you would love if you are into vampires, and even angels. A bit of both worlds and you can't go wrong.

With each chapter a different POV from each girl, we find ourselves into their thoughts and worlds as they discover new things, and dig into relationships and also finding rivals in each other.

I really loved the beginning of Jack and Sky's relationship in this book. It wasn't something that was OUT THERE, but it was subtle bits, but with some substantial things that will make you soon.

Mimi is someone who I love to hate. In this book, a little more hate then love, LOL But I do understand where she is coming from.

Bliss is someone who I adore. A girl moving from one place to another and trying to fit in, it's only natural she would want to impress the girl who could make you or break you in a school that is pretty much run by popularity.

There are boys of course. Romances along the way, and a series long mystery that involves the Silver Bloods, a creation that should not exist and are wrecking havoc amongst the Blue Bloods. 

                                                                           

April's review -

No matter how many times I read this series, it never disappoints me. It takes a very original and refreshing twist on vampires, mixing angels and vampires together.  The vampires or Blue Bloods are essentially the fallen angels cast out of heaven.  And then there’s the whole twist on the Lost Colony of Roanoke and Croatan. I’ve always been interested in it, and really do love the twist Cruz puts on it.

And of course with being YA it has to follow some predictable plot points; Sky and Oliver being outcasts and of course Sky being involved with the popular guy Jack Force. I did love how you can tell Sky and Jack are infatuated with each other, but don’t actually fall in love in this book. Sometimes I really hate how it seems like the next minute the person is in love. Even though I do love Sky and Jack, I think it’s kind of weird that he used to pursue Sky’s mom.  I couldn’t stand Mimi. Wait scratch that. It’s more of a love to hate her kind of thing. Very spoiled and selfish. At first glance it would seem like Bliss would be exactly like her, but pull away from Mimi’s clutches and befriends Oliver and Sky.

Just when you think you figured everything out there’s another small twist. The book keeps you on your toes and very hard to put down.  Instead of Sky being close to solving the mystery behind the Silver Bloods, the story is just only beginning.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Teaser Tuesday 08

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Want to play along?

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share 2 "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include spoilers
• Share the title and author

Keeping with last week's theme, this week's teaser comes from Melissa de la Cruz Blue Bloods.

"It was her original sacrifice. He only followed out of his love for her. He gave up Paradise to be with her." 

 

April's review of 'Hallowed' by Cynthia Hand

Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand
Publication Date: Jan 17, 2012
Publisher: Harper Teen
Number of Pages: 403
Format: Hardback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Description:  For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

I love reading books in series back to back. You pick up a lot from the first book. That being said, the person who died I saw the signs in the first book. But it doesn't make it less devastating. I didn't enjoy this as much as the first book, mainly because Clara and Tucker are drifting apart which makes my heart break. But at the same time it doesn't put me on Team Christian. I really though Christian was being an ass in the book when it came to Clara. He knew how she feels about Tucker and should of just left those feelings alone for the time being. 

Angela is still a little bit of mystery. Even though I get a kind of a bad vibe from her. She's a little too obsessed with the Black Wings. And her mysterious boyfriend from Italy. I have a feeling that he might be a Black Wing. And we finally get to meet Clara's dad, and everything seems to fall in place and start to make a little sense.

In the end we find out what Jeff's purpose is/was. And it's a twist. I'm still trying to work out in my head why they would want him to do that. It makes no sense. 

I can't wait for the last book to come out. There's so much that needs to be resolved. And I'm hoping/praying that Clara ends with Tuckers. 

Rating: 4/5 

 

April's review of 'Unearthly' by Cynthia Hand

Unearthly (Unearthly #1) by Cynthia Hand

Publication Date: Jan 4, 2011

Publisher: Harper Teen

Number of Pages: 435

Format: Hardback

Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Description:  In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

I was a little weary about the book at first. It went very slow and at the first the writing almost seemed childish. I soon got over that. I ended up loving it. Switching schools can't be easy for any teen. But when a dye job goes wrong and Clara's hair turns out an orange color is going to make it much harder. Sticking to typical YA genre it doesn't take long for Clara to fall for Christian. I was wary about this pairing to begin with. I felt like I should ship them, but my heart was never in it. 

It didn't take long for me to fall in love with Tucker. Maybe it's the whole country boy appeal. While Clara was falling in love with him, I fell in love with them. There's nothing like first love romance, especially when it happens during the summer. When school goes back Clara has a hard time refocusing on her purpose. Her mom isn't all too please with her relationship with Tucker. But when it comes to fulfilling her purpose, Clara is faced with the ultimate decision, should she follow her destiny or follow her heart? 

Forbidden love, dangerous fallen angels, friendship, family, destiny. This book is mixed with it all. 

                                                                        Rating: 4/5

 

April's review of 'Serpent's Kiss' by Melissa de la Cruz

Serpent's Kiss (The Beauchamp Family #2) by Melissa de la Cruz
Publication Date: June 12, 2012
Publisher: Hyperion
Number of Pages: 321
Format: Hardback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Description:  The intriguing Beauchamp family, introduced in the New York Times bestselling Witches of East End, returns in Serpent's Kiss, with dizzying plot twists and spellbinding magic.
Joanna and her daughters, bookish Ingrid and wild-child Freya, are just settling into the newfound peace that has been cast over their small, off-the map town of North Hampton. With the centuries-old restriction against practicing magic lifted, casting spells, mixing potions, and curing troubled souls has never felt so good for the three witches. That is, until everything gets turned upside down--from Joanna's organized kitchen to Ingrid's previously nonexistent love life to Freya's once unshakeable faith in her sexy soul mate, Killian Gardiner.
When Freya's twin brother, Freddie, suddenly returns, escaped from Limbo and professing innocence on a long-ago crime, Freya should be ecstatic. The golden boy can do no wrong. Or can he? Freddie blames no other than her fiance Killian for his downfall, and enlists Freya's help to prove it. Now Freya doesn't know who to believe or trust.
And for the first time in--well, forever, really--Ingrid is also busy in love. Matt Noble, the handsome and charming police detective, has won her heart. But can romance work between a virgin witch and a mortal who doesn't believe in magic? Things get even more complicated when it appears Ingrid is harboring the prime suspects in Matt's police investigation.
To add to the chaos, a dead spirit is attempting to make contact with Joanna--but does it mean to bring harm or help? Joanna asks her sort-of ex-husband Norman to help figure it out, only to accidentally invite him to a Thanksgiving dinner with a dapper gentleman she's recently begun dating.
As the witches pull together to discover the serpent within their midst and the culprit behind Freddie's imprisonment, everything is thrown into peril. Will the discovery come too late to save those they love most?
Melissa de la Cruz weaves all this and more in a blockbuster sequel that is not to be missed by her fans, and one that is sure to enchant new readers of the series.
Praise for the Witches of East End series
"Move over, zombies, vampires, and werewolves, and make way for witches a juicy new franchise."--Entertainment Weekly "A bubbling cauldron of mystery and romance."--People "A magical and romantic page-turner."--Washington Post " De la Cruz] lets her repressed sorceresses rip."--New York Times "This tale of powerful women mixes mystery, a battle of good versus evil and a dash of Norse mythology into a page-turning parable of inner strength."--Self " I]ntrigue, mystery, and plenty of romance."--MTV.com "Casts a spell."--Los Angeles Times

The Beauchamp women are back, and while they think that everything is finally going perfect they couldn't of been more wrong. Freya is torn between her soul mate and her twin brother. Ingrid has discovered that dating a mortal, especially one that doesn't believe in magic, is more complicated than ever. And after years of being perfectly content, Joanna suddenly have two men in her life. 

I'm sad that we didn't get to see much interaction with Tyler. it was one of my favorite things from the first book. And I was kind of disappointed in Freddie, Freya's twin. He seemed more like a self center, selfish, prince.  

I really did fall in love with Ingrid and Matt and there was times when I wanted to slap both of them on how they both were acting. In the end I'm glad they had worked things out. While Freya is keeping her brother a secret, she's trying to prove the love of her life is innocent. But of course what kind of book would it be without casting doubt? There were plenty of times when I thought he was guilty, or even that Freddie was trying to set Killian up. When things get resolved everything kind of goes back to the first book. 

At the end, not only do they have a big problem to figure out how to deal with, but Freya has been yank back into time. And not just any time period, but probably the most dangerous time period for her to be in. I can not wait for the final book in this trilogy.

Rating: 4/5 

 

April's review of 'Witches of East End' by Melissa de la Cruz

Witches of East End (The Beauchamp Family #1) by Melissa de la Cruz
Publication Date: June 21, 2011
Publisher: Hyperion
Number of Pages: 272
Format:Hardback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Description:  From the author of the highly addictive and bestselling Blue Bloods series, with almost 3 million copies sold, comes a new novel, Melissa de la Cruz's first for adults, featuring a family of formidable and beguiling witches.

The three Beauchamp women--Joanna and her daughters Freya and Ingrid--live in North Hampton, out on the tip of Long Island. Their beautiful, mist-shrouded town seems almost stuck in time, and all three women lead seemingly quiet, uneventful existences. But they are harboring a mighty secret--they are powerful witches banned from using their magic. Joanna can resurrect people from the dead and heal the most serious of injuries. Ingrid, her bookish daughter, has the ability to predict the future and weave knots that can solve anything from infertility to infidelity. And finally, there's Freya, the wild child, who has a charm or a potion that can cure most any heartache.

For centuries, all three women have been forced to suppress their abilities. But then Freya, who is about to get married to the wealthy and mysterious Bran Gardiner, finds that her increasingly complicated romantic life makes it more difficult than ever to hide her secret. Soon Ingrid and Joanna confront similar dilemmas, and the Beauchamp women realize they can no longer conceal their true selves. They unearth their wands from the attic, dust off their broomsticks, and begin casting spells on the townspeople. It all seems like a bit of good-natured, innocent magic, but then mysterious, violent attacks begin to plague the town. When a young girl disappears over the Fourth of July weekend, they realize it's time to uncover who and what dark forces are working against them.

With a brand-new cast of characters, a fascinating and fresh world to discover, and a few surprise appearances from some of the Blue Blood fan favorites, this is a page-turning, deliciously fun, magical summer read fraught with love affairs, witchcraft, and an unforgettable battle between good and evil.

A very short and fast read. Although the story doesn't get that interesting until half way through the book. I was unsure of the book at first, but when I was through end up loving it. Those that are fans of Cruz's Blue Bloods series would enjoy to find that Mimi and Oliver makes a small appearance in the story looking for information. 

Each of the Beauchamp women find themselves facing their own problems. Joanna finds herself "adapting" her cleaning lady's little boy as her own, seeing how her own boy is lost to her forever. Freya finds herself in her own love triangle, even though she's in love with her fiance, she can't seem to stay away from his brother.  Ingrid fights to keep her beloved library open, while one of her co workers dates a detective that Ingrids keeps telling herself she's not attractive to. 

It's not too long before it seems like it's the Salem Witch Trials all over again. I loved all the references to that time period. The ending took me by even more of a surprise. When all the Norse mythology comes into play it's kind of hard to keep up, but it's not too bad.  And of course what kind of good book doesn't leave off with a cliffhanger? If you like a little magic, mystery, and summer romance than you should check this book out. 

Rating: 4/5