E-ARC Review ~ Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Lies Beneath by Anne Greewood Brown

Book Stats:

Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal/PNR/Urban Fantasy
Format Reviewed: E-Galley
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: June 12, 2012

Series: Lies Beneath #1

Source: Netgalley

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistible good looks and charm on unsuspecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.

What I liked?: I really enjoyed how well written this book was. Being that I have never read a book about mermaids before I was instantly sucked into the story and had to keep reading until I got to the last page.  The overall plot of this book is something that really kept me interested in the story through to the end. I really enjoyed our main character Calder, he was one of those guys who follows his instincts rather than conforming to what everyone else is doing, which doesn't make him popular with his sisters.  Lily was a very like able character and I got a little bit of a "James Dean" feel for her overall.  No Insta-Love here peeps!

What I disliked?: Nothing really all that terrible but there were times where I felt that the relationship between Calder and Lily had a bit of a stalkerish feel to it.  This is the main reason this book wasn't rated higher.

Overall Impression: I was beyond impressed with my first ever mermaid book.  I will definitely be buying a finished copy when they are available to the public.

Rating: Break the Bank!

Recommendation: ?Why I read this book?: I saw the cover for this book on a blog that I frequent and thought that it looked really pretty.  I've never read a book about mermaids before and I really wanted to check it out.  Thank you Netgalley for approving my request!

Iron Crossed (Mercy Thompson #3) by Patricia Briggs

Iron Crossed by Patricia Briggs

Book Stats:

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy/PNR/Fantasy
Format Reviewed: Mass Market Paperback, 287 pages
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: January 2, 2008

Series: Mercy Thompson #3

Source: paperbackswap.com

I could smell her fear, and it satisfied something deep inside me that had been writhing under her cool, superior gaze. I curled my upper lip so she could get a good look at my sharp teeth. I might only weigh thirty or so pounds in my coyote shape, but I was a predator...
Mechanic Mercy Thompson can shift her shape - but not her loyalty. When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it's up to Mercy to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not.

Mercy's loyalty is under pressure from other directions, too. Werewolves are not known for their patience, and if Mercy can't decide between the two she cares for, Sam and Adam may make the choice for her...

Why I read this book?: I've read the last two books in this series back to back, which is an extremely rare occurrence, and I really wanted to keep up with what's going on in Mercy's life so I just kept going.  I think I'm going to keep going until I run out of books:) 2013 you can't get here fast enough!

What I liked?: As usual, Mercy!  She's got this almost obnoxious sense of loyalty and when Zee gets into deep trouble she just jumps in with both feet to clear his name. That is also the point when shit hits the fan as well.  I really liked that in this book Mercy finally chose between Adam and Samuel. I really liked that in this book we learn more about the fae and their folklore, there were some pretty interesting stories that were mentioned in this book. The action and suspense were right up there with the last two books and I really liked how we were introduced to Adam's "vengeful" side and more of the pack behaviors. Like in the first book, the bad guy wasn't obvious until the very end and I was really surprised to see that Mercy was wrong about her suspicions.

What I disliked?: This book started off slower than I really liked.  It took a fair amount of reading and setting the book down before I got to the point that things started happening and the book grabbed my attention.  I also disliked that new characters and plot points were brought into the book but once introduced where never really expanded upon.  Maybe they make appearances in upcoming books but I would have liked to see a little more detail.

Overall Impression: This book is considerably more gritty than the last two books.  Even though it isn't my favorite in the series I think it's still a really good installment and I'm off to start Bone Crossed!

Rating: Wait Until Payday!

Recommendation: I recommend this series to anyone who loves a tough as nails heroine in their reading material.

Like This, Love That (Strong Female Heroines):  The Hollows series by Kim Harrison, Beka Cooper series by Tamora Pierce, Fever series by Karen Marie Moning

Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson #2) by Patricia Briggs

Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs

Book Stats:

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy/PNR/Fantasy
Format Reviewed: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: January 30, 2007

Series: Mercy Thompson #2

Source: paperbackswap.com

Under the rule of science, there are no witch burnings allowed, no water trials or public lynchings. In return, the average law-abiding, solid citizen has little to worry about from the things that go bump in the night. Sometimes I wish I was an average citizen...
Mechanic Mercy Thompson has friends in low places-and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since she can shapeshift at will, she agrees to act as some extra muscle when her vampire friend Stefan goes to deliver a message to another of his kind.

But this new vampire is hardly ordinary-and neither is the demon inside of him.

Why I read this book?: I just recently read the first book in this series, Moon Called, and enjoyed it so much I immediately picked up the second book.  Which is pretty amazing considering usually I have to read something different in between books in a series.

What I liked?: As always, Mercy Thompson is my heroine!  What I really loved about her in this book is that she took her "devil may care" attitude and used it to kick even MORE ass in this book than she did in the first book. She's so "real" even though she is a shapeshifter.  I feel I could be friends with her, if she existed in real life. In the first book the bad guys were bad but in this book the bad guy(s) were even badder than that!  The action is fast-paced and the mystery is great too.  Usually, I'm lukewarm on love triangles but I think in the case of this series it works really well.  Though I'm growing increasingly lukewarm on Samuel.  But at the same time I'm growing more in "book boyfriend lust" with Adam.  I really like the road that Stefan is traveling down, storyline wise...I can hardly wait to see how it/if it plays out.  A lot of the secondary characters are starting to grow on me, even Ben...maybe he isn't so bad after all.

What I disliked?: I'm really starting to dislike the whole vampire seethe, with the exception of Stefan of course.  Other than that I really don't have much in the way of negatives for this book.

Overall Impression: I might just have to come up with a whole new rating for series/books like this!  LOVE this series so much I'm going to go grab book three off of my shelf as soon as I post this review.

Rating:  Hand over the Paycheck!

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a kick ass heroine who isn't afraid to get into harms way for the "people" that she cares about.

Like this, Love that: Charlie Madigan series by Kelly Gay, Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost

Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1) by Patricia Briggs

Werewolves can be dangerous if you get in their way, but they'll leave you alone if you are careful. They are very good at hiding their natures from the human population, but I'm not human. I know them when I meet them, and they know me, too.
Mercy Thompson's sexy next-door neighbor is a werewolf.

She's tinkering with a VW bus at her mechanic shop that happens to belong to a vampire.

But then, Mercy Thompson is not exactly normal herself ... and her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

Book Stats:

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Fantasy/PNR/Paranormal
Format Reviewed: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: January 31, 2006

Series: Mercy Thompson #1

Source: paperbackswap.com

Why I read this book?: I've had this book sitting on my bookcase waiting to be read FOREVER!  I finally got around to it and I completely DEVOURED it.

What I liked?: Mercy herself is now an addition to my "favorite heroine" list.   She's a walker, who shifts into a coyote.  She was raised for the most part by a werewolf pack from Montana which explains why she knows so much about werewolves.  I also LOVED Adam, he's the Alpha who has a "thing" for Mercy and routinely threatens to eat her cat.  Then craziness runs rampant and bad things happen to good people/werewolves.  I also loved the host of secondary characters that made this book chock full of AWESOME!  My personal favorite was Warren, you'll have to check out this book to learn more about Warren.  Even with all the high pressure situations that all the characters kept finding themselves in there was plenty of humor.  I was very pleasantly surprised at how fast paced this book was.  I really didn't want to put it down at all.  It sucks when real life gets in the way of my reading!

What I disliked?: I got nothing!

Overall Impression: I am kicking myself that I have waited as long as I have to read this series!  It is full of AWESOME!

Favorite Quotes:

“A werewolf tossed me against a giant packing crate while I was trying to rescue a frightened young girl who'd been kidnapped by an evil witch and a drug lord.”

“MS. THOMPSON, it said in heavy block letters, PLEASE KEEP YOUR FELINE OFF MY PROPERTY. IF I SEE IT AGAIN, I WILL EAT IT.”

“I don't like it when I outweigh my men.”

Rating: Hand Over The Paycheck!

A Brush of Darkness by Allison Pang

A Brush of Darkness by Allison Pang

Book Stats:

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format Reviewed: E-Book
Publisher: Pocket Books
Release Date: January 25, 2011

Series: Abby Sinclair #1

Source: Personal Purchase



The man of her dreams might be the cause of her nightmares.

Six months ago, Abby Sinclair was struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Now, she has an enchanted iPod, a miniature unicorn living in her underwear drawer, and a magical marketplace to manage. But despite her growing knowledge of the OtherWorld, Abby isn’t at all prepared for Brystion, the dark, mysterious, and sexy-as- sin incubus searching for his sister, convinced Abby has the key to the succubus’s whereabouts. Abby has enough problems without having this seductive shape-shifter literally invade her dreams to get information. But when her Faery boss and some of her friends vanish, as well, Abby and Brystion must form an uneasy alliance. As she is sucked deeper and deeper into this perilous world of faeries, angels, and daemons, Abby realizes her life is in as much danger as her heart—and there’s no one she can trust to save her.


Why I read this book?: I saw a review for this book on Mindful Musings and decided that it was something that I wanted to try.

What I liked?: Abby Sinclair!  She's just full of awesome as well as piss and vinegar.  Abby is the TouchStone to the Protectorate and is suddenly put in charge when Moria, the Protectorate, goes missing.  I also enjoyed all the mystery that was included in the book.  When Moria goes missing more disappearances are brought to light AND THAT is when things get a little crazy. Oh and let's not forget all the humor that is through out this book as well.  I really enjoyed the host of secondary characters as well.  Especially Phineas, the horny little unicorn.

What I disliked?: I didn't really care for Brystion.  I don't know what it was exactly about him that I didn't like but it definitely had an impact on my overall feel for the book.  As a result of me not really liking Brystion, I really did "feel" the romance between Abby and Brystion.  I also didn't care for how Moria really let Abby down. I didn't really like how certain characters in the book treated Abby at the beginning of the book and then had a complete turn about at the end either.

Overall Impression:  I really enjoyed this book.  It's chock full of humor and mystery.  This book from what I can tell is classified as a Paranormal Romance but to me it read more like an Urban Fantasy.  It just didn't read like a PNR, if that makes sense at all.

Rating: Wait Until Payday!

Recommendation: The Better Part of Darkness (Charlie Madigan #1) by Kelly Gay

Steel by Carrie Vaughn

Title:  Steel
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Genre: YA/Time Travel

Sixteen-year-old Jill has fought in dozens of fencing tournaments, but she has never held a sharpened blade. When she finds a corroded sword piece on a Caribbean beach, she is instantly intrigued and pockets it as her own personal treasure.

The broken tip holds secrets, though, and it transports Jill through time to the deck of a pirate ship. Stranded in the past and surrounded by strangers, she is forced to sign on as crew. But a pirate's life is bloody and brief, and as Jill learns about the dark magic that brought her there, she forms a desperate scheme to get home—one that risks everything in a duel to the death with a villainous pirate captain.

Time travel, swordplay, and romance combine in an original high-seas adventure from New York Times bestseller Carrie Vaughn.

Review:

I saw this book one day when I was looking on the Barnes and Noble web page and thought that the premise was good enough to add it to my shopping cart.  After checking out it's page on Goodreads I found that Steel got mixed reviews.  A lot of 3 and 4 star ratings.

I thought that the idea behind the story was right up my alley...mainly because it was a new-to-me idea.  I think reading Steel helped me get into the proper frame of mind for the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie that came out last weekend.

I thought Jill overall was a like able character, though in the beginning she was a little bit to "woe is me" for me personally.  There is being dedicated to your sport then there is addicted.  I think that at the beginning of the book she was leaning closer to addicted....To the point of NOT being able to enjoy a family vacation a MONTH after her last match.  Which leads up to Jill being transported back to the 18th century and becoming a member of the crew on the pirate ship Diana.  The more time that Jill spends on the Diana the more she's able to not only conquer her own issues she's also able to help the crew with some of their own problems.  When Jill is finally transported back to her own time she takes the lessons that she has learned on the Diana with her to use in her life from that point on.  Plus, there is a REALLY COOL "souvenir" too.

The pirate portion of the book was my favorite part of the book, meaning I'm not really a fan of the beginning but it got much better.  There was a TON of action.  The captain of the Diana was a WOMAN and I learned a TON.  Did you know that pirate ships are where the first forms of democracy were formed?  The main positions (captain, quartermaster, first mate, etc.) were all voted on.  Each ship has it's own rules which are known as in Steel the "articles."  Also, I really enjoyed that Carrie Vaughn brought actual pirates out of the history books and put them in her book.

The only part I had a slight misgiving with was the "romance."  There were plenty of hints at it but there was only 1 real kiss in the whole book.

Overall, I would recommend this book if you are looking for a fun, quick read, or a slight departure from what you've been reading recently.

Rating: Wait for Payday

Review ~ Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

Title: Darkness Becomes Her
Author: Kelly Keaton
Series: God's and Monsters #1
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal/Mythology/Urban Fantasy
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Format Reviewed: Paperback
Source: Purchased at Barnes and Noble

Ari has always been a little strange. She has long, thick, silver hair that remains unchanged no matter how much she cuts or dyes it. She has teal eyes that lure people in. And growing up with bounty hunting foster parents has taught her how to kick some serious butt. When she learns that her birth mother committed suicide in "New 2," the reincarnation of hurricane-ravaged New Orleans, Ari travels there to uncover her past. New 2, it turns out, is full of unsettling entities like half-spider creatures, sword-wielding strangers, and vampires--including the supersexy Sebastian. Ari seems normal in comparison--but every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly, is afraid of her. And when she finds out why, the truth is worse than she ever imagined....

Why I read this book?:  I had been wanting to read Darkness Becomes Her for a VERY long time.  I finally picked up a copy last Tuesday when the second book in the series came out.

What I liked:  Ari.  Personally, Ari reminded me a little bit of Lara Croft.  Only in a teenage body.  Ari is different, not only because of her curse but because she's a product of "The System."  She's been bounced between foster homes and she's learned to trust no one really.  She goes on a mission to learn more about her family history and BOY does she learn some interesting things.

I also really enjoyed all the action that took place in this book.  It's been pretty non-stop since I started reading the book.  Ari's current foster parents are in the bail bonds business and have taught Ari how to defend herself.  Which most definately comes in handy.

Sebastion and the host of secondary characters.  They all bring a little something to the story, even the bad guys.  I'm even going to lump New 2 in as a character.  I loved the description of New Orleans after being ravaged by the hurricanes.

I really enjoyed the author's writing style and how well thought out the content of the book was. This was the debut for this author and I'm thoroughly enjoying her writing.  Another author to add to my "Auto-Buy" list.

What I didn't like: That it took me FOREVER to actually pick up a copy of this book.  There were a few times through out the course of the book where I thought that Ari was being a bit whiney but it wasn't enough to detract from my rating. Also, there is some cussing in this book.  If your not into cussing in your YA this might not be the book for you.  It didn't really bother me but I put it down here so that the information wouldn't get lost in the mix.

Overall Impression:  Yup this book was full of Awesome.  Another author added to the "Auto-Buy" list.

Rating:  Break the Bank!

Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut

Title: Griffin Rising
Author: Darby Karchut
Release Date: June 28, 2011

For Griffin, it's time to angel up.

For centuries, rumors have abounded of a lowly caste of supernatural beings known as the Terrae Angeli. Armed with the power to control Earth, Fire, Wind and Water, these warriors secretly serve as guardians for mortals in danger.

But for one young angel-in-training, Griffin, life is hell as a cruel master makes his apprenticeship a nightmare. On the verge of failing, a new mentor, Basil, enters his life and changes it forever. It is their father-and-son relationship, sometimes turbulent, often hilarious, always affectionate, that sings through the story like a pure note.

Masquerading as the average teen next door, Griffin struggles to learn his trade, navigate the ups and downs of modern life among humans (including falling in love with the girl next door), and prepare for the ancient trial-by-combat every apprentice must pass at sixteen or be forced to become mortal.

Review:

My friend gave me her copy of Griffin Rising to read because she said it was Awesome and I needed to read it.  I hadn't heard about this book up to that point.  I'm usually one who judge's a book by it's cover and honestly, I'm not sure if I would have picked up Griffin Rising. If my friend hadn't of told me to get my crap together and read this book I would have totally missed out on a PHENOMENAL YA novel.  Griffin Rising is what my co-workers and I refer to as Awesome Sauce.  It's good to be "Awesome Sauce."

What I really liked about Griffin Rising is that the book is actually a coming of age story disguised as an angel adventure. Yeah for growing up and being an angel! Once I started reading I was instantly attracted to characters, even the evil Nicopolis, total "winner".  I also felt that I was better able to connect with the characters via their journal entries, which I enjoyed immensely.  I really enjoyed all the contrast that Darby brought to the character of Griffin.  One second Fin is an angel apprentice training for his ultimate test...the next he's your "typical" smart ass teenager.  I really enjoyed following Fin through out this book.

One of my favorite parts of the whole book was the actual relationship between Griffin and his Mentor Basil.  Basil comes into Griffin's life after Griffin is removed from his former Mentor Nicopolis who happened to be extremely abusive and rooting for Griffin to fail (Nicopolis sounds like a real winner!).  When Basil enters Griffin's life everything starts to change for the better.  But it still takes Griffin a long time to start opening up to his new Mentor, because all good things must come to an end right?

Then not long before Griffin is scheduled to take his test a mortal teenage girl, Katie and her ginormous dog, moves in across the street.  A sweet teen love develops which adds a whole new dimension to the story.  That is when things get real interesting between Basil, Griffin and their new neighbors.

Shortly before Griffin's test, Basil receives word that Griffin's past is going to come back to haunt him.  Does Griffin pass his ultimate test?  To find out your going to have to pick up a copy of Griffin Rising.

Rating:  Break the Bank!

Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent

Title:  Blood Bound
Author: Rachel Vincent
Series: Unbound #1
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy/Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Release Date: August 23, 2011
Source: Copy from personal library

Rating:  Paper Shredder

Synopsis:

By blood, by word, by magic…
Most can't touch the power. But Liv Warren is special— a paranormal tracker who follows the scent of blood.

Liv makes her own rules, and the most important one is trust no one.

But when her friend's daughter goes missing, Liv has no choice but to find the girl. Thanks to a childhood oath, Liv can't rest until the child is home safe. But that means trusting Cam Caballero, the former lover forbidden to her.

Bound by oath and lost in desire for a man she cannot have, Liv is racing to save the child from a dark criminal underworld where secrets, lies, trauma and danger lurk around every corner…every touch…every kiss.

And more blood will be spilled before it's over…'

NOTE:  This review is based on the portion of the book that I did read.

What I liked:  I liked how Oliva was written very much.  When I was reading about her I saw a female version of John McClane from Die Hard.  She's one kick ass Binder.  She's still in love with Cam and has done some pretty bad things to protect him.  She's also bound to a crime boss.

I also liked Cam a lot too.  He was tall, dark and handsome.  He's also still in love with Olivia.  He's also bound to the other crime boss.  I really liked that the book started off with some action and some ass kicking.

What I didn't like:  That each chapter is told from either Cam or Olivia's point of view but I was never quite sure who was talking until I was a good chunk of the way into the chapter.  It became a rather annoying distraction for me and a major turn off.  I also didn't care for the action tapering off.  We start off with a pretty fair amount of action in the beginning and then it flat lines.  The straw that broke the camel's back was that I wasn't able to connect with the characters (even though they were described wonderfully) or the story.

Overall Impression:  I had heard a lot of really great things about this book and I really wanted to like it.  The problem was I just couldn't connect with the story or characters.  Just remember just because I didn't care for this book doesn't mean you won't like it.

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Title: Article 5
Author: Kristen Simmons
Series: Article 5 #1
Genre: YA/Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Dystopian
Release Date: January 31, 2012
Format:  Hardcover copy from personal library

Rating:  Break the Bank!

Synopsis:

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

Review:

I've been extremely interested in reading this book since I first came across it on Goodreads.  The premise of the book really caught my attention...No Bill of Rights!?  Men are the breadwinners of the family!?  It goes on and on.  Naturally I pre-ordered this book and did a little happy dance when the UPS man left it on my doorstep for me.

Article 5 did not disappoint.  The best way for me to describe the world in which Ember and Chase live in is....Think of what the world would have been like if Germany and Japan had won WWII. If you don't follow the Moral Statues to the letter you could just up and disappear. What I really loved about this book was that it was non-stop action from the very beginning.

 Ember's mom is arrested for an Article 5 violation and Ember is sent to a reform school.  As the book progresses you learn a lot about Ember and Chase's previous relationship....The one before he was drafted into the MM (Moral Militia as the citizen's refer to the soldiers).  That Chase sounds like a really great guy, the Chase that we see in the book now has "blood" on his hands, he's hard and at times borderline animalistic. Ember I think started out the book in a pretty sheltered life.  Then things hit the fan and Ember's life is all in an upheaval.  When Ember starts learning about how things really are out there in the world in the beginning she seemed a little bit on the weak side but she did toughen up by the end of the book considerably, even though it was a slower progression that I particularly liked.

Overall, Article 5 is a great beginning to this series.  If this book isn't on your wishlist I strongly suggest adding RIGHT NOW!  I'll leave you with a couple of my favorite quotes from the book...

“He was my anchor in the hurricane, yet at the same time, the hurricane itself, so that I nearly always felt safe and afraid simultaneously. There was nothing in the world as confusing and powerful as being close to him.”

“I could not fall back in love with Chase Jennings. Doing so was like falling in love with a thunderstorm. Exciting and powerful, yes. Even beautiful. But violently tempered, unpredictable, and ultimately short-lived.”

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Author: J.K. Rowling
Series: Harry Potter #2
Genre: YA/Fantasy
Release Date: July 1, 1999
Format: Paperback copy from personal library

Review's in Series: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Rating: Break the Bank!

Synopsis:

J. K. Rowling continues her phenomenally popular Harry Potter series with yet another tale of magic, mirth, and mayhem. Like its predecessor, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is chock-full of fascinating characters, frightful events, and fun wizardry.p

The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and WIzardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.

And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girl's bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.

But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone - or something - starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects... Harry Potter himself?

Rowling packs this tale with plenty of adventure and action, keeping the pace fast and furious. There's plenty of humor, too - both subtle and bold - as well as a few moral lessons. With overlapping themes that range from the simple to the sophisticated, Rowling's Potter tales should appeal to readers of all ages - the young as well as the young at heart.

Review:

For the longest time I felt like I was one of the only people in the world who hadn't read the Harry Potter series.  I'd heard great things about the series and then there are the movies (which I haven't seen yet) too.  So I remedied the situation.  I read the first book in the series and enjoyed it very much.  I thought it was a great beginning to the series and built up nicely to the next book.

While on summer break from Hogwarts Harry is warned not to go back to school.  That bad things will happen to him.  Naturally, Harry decides to go back to school because it's school or life with the Dursley's, which isn't a great time at all.  It isn't long after Harry and crew get back to school that Harry learns that danger is lurking in almost every corner.

The introduction of Professor Lockhart was interesting.  He definitely isn't my favorite character at all.  I thought that he was a bit of a pompous ass looking for attention.  Then there was the introduction of Ron's little sister Ginny, who is enamored with Harry.  Overall, I really enjoyed the host of new character's introduced in this second book of the series.

What I really liked about this book was that it was full of action and mystery.  Being new to the series I found these things to be very much of my liking.  Another thing that I really enjoyed was reading more of the history of Hogwart's in addition to all of the clues information that is inserted that will help build up the series as it progresses. 

Then there is the Chamber of Secrets itself.  I loved how when the student's are starting to be threatened all sorts of new and exciting questions are asked.  Does it really exist? Is it really opened?  Has it been opened before now?  Who's next? and my personal favorite...Is anyone going to die?

I've read several reviews for this book that say that this isn't the reviewers favorite book in the series. Being as I have only read 2 of the 7 books so far, I am going to say that this book is my favorite of what I have read.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Author: J.K. Rowling
Genre: YA/Fantasy
Series: Harry Potter #1

Rating: Wait until Payday

Synopsis:

Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility.

All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley—a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry’s room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn’t had a birthday party in eleven years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry—and anyone who reads about him—will find unforgettable. For it’s there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, but a great destiny that’s been waiting for him… if Harry can survive the encounter.
Review:

I feel like I’m one of the last people on the face of the planet to read the Harry Potter series.  I haven’t seen any of the movies either.  I may have to remedy that situation as well as continuing on with this book series.  I read many reviews for this book/series on goodreads and I felt that it was time for me to jump on the bandwagon.

I see all over the place that there are about a “million” 5 star reviews for this book. As much as I really liked Harry I wasn’t able to give it a 5 star rating.

Like I’ve already stated, I really enjoyed Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.  I didn’t LOVE it though.  For some reason it didn’t captivate me and cause me to read it straight through. I really did enjoy the world that J.K. Rowling created.  Harry was orphaned as a baby and as a result ended up with his abusive aunt, uncle and cousin (The Dursley’s).  Then when Harry turns 11 and receives, by owl, a letter of admittance from Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.  The arrival of this letter sets off a chain reaction of events that lead up to Harry going to Hogwarts.

As this is the first book in the series I think that it did an excellent job of setting up the foundation for the rest of the books.  Everything from Harry’s relationship with The Dursley’s.  To his friendships with Ron, Hermoine, Hagrid and Neville.  The animosity between Harry and Malfoy.  His relationships with the professors that he comes in contact with at Hogwarts.  To me the world seemed vivid with TONS of interaction between all of the characters, even the minor characters.  I was pretty amazed that this entire world was built in a little over 300 pages!

Overall, I really enjoyed Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and really look forward to reading the other books in the series as well.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Shatter Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Series: Shatter Me #1
Release Date: November 15, 2011
Reviewed Format: Finished Hardcover
Source: Purchased

Rating: Break the Bank!

Synopsis:

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war– and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

Review:

I had been hearing all sorts of AWESOME hype about Shatter Me all over the book blogging community.  I kept seeing the same things, “you have to read this!,”  “it’s different,”  you get the picture right?  So yet again, I put forth the big bucks to have Amazon deliver Shatter Me to my house on release day.

What really drew me into the story was Juliette.  She’s been lead to believe that she is a monster due to her “gift.”  Her family has basically abandoned her and sent her off to an asylum.  She hasn’t touched anyone in 264 days.  See Juliette’s touch is lethal in most cases.  Then Juliette is given a cellmate.  Her cellmate turns out to be someone she knows from her past, the only person in her past life that didn’t have it out to be mean or cruel to her, Adam Kent.

Adam to me isn’t your typical storybook hero.  There comes a time when Juliette is almost certain that Adam has betrayed her to the Reestablisment. You automatically want to think the worst of Adam but the further you read the more you see that “what you see” isn’t always “what you get.”  I was really impressed with Adam overall.

Warner!  I had a love/hate relationship with Warner.  In that I LOVED to HATE him.  He comes off as an overbearing ass and I really didn’t like it.  You hear rumblings about why he is the way he is but really, just because you had a crappy childhood doesn’t mean you have to be a miserable excuse for a human being as an “adult.” His obsession with Juliette just flat-out creeped me out.

I really LOVED the world that the author created.  A world where everything has fallen apart and a group has come in and says “hey we can make things better” and proceeds to make things so much worse.  A sort of creepy look at what our world could be like.  The writing style I really liked a lot.  There are portions of the text that are crossed out and I liked it, I’ve read some reviews where others haven’t liked the crossed out text, for me it worked.

The romance for me at first I thought it was a little bit too much “Insta-love” but the more I read into the book the more I realized that Adam and Juliette have a considerable amount of history.  So naturally, that shot my “Insta-love” theory all to hell.

Overall, if you haven’t added this book to your wish list do so RIGHT NOW!  It really is a touch of The Hunger Games with a little X-Men thrown in to keep things interesting.  I DEVOURED this book and now I’m very sad that I have to wait so long for the sequel.

Favorite Passage:

“H-how could you possibly care about someone…like me?”  I’m barely breathing, nervous and petrified but somehow staring at his lips, studying the shape, counting the drops of water tumbling over the hills and valleys of his mouth.

“Because I’m in love with you.”

Legend by Marie Lu

Title:  Legend
Author: Marie Lu
Series: Legend #1
Genre: YA/Dystopian
Format: Finished Hardcover copy from personal library

Release Date:  November 29, 2011

 

Rating: Break the Bank!

 

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.
Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.


Review:

I really LOVED this book.  What I really LOVED about this book was how it was told from dual points of view, ala Simone Elkeles books.  I really connected with the main characters June and Day.  Our hero Day is considered a fugitive by the Republic and he is homeless and lives on the streets with an orphan that he has befriended and takes care of named Tess.

Our heroine June on the other hand is sort of a child prodigy and is in the process of finding her place in the Republic.  Then her brother is tragically murdered and June goes looking for answers.  All the information that she has leads her right to Day.  And what follows is a roller coaster ride of heartache, action, betrayal, romance and so many twists and turns you won’t know up from down….I mean that in a good way of course.

There were a few things that were pretty predictable about the book but I did not feel that it detracted from the story itself at all.  I felt like the slight predictability of those few things actually heightened the anticipation and flow of the story for me personally.

Like with pretty much all (there are a few exceptions to the rule I’m sure) there is a lot of tragedy in Legend.  But you keep rooting for June, Day and a VERY select few secondary characters.

Overall, I was BEYOND extremely happy with the book.  I most definitely will be counting down the days until the sequel is released.  Is it time yet!?

Demons at Deadnight by A&E Kirk

Title: Demons at Deadnight
Author: A&E Kirk
Series: Divinicus Nex Chronicles #1
Genre: YA/Fantasy/Paranormal
Release Date: January 7, 2012

Rating: Break the Bank!

Synopsis:

For seventeen-year-old Aurora Lahey, survival is a lifestyle.

DEMONIC DESTINY
Aurora has the crappiest superpower on the planet. And it’s just unleashed a hit squad from hell. Demons are on the hunt, salivating to carve her carcass into confetti.

CHARISMATIC KILLERS
The Hex Boys—mysterious, hunky, and notorious for their trails of destruction—have the answers Aurora needs to survive. But their overload of deadly secrets and suspicious motives makes trusting them a potentially fatal move.

LETHAL ALLIES
The battle to save her family, herself, and stop demonic domination may cost Aurora everything worth living for, and force her to reveal her own dark secrets. But no worries. She needs the Hex Boys to pull this off, and, chances are, teaming up with these guys will get her killed anyway

Review:

I found out about this book because I happen to stumble upon one of the authors book review blog (Teens Read and Write).  Alyssa had posted her Book Boyfriend and "Team Buttons" for the Hex boys in addition to the first round of reviews for Demons at Deadnight.  I read the first round of reviews that were linked up on the that post and I checked out the "Team Buttons" and I decided that I NEEDED to download this book onto my Barnes and Noble Tablet.

I really enjoyed our main character Aurora very much.  She has a wicked sense of humor, sometimes under the worst circumstances .  She's smart.  She's pretty dang brave too.  She's also got a gift or possibly a curse, she can see demons.  I'll even forgive her for having legs that go on forever (I'm 5' 5"), curly auburn hair and pretty blue eyes.  And ALL of her problems seem to begin and end with a demon.  Dang those demons!  It sucks that they feel the need to try and kill her.  Aurora doesn't have many allies to begin with and is thrust into the world of the Hex Boys.  So now on top of all her demon issues she has to figure out what their intentions really are as well. There were times that I was so exhausted for Aurora while I was reading this book.  All of the non-stop action and all that thinking had to equal out to one heck of a headache?! 

Then there were the Hex boys. I'll fight Melissa and Missie for them any day.  The closest group of fictional characters that I can come up with to compare these FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC guys to are the BDB (Black Dagger Brotherhood)...Minus the whole being a vampire thing.  They've got the good looks, the bad boy attitude and as an added bonus there are 6 of them, one for each day of the week plus a day of rest. 

What I really enjoyed about Demons at Deadnight was that it wasn't full of some many of the cliches' that I've been seeing in current Young Adult novels.  It's starting to get old and Demons at Deadnight was breath of fresh air for me personally.  There was also a TON of action and humor throughout this book.  If you make me laugh out loud while reading your book that wins you a TON of cool points.  Another thing that I really liked about Demons at Deadnight was that there was a hint at a romance but the way it was written didn't have me wanting to rip my hair out.  Now for the Blaspheme...There are involved parents!  Woulda thunk it!?  For the record...LOVED IT.

Overall, I LOVED this book.  It's full of action, humor with a touch of romance thrown in too.  Personally, I think this book was a great start to this series and I can hardly wait to see how Aurora grows through out.  If Alyssa and Eileen are reading this I would LOVE to read the next book in the series when it comes out.