Review: Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Alice in Zombieland
White Rabbit Chronicles #1

Author: Gena Showalter

Publication Date: September 12, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Genre: Young Adult/Horror

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Synopsis:

She won't rest until she's sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

If anyone had told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that's all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real.

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn't careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies.

My Thoughts: I actually liked this book a lot more than I thought I would.  Normally, I hate anything to do with zombies.  I feel like they are overdone and, quite frankly, disturbing.  So, I was pleasantly surprised when I found this new take on zombie-kind.

Now, be forewarned, this is no where near a clear adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, if that is what you are looking for.  There are definitely throw-backs to the books and Easter-Eggs if you know the original series, but this is definitely it's own story with it's own plot.

Regardless, I really enjoyed this book.  Ali (or Alice) really surprised me a lot with her fortitude.  She was very reminiscent in a way of the Alice from Alice in Wonderland in that she sucked it up and didn't let people intimidate her or push her around.

I feel like the climax in this book may have been rushed a little and could have maybe been drawn out a bit more.  However, considering the fact that it is a multi-book series I am not surprised by the way it all went down.  I feel it has most likely set up for a more dramatic climax in other novels when we deal with the big bads of the series again.

I really enjoyed reading this book.  It was one of the ones that once I picked up I could hardly put down for anything.  I am typing this review up with the second book sitting next to me, begging me to crack it open and devour it.  I would totally recommend this one to any YA reader, especially the paranormal-loving ones - even if you hate zombies!

Review: Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer

Between the Lines

Author: Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer

Publication Date: June 26, 2012

Publisher: Simon Pulse Simon Schuster

Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary

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Synopsis:

Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah.

And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom.

A romantic and charming story, this companion novel to Off the Page will make every reader believe in the fantastical power of fairy tales.

My Thoughts: This is probably closer to 3 1/2 stars for me, but we don't do half-stars here at Owl Read It, and neither does Goodreads (much to my disappointment).  I didn't feel like it deserved to be rounded down, so I rounded up.

This was an unique story with an interesting idea.  What if the characters you were reading about in a book were sentient and went about their own lives when the book was shut?  What if they were just acting out the story like actors in a play?  What if the main character, the Prince, wanted out?

I will admit, the concept of this book was awesome.  I think any reader would agree that it is an interesting idea and the thought of any of our beloved book characters not being confined to the pages that they were written in is enough to make the fanfiction world go wild.

Like I said, I liked the idea and the premise, but I found that the follow through wasn't so great.  There were definitely times where I felt I had to suspend my belief a bit too far.  I also felt that the pacing off the novel was a little off at times.  I did read it pretty fast and there were some pretty awesome illustrations throughout.

I also had a hard time connecting to the characters.  I seemed to be okay with Delilah in general, but every other character in the book I didn't really care too much about.  Even Olly, the Prince in need of rescue, didn't inspire much feeling from me.

All in all, I am glad that I did read it (it has been sitting on my shelf for a while).  If someone was looking for a light, quick read I would probably recommend it.

Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Evolution of Mara Dyer
Mara Dyer #2

Author: Michelle Hodkin

Publication Date: October 23, 2012

Publisher: Simon & Shuster Books for Young Readers

Genre: Paranormal

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Synopsis:

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.
She can’t.
She used to think her problems were all in her head.
They aren’t.
She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.
She’s wrong.
In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

My Thoughts: Okay, so my fellow blogger and friend, Jenn, has been trying to get me to read this series for what seems like forever.  For whatever reason, I kept putting it off.  I even bought the first book while it was on sale a while back but it has been sitting on my bookshelf ever since, just collecting dust.  Then, my daughter ran off with my e-reader and I turned to my bookshelf and there it sat.  So, I picked up the first book and I am glad I did.  I was so impressed with the first that I continued on to this novel right after and now I am waiting in stunned anticipation for the third, set to be released in October 2013 last I checked.

This book series is definitely different.  The main character, Mara Dyer, is pretty much certifiable - even when you are in her head since it is first person. She is going through a lot of paranormal stuff, that is true, but she is also pretty insane if you ask me.  There are moments of clarity and I think, "Wow, maybe Mara isn't as crazy as I thought she was after all."  Then she sees or does something else to make me question her sanity all over again.  I know some people may argue this fact (since, really, there is a lot of weird things going on around her as well as this), but sometimes you have to face the facts.  Mara Dyer is, in fact, at least a little nutty.  Despite this (and her hallucinations that are sometimes real, sometimes not) Mara had grown on me.

Noah Shaw is delectable and a trooper, I have to say.  He sticks with Mara through it all.  He believes in her even when she starts to doubt herself.  The fact that he has a supernatural ability like hers (-ish) certainly doesn't hurt him believing in her either.  He is willing to do so much for her it is just incredible.  He is so good and sweet to her and sometimes I think (she does as well) he is the only thing keeping her from going off of the deep end.

This series was strange, but good strange.  Following a first-person narrative when the narrator doesn't always know what is real and what is not and is constantly seeing things to make you question it is something that I am not entirely used to.  Of course, Mara is a little more sane than what I seem to be portraying in this review (although, not much more).

I am really looking forward to the third book in this series (The Retribution of Mara Dyer, due out in October 2013) and I am glad I finally picked it up.  I enjoyed The Evolution of Mara Dyer a little more than The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer so I can only imagine what number three has in store for me.  Loved this book and love this series!

Wake

Author: Amanda Hocking

Publication Date: August 7th, 2012

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Genre: YA/Fantasy/Paranormal

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Synopsis:

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group. Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different. Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

My Thoughts: I've been wanting to read this ever since I finished the Trylle Trilogy a while ago. Amanda Hocking has an addictive and persuasive writing style. She's really great at luring you in and making you crave for more.

So how suiting for her to write a book about girls who lure you in with their presence and voice. These girls show up in a small town and everyone is simultaneously attracted to them as well as terrified of them. They have a very commanding presence that makes you take notice and hang on their every word, especially those of the male variety. But at the same time, they are confusing everyone and freaking them out. But the former feeling definitely overwhelms the latter.

Introduce the main character Gemma. She's a really level headed, smart, determined and down to earth girl. Her biggest and only vice is water. She lives to swim, to be in the water, and just lives for all things aquatic. She's seriously addicted. She might as well be half fish, it's like she needs swimming to survive. She lives at home with her awkward but supportive dad, and her very controlling and protective older sister, Harper.  Harper is almost like a secondary main character in this story. She plays a really big roll in how everything unfolds, and there were quite a few chapters where we just got to learn about her own background and her own point of view. I really liked that and it was a fun added dynamic that kept the story fresh and the pace fast.

Everything seems pretty great with Gemma's swimming going swimmingly (hehe), and the boy she has a serious crush on just happens to like her back. But then the mysterious trio of girls, that used to be 4 girls, decide to focus in on Gemma. When they start hanging around and demanding her attention, everything gets messed up real fast.Those girls are bad news bears. It's a big old down hill slide from there on in, and it was great.

I guess that sounds weird. But I just really enjoy a book that never gets boring and keeps the energy and interest high. It's not easy to find fault in a book that keeps your turning the pages relentlessly. Amanda hocking and peaked my wonder yet again by taking on a brand new fantasy element. I think she pretty much mastered it and I really liked her take on these fantastical beings. I will definitely be reading more into the series!

Review: Will Sparrow's Road

Will Sparrow's Road

Author: Karen Cushman

Publication Date: November 1, 2012

Publisher: Clarion Books

Genre: Historical Fiction / Middle Grade

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Synopsis:

In his thirteenth year, Will Sparrow, liar and thief, becomes a runaway. On the road, he encounters a series of con artists—a pickpocket, a tooth puller, a pig trainer, a conjurer—and learns that others are more adept than he at lying and thieving. Then he reluctantly joins a traveling troupe of "oddities," including a dwarf and a cat-faced girl, holding himself apart from the "monsters" and resolving to be on guard against further deceptions. At last Will is forced to understand that appearances are misleading and that he has been his own worst deceiver. The rowdy world of market fairs in Elizabethan England is the colorful backdrop for Newbery medalist Cushman's new comic masterpiece.

My Thoughts: So this was an okay read, normally I'm pretty happy with any middle grade books that I read but this one is one that's most likely not going to stick with me. I'm not really sure. The writing was good, the story was good but something was missing for me to give it that push that would make me remember it forever. The story seemed a bit predictable maybe? I can't really put my finger on it.

Like I said though, I did enjoy the story. Will was an amusing kid who managed to survive alone on the road for quite a while in a time where everyone would either chase him away of try to catch him and sell him. Even his own father sold him.

So while this was well written and the story was interesting enough for me to read it, it was still missing something to make it stand out. It wasn't as unique as it could be. I'm sure it would be enjoyed much more by a younger audience, like it's intended for. It is still a good read that I liked though.

Review: Dreaming Awake by Gwen Hayes

Dreaming Awake
Falling Under #2

Author: Gwen Hayes

Publication Date: January 3, 2012

Publisher: NAL Trade

Genre: Fantasy

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Synopsis:

She fell for him in a nighttime world. But the time for dreaming is past—and the here-and-now can be just as fragile their love…

When Theia Alderson first encountered a mysterious, handsome boy in her dreams, she never imagined how finding Haden Black—and falling in love—could change her life. To save Haden, Theia sacrificed everything. And the dangerous bargain she made could have lasting repercussions.

Now Theia has returned to Serendipity Falls, and she finds herself struggling with the same deadly hungers that have tortured Haden. When students at their high school fall prey to a mysterious illness, Theia can’t help but wonder if Haden’s control is slipping—and how much longer she’ll have a grip on her own.

And still the nightmare realm of Under won’t let them go. Someone from Haden’s past is determined to destroy Theia from the inside out, starting with those closest to her, forcing Theia to choose between family and friends and a love that may have been doomed from the start…

My Thoughts: I read this series in two days - I just couldn't put it down.  From the very first chapters in Falling Under this series had me enthralled and completely captivated.  When I reached the ending of Dreaming Awake I could hardly believe it was over and was instantly craving more.

The Falling Under series is about a girl named Theia, who was born in America but raised in England hence the British accent.  Theia was just a regular misfit girl in high school with an overbearing father before Haden Black came into her life and turned up into down and down into up.  Then, someone from Haden's past comes and threatens everything they hold dear and Theia must make a pact with the devil to save Haden.  But Haden isn't giving up on Theia so easily.

The evolution of Theia from the first book (Falling Under) to Dreaming Awake, and even during dreaming awake, is something miraculous.  At the beginning of Fallen Under we find Theia as a socially awkward girl repressed by her father so that she is the picture of perfection of British Aristocracy.  He tries to tame anything wild that she could have possibly got from her American mother and sets harsh limits to which she has always abided.   Then, slowly at first but surely, she starts to change as she must adapt to the situations that her love for Haden Black puts her in.  By the end of Dreaming Awake, Theia has her own mind and does not need or look for anyone's permission to be herself or do what she wishes. She really gets a back bone and lets herself free and I loved watching her transformation.

Haden Black is someone I could totally sink my teeth into.  He is sweet, charming, jealous and with just enough bad to make me (and Theia) swoon. He had a couple of weird/creepy moments that made me reminiscent of a sparkly vampire (not naming any names) but they were very minimal and easy to look over when he is just so damn hot and weird and perfect all rolled up into one giant Haden roll.

I enjoyed this series so much that I am a little sad it is over.  I liked that it was different, even though the way it was written did give me a throw-back to the first two arcs of the Vampire Diaries books.  However, the plot was something I enjoyed immensely and the characters were pretty awesome as well.  All in all, if you are looking for a good read I would definitely recommend picking up this series.

Review: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Grave Mercy
His Fair Assassin #1

Author: Robin LeFevers

Publication Date:

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcort

Genre: Historical/Paranormal

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Synopsis:

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf? 

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others. 

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

My Thoughts: I'll admit that I wasn't sure what I was going to think about this book.  I picked it up do to some rave reviews and ratings I had seen on it and I certainly wasn't disappointed.  I was sucked into the world of Grave Mercy the moment I open the cover and read the first page.

Grave Mercy is about a girl named Ismae.  Ismae is a daughter of Death - literally. So, when she flees from a brutal arranged marriage the only place that she will be safe is at the convent of S. Mortain.  A place where she and her sisters in death are trained to be assassins and carry out the will of their father, the death god Saint Mortain.  Ismae is the most loyal of all the novices.  She never thought that she could ever do anything against the will of her convent or her god.  However, when she is sent on a mission with the cold Gavriel Duval she will find her loyalties, beliefs and heart will be tested in ways she could never have imagined.

I love Ismae's independence.  She refuses to rely on men for anything, which given her past doesn't surprise me.  It does border on pig-headedness once in a while but, again, given her past it is easily understood why. Ismae is confident in the training provided to her in the convent in which she was raised and is a deadly assassin.  While she has her faults (and may have skipped some classes in seduction) she is one of the best novice assassins.  Watching as Ismae grows and slowly adapts to the world outside of the convent is one of my favourite parts of the novel.  It shows how she goes from blind faith and obedience without question to thinking for herself and wondering if, perhaps, the only one infallible in the world is her god and not the people who try to interpret him.

Gavriel Duval is the bastard son of the Duke.  He has lived with that all of this life and, despite it, has carved a path out for himself so that he can serve his little sister - the Duchess Anne.  When we first meet Duval he seems cold and calculating.  However, as Ismae and he begin to spend more time with each other and they start, very slowly, opening up to one another you get to see the real Gavriel Duval.  He is so sweet and kind and loyal.  He takes his oaths seriously, which is something Ismae greatly admires.  He is definitely someone readers can fall in love with along with the main character.

I really enjoyed this book.  I love historical fiction and I haven't been reading enough of it lately.  I also like how realistic it was for also being in the fantasy/paranormal genre.  The elements of fantasy were incredibly well woven into the story and not too whimsical to make them unbelievable.  It almost felt like what the "haidmaidens of death" could do would be possible even in a non-fantasy setting, if that makes sense?  Their abilities, other than the ones they were trained with, didn't seem over the top.

I wish that the next novels were also about Ismae and Duval, instead of switching characters; however, their story did come to a (sort of) finish since the book was so long, so I understand why the author would switch characters.

Overall, I really, really liked this novel.  It reminded me that I need to pick up the historical genre again once in a while.  It was also well-written and had that lovely novel affect of pulling you into their universe and not wanting to put the book down for a moment.  If you haven't looked at this book, it definitely needs to be on your TBR pile.

Review: The Grave Artist by Paula Lynn Johnson

The Grave Artist

Author: Paula Lynn Johnson

Publication Date: March 12th, 2012

Publisher: Self-Published

Genre: YA/Paranormal/Horror

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Synopsis:

16-year-old Clare can't stop drawing the bizarre, winged skulls she calls "Sammies". Her psychiatrist assumes the compulsive drawings are just expressions of Clare's grief over her father abandoning her. But then Clare discovers that her Sammies are exact matches for the Death's Head on the grave of Samantha Forsythe, a teen who reportedly fell to her death over two centuries ago. Before long, Clare's drawings morph into cryptic writings that urge her to uncover the truth behind Samantha's death. Together with Neil -- the friend she might be falling for -- Clare scours the local history for clues. She finds that, although Samantha was engaged to a wealthy landowner, there were whispered rumors of her involvement with a younger, biracial man. Soon, Clare is haunted by disturbing dream images -- a mysterious eye, a broken chain -- that point to someone Samantha called her "Dearest". But who is Dearest? And why does Samantha need Clare to find him so badly? Isolated and carrying hidden scars of her own, Clare fears her obsession with Samantha will threaten her sanity and safety. But it seems she has no choice in the matter . . .

My Thoughts: I picked this e-book for free a little while ago, and I've been reading it on my phone whenever I had down time, like waiting rooms or such. It was really a pretty great read and I'm quite surprised that it was free!

It's also a fairly quick, light, and easy read.  There really isn't too many characters to follow, the plot flows quite nicely with fantastic helpings of mystery and healthy splashes of the dark and unknown. I would agree that it could be placed in the horror genre,  but it's not a scare the pants off you kind of read. It treads the line between eerie and terrifying quite nicely without keeping us awake at night.

Clare's life has just made some drastic changes. She used to be a spoiled, wealthy girl, getting whatever she wanted and without a care in the world. But when Daddy, the bread winner, finds someone younger and newer than her mother all of that goes away pretty quickly. It would be an understatement to say that Clare didn't handle the changes well. On top of her trying to cope with her new less privileged life, things start getting pretty creepy when she starts drawing these skeleton heads compulsively. She literally has no control over it. When she tries to explore what is going on with her, she finds that the rabbit hole is much deeper than she anticipated. She soon finds herself within a love torn murder mystery with no way out.

I was quite surprised with the ending, it took a twist I did not for see in the slightest and I just love it when a book is capable of shocking me like that. It was overall quite intriguing, but not to the point where I would think about it even when I  wasn't reading it and couldn't wait to pick it back up. But at the same time, I was enjoying myself, and the story while I was reading it.  I was a little hot and cold with Clare. Her reactions and behavior towards what was happening in her real life and her family were at times childish and blown out of proportions. As well, I found she could be really spiteful and mean towards her mom and sister who were going through the exact same things she was. But outside of the family issues I really liked her. I liked the her that came out when she was searching for answers and facing her fears. In those moments she had a determination and compassion that was admirable.

Overall, it was quite a decent read. Quick and easy, and I would most likely recommend it. Especially to those who like a little history with dashes of mystery and ghosts.

Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass
(Throne of Glass #1)

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Publication Date: August 2nd 2012

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Genre: Fantasy

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Synopsis:

Meet Celaena Sardothien. Beautiful. Deadly. Destined for greatness.

In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake: she got caught.

Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament—fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?

My Thoughts: So with all of the hype around Throne of Glass at it's release, I decided that I absolutely NEEDED to read it and it is the only book that I have ever preordered (I even got the UK cover because I like it so much more!). So of course, it sat on my bookshelf until this month. Go me! Am I glad I finally got around to reading this (as well as the four novella prequels)? Yes, yes I am.

First of all, if you are planning on reading this and haven't read the novella's yet, you should most definitely check them out first! There would have been so many references that I didn't get if I hadn't of read them. And they are really cheap, like $1 each for Kobo. Secondly, stop hesitating like I did! These are seriously awesome! I love the world, characters and the writing style. It had been so long that I've read a decent fantasy that I couldn't get enough. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. Sarah J. Maas just has a way of grabbing a hold of you and dragging you in. Only letting you emerge long enough to go into withdrawals before needing to continue reading. In my case it's terrible because I have to wait so long for me next "fix". I'm seriously a book junkie.

So the main character is Celaena. I like her a lot but I'm still having a hard time judging her character. I mean, she is the deadliest assassin around. I get the feeling that she doesn't like what she does most of the time, but then sometimes she does, if she really despises the person she's killing. She is apparently stunning and knows it. She's been pretty spoiled during her training, so is a bit of a brat to begin with (in the novellas more so) but after her time in Endovier she does change a bit for the better. She has trust issues (someone did set her up to get her captured) and no friends, so a bit of a loner. Overall, while I wasn't her biggest fan to begin with, she did change enough that I really like her now.

Since she is at the Glass Castle for the tournament, she is always guarded. As are the other champions. Mostly she is followed around by Captain Westfall, who is fairly cold toward her. There are a couple of love interests at the castle (both who are swoon worthy in their own ways! And no a love triangle is not set up! At least it didn't end with a feeling of one!) and a couple of friends to be made. There is something scary going on as well. Something killing in the castle, but only the champions. There are a ladies who'd like nothing better than to dispatch of Celaena, not that they know who she is. So Celaena has a lot of people to watch out for. As well as visits from ghostly figures.

As I said before though, Sarah J. Maas is a great story teller. I've already added any and all of her upcoming books to my TBR pile, how can I not after how thoroughly enjoyed Throne of Glass. She just has a way with words that made me unable to put this down. It's most likely going to be one of my top reads of the year. I definitely recommend it. Especially if you enjoy fantasy! It really is as good as everyone says! Just read the novellas first!

Review: A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest

A Shade of Vampire

Author: Bella Forrest

Publication Date: December 14, 2012

Genre: Fantasy

Thank you to Bella Forrest for the review copy!!

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Synopsis:

On the evening of Sofia Claremont's seventeenth birthday, she is sucked into a nightmare from which she cannot wake.

A quiet evening walk along a beach brings her face to face with a dangerous pale creature that craves much more than her blood. 

She is kidnapped to an island where the sun is eternally forbidden to shine.

An island uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet. She wakes here as a slave, a captive in chains. 

Sofia's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn when she is the one selected out of hundreds of girls to join the harem of Derek Novak, the dark royal Prince. 

Despite his addiction to power and obsessive thirst for her blood, Sofia soon realizes that the safest place on the island is within his quarters, and she must do all within her power to win him over if she is to survive even one more night.

Will she succeed? ...or is she destined to the same fate that all other girls have met at the hands of the Novaks?

My Thoughts: This is a short novel but definitely one vampire lovers should pick up.  Sadly, I think I may never had read it had it not received a request to review it - which would have been my loss.  I really loved how this book took the vampire lore back to how it is supposed to me.  There were no glittering vampires, no magical daylight rings.  There were just vampires who couldn't stand in the sunlight and were blood thirsty and could be killed with a wooden stake through the heart.

Sofia Claremont's only wish is not to go crazy.  Which sounds weird, but after seeing her mother slowly go insane and thinking she may have the same disorder makes her fear for the worst.  One night, after getting into a fight with her bestie Ben (who she happens to have more-than-bestie feelings for) she is abducted from the beach where she was taking a walk only to wake up in the Blood Shade.  The Blood Shade where vampires are real, humans are chained and slaved and her only hope of survival is their newly-awakened prince.

This was a short novel, so things tended to go a little quick but I liked it.  The fast-paced flow made sense to the story and didn't have you stopping to think that is was unrealistic at all (well, other than the vampires but who doesn't love a little vampire now and then?).  Though, when there is no sun in the sky I guess it would get rather hard to tell days from nights so the days kind of blurred for the main characters in my eyes and I am not quite certain how long they had been together.  Regardless of that, it seemed perfectly fitting with the story.

I also loved the characters, pretty much all of them.  I thought a couple could have been more developed but when I found out that this was only the first one in a series I was a bit more forgiving on that factor.  I felt like I knew the main characters well enough which was great and I fully expect the others to be fleshed out more in the upcoming book(s) and I look forward to it.

Sofia and Derek felt like opposites of each other, but it also felt like they completed each other as well - like they were two halves to one whole.  What she lacked he had and vice versa and they seemed to feed off of each other and adapt and become more than what they were.  Derek's transformation because of Sofia is more apparent since he struggles a lot more but Sofia's changes are evident as well.

This book was a short, sweet and quick read but once I stopped I couldn't put it down.  I loved how it took me back to the vampires of old.  I can't wait to pick up the next book in this series when it is released.

Review: Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Article 5
(Article 5 #1)

Author: Kristen Simmons

Publication Date: January 31st 2012

Publisher: Tor Teen

Genre: Dystopia

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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.

My Thoughts: Okay, I know. I really should be giving this one a 5 owl rating but I just can't. Why? there was one thing that really irritated me, it was in the back of my mind from the time that Ember's mom got arrested, right up to the end of the book. Before I go into that though, this was a really great book and I can't wait to jump into Breaking Point, which will be soon since I'm in the blog tour for it :) Kristen Simmons is really great at creating a world that is easily imaginable and believable. I was getting chills at some of the things that happened, and it's not like a dystopian that the characters have been living like this their whole lives. The wars only ended a short while ago (3 years I think it was). Things have only been hard the past 8 years for the characters, so they know what a happy life was like.

Which brings me to the thing that I didn't like. Ember's mom is arrested for violating Article 5, which basically means she had a child out of wedlock and is a single mother. Right, but Ember is 17, which means they are arresting her for something that wasn't illegal at the time that it happened. It does eventually make sense, but I'm not going to go into that since it would be spoilery. But it bothered me the whole time, especially when you find out what her punishment was. Rediculous. But, that's what a dystopian society is all about I guess. Retroactive laws are a bit much though. Not that she really followed the laws, since she was used to a life that you could pretty much do what you want, read what you want, etc. But yeah, that's the only thing that bothered me about the story, but yeah, it was mean!

Alright, the rest of the story though, I loved. Ember really grows as a character, she goes from being obedient of the law to rebellious as she realizes just how stupid all of the laws are. So we see her come out of her shell and become stronger. she begins to stick up for herself and others, and does the right thing, even if she shouldn't. Then there is Chase, her first love. The one who drove the van arresting her mom. She can't bring herself to trust him since he's changed so much, but she has to once her life is in his hands. He's the enemy to her. He made her mom a promise though. I really like these two, but they have a lot to talk about still.

Overall, Article 5 is an amazing book. It leaves you wanting more at the end. Luckily for you, if you haven't read it yet, Breaking Point is coming out later this month, so it's not a long wait. If you have read it, well, it's coming out soon, so your wait is almost over! It really stands out in the dystopian genre. It's well written and you can really connect with the characters. It's a definite must read if you are a fan of dystopia. It's a great place to start if you haven't tried them yet. For sure one that I recommend and would get 4.5 owls if I did half ratings. It's a really great read that will keep you up until you finish it!

Blog Tour: Normalish by Margaret Lesh

Normalish

Author: Margaret Lesh

Publication Date: October 5th, 2012

Publisher: Musa Publishing

Genre: Contemporary

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Synopsis:

Fifteen-year-old Stacy questions the strange world of high school, love, her role in a harsh universe, and life, in Normalish.

People tell you high school's so great and wonderful, but they're lying. It's mostly horrible and full of disappointment. It sucks. Your best friend abandons you. The jerk you're in love with pretends to be into you, and then the big dump. The boy you've really clicked with as a friend decides to go all crushy over you, so you break his heart just like yours was -- smashed into little pieces. Your sister goes mental, and you get involved with a guy who’s even crazier than she is (who you know is a very bad idea, but you do it anyway). Math only adds another stink of failure to the whole thing.

High school blows. Just ask freshman Stacy. She’d want you to know.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed Normalish. It's written from the perspective of Stacy, a freshman in high school, who has recently realized just how much her life "sucks". It seems like everything is falling apart for her, but all she wants is to be normal. I really liked her character, she tries her best to do the right thing, most of the time, and clearly has to work on a few things. I loved the writing style as the story is written like diary/journal entries, I'm not really sure why but it's just one style that I really like reading. Maybe because it seems more intimate to be reading all of the protagonists deepest secrets.

Stacy is a character that grows throughout the book, she begins to realize that her life isn't really so bad. That she wants the things that she never thought she would and how much more her family means to her. She seems fairly mature for her age, which made it so I was actually able to connect with her on some level (since I'm not a freshman in high school any longer and all), so that made the book more enjoyable. Not that she was mature in everything, because sometimes I wanted to face palm, but not so much that I hated her.

Overall, I found that the story flows really well, I had a hard time putting this down and basically carried it everywhere's with me so I could sneak in a few minutes wherever I could. I think I'm addicted to drama because there was quite a bit of drama in Stacy's life, but it's the kind that you have to keep reading, like coming across a bad accident, you can't help but want to know more. This is definitely a book that I'll be recommending to others!

Get the book:

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Review: Beta by Rachel Cohn

Beta
(Annex #1)

Author: Rachel Cohn

Publication Date: October 16th 2012

Publisher: Hyperion

Genre: Science Fiction / Dystopian

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Synopsis:

Elysia's purpose is to serve the inhabitants of Demesne, an island paradise for the wealthiest people on earth. Everything about Demesne is bioengineered for perfection. Even the air induces a strange, euphoric high, which only the island's workers--soulless clones like Elysia--are immune to.

At first, Elysia's life is idyllic and pampered. But she soon sees that Demesne's human residents, who should want for nothing, yearn. But for what, exactly? She also comes to realize that beneath the island's flawless exterior, there is an under-current of discontent among Demesne's worker clones. She knows she is soulless and cannot feel and should not care--so why are overpowering sensations cloud-ing Elysia's mind?

If anyone discovers that Elysia isn't the unfeeling clone she must pretend to be, she will suffer a fate too terrible to imagine. When her one chance at happi-ness is ripped away with breathtaking cruelty, emotions she's always had but never understood are unleashed. As rage, terror, and desire threaten to overwhelm her, Elysia must find the will to survive.

My Thoughts: There are a lot of different reviews out there for Beta. I've heard both good and bad things, however, I absolutely loved this book! Maybe it's because it's both science fiction and dystopian, or maybe it was the brilliant writing which kept me up way past when I should have been sleeping, but I can't even think of anything that I disliked in this book. This was actually my first taste of Rachel Cohn's writing, I haven't read anything by her before so had no idea what to expect going in. She hasn't disappointed me, that's for sure. And the cover! It is one that will catch your eye, making you pick up the book. I love the cover, especially the way the tattoo on her face shines!

Elysia is a clone of a girl who died, she doesn't know how her First died, just that she is dead. Clones are made from the bodies of the dead, their soul is removed so that they will be unfeeling. They won't want for anything, which means they will do everything they are told. It doesn't quite work that way for Elysia though. For some reason she has a sense of taste, something she shouldn't have. She has feelings for Tahir, a gorgeous boy who's just recently returned to the island after an accident. She also has memories of another man, in the water, someone from her First's past. If her owners knew of any of this, they would have her Expired for being a Defect. So she has to hide her feelings and sensations. She can't ask anyone about it because there is no one to trust. She's a brave character struggling to find a balance that won't have her killed, but once she meets Tahir, it gets harder for her to hide them.

Cohn does a wonderful job creating a world you can easily envision and get lost in. There were many times when I was reading that I just wasn't able to stop. I carried the book around with me constantly, sneaking in couple of pages whenever I could find the time. I wish I could have just sat and read the whole thing in one sitting, but I don't think my daughter would find that fun. I found the story to be very unique in a time where is seems everything is a dystopian. It is one that will stand out and make you want for more. Especially after the ending! It was so, so cruel! I'm going to be anxiously anticipating the next in the Annex series! This is one that I'm definitely going to be recommending!