Book Review: Owl and the Japanese Circus by Kristi Charish

Author: Kristi Charish
Published by: Simon and Schuster Canada
Publish date: January 2015
Pages: 432
Series: The Adventures of Owl, book 1
Huge thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for providing this book for review!


Ex-archaeology grad student turned international antiquities thief, Alix—better known now as Owl—has one rule. No supernatural jobs. Ever. Until she crosses paths with Mr. Kurosawa, a red dragon who owns and runs the Japanese Circus Casino in Las Vegas. He insists Owl retrieve an artifact stolen three thousand years ago, and makes her an offer she can’t refuse: he’ll get rid of a pack of vampires that want her dead. A dragon is about the only entity on the planet that can deliver on Owl’s vampire problem – and let’s face it, dragons are known to eat the odd thief.

Owl retraces the steps of Mr. Kurosawa’s ancient thief from Japan to Bali with the help of her best friend, Nadya, and an attractive mercenary. As it turns out though, finding the scroll is the least of her worries. When she figures out one of Mr. Kurosawa’s trusted advisors is orchestrating a plan to use a weapon powerful enough to wipe out a city, things go to hell in a hand basket fast…and Owl has to pick sides.

Wow. WOW. You guys, this book! It totally came in out of nowhere and made me fall in love with it! 

Owl, guys. OWL. She's amazing! She's tough and flawed and hilarious, and I adore her. Her vampire-sniffing cat, Captain, is awesome, and I kept looking at my own huge-bellied cat and asking him, "WTF, dude, you can't even jump onto the damn windowsill without falling!"
Rynn is dreamy, and what little romance there is in OatJC (yeah, I shortened it. Big whoop. Wanna fight about it?) is done well and tastefully. Y'all know that I'm not a fan of a ton of romance in my books. ;)
Nadya is another really great character, and the type of best friend everyone wants to have. Smart, tech-savvy, with the ability to keep up with your drinking! 

One of the best parts about this book is the unique twists on the monsters! Vampires aren't just your run-of-the-mill vamps, and Ms. Charish also includes some lesser-used baddies like naga and ghouls and demons. 

But the best part of this book--and it was tough to pick one best part because I really loved this book. I mean, I stayed up until 5 frickin' am reading it one night--was the epilogue. Man, I wish I could say more, but I LOVED THAT ENDING. 

Seriously, if you're a fan of Indiana Jones, constant action, snipe, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural or archaeology, you're going to love Owl and the Japanese Circus.
READ IT.

Bring on book two!

Book Review: The Deep by Nick Cutter

The Deep by Nick Cutter
400 pages
Published by Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster Canada) on January 13, 2015
Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing this copy for review!

A strange plague called the ’Gets is decimating humanity on a global scale. It causes people to forget—small things at first, like where they left their keys…then the not-so-small things like how to drive, or the letters of the alphabet. Then their bodies forget how to function involuntarily…and there is no cure. But now, far below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, deep in the Marianas Trench, an heretofore unknown substance hailed as “ambrosia” has been discovered—a universal healer, from initial reports. It may just be the key to a universal cure. In order to study this phenomenon, a special research lab, the Trieste, has been built eight miles under the sea’s surface. But now the station is incommunicado, and it’s up to a brave few to descend through the lightless fathoms in hopes of unraveling the mysteries lurking at those crushing depths…and perhaps to encounter an evil blacker than anything one could possibly imagine.


Welp, I didn't like this one nearly as much as I did The Troop. 
The Deep, while suspenseful and creepy, lags in the middle, and it was tough to keep reading through. 
It did have its scary bits, and if you're at all claustrophobic, or afraid of what may lurk in deep water, you'll probably find parts of this book pretty scary.

Again in The Deep, Mr. Cutter goes for the jugular when it comes to creepy, gross and disturbing. He definitely succeeds by leaps and bounds in that department. There were a few times when I had to put the book down and take a break for a few hours just to get the disturbing images out of my head! In my opinion, this is a GOOD thing. I love dark, disturbing, creepy and gross. 
But frankly, I would have preferred a full book about the 'Gets, rather than this Abyss/It mash-up wannabe. The 'Gets sounded really interesting, and the blurb on the back led me to believe that we'd learn more about that than we did.

I do recommend The Deep. If you liked The Troop, and enjoy dark, creepy thrillers, this is right up your alley. 

Book Review: Bird Box by Josh Malerman

Hardcover
272 pages
Publishing date: May 13, 2014
Publisher: Ecco
Author: Josh Malerman

Most people ignored the outrageous reports on the news. But they became too frequent, they became too real. And soon, they began happening down the street. Then the Internet died. The television and radio went silent. The phones stopped ringing. And we couldn't look outside anymore. Malorie raises the children the only way she can; indoors. The house is quiet. The doors are locked, the curtains are closed, mattresses are nailed over the windows. They are out there. She might let them in. The children sleep in the bedroom across the hall. Soon she will have to wake them. Soon she will have to blindfold them. Today they must leave the house. Today they will risk everything.

Brilliant, terrifying, unique, original, freaky, disturbing, and REAL! This is one of the best things I've read in decades! I hate that I have to compare this book to King, but he's truly the only writer I can compare it to. Yes, King is the best in the genre, but Malerman gives him a run for his money with this book. Dare I say, it might be even better than anything the master of horror himself has written in years! I literally had to remind myself to breathe many times while reading Bird Box because the suspense would get to me! If you enjoy horror, psychological thrillers, and being mind-f**ked, you'll LOVE this book. In case you haven't gotten the point, READ THIS BOOK. It will stay with you forever. And I'm sorry this review is so short, but saying anything more would spoil it, and TRUST ME, you DON'T want to be spoiled on this one. It's SO GOOD. Now go! Read Bird Box!

MG Book Review: Small Medium at Large by Joanne Jevy

Hardcover
208 pages
Published: July 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Author: Joanne Levy

After she’s hit by lightning at a wedding, twelve-year-old Lilah Bloom develops a new talent: she can hear dead people. Among them, there’s her overopinionated Bubby Dora; a prissy fashion designer; and an approval-seeking clown who livens up a séance. With Bubby Dora leading the way, these and other sweetly imperfect ghosts haunt Lilah through seventh grade, and help her face her one big fear: talking to—and possibly going to the seventh-grade dance with—her crush, Andrew Finkel.








This book is absolutely adorable. I have no idea why it's not being read more often, and I plan to recommend it to all of my friends who have middle graders.

SMaL is a sweet, hilarious book about a girl that can hear dead people. It deals with some pretty big issues, like divorce and the loss of a parent/grandparent, but it stays true to the age group it's written for. Ms. Levy handles the subjects wonderfully and truthfully.

Speaking of Ms. Levy, I've had the pleasure of meeting her in person a few times, and, if I'm remembering correctly, she'd mentioned to me that this she'd actually wanted to write this book geared toward a YA audience. (Please correct--and forgive me!--if I'm wrong, Joanne!)
I, for one, am glad that it was changed from YA to MG. There are not enough brilliant MG books written these days.
SMaL is now one of them!

My youngest daughter just turned 6, and I plan to hand this book to her as soon as I feel she's the right age for it. This is definitely going to be one of her first chapter books. That's how much I adored Small Medium at Large. (And can I just say how freaking great the title is?!)

Thank you, Joanne, for writing such a brilliantly wonderful book! I'm sorry it took me so long to get around to reading it!

YA Book Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Paperback
201 pages
Published: April, 2009
Publisher: Dutton
Author: Gayle Forman


Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love—music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind?

Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it's the only one that matters.





I didn't think I'd like this book. I figured it was just another tug-at-the-heartstrings YA romance.
 I only read it to see what all the fuss was about. Y'see, they're making a movie based on this book, and the trailer was released recently. It caught my attention, so I decided to check out the book. 

After DNFing (that's 'did not finish' for you non-bookies) so many books lately, and reading so many mediocre books lately, this one was more than welcome, and such a wonderful surprise. It hooked me right from the beginning, and I read it in one sitting. It was just so, so beautiful. 

I loved the characters, and the small romance was sweet and natural. Mia is just really wonderful. You feel for her, and you just want to make everything all better. 

This is a little book with a big message, and I'm truly happy that I read it. It'll rip your heart right out, so HAVE TISSUES CLOSE.

I'm looking forward to reading book two...but I'm going to give myself a few days to heal my heart first.

Oh, and here's the trailer for the movie. I'm definitely going to see this one....but I might wait until it comes out on DVD. Sobbing in a crowded theater is really embarrassing. ;)

Book Review: The Troop by Nick Cutter

Paperback

368 pages

Expected Release Date: February 25, 2014

Publisher: Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster Canada)

Author: Nick Cutter

HUGE thank you to S&S Canada for providing this book for review!

Boy Scouts live by the motto “Be Prepared.” However, nothing can prepare this group of young boys and their scoutmaster for what they encounter on a small, deserted island, as they settle down for a weekend of campfires, merit badges, and survival lessons. Everything changes when a haggard stranger in tattered clothing appears out of nowhere and collapses on the campers’ doorstep. Before the night is through, this stranger will end up infecting one of the troop’s own with a bioengineered horror that’s straight out of their worst nightmares. Now stranded on the island with no communication to the outside world, the troop learns to battle much more than the elements, as they are pitted against something nature never intended…and eventually each other.

Morbid, gross, disturbing, disgusting, shocking, horrifying, and a HELL of a lot of fun!

Let me start by saying that this book is NOT FOR TEENS.
This is an adult read. through and through.
It's very graphic and NOT for the squeamish. I have a stomach of steel, but even I had to skim over some parts (especially one involving a turtle), and take short breaks while I read to look at pretty rainbows and cute puppies to wash my brain.

A group of teen boy scouts and their scoutmaster are camping on a deserted island off the shores of PEI,  when a very ill stranger shows up needing help.
I'm not going to get into the actual illness, but needless to say, what happens next is morbidly chaotic, and each boy handles it differently.

The Troop is being marketed as 'the book that scared Stephen King' and 'a cross between Lord of the Flies and 28 Days Later'.
While I didn't find it scary, I did find it delightfully gruesome and gory. The author pulls no punches with the blood and guts, and at times almost seems to be trying to 1-up himself with the shock value.

The character development is fabulous, the writing is fantastic, the pace is page-turning, and the subject matter is terrifyingly worrisome! :-O

If you're a fan of horror and psychological thrillers, you'll eat up The Troop!

Adult Book Review--Medusa: A Love Story by Sasha Summers

Paperback
325 pages
Release date: May, 2012
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Series: Loves of Olympus #1
Author: Sasha Summers

It's said love can change a person. Medusa wasn't always a monster... Medusa is ruled by duty, to her Titan father and the Goddess Athena. She's no room for the tenderness her warrior guard, Ariston, stirs. When Olympus frees her from service, her heart leads her into the arms of the guard she loves... and curses her as the creature with serpent locks. Ariston goes to war with a full heart... and dreadful foreboding. He learns too late of the danger Medusa faces, alone, and a Persian blade sends him into the Underworld. But death, curses, nor the wrath of the Gods will keep him from returning to her. Poseidon will use Greece's war to get what he wants: Medusa. He does not care that she belongs to another. He does not care that she will be damned. He is a God, an Olympian, and she will be his.

Phew, did I have a hard time getting into this book! And from the reviews on Goodreads, it would appear that I was the only one!

But once the story DID start flowing--about 2/3 of the way through--I couldn't put it down.

I'll never see Medusa the same way, that's for sure! I LOVED her. She was absolutely the best part of this book--which is a good thing since it's about her, right? Ha!
To have her whole life fleshed out so we see WHO she was and WHY she became the monster we know was really, really wonderful.

The love story itself was just okay for me. I really wish we'd had more time with Medusa and Ariston together...and I HATED the ending. HATED. If you read the book, let me know and I'll explain why!

If you enjoy mythology and romance, you might enjoy Medusa: A Love Story. There are a few love scenes, but nothing too hot and heavy (which is the way I prefer it).
I'd definitely recommend this book to adult romance readers. This is definitely not a book for teens! ;)

YA Book Review: Trevor, A Novella by James Lecesne

Hardcover
112 Pages
Release date: Sept. 25, 2012
Publisher: Triangle Square
Author: James Lecesne
Thank you to RandomHouse Canada for providing this book for review!

Trevor is an exuberant, sociable, and witty thirteen year old. So how come, when he takes that nerve-wrecking turn toward his locker at school, does he feel scared and alone? Shunned by his friends, misunderstood by his parents, and harrassed at school for being different, Trevor goes from wondering what color glitter to choose for his Lady Gaga costume at Halloween, to wondering why some feelings "are so intense it makes you just want to lay down and die rather than go on feeling it," and making an attempt on his life. Trevor mixes humor and realism in an urgent look at what it is like to feel alienated from everything around you. And more importantly, what critical ties can step in at the most unlikely moment, to save you from despair, and give you reason to go on living.  Trevor is an update of the film version of the story, directed by Peggy Rajski, which won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short in 1994. The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning youth. As the recent attention to youth suicides has received increased media attention, and Dan Savage's IT GETS BETTER campaign has gone viral around the world, the public is finally beginning to face hard facts. Thirty-three percent of suicides among teenagers involve LGBTQ youth, one-third of all LGBT kids report having attempted suicide, and nine out of ten report overt harassment at school. Trevor is an effort to make those kids feel loved and supported, so they will find the strength to go on living.

What is it like to be a LGBTQ teen these days? To be bullied and insulted and alienated every day of your life? To be misunderstood by even your parents?

Trevor explores these issues in a funny, touching and very real way.

It's a short book, but it's written well and it might appeal to more reluctant readers. Yes, yes, there are books out there that are longer and probably better-written, but Trevor is a good 'stepping-stone' book for LGBTQ kids.

I truly hope that ALL parents and all school libraries will keep this book on hand. It just might save a life.

Book Review: The Infects by Sean Beaudoin

Paperback
384 pages
Release date: Sept. 25, 2012
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Author: Sean Beaudoin
Thank you to Candlewick for providing this ARC for review!

Seventeen-year-old Nero is stuck in the wilderness with a bunch of other juvenile delinquents on an “Inward Trek.” As if that weren’t bad enough, his counselors have turned into flesh-eating maniacs overnight and are now chowing down on his fellow miscreants. As in any classic monster flick worth its salted popcorn, plentiful carnage sends survivors rabbiting into the woods while the mindless horde of “infects” shambles, moans, and drools behind. Of course, these kids have seen zombie movies. They generate “Zombie Rules” almost as quickly as cheeky remarks, but attitude alone can’t keep the biters back.

I haven't had this much fun while reading a horror novel in a LONG time!
The Infects is twisted and disturbing and dark and hilarious and witty and unique and just a heckuva read!

This is not your usual 'walking dead zombies' book. Not by a long shot.
It's like....Lord of the Flies meets Zombieland meets Shaun of the Dead.

Poor Nick has to go out and support the family after his father (his father is called, 'The Dude'. I kid you not) loses his job. Nick works at a chicken slaughter-house. He goes a bit batty and ends up doing time with other juvvies at an outdoor retreat....And that's when the zomb-pocalypse happens.

My favourite characters?
Nero
Amanda
Yelstin
The Rock (Yep. THAT The Rock)

I wish I could tell you more, but this is one book that I just don't want to spoil!

There IS one thing that bothers me, however...
On the back of my ARC, it says that they're marketing this book to teens 14+.
There's NO WAY I would ever allow a 14 year old to read this. I don't think I'd let my 16 year old read it, and I'm the furthest thing from a strict parent!
It's WAY to full of gore and guck and mature scenes.

So, if you're 17 or older, read this book. It's great, mindless fun!

YA Book Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Paperback
408 pages
Release date: Sept. 18, 2012
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Series: The Raven Cycle #1
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
HUGE thank you to Scholastic Canada for providing this book for review!

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.” It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive. Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her. His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

What would life be like if you were the only non-psychic in a house full of them?
This is only ONE of Blue's troubles in the AMAZING new book, The Raven Boys!


This was my introduction to Ms. Stiefvater, and yep, it was a good one to start with! (I've had both The Scorpio Races AND the Shiver trilogy on my bookshelf for MONTHS now and haven't had the time to pick them up!)

The characters are amazing. I wanted to be Blue, with all of her flaws and quirks and awesomeness.
Adam and Gansey are both so, so amazing in such different ways. There's no way I can choose between them.
Noah--Aw, Noah. I think I loved him most of all--but it's a completely different kind of love than what I feel for Adam and Gansey, with the hugs and the hair-petting and...d'aw. Noah.
And Ronan? Well...I love his name! And not much more! Ha!

The mysteries, twist and turns in The Raven Boys are fun and thrilling, and the cliff-hanger ending left me literally stunned and speechless!

The book IS a bit over-long and it does lag from time-to-time, but the lovable characters, the intriguing quest and the fabulous writing will definitely keep you turning the pages.
Keep in mind that this IS book 1 of a series and it definitely can't be read as a stand-alone novel, though!

I can honestly say that book 2 is now one of my most anticipated reads of 2013, and I really, REALLY hope we see more of Ronan--who was kind of left on the back-burner with all of the other important plots that were happening-- as well as some of the foreshadowing Ms. Stiefvater teasingly adds in The Raven Boys!

If you liked the Dead Poets Society or Stephen King's It, I think you'll really enjoy this book.
I highly recommend it to teens 14+, because of the slightly complicated plot twists, and to moms and dads, too!
And, YES, I'm happy to say this is a great book for boys to get into, too!

PLEASE oet me know if you read it! I'd love to discuss it with you!

Book Review: Touched by Cyn Balog

eBook
Release date: August 14, 2012
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Author: Cyn Balog
A big thanks to Net Galley and Delacorte for providing this eARC for review!

Nick Cross always listens to the voice in his head. Because if he doesn't? Things can go really, really wrong. Like the day he decided to go off script and saved a girl from being run over . . . and let another one drown. Trying to change the future doesn't work. But this summer at the Jersey Shore, something's about to happen that Nick never could have predicted. He meets a girl named Taryn and finds out about the Book of Touch. Now the path that he thought he was on begins to shift . . . and there's no way to stop things from happening. Or is there?  In a life where there are no surprises, nothing has prepared Nick for what he's about to discover--or the choice he will be forced to make. . . .

So that's a pretty cool blurb up there, right? Well let me tell you, it does NOT do this book justice!
I couldn't put it down!

Touched is about this guy named Nick who can see his future. ALL of his futures. Every decision he makes changes what will happen in his life, but he remembers futures that COULD have happened too.
His marriages, his deaths, his children, it's all there in his head.
Crazy, right?!

What a fascinating concept! I LOVED it!

Enter Taryn, who changes Nick's future yet again....but this time it's NOT a future Nick wants.
The two must do everything they can to change what will happen.
It's quite a roller coaster ride for the reader, let me tell you!

I love the characters. Your heart goes out to Nick when you realize what the poor guy has to go through everyday.
And I adore Nan.

But the best part? The ending! Oh em gee, that ending! I can't say a word about it, but it's twisty and shocking and it'll leave you teary.

There's no excessive sex or language or anything too mature in Touched, so I'd be comfortable recommending it to kids 12+, and it's written from a boy's perspective, so it's perfect for boys, too!

Book Review: Lucretia and the Kroons by Victor LaValle

eBook
Release date: July 23, 2012
Publisher: Spiegel & Grau (Random House)
Author: Victor LaValle

Lucretia's best friend and upstairs neighbor Sunny-a sweet pitbull of a kid, even as she struggles with a mysterious illness-has gone missing. The only way to get her back is for Lucretia to climb the rickety fire escape of their Queens tenement and crawl through the window of apartment 6D, portal to a vast shadowland of missing kids ruled by a nightmarish family of mutants whose designs on the children are unknown. Her search for Sunny takes Lucretia through a dark fantasyland where she finds lush forests growing from concrete, pigeon-winged rodents, and haunted playgrounds. Her quest ultimately forces her to confront the most frightening specter of all: losing, forever, the thing you love the most. Lucretia and the Kroons is a dazzlingly imaginative adventure story and a moving exploration of the power of friendship and the terror of loss. This all-new novella serves as the perfect companion piece to The Devil in Silver, a thrillingly suspenseful work of literary horror that continues the story of Lucretia.

This was a weird book. Not at all what I expected, and that's not a bad thing. It was creepy and a bit disturbing and it made me think. It was sneaky that way, with the thinking.

These are always the toughest reviews for me to write. The ones where I didn't love the book, but I didn't hate it either.
This book is really just kind of ho-hum for me.

It's a novella, so it's an easy day-read. The characters are interesting, and I did really like Loochie.

It's the horror bits that were just okay for me. I prefer my horror to be realistic, and Lucretia and the Kroons is more a fantasy-horror.

That being said, it did interest me enough to want to read it's companion novel, The Devil in Silver, but only because it continues the story of Loochie...without the odd Kroons.

If you're looking for a short read and you like off-the-wall kind of stuff, you might like Lucretia and the Kroons.
I'd say it's for ages 16+. Some of the horror bits might gross out younger teens.

Book Review: Thief Of Hope by Cindy Young-Turner

eBook
Release date: May 16, 2011
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Series: Kingdom of Thanumor #1
Author: Cindy Young-Turner
A HUGE thank you to the author for providing this book for review!

Sydney, a street urchin and pickpocket in the town of Last Hope, has managed to evade the oppressive Guild for years, but there is no escaping fate when she's sentenced to death for associating with the resistance.  After she's rescued by a wizard, Sydney is forced to accept that magic--long outlawed throughout the Kingdom of Thanumor--still exists, and the Tuatha, a powerful faery folk, are much more than ancient myth and legend. When the wizard offers a chance to fight the Guild and bring Willem, bastard prince and champion of the Tuatha, to the throne, Sydney embraces the cause as a way to find her own redemption. But Sydney's fear of the Guild, distrust of authority, and surprising connection to the Tuatha threaten Willem's success.  Can she untangle the strange threads that entwine her life not only to the fate of the kingdom, but also to Willem himself?

You know, I get so excited when I get to write a good review for a debut author! And this one right here? This is going to be a GOOD review! ;)

Thief of Hope is the first book in a series about our main character, Sydney, our champion, Prince Willem, and the Fae folk, the Tuatha.

This is the part where I geek out a bit and tell you that I LOVE anything to do with the Tuatha. You see, in two MMO's I've played (one I currently play!), my main character has been Irish and has had Fae blood.
The Tuatha de Danann are a big part of Irish folklore, so I was very excited to see Ms. Young-Turner using them in her book!

In many ways, this book reminded me of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series--although it's pretty much COMPLETELY different.
It was mostly Sydney--a tough street urchin with a mysterious past-- who reminded me of Vin!
Sydney is a wonderful character. I loved her so much! She's just so REAL, y'know? It's refreshing to read a fantasy novel where the main female character isn't a Mary Sue!

Willem is very swoon-worthy, with his blonde locks and understanding ways. Oh, it was hard to read some scenes where Sydney realizes that she.....Ack! Spoilers! ;)

But one of my favourite characters was easily Oryn. He's SO Gandalf-like, with his disappearances and cryptic speech!

Thief of Hope is NOT written like a typical debut novel. The world is written perfectly, the scenery is beautiful, the characters are vivid and fresh, and the battle scenes had me holding my breath with anticipation and worry!

I can't WAIT to read the second book in the series, and I truly hope we learn more about the Shadow Folk,  and the Tuatha as the series progresses!

I highly recommend Thief of Hope to all adult fantasy-lovers! It's SO GOOD!

Book Review: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

eBook
Release Date: July 10, 2012
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Series: Seraphina #1
Author: Rachel Hartmen

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high. Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

Fantasy will always be my first love. Sometimes, when I stray for too long, I forget just how much it really does mean to me.
So thank you, Seraphina, for reminding me and for bringing me home again. :)

This is a REALLY good book. It's got dragons and battles and romance and mystery. Teens who already love fantasy will love Seraphina.
However, this is NOT a good introduction-to-fantasy book.
It does lag a bit in the middle and I found my eyes glazing over for a chapter or two before it picked back up.

Seraphina is a wonderful character. The 'garden in her head' is an amazingly brilliant idea. Wow.
She's very likable and by the end of the book, I didn't want to leave Goredd. I wanted to follow her new adventures right away!

The dragons are written in a new and unique way. Genius, really. Dragons that can take human form and walk among us!

My favourite characters are minor, but oh, so important. Fruit Bat and Loud Lad. I know you'll fall for them just as hard as I did. ;)

There are a few parts that will make you emotional and one or two that will make you laugh out loud.

I'm really, really looking forward to book 2.

I definitely recommend Seraphina to fantasy lovers of all ages!

Book Review-- Quarantine: The Loners by Lex Thomas

eBook
Release date: July 10, 2012
Publisher: Egmont USA
Series: Quarantine #1
Author: Lex Thomas
Thank you to Net Galley and Egmont for providing this galley for review.

It was just another ordinary day at McKinley High—until a massive explosion devastated the school. When loner David Thorpe tried to help his English teacher to safety, the teacher convulsed and died right in front of him. And that was just the beginning. A year later, McKinley has descended into chaos. All the students are infected with a virus that makes them deadly to adults. The school is under military quarantine. The teachers are gone. Violent gangs have formed based on high school social cliques. Without a gang, you’re as good as dead. And David has no gang. It’s just him and his little brother, Will, against the whole school.  In this frighteningly dark and captivating novel, Lex Thomas locks readers inside a school where kids don’t fight to be popular, they fight to stay alive.

This book sucked me right in and I was shocked that it did it so quickly!
Right from the beginning, the action starts and it doesn't stop until the very last page. It was intense!

The characters are likable, but I didn't get attached to any one. Will, however, is annoying and I wanted to punch him. Many times. ;)

The gangs are very cool. As I read I found myself wondering where I would have fit in high school.
The story is seriously amazing. It's like nothing I've ever read before.
It's kind of a mix of The Breakfast Club meets Lord of the Flies. And it's dark. I mean DARK. Violent and bloody and terrifying.
Again I found myself wondering...how possible is it that events would unfold the way they do in the book if something like this were to happen in real life?
Sadly, I think the book comes pretty close to nailing it.

This is NOT a book for younger teens. I'd really only recommend this book for more mature 16+...especially boys. MATURE boys who can handle gore and bloody fights without wanting to reenact them with their friends. ;)
This would definitely make for some great conversation with your boys (and girls! I'm not forgetting them!) if you were to read it together.

How would teens today adapt if they were left on their own, trapped in a large group in a relativity small area? How would they survive?
I'd love to hear what your teens say if they read it!
Comments are always welcome!

Book Review-- Shark Bait by Jenn Cooksey

eBook
Release date: June 15, 2012
Self-published
Series: Grab Your Pole #1
Author: Jenn Cooksey

Camie’s worldly wisdom might be severely lacking (i.e., the closest she’s come to being kissed was sitting too close to the TV whilst Jake Ryan leaned in to give Samantha that fateful 16th birthday kiss), but she does understand her only hope for survival is if she’s thrown some kind of “social” life preserver before she sinks like a freaking rock. However, what will her fate be when she endeavors to flag down the only lifeguard on duty, the enormously popular and ridiculously beautiful Tristan Daniels? The most sought after and virtually most unattainable guy in school who not only makes Camie’s heart flatline on a recurring basis, he’s also the one guy who seemingly doesn’t know she exists. Feeling like an inept piece of chum that could ultimately be swallowed by Jaws, can Camie get Tristan to rescue her from floundering in the treacherous deep, or is she destined to be Shark Bait?

I've been sitting here for an hour now, trying to come up with a word to describe this book.
It FINALLY came to me; adorable!

Shark Bait is an adorable, fun, HILARIOUS book. I mean laugh-out-loud, hold-your-sides hilarious.

Our main character, Camie (short for Cameron), is wonderful. She's snarky and funny and flawed and sweet. I seriously loved her.

And her sister, Jillian? Oh, I MUST read more about Jillian! She quickly became my favourite character! You'll see why when you read the book. Spoilers! ;)

Tristan, however, I often wanted to punch. :P
He's moody and jealous and yes, charming and gorgeous and funny and super-smexy!

The friendships written are really fabulous. I wish I'd had friends like Kate when I was in high school!

Shark Bait would make a great beach read. It's light and...did I mention hilarious? And it has BUFFY references, people! BUFFY!

Jenn Cooskey hit it out of the park with her first novel. Her writing style is unique and random and amazing.
And she's a really awesome person, too!

I wouldn't call Shark Bait a YA novel. It's a little bit more mature than I'd recommend for a teen. I'm going to use the 'new' term, New Adult. That seems to fit better, although it does have younger main characters than usually fit into the NA column.
Because of some subject matter and swearing, I recommend this book to teens 17+ and to adults. Especially those of us who grew up in the 80's/early 90's. You'll love Shark Bait!

I'm SO looking forward to the second book in the series, The Other Fish in the Sea, which I hope has more Jillian and in which I hope Jillian ends up with Pete, although not for a few years because Jillian is too young for him just yet! :P

Look for an interview with the author AND a giveaway of Shark Bait coming soon!

Book Review-- The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

eBook
Release date: June 26, 2012
Publisher: Random House
Author: Karen Thompson Walker
Thank you to Net Galley and Random House for providing this eBook for review!

“It still amazes me how little we really knew. . . . Maybe everything that happened to me and my family had nothing at all to do with the slowing. It’s possible, I guess. But I doubt it. I doubt it very much.” Luminous, haunting, unforgettable, The Age of Miracles is a stunning fiction debut by a superb new writer, a story about coming of age during extraordinary times, about people going on with their lives in an era of profound uncertainty. On a seemingly ordinary Saturday in a California suburb, Julia and her family awake to discover, along with the rest of the world, that the rotation of the earth has suddenly begun to slow. The days and nights grow longer and longer, gravity is affected, the environment is thrown into disarray. Yet as she struggles to navigate an ever-shifting landscape, Julia is also coping with the normal disasters of everyday life—the fissures in her parents’ marriage, the loss of old friends, the hopeful anguish of first love, the bizarre behavior of her grandfather who, convinced of a government conspiracy, spends his days obsessively cataloging his possessions. As Julia adjusts to the new normal, the slowing inexorably continues. With spare, graceful prose and the emotional wisdom of a born storyteller, Karen Thompson Walker has created a singular narrator in Julia, a resilient and insightful young girl, and a moving portrait of family life set against the backdrop of an utterly altered world.

Wow. Wow, did I love this book.
One day, the world just starts to slow down. The days get longer and longer. The earth suffers and mankind must find a way to adapt--or not.
But life goes on like 'normal', and The Age of Miracles is the story of one girl and her family during this very odd time.

The research the author put into this book was seriously amazing. The changes and effects are just fascinating.
I LOVE how much detail she actually went into. And it's NOT boring science-y stuff, either. It's interesting and cool and scary!

Julia is a wonderful character. Very real and easy to relate to.

The writing is fantastic. It sucks you in right from the start and doesn't let go until you're done. I'm VERY impressed with Ms. Walker's debut novel. It doesn't read like a debut at all!

The ONE issue I have with The Age of Miracles is that it's NOT an adult book.
This reads as a YA novel, through and through-- albeit a YA novel for older teens because of the subject.
I'm worried that this book will fall flat because the publisher is marketing it as an adult book.
I REALLY hope that doesn't happen because this wonderful, terrifying, sad, sweet novel DESERVES to be read, praised and remembered!

I'd definitely recommend this book for older teens, 15+, and to you young-at-heart adults, too.
The subject of this book would make for some GREAT conversation with your teens!

Book Review-- The Mine by John A. Heldt

eBook
Release Date: Feb. 12, 2012
Self-Published
Author: John A. Heldt 

In 2000, Joel Smith is a cocky, adventurous young man who sees the world as his playground. But when the college senior, days from graduation, enters an abandoned Montana mine, he discovers the price of reckless curiosity. He emerges in May 1941 with a cell phone he can't use, money he can't spend, and little but his wits to guide his way.   Stuck in the age of Whirlaway, swing dancing, and a peacetime draft, Joel begins a new life as the nation drifts toward war.   With the help of his 21-year-old trailblazing grandmother and her friends, he finds his place in a world he knew only from movies and books. But when an opportunity comes to return to the present, Joel must decide whether to leave his new love in the past or choose a course that will alter their lives forever.   THE MINE follows a humbled man through a critical time in history as he adjusts to new surroundings and wrestles with the knowledge of things to come.

Let's be honest here. When you pick up a self-published book--even if it has a kick-ass blurb--it's hit or miss. So when Mr. Heldt, the author of The Mine, contacted me and asked me to review it...Well, I was skeptical. I almost declined. But I love a good time travel story, so I went into it with low expectations.
Boy, was I wrong.

The Mine reminded me very much of both Stephen King's 11/22/63, and the movie, Back to the Future, but it takes a bit to get moving.

The beginning is slow. Joel, the main character, is difficult to like at first. He's cocky and arrogant.
But when he meets Tom, things change. I'll even go as far as to say....It gets magical.

Mr. Heldt can write. His way with words is absolutely wondrous.
His characters are vivid and beautiful and alive. I loved them all, but Katie especially found her way into my heart.

Through the whole book, the author had me asking myself, 'What would I do? How would I react? Could I survive being teleported 60 years into the past?"
It's actually fun...and a little bit scary...to sit and think about that while reading a story like this one.

The Mine asks some big questions. Joel lands in a time heading for war. His struggles with the decisions he has to make is heartbreaking to watch.

You WILL cry while reading this book. A few times. So have tissues close.
And the end is a thing of absolute magic. I LOVED it.

I truly wish that one of the 'big name' publishers had picked up The Mine. This book needs much more publicity and exposure than it's getting.
So I'll do my part to get the word out to as many people as I can, starting here.

PLEASE read The Mine. It's amazing and wonderful and fun and touching.
And after you read it, you'll feel really good about supporting an indie author. :)

I'd like to say a HUGE thank you to John A. Heldt for providing a copy of The Mine for me to review.
This is a book that will stay with me for a long, long time.

Book Review-- Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Paperback
387 pages
Release date: January 5, 2012
Publisher: Puffin
Series: Lunar Chronicles #1
Author: Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, the ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .  Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Wow, did I love this book!
Seriously, a re-imagining of Cinderella where she's a CYBORG?! That's brilliant!

Sometime in the distant future--in a dystopian society-- androids and cyborgs are common, but definitely not seen as equals.

War looms and a plague has been killing people around the world for years.
Cinder, a mechanic, is doing what she can to survive--as well as working to support her step-mother and step-sisters.
Her only friend is an android named Iko, and her whole world suddenly changes when Prince Kai brings his android to her for repairs.

I adore Cinder. She's just so likable and my heart went out to her. The poor girl goes through hell!
Kai is also great. He's a prince, but he's not very princely. I prefer my royalty real and nice and not-snobbish, don't you? ;)

I can't really say much more without giving away key plot points, but I will tell you that I'm REALLY looking forward to book 2.

Ms. Meyer's vivid retelling of this story is fresh and new and wonderful, and I can't wait to see where she goes next!

I highly recommend Cinder to teens age 13+, and to you moms, too!

Book Review--The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross

eGalley
Release date: May 22, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Series: Steampunk Chronicles #2
Author: Kady Cross
Thanks to Net Galley and Harlequin Teen for providing this ARC for review.

In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous.  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.

It was a true pleasure to read book 1, The Girl in the Steel Corset (see my review here) and book 2, The Girl in the Clockwork Collar back-to-back.

While I really enjoyed book 1, book 2 was even better!

Finely is just an amazing character. I can't sing her praises enough. I just LOVE the girl to death! What a great character for teen girls to relate to!
And Emily--Ah, Em. Yep, she's still my fave for sure!

In this book the gang travels to New York, giving a whole new look to the series--and a new set of troubles to Finley and friends!

Clockwork Collar has a really cool 'Gangs of New York' vibe that I LOVED. And the historical accuracy Ms. Cross adds to the pages is wonderful!

This book is the perfect compliment to the series opener. We learn more about Finley and Griffin, Sam and Emily. Jasper has a much larger role, and we meet a new cast of characters that I loved to hate! ;)

The one small complaint that I have? No Jack Dandy. ;)
But I do understand why he's not included. With Finley on a whole other continent, there's really no way--or cause--to bring Jack into the plot.
I do hope he's in book 3, which I'm waiting on the edge of my seat for.

Steampunk Chronicles has very quickly become my new 'must-read' series!