Review of Glimpse by Stacey Wallace Benefiel

Glimpse 

Zellie Wells, #1 

Stacey Wallace Benefiel 

2010 

Amazon/ Goodreads

FREE ON AMAZON KINDLE (as of 7/12)

SPARKLES!

Reasons for reading:

Again, when I got my Kindle, I went a little bit crazy buying books. This book happened to be free and was highlighted on a Kindle-blog, so I downloaded it based on reading the summary.

Basic plot:

At Zellie’s 16th birthday party, she dances with her crush and has a vision of the future: they are both older, she is pregnant, and he is bleeding profusely, clearly dying. Insta-love ensues and she starts sneaking out the window at night to snog him, but there are lots of Secrets that Zellie’s mother and great-aunt have yet to tell her, and these Secrets will change everything…

Curiosities:

The book is mainly in 1st person with Zellie as the narrator, but throughout the book it switches randomly into 3rd person omniscient with Zellie’s crush, Avery, as the narrator. The first couple of times this happens it’s really distracting, but after a while I got used to it.

The weirdest thing about this book was the ridiculous way in which the characters talked. Zellie is a 16 yr old preacher’s daughter, and she has a younger sister named Melody. Zellie’s BFF is named Claire, and she’s virtually identical to Helen’s BFF, also named Claire, in Starcrossed (AKA realllly annoying.) Zellie, despite living in the middle of nowhere and having all of her social events centered around the church, used so much crude phrasing and ridiculous sounding one-liners that it pretty much killed the book for me. Non-spoilery examples:

Location 607: “…kinda didn’t care if the whole room was scoping my nips at this point; I was filled with reckless sixteen-year-old abandon.” --SCOPING MY NIPS???? EW.

Location 780: “…buried his face in my hair and took a big whiff. It was so good to know we were the same kind of perv.”—How does smelling someone’s hair while making out make you a perv? Again, ew…

There is also a weird jail-bait kind of thing going on… At one point, Zellie narrates that her friend Claire’s “red miniskirt rode up, only just covering her thighs” (Loc 546), and Zellie enjoys the summer weather because “even pastor’s daughters could get away with wearing less clothing.” (Location 1091) This reminds me of the writing middle schoolers who are just starting to explore their sexuality come up with, when appearing sexy involves baring their midriffs and body glitter.

The actual paranormal premise of the story is pretty cool, which is why I persisted in reading the book despite the weird characters. I can’t really explain it without giving away the whole plot, but basically Zellie is part of a line of women who have psychic powers- powerful ones! I wish the story gave us even more psychic scenes instead of the struggling banter between horny adolescents.

Final thoughts:

I wish this book had gone through quality editing, because the premise could really be something great! It’s worth reading if you are curious- it’s short and moves quickly, and I’m glad I read it because it was fun and weirdly fascinating. The awkward dialogue really made it difficult to enjoy the book, which is unfortunate.  I won't be reading the sequels.  Two stars.

Love Potions, Librarians, and a Tiny Hispanic Boy: Review of Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz

Witches of East End

#1, The Beauchamp Family

Melissa de la Cruz

Adult, 272 pages

I like the cover, but I'm not too sure
why there are pretty red leaves.

This is Melissa de la Cruz's first adult novel, and I LOVED it.  It was fun, but not ridiculous (some of the Blue Bloods kind of weirded me out), it read smoothly, and basically, it was like the perfect truffle- rich but not too big of a serving.  I also liked that although there will be more books about the Beauchamps, this book could be a stand-alone novel.  As in, it's a complete story in one book!  Imagine that!

North Hampton is an old-fashioned coastal town in New York, and three witches live there.  Joanna Beauchamp lives there with her two adult daughters, Ingrid and Freya, and their familiars: a griffin, a raven, and a cat.  Joanna's gift is wisdom, Ingrid's is Hearth, and Freya's gift is love.  Unfortunately, back in the 1600's, the three were told that they could no longer practice magic- they had to live as humans...  So Joanna is a lonely woman, Ingrid works at the local library as an architectural archivist, and Freya is a bartender, engaged to be married to wealthy Bran Gardiner.  Things are going well for the family until Freya's eye is caught by Bran's younger brother at their engagement party.  When Ingrid decides to secretly practice a little magic to help a fellow librarian conceive, things really start to spin out of control, and the events that follow start to look pretty bad for the family.

As I said, this was an excellent novel.  It's advertised as a summer read, and it's really perfect for reading right now, with the end of summer mentality going around.  For me, it's cooler nights, stormy weather, and an air of nostalgia.  Some Blue Bloods characters show up, which is fun, and there is a heavy infusion of Norse mythology, particularly at the end.  It's also refreshing to read the first book in a paranormal series where the paranormal beings already know about their powers!  All three main characters are engaging and likeable.  Joanna is a very motherly figure, and her affection for her housekeeper's young son is endearing.  Ingrid, who might have an unrequited crush, has a sincere desire to help others, and Freya's passion for love and life is energizing and sexy.  My favorite part is when Freya starts to mix up love potions at her bar- I love fancy drinks, and magical ones sound even better!

I'd recommend this to older fans of Blue Bloods- I like this book better, and it's got a positive energy flowing through it. I'm looking forward to the next book!

Philadelphia, Secret Powers, and Stolen Art: Review of The Cordovan Vault by J Monkeys

The Cordovan Vault, #1

The Livingston-Wexford Adventures

J Monkeys

YA Adventure

2011

The cover shows the mysterious vault...  Where is it, and what's inside?

The Cordovan Vault is J Monkey's debut novel.  When fourteen-year-old Kayla Livingston and Quinn Wexford's older siblings (and legal guardians) duck out of their wedding at the beginning of the reception, Kayla and Quinn have no idea what's about to happen to them.  The next day, they receive heartbreaking news from the police that Jim and Lorelei have been found dead, and that Kayla and Quinn are emancipated minors.  However, a frantic phone call from Lorelei- whose death has apparently been faked- puts Kayla and Quinn on a secret escape and journey to The City of Brotherly Love, where mysteries await them.

During the story, we find out that Kayla and Quinn's families have some interesting history involving secret societies and special powers.  I really enjoyed this mystery/adventure aspect.  The story is linked to Masonic and United States' history, similar to National Treasure, and I learned some interesting historical information, such as about the history of libraries and other city facts.  A large chunk of the story takes place at a very very old inn, where Kayla and Quinn help out the elderly owner.

Kayla and Quinn are likeable main characters, but I would age them at around 16 or 17, not 14.  Their hyper-maturity is acknowledged in the story, but they really do behave with much more confidence, street smarts, and personal responsibility than the 14-year-olds I know.  Kayla is fun and very smart- she loves solving puzzles, and this is an important element in the story.  She is, however, subject to mood swings and temper tantrums, typical of a teenager.  Quinn is very tall and noble- he has very good social skills and is able to work most situations to his advantage.  When the book begins, Kayla and Quinn are not friends- they treat each other like bitter step siblings, but that quickly changes under the extreme circumstances of their escape.

There is very little boy-girl tension present in this story- presumably to make it appropriate to a wider audience, but possibly the author just chose not to focus on it because of the adventure genre.  I would like to see a more natural, realistic development of the relationship between Kayla and Quinn in #2- even if there is no physical attraction between them, I feel like the boy-girl element deserves some more attention.  As a child/teen I had a very close family friend who was a boy- we never were romantically interested in each other, but there was still tension between us, such as when he had a crush on my best friend, or when I introduced him to my new boyfriend.

My favorite element of the story is the puzzle-solving.  Throughout the story, Kayla and Quinn are faced with mental challenges, and it's really cool to see them work through the puzzles and to see the pieces fall into place.  Some of the things I figured out while reading, but some solutions were surprising to me, which was exciting!  If I could change anything about the story, I would make the paranormal element stronger.  It's not a major part of the story until about the last third, but I expect that this will change in #2.

I would recommend this story to younger teens or anyone who enjoys fun adventure stories.  Readers who are looking for something to read in between Rick Riordan releases would enjoy this book.  There is a very small amount of language and some brief but scary violence/torture parts, but I would still recommend it even to middle schoolers whom I don't know very well.  Book #2, The Peacock Tale, will be out in the fall, and I look forward to finding out what happens to Kayla and Quinn!

Check out the Goodreads page, the Amazon page, or the author's website for more information!

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

MEG CABOT WEEK: Happy Birthday to Overbite!

Overbite

The Insatiable Series, Book 2

Meg Cabot

July 2011

The Insatiable series combines two of my favorite things... Meg Cabot and vampires.  I'm not sure what it is about vampires... There's something so exciting about a super powerful guy desperately in love with an unlikely girl.  Anyways.  Meg Cabot has fun with her vampires, and in Overbite, they get a bit more evil than in Insatiable.

TEASER: "But when he actually saw Meena Harper emerge from a taxi in front of the Freewell, New Jersey, Police Department... he realized that all the worst-case scenarios he'd been imagining came nowhere close to the horror of this one:  

There was a pink scarf tied around her throat." p. 48

Insatiable (Book 1, see my review here) introduces us to Meena Harper, resident of NYC with psychic powers.  Meena has the gift to know how people are going to die- this sounds like an awesome power, but it's actually kind of creepy to other people.  Meena is determined to use her gift for good even though it causes some uncomfortable conversations.  She's doing okay until she finds a new boyfriend, Lucien, who happens to be a vampire.  Not just a vampire, but the actual prince of darkness, as in the son of Satan.  (Note: this is still a fun book, even if you don't like horror or super dark books, you would probably still enjoy it.  The evil is played down and the drama is played up.)

Overbite starts with Meena working for the Palatine, happily living with her brother Jon in a secret location... Lucien is in hiding, but Meena tries to remain anonymous in the city, just in case.  She still believes that he has good in him, and she is trying to find information from the Vatican to prove that it's possible.  In the meantime, she has bigger problems.  She has had repeating nightmares about her ex-boyfriend, and she asks him to meet her in the city to talk.  She's in the car with him, trying to figure out how to break the news of his impending death, when the unthinkable happens.  A chain of events is set off involving a desperate mission to New Jersey and corruption in unlikely places.  Through it all, Meena is pursued by the charming Palatine guard Alaric Wulf and the brooding vampire prince Lucien Antonescu.

Overbite is fast paced and full of mystery- the ending definitely surprised me, and there were several plot twists that made me audibly gasp, much to the amusement of my family who was riding in the car with me.  Meena's brother Jon is a really fun character.  In this book, he has been hired to work at a church coffee shop, but he still really really wants to work for the Palatine.  He's come up with a new invention called the SuperStaker (I'll let you read the book to find out more) that's super cool... Meg Cabot doesn't take her vampires too seriously, and the SuperStaker is proof of that.  I'd love to see Edward Cullen (*swoon*) fight one off, haha.

Lucien also goes through major character development during this book.  He struggles with choosing between his father's legacy of evil and the good Meena believes he is capable of.  I like that he is a deeply flawed character, and he visibly struggles with evil temptations.

Even with all of this drama and action, the book is written in Meg Cabot's humorous voice, and the reader will enjoy the light hearted bits interspersed with the moments of darkness.

As I said above, the ending was unexpected, and I'm not sure what's going to happen with the series. Is there going to be another book?  I can't find the info online, but if you know, please leave a comment.  EDIT: According to commenter below, this is the last book in the series.  :(  Bummer for me.

Four stars to an excellent sequel with humor, intrigue, and the ultimate triumph of good over evil.

Meg Cabot's website has some fun extras, including links to Palatine publishings and excerpts.

The book trailer is HILARIOUS.

Disclaimer:  I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review of The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch

The Magnolia League

Katie Crouch

2011

348 pages

Unfortunately, I began reading this book around the same time that someone tweeted an article by the author(s) on the subject of YA literature.  The article includes a killer spoiler, so if you want to be surprised by the book's ending, stay away for now!  I found the article to be mildly offensive, as a dedicated YA fan, particularly this bit: "But readers in Y.A. don't care about rumination. They don't want you to pore over your sentences trying to find the perfect turn of phrase that evokes the exact color of the shag carpeting in your living room when your dad walked out on your mom one autumn afternoon in 1973. They want you to tell a story."  


And telling a story is exactly what the author has done here.  The Magnolia League is about a grungy hippie girl (Alex) with dreads (who apparently doesn't shower).  When her mom dies in a freak accident, Alex is forced to leave the commune where she has grown up and move to Savannah, Georgia to live with her rich grandmother, who goes by Miss Lee.  Strange things start to happen, and Alex discovers that her grandmother's secret society, the Magnolia League, is really a hoodoo club in partnership with some people who continued practicing hoodoo after being brought to the US during slavery.


The story is very fast paced, which I enjoyed, but the characters are inconsistent and just...weird.  Here are some examples:


Alex vacillates between being super naive/smart and super coarse/vapid: "This week it's Jane Eyre, the one novel on the school summer reading list I haven't already read.  Thoughts so far: Edward is hot, but a total nightmare.  And what is with this banshee in the attic?" (p. 65).  She sounds like a snarky blogger being silly, not like a well-read lover of literature, and I'm always suspicious of characters who claim to have read every good book out there (ahem, Bella).  I LOVE to read, but I certainly haven't read even the smallest appreciable fraction of the books out there.  Alex also confuses me by being a super-virgin (her thoughts on sex come off as preachy), then making the following comment: "And how about those love scenes with Frederic and Catherine?  Totally orgasmic" (p.121).  WHAT? First of all, not even Mia Thermopolis would accidentally say that.  Then she goes on with, "Not that I even know what an orgasm is... I mean, I do know.  I do it all the time! Or sometimes.  Whatever."  I can almost take this as clumsiness to add to her "naive" character, but really?  What person is that ridiculous?  Also, I find it weird that Alex is overweight when she only eats health food and works outside all day.  She should probably get her thyroid checked, because usually nature girls aren't chubby at all.


The first clue that something was off came at the beginning of the story, when the two queen bees of Savannah are driving.  One is listening to Taylor Swift loudly on the radio, and the other turns down the music with this line, "I don't mean to get all Kanye, but you need to hear me" (p. 39).  Again, WHAT?  Who says that?  Not one of the most popular girls in a huge city! It's funny when the school principal makes a Kanye joke, just like it's funny when the 55 year old white chemistry teacher dougies at a pep rally.  It's NOT FUNNY when your friend makes such a late joke.  Kanye's over.


I'm going to stop ranting, now I promise.  And I'm going to read book two, because like I said, the story is excellent here.  I just hope that book two reads a little more authentically.  


3 stars to a fun book with tantalizing hoodoo secrets.  I'm a sucker for glamour and secret societies!

Review of Winterborne by Augusta Blythe

Winterborne

by Augusta Blythe

eBook, published April 2011

Available for 2.99 on Kindle, Nook, and iBookstore

Winterborne is the story of two best friends, Mia and Loie (rhymes with Joey) as they approach their shared 17th birthday, December 21st.  Mia, the strong, beautiful one, is going to inherit psychic powers on her birthday, but her father, who also had these powers, disappeared a long time ago, so she doesn't know much about them.  Loie, an orphan who lives with her crotchety, gin-drinking grandmother, is content hiding in Mia's shadow and being her emotional support and confidant.  During the summer before the fateful birthday, Loie watches as Mia tests out her powers, which are just beginning to emerge.  Mia's powers seem to include a little bit of telepathy and telekinesis, although neither of the girls knows exactly what will happen when her powers arrive in full.  Their summer becomes more interesting when a gorgeous Brit named Andreas climbs over the fence (see Teaser Tuesday here).  Both Mia and Loie find themselves attracted to Andreas, but Loie is content to let  Mia have him, at least at first.  As December 21st approaches, Loie starts experiencing strange nightmares,  and after a frightening nighttime attack, the girls realize that things are not exactly as they seem.  Nothing can prepare them for what happens on December 21st.

When the author emailed me inviting me to review this book, I was super excited.  This book is exactly the kind of thing I like to read: YA, urban fantasy, cute man-candy, and secret powers.  I did receive this ebook for free in exchange for a review, but if I were not absolutely beyond broke (about to graduate with my Master's and currently unemployed, living with my parents), I would have purchased it in a heartbeat, especially for the amazing price of $2.99.

I loved this story- it was fast paced, very funny, and had an excellently developed plot with twists and action in all of the right places.  Loie and Mia both show excellent growth throughout the book, and their relationship is honest and imperfect, but they work together to make it through the difficulties that face them.  Andreas is a very NICE boy, which is refreshing, because as much as I <3 Edward, Jace, and even Four, not ALL great guys are secretly tortured and desperate.  Although I don't think we have seen all of Andreas' secrets, he seems to be emotionally healthy and not in need of "fixing."

The only downside of this book was that I felt it was very short!  I read it on my phone, where it was 800 something pages with the font size I use, but in on my laptop it is only 188 pages.  I was really happy to find out that the author is working on a sequel.  I just want to keep reading and learn more about this world- there are still mysteries to uncover and secrets to explore.

I give this book five stars, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes YA fantasy.  I can't wait to see what happens next!

STAY TUNED for an interview with the author, Augusta Blythe, later this week.

Thoughts on Vampire Academy Series

I feel like I owe an explanation for not blogging for a a few days- I've been completely absorbed in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead.  The last book (Last Sacrifice, #6) just came out, so I decided to follow up to reading the first book over the summer, and I got books 2-6 from the library and read them one after the other.

This series completely defied my expectations!  These books are wonderful- the plot has so many twists and turns that I could sometimes guess, sometimes not.  It's almost a shame that these are vampire books- because they bear that stigma, fewer people will read them.

Even if you think you aren't into vampires, consider reading these books- the characters are so rich that they feel like close friends now.  These books can hold their own, even up against The Mortal Instruments.  I give all of the 5 stars for excellent writing and an amazing love story that is both heart-wrenching and satisfying.

Review- City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

Published in 2009.

I read this book in one day because I just couldn't put it down.  The characterizations are perfect, the action sequences are well-written, and the book is full of suspense, mystery, drama, and romance!   I'm super excited about City of Fallen Angels, which is coming April 2011!  As I said in a previous post, get these books NOW!

By the way, Sebastien is on the cover.  I couldn't figure it out, but I googled it out of curiosity.  Good to know!

Review- City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Published in 2008

In case you are unaware, this is the second book in The Mortal Instruments series.  The first book is City of Bones, review below.

I am completely in love with Jace!  That's all I will say to avoid spoilers... but wow.  Trying to decide if I love him, Edward, or Dimitri more.

There's no real need for me to review this book- I think most people who read this genre have already read it, and most other readers are at least aware of it... but I do have an important message for you all.

If you have been interested in this series, but have not picked it up yet, GET TO IT.  MAKE THIS A PRIORITY!  I procrastinated reading this series, and now I can't believe that I waited so long!  This series is beyond amazing.  This second book had none of the minor flaws of the first book, and the plot was even better.  I was also actually able to follow the action scenes (I usually get lost in Tamora Pierce's action scenes, haha).  SO BOTTOM LINE:  acquire all three of these books and read them, please!!

Review- City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Copyright 2007

So I am a little behind, haha, but my girlfriends from college convinced me to make reading this book a priority on my reading list.  I'm so glad I picked it up!  This was my first read-through, and I just requested the second and third books from the library.  If you also have not read this book, definitely add it to your TBR list if you like paranormal.  This is great!  5 STARS!

By the way, is there a difference between fantasy and paranormal?  I have a friend who writes short science fiction who explained the difference between science fiction and fantasy, but I'm not sure how paranormal compares to fantasy.

In the meantime, I'm going to go crazy waiting for book two to come for me at the library!  I texted my friend and made her answer the heart wrenching question about Jace that I'm sure everyone else who read this book had.  Her answer gave me the strength to not freak out like I usually do when reading a series with cliffhangers.

On a surprising note (at least to me!), I'm really starting to like reading about love triangles and star-crossed lovers- as long as they have a happy ending.  I'm not sure how this series will end, but I just finally watched the series finale of Friends (I told you I was behind!) and needless to say, I'm on a little bit of a romantic high right now.

Please don't think that I've abandoned my blog!  I know I'm not posting very much right now, but I'm doing NaNoWriMo and I just took over in my student teaching position, so my time is very limited right now.  My priorities are getting seriously stretched:

1.  Student teaching position
2.  Grad school classes
3.  Tutoring business
4.  Working with youth at church
5.  Playing piano for church
6.  Reading to keep myself sane
7.  NaNoWriMo
8.  Blogging

As you can see, I have a lot going right now and although I enjoy all of it, it's hardly ever in balance!  Hopefully I'll get that worked out soon.

Have a great weekend!

Review- Radiance by Alyson Noel

Copyright 2010

When I grabbed this book from the library, I didn't know that it was a spin off from another series.  I haven't read the other series, so I can't say how they compare, but I enjoyed this book despite lacking whatever background I missed.

Riley has died and is now learning about life in the Here & Now (author's idea of afterlife, kind of reminded me of how JK Rowling represents the afterlife).  She is assigned to go back to earth to collect a soul that has refused to cross over.

This book features beautiful descriptions- not so much description that I got bored, but enough that it was easy to picture the setting in my mind.  The story is good, but it could be better.  I thought that the book was too short- maybe I have just read too many long books lately, but I like for there to be a well-developed storyline.  This book seemed like a dream, where you get a blurred view of the whole picture.  I'd love for there to be more exploration of the Here & Now.  This book does have a sequel, which will come out in March of 2011.

I give this book 3 stars- I don't think that I will pick up the sequel, and I just don't think that it was in depth enough for me to really get into it.  The cover is certainly beautiful, so if you are intrigued, give it a shot.  The book is short and thought provoking about death and the afterlife.

Review- Linger by Maggie Stiefvater (*Spoiler for Shiver*)

For the sake of writing a fair review, I am going to pretend that I like sad books, and give this book four stars.

Linger is the sequel to Shiver, which I reviewed previously.  I enjoyed reading Linger, and I found it to be a quick, relaxing read.  It continues the story of Sam and Grace and the wolves of Mercy Falls.  Basically in this book, (and here's the spoiler for **Shiver**), Sam has been cured of being a werewolf, so that's good, but Grace and Isabel found a dead wolf in the woods.  What killed the wolf?  What can Sam do with the strange new wolves that Beck got last year?  What does the future hold for Grace, who has developed the first headache of her entire life?

I enjoyed the easy romance of this book. It is relaxing to read about a couple with problems other than relationship problems.  Sam and Grace have a very intense relationship, not healthy for high school (discussion point?), but they are also very kind and loving to each other.

It's hard for me to review this book since I found the end so not to my liking, but I am definitely looking forward to the next book, Forever, which will be out NEXT JULY!!  I hate waiting for books...  :D

PS I think that this series actually qualifies for sci-fi status, rather than paranormal, because there is apparently a scientific cause and mechanism for the "disease."

Review- Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy, Bk 1
Richelle Mead
Published in 2007

I AM SO GLAD that I picked up this book!  It's amazing.

Summary from Goodreads:

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . . 

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

What I really liked about this book was that it was incredibly engaging.  The mix of fantasy and reality really made it something that I wanted to read.  Other good points:

1.  The story is told from the POV of Rose, who is kind of Lissa's sidekick.  Although Lissa appears to be the most important person/vampire in the book, it's pretty clear that she can't live without her BFFL Rose.  I was initially disappointed in the POV choice, but by the end I was very happy. There is also a convenient plot device that allows us to see what Lissa is feeling and what happens when Rose is not around.

2.  Dimitri, Rose's new mentor, has to be the most delicious man candy that I've found in a book for awhile.  I'm excited to see what happens to him in the next book.

3.  This book was the first that I have ever read to really deal with depression and self-injury without being graphic and without making it the main point of the book.

This is important because cutting is a super common problem, and it's very different from other disorders.  I actually put a book cover up to the left (Cut by Patricia McCormick) but removed it because it could be a trigger for people with the problem.  Seriously.  Been there, done that.  If you are a cutter, get help.  It's very possible to stop!

Anyways, this book is sensitive and not ridiculous about the issue.  This book did not give me any kind of trigger vibes, so bravo!


4.  There is a surprising double ending, and it's just got an excellent plot and premise.

One negative thing- this might have just been me, but I got confused several times during the book.  There are a lot of minor characters and it is hard to keep them straight.

Sooooo... 5 STARS!  I recommend this book out to everyone.  It's fast, fun, and sexy.  Give it a read.

Review- Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (2009)

Summary from Goodreads:

the cold.
Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why.
the heat.
Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace...until now.
the shiver.
For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human—and Grace must fight to keep him—even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future.

Although I enjoyed it, I feel very conflicted about this book.  Here are some of my thoughts:

** I really like Sam- maybe more than Edward Cullen.  Sam is much less selfish.  HOWEVER, I hated the "song lyrics" he made up throughout the story... seriously.
** Isabel is a very interesting character- I enjoyed reading about her progression through the book.  I hope that she is present in Linger.
** The end made me really depressed and grossed out.  Without giving things away, I was unhappy even with the attempted resolution of conflict.
** Maybe Grace is the cause of my discomfort.  I'm afraid that the other characters are better developed than Grace is.  I just don't really empathize with her.  I'm curious to know if other people relate better to her.
** Did anyone else notice the sentence with both the words "shiver" and "linger" in it?  This reminded me of how excited I was when The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy used "hagrid" and "dumbledore" as words on the same page!


I will give this book 4 stars.  I might change it to 5 after I think about it, but right now, I'm feeling 4 stars.  Shiver was a great combination of action, drama, intrigue, and romance, and the plot premise seems very unique to me now that I have read the book.  The summary from the book jacket did not really appeal to me.  The book was edgy with respect to thematic elements (by which I mean it might not be appropriate for younger or queasier readers).

All in all, I drove to the library within two hours of finishing it to pick up the sequel, Linger.

Let me know what you thought about this book!  Do you agree with my comments, or did you have a different perception?

Review- Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse #1)

This is only the second vampire book-world I have ever read, the Twilight series being the first.  Some of my girlfriends had said that this was a fun read, and it definitely was.  It's a murder mystery, with vampires and a couple other paranormal beings, set in a small town in Louisiana.  Apparently, True Blood is based off of this series.

The main character, Sookie, is pretty awesome.  She's down the middle between girly girl and tomboy, and she's smart and sexy.  Bill, her new vampire friend, is not as hot as Edward Cullen, but definitely more vampirish- I'd actually be afraid of Bill, but I was pretty sure Edward was never actually going to eat Bella, even though that's basically the whole plot of Midnight Sun.

I'm not sure of anything bad- this book is like Twilight, only BETTER in the sense that it's much more gritty.  If you hate Twilight but like this book (and think it's a crime to compare them), I'm sorry!  I enjoyed both of them.  I'm still in love with Edward, but Dead Until Dark IS WELL-WRITTEN and interesting and contains plot twists and Bill is definitely NOT a virgin.

I give this book 4 stars- it's grittiness might not be for everyone, but if you like vampires or think you might, give it a shot!  I will be reading the next book, but it's not at the top of my TBR list.

Have you read this book?  How did you think it compared to Twilight?  Have you read any of the other books in the series?