Book Review: Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

  Title: Lies Beneath                                                           Pages: 303
  Author: Anne Greenwood Brown                                   Source: Netgalley
  Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers        Published: June 12, 2012
  Series: Lies Beneath #1                                                 Purchase: Amazon

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake.

Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough - especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistible good looks and charm on unsuspecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.

Lies Beneath stood out to me immediately when I read the synopsis. The mermaid genre is a neglected paranormal creature in young adult literature, so any mermaid book I come across, I snap it up. And Lies Beneath did not disappoint.

Calder's quick and sarcastic wit provides for an entertaining male point of view, and I'm usually not a fan of male points of view in young adult novels. I just cannot connect with them and find myself getting bored of the book. Calder, however, was a different story. He kept me interested and biting my nails, hoping everything would work out for him.

His sisters all had their own unique personalities, too, and I loved the tension between them all.

The romance was fantastic, though I would have liked a bit more of it. The romance/kissing scenes were fantastically written, though, which made up for the fact that there weren't as many as I wanted.

I loved the idea that mermaids are monsters and that they need positive human emotions to stay alive. That's what I love about mermaid novels, each one seems so incredibly unique from the last one. Unlike other paranormal creature (vampire, werewolf, witches) novels, which all seem like copies of one another.

While the plot wasn't entirely surprising, I enjoyed it immensely and it kept me hooked from page one, all the way until the end. A slight negative, though, is that I was expecting a bit darker of a novel. Although Lies Beneath isn't exactly rainbows and lollipops, it isn't all blood and blackness either.

Overall, I would highly recommend Lies Beneath to mermaid and paranormal romance fans. This book is a must read if you like either genre.

Pass or Read? Read if you love the mermaid or paranormal romance genres!

Cover thoughts: This cover is awesome. There's really no words to describe how incredibly awesome it is! And it's soo gorgeous, too!

Book Review: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

  Title: The Immortal Rules                                             Pages: 504
  Author: Julie Kagawa                                                     Source: Netgalley
  Publisher: Harlequin Teen                                            Published: April 24, 2012
  Series: Blood of Eden #1                                              Purchase: Amazon

In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for

The Immortal Rules has an amazing synopsis - one that immediately grabs your attention despite the fact that it's just another vampire novel. It's not, though. It's so much more than all the vampire novels out there. It has heart and passion and an amazing plot.

Allison Sekemoto captured my heart. She is such a tough girl, constantly putting herself on the line for the Unregistereds in her group, especially for Stick. She does everything in her power to keep her and her group alive, even when she's trying to distance herself from them so she won't get hurt if one of them dies. I love how much heart she has!

Even though there wasn't a lot of romance, it was still wonderfully written. There isn't really a love triangle, but I could see one happening if Julie Kagawa wants to write one. It'd be a heck of a love triangle, too.

The writing is amazing. It's so straight forward, but it has so much passion and realism behind it, even though it's in the paranormal genre. Kagawa's world-building is amazing and I realize now why her Iron Fey series is so popular. She has that certain something that makes the characters and world come to life.

And boy, does Kagawa know how to write a plot. Much like the amazing Suzanne Collins and Carrie Ryan, she doesn't hold back. You grow attached to characters and then they're killed off, but at the same time it's amazing because it's so realistic. On top of that, the plot is so unique. Dystopian meets paranormal? Sign me up any day. Especially if it's Kagawa writing it.

Overall, I loved The Immortal Rules. It grabbed my interest and held it for all 504 pages (which is no easy feat!) and I would highly recommend it to any vampire, paranormal, or dystopian lover. I would recommend it to anyone actually.

Pass or Read? Read right now!

Cover thoughts: Not a terribly unique cover, but I'd totally pick it up in a bookstore. I love how she's crying blood, but I wish she look just a tad bit more Asian, or her face was shorter or something, as that's how I pictured Allison. I really like the colors as well on this one!

Cover Reveal Thursday: Sacred and League of Strays

  Title: Sacred
  Author: Elana K. Arnold
  Published: November 13, 2012
  Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Growing up on Catalina Island, off the California coast, Scarlett Wenderoth has led a fairly isolated life. After her brother dies, her isolation deepens as she withdraws into herself, shutting out her friends and boyfriend. Her parents, shattered by their own sorrow, fail to notice Scarlett's pain and sudden alarming thinness. Scarlett finds pleasure only on her horse, escaping to the heart of the island on long, solitary rides. One day, as she races around a bend, Scarlett is startled by a boy who raises his hand in warning and says one word: "Stop."

The boy—intense, beautiful—is Will Cohen, a newcomer to the island. For reasons he can't or won't explain, he's drawn to Scarlett and feels compelled to keep her safe. To keep her from wasting away. His meddling irritates Scarlett, though she can't deny her attraction to him. As their relationship blossoms into love, Scarlett's body slowly awakens at Will's touch. But just when her grief begins to ebb, she makes a startling discovery about Will, a discovery he's been grappling with himself. A discovery that threatens to force them apart. And if it does, Scarlett fears she will unravel all over again.

  Title: League of Strays

  Author: L.B. Schulman

  Published: October 1, 2012

  Publisher: Amulet

When Charlotte Brody, a lonely 17-year-old student at a new school, receives an invitation to join The League of Strays, she's intrigued by the group's promise of "instant friendship." The League does provide companionship--and even a love interest--but Charlotte grows increasingly uncomfortable with its sinister mission to seek revenge against the bullies of Kennedy High. When escalating acts of vengeance threaten to hurl her down a path of remorse, Charlotte must choose between her new friends and the direction of a future she's never fully considered.

What do you think of these covers? Which is your favorite? Mine is Sacred's cover, because it seems so unique and once again, we have a cover with a "hot couple" on it. I'm getting kind of tired of these covers :P.

Will you be reading these?

Author Interview: Jessica Spotswood

Today I am interviewing Jessica Spotswood, author of Born Wicked.

Here's my review of Born Wicked.

Find Jessica Spotswood on:
Website | Twitter | Goodreads

What was your inspiration behind writing about witches? What about your inspiration for the time period?

Well, I wanted to write about strong, independent, clever girls in a society that doesn’t respect or value them. Making them witches in a world where only women can use magic gave the men a reason to fear them. As for the alternate 1890s world I built, I love the idea of writing letters by candlelight and having teas and wearing incredible dresses. It seems so lush and sexy, though I’m sure it was less so in reality. Things were changing rapidly in terms of industry and technology and growing freedoms, but that era was still awfully repressive for women. I shifted things to make it even more so in Cate’s society. I suppose I wanted to play with that contradiction – the sensuousness of the high society dress and rituals with the rigid social expectations for women.

Would you ever consider writing in another genre, or do you think you'll stick to historical and/or paranormal romance?

I’ve tried to write a few straight contemporary YAs and I never got more than fifty pages, so I suspect I will stick with paranormal or fantasy elements. Who knows, though? I’m not ruling anything out. Some of my favorite books are contemporary (like LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR, IF I STAY, THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE, and THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS).

If you can incite one emotion in readers as they read Born Wicked, what would that emotion be?

Swooning? I love writing the kissing scenes!

What is your strategy on dealing with negative reviews? Do you ignore them, or try to use them as constructive criticism?

A little of both? I've read enough reviews now that I have a sense of what people love about the book, what works, and what perhaps could have used some improvement. The really harsh reviews still sting a little, but I know now that they are outliers, so I can sort of shrug them off.

Can you tell me a little bit about the challenges on getting Born Wicked published? Have you ever tried getting another novel published, or is Born Wicked your first?

This book had a very quick path to publication – it took me about a year to write and revise it, and then it sold in a week. But it wasn’t my first manuscript – that was called INHERITING GAROLASS. After two years of writing and revising, it got me an agent, but it was shelved after nine months on submission, which was a little soul-crushing at the time!

How did you come to realize that you wanted to write? Is writing your only job?

I’ve been writing since I was a wee Jess. I wrote three books in high school, but then I fell in love with theatre and went to grad school for that. By the end of grad school, I was working as a dramaturg, helping playwrights develop their new scripts, and I was miserable. I really missed writing. That’s when I started working on INHERITING GAROLASS – about five years ago. I’m really lucky in that I do write full-time since last summer.

How do you go about writing a new book/sequel? Do you just start writing? Take a million notes?

My editor makes me outline! With the sequel, we spent several weeks brainstorming, emailing and talking on the phone almost every day until we had a solid outline. With a new book, though, the first thing that tends to come to me is a character and a few lines in her voice. With Cate, it was the first two lines of BORN WICKED: Our mother was a witch too, but she hid it better. I miss her.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

I love tea! My favorite is Earl Grey in the afternoon/evening and green ginger late at night. Thank you for having me! This was fun!

I want to thank Jessica for taking the time to answer my questions!

Buy Born Wicked on Amazon!

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

Cover Reveal Thursday: Various

  Title: Crewel
  Author: Gennifer Albin
  Published: October 16, 2012
  Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

  Title: The Forsaken

  Author: Lisa M. Stasse

  Published: July 10, 2012

  Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers

A thought-provoking and exciting start to a riveting new dystopian trilogy.

As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up.

The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.

  Title: The Poison Princess
  Author: Kresley Cole
  Published: October 2, 2012
  Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers

Poison Princess centers on 16-year-old Evangeline "Evie" Greene, a privileged teenager from Louisiana.

When an apocalyptic event decimates her hometown, killing everyone she loves, Evie realizes the hallucinations she'd been having for the past year were actually visions of the future — and they're still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophecy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of teens have been chosen to re-enact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it's not always clear who is on which side…

  Title: Burn For Burn

  Author: Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

  Published: September 18, 2012

  Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers

The start of a brand-new young adult trilogy about three very different girls who overcome their differences and band together to seek revenge on those who have wronged them, uncovering a supernatural secret about what brought them together and why in the process. Each book will rotate back and forth between the perspectives of all three characters.

What do you think of these covers? Which is your favorite? I really like Crewel's cover. The colors are gorgeous and it looks very unique. The Poison Princess' is probably the least unique out of the three, as once again pretty couple + pretty dress. Come on cover designers, be more creative!! Also, The Forsaken's and Burn For Burn's covers looks awesome!!

Will you be reading these?

In My Mailbox (28)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and is a weekly meme to showcase what you got over the week by buying, receiving, borrowing, stealing from a friend etc.


Luxury Reading:
For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund - This one kinda sounds a little bit like Cinder because Lunar/Luddite and of course Kai. If it's half as good as Cinder, I'm sure to love this one.

Won:
A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford - Thank you Sara @ Just Another Story! Excited to read this one.

That's all I got this week or so, what did you get in your mailbox?

Cover Reveal Thursday: Velveteen and The Gathering Dark

  Title: The Gathering Dark
  Author: Leigh Bardugo
  Published: June 7, 2012
  Publisher: Indigo

Sweeping, glorious fantasy romance about an orphan who must save her kingdom from the seductive and terrifying Darkling. The most compelling romance since Twilight.

The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.

Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unraveling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free?

The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfill her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him.

But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him?

Glorious. Epic. Irresistible. Romance.

  Title: Velveteen

  Author: Daniel Marks

  Published: October 9, 2012

  Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Velveteen Monroe is dead. At 16, she was kidnapped and murdered by a madman named Bonesaw. But that's not the problem.

The problem is she landed in purgatory. And while it's not a fiery inferno, it's certainly no heaven. It's gray, ashen, and crumbling more and more by the day, and everyone has a job to do. Which doesn't leave Velveteen much time to do anything about what's really on her mind.

Bonesaw.

Velveteen aches to deliver the bloody punishment her killer deserves. And she's figured out just how to do it. She'll haunt him for the rest of his days. It'll be brutal... and awesome.

But crossing the divide between the living and the dead has devastating consequences. Velveteen's obsessive haunting cracks the foundations of purgatory and jeopardizes her very soul. A risk she's willing to take—except fate has just given her reason to stick around: an unreasonably hot and completely off-limits coworker.

Velveteen can't help herself when it comes to breaking rules... or getting revenge. And she just might be angry enough to take everyone down with her.

What do you think of these covers? Which is your favorite? I definitely like The Gathering Dark's cover better. At first I didn't, but then I had a close look at it and fell in love. It looks like a children's fairy tale book, which can be a good or bad thing.

Velveteen's just doesn't seem very unique. I mean there's a hot couple AND a girl in a pretty dress. Way to be different! (/sarcasm) Now what I do like are the colors and the font. I like how everything is grey, it seems to coincide with the story. And the pink of the font provides a nice pop of color to let you know it's not incredibly boring :P.

Will you be reading these?

Book Review: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood (Luxury Reading review)

  Title: Born Wicked                                             Pages: 330
  Author: Jessica Spotswood                            Source: Luxury Reading
  Publisher: Putnam Juvenile                            Published: Feb 7, 2012
  Series: The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1        Purchase: Amazon

Cate Cahill has a secret. Her and her two sisters are witches. She promised her mother she would protect Maura and Tess, so she’s doing everything in her power to keep this a secret from her nosy neighbors and the terrifying Brotherhood, who ship girls like the Cahill sisters off to the prison ship or Harwood, the mental asylum.

But with the days counting down quickly to the time she has to announce either a marriage or joining the Sisterhood, Cate struggles even more with keeping her and her sisters’ secrets locked away. And when she finds her mother’s diary, she uncovers the biggest secret yet – one that could mean the destruction of her family.

Cate has to learn exactly whom she can trust, including her very own sisters.

Born Wicked had one of those synopses that stand out and make you want to read that novel. The plot inside was even better.

To read the rest of my review, please go to Luxury Reading!
Cover thoughts: This cover is gorgeous!! I also love how the model is upside down, it gives it a bit of a uniqueness to it. I love everything about this cover!

In My Mailbox (27)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and is a weekly meme to showcase what you got over the week by buying, receiving, borrowing, stealing from a friend etc.


For Review:
Above by Leah Bobet - This one looks amazing!! I was so happy when I received this one in the mail :).

Luxury Reading:
Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler - Liking so far, just a few problems I have with it that keep me from loving it.

Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers - This one is up next, I'm not quite sure about this one, but it sounded interesting enough to capture my attention!

That's all I got this week or so, what did you get in your mailbox?

Cover Reveal: Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

  Title: Time Between Us
  Author: Tamara Ireland Stone
  Published: October 9, 2012
  Publisher: Hyperion

Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett’s unique ability to travel through time and space brings him into Anna’s life, and with him, a new world of adventure and possibility.

As their relationship deepens, they face the reality that time might knock Bennett back where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate—and what consequences they can bear in order to stay together.

Fresh, exciting, and deeply romantic, TIME BETWEEN US is a stunning and spellbinding debut from an extraordinary new talent in YA fiction.

So what do you think? I think it looks way too Contemporary for the synopsis, but other than that, I like it. I like the pale blues and whites and then the bright pop of pink.

Review: Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

  Title: Spellbound                                      Pages: 324
  Author: Cara Lynn Shultz                         Source: Library
  Publisher: Harlequin Teen                      Published: June 21, 2011
  Series: Spellbound #1                             Purchase: Amazon

What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Connor, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

I had not heard a lot of things about Spellbound before I actually read it. I wasn't disappointed, but I wasn't blown away either.

I really loved Emma. She was snarky, she stood up for herself, and she actually had a spine, instead of always succumbing to the bullies of the school. I really admired her for that. Now, she did have some issues, that being that her family consists of a dead mother and twin brother, a monster of a step dad, and an AWOL birth father. It sometimes seems over the top just how much tragedy Emma has witnessed, but I appreciate Cara Lynn Shultz not watering down the writing, like some young adult authors do for their "tragic" heroines.

Brendan was alright. Overall he was very sexy and hot, but I could not forgive him for being totally cold to Emma after their first "date." He seemed like a straight up jerk after the date and I definitely wouldn't have given him the time of day again, yet of course since they are star-crossed lovers, that isn't the case. Plus, he has a major hero complex, jumping in to save Emma like every chapter. Once again, though, I did like him in the long run and Shultz definitely knows how to write the romance!

The writing was pretty simple to me, the only thing bothering me was the fact that they fell in love instantaneously, though they are meant to. If taken at face value that they are star-crossed lovers, then the whole falling-in-love-instantaneously thing didn't bother me as much (and provides for some great romance right away, which everyone loves on occasion!).

The plot is probably what bothered me the most, because like Emma's past, it's very over-the-top sometimes, especially the ending. I found it a tad unbelievable, but it was certainly very entertaining. I also thought there was going to be more of a supernatural element than there was. The magic took a back seat almost and I was really hoping for more.

Overall, I did like Spellbound, I just wasn't as captivated as I hoped. It provided an entertaining Twilight-like read - one that is certainly entertaining, but lacking overall depth and believability (for a paranormal romance!). I would recommend this one to fans of star-crossed lovers and Twilight.

Cover thoughts: I like this cover, but I don't really care for the blankness of it. It's unique that they did that, though. I also don't really like how the blurb and the author's name are placed. The blurb is in a weird spot (as opposed to all the way at the top or even moved to the center) and the author name definitely seems off center a bit. I really like the font, though for 'Spellbound'. (and yes, I'm being really picky about the cover!)

Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

  Title: The Goddess Test                                Pages: 293
  Author: Aimee Carter                                     Source: Library
  Publisher: Harlequin Teen                            Published: April 19, 2011
  Series: The Goddess Test #1                       Purchase: Amazon

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

I absolutely love novels based on mythology and I feel The Goddess Test is a great addition to the excellent genre.

Kate is a wonderful girl. She's smart and caring and she would do anything for her mother. I fell in love with her from the start. She was incredibly mature for her age, having grown this way by her mother's illness. She grew even more throughout the story, though, and I loved reading about her growth and how she dealt with her new fate.

I also fell in love with Henry. At first I didn't know what to make of him, because to be honest, if a guy asked me to live with him six months out of every year, I'd tell him to check himself into a mental institution. If on top of that he was saying he was Hades, God of the Underworld? I'd have personally taken him to the aforementioned mental institution.

Except this is young adult paranormal romance, so of course he's who he says he is and of course that makes him sexy. Tell me you wouldn't love being a Goddess and I'll rest my case! Despite being a God and sometimes being very distant and cold, however, he is really sexy. At times it was hard to believe how much he cared for Kate, but then he would do something that would prove it. I loved how their relationship also wasn't so instantaneous and was quite uniquely one-sided at first. I would have liked a bit less romance, though, in the middle of the book, as that was basically all the middle was made up of.

The writing was amazing, I love how Aimee Carter writes. She puts believability into the dialogue and emotions. She puts details into the scenes and the environments. She has a simple, but very effective way of writing that is sure to capture anyone's attention.

The plot was straight-forward most of the time. There were a few twists and turns that I didn't expect, but most of the time I guessed whatever was coming. This wasn't a bad thing, however, as long as I'm still entertained and I was most of the time.

Now, my only gripe with the story line was there wasn't enough to the tests. Henry told her she might recognize when a test was happening, but halfway through, she was told she had already faced a couple tests, which was news to me. At first, this greatly bothered me, because it's called The Goddess Test for a reason. However, the tests are explained later on and I greatly appreciated that Carter included an explanation of each.

Overall, I really liked The Goddess Test. I thought it was a perfect addition to the mythology genre and it satisfied my mythology sweet-tooth greatly. I would definitely recommend this to lovers of mythology and paranormal romance.

Cover thoughts: I really love this cover, though it doesn't have much to do with the story. I'm a sucker for the pretty girl in a pretty dress cover fad, though :P

Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton (Luxury Reading review)

  Title: Everneath                               Pages: 370
  Author: Brodi Ashton                       Source: Luxury Reading
  Publisher: Harper Collins               Published: Jan 24, 2012
  Series: Everneath #1                       Purchase: Amazon

Nikki Beckett mysteriously vanished last spring, leaving her family, her friend Jules, and her boyfriend Jack devastated. She was taken to the Everneath, a place where immortals Feed on humans' emotions to sustain their immortality.

So when Nikki suddenly comes back to her old town, everyone is surprised. She tries to slowly get back into the flow of things, but she harbours a secret that'll devastate her loved ones even more: she has to go back to the Everneath in six months.. this time forever.

Nikki must find a way to stay above the ground, or lose everyone and everything again.

I found the premise of Everneath extremely interesting, but because of a few problems, I just couldn't like this book as much as I wanted to.

To read the rest of my review, please go to Luxury Reading!

Cover thoughts: I really like this cover, even though it's just another one of those covers with a girl in a pretty dress. But I LIKE those covers, even though most of the time they have nothing to do with the story. I like how they tried to tie in the image with the story, though, with the dress turning into smoke and the smoke beneath her.

Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda

  Title: Fracture                                Pages: 272
  Author: Megan Miranda                 Source: Netgalley
  Publisher: Walker & Company       Published: Jan 17, 2012
  Series: N/A                                    Purchase: Amazon

By the time Delaney Maxwell was pulled from a Maine lake’s icy waters by her best friend, Decker Phillips, her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead.

But somehow Delaney survived—despite the brain scans that show irreparable damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be fine, but she knows she’s far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can’t control or explain, Delaney now finds herself drawn to the dying, and when she meets Troy Varga, a boy who recently emerged from a coma with the same abilities, she is relieved to share this strange new existence. Unsure if her altered brain is predicting death or causing it, Delaney must figure out if their gift is a miracle, a freak of nature—or something else much more frightening…

Fracture immediately stood out to me when I first read its premise. It certainly was a very enjoyable read and exactly my cup of tea.

I loved Delaney in all of her nerdiness, neurotic glory. I felt she was written realistically, just how a survivor of a freak accident would behave. She was scared and brave at the same time and her character really grew on me.

I loved how Megan Miranda portrayed her newfound gift. Delaney feels pulls all over her body, like strings pulling her in each direction. The description of this is vivid and perfect, I could almost feel what it felt like to have these pulls.

Of course, I have to comment on Decker. Even when he was being an ass I loved him. He was incredibly sexy and cute. Especially how he waited day in and day out at the hospital for Delaney to wake up. Totally adorable. But their relationship was totally frustrating. The kind of shut-up-and-freaking-see-you-love-each-other kind of frustrating.

The plot was fantastic and I practically inhaled it. When I wasn't reading Fracture, I wanted to be. I wanted to find out all about Delaney's gift and what she would do with it. I wanted to know exactly what was up with Troy. I didn't see a few twists in the story and was greatly satisfied by the ending.

Overall, I absolutely loved Fracture. The characters were fantastic, the writing was amazing, and the story was phenomenal. I couldn't put Fracture down and I urge everyone to pick up a copy!

Cover thoughts: I love this cover! The cover depicts the story correctly, from the frozen lake to her bright red jacket to her blonde hair. So many book covers totally throw the story out the window and instead are made solely to sell. I feel that this one shows what the book is about AND will sell well.

Review: Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey

  Title: Stolen Away                    Pages: 288
  Author: Alyxandra Harvey        Source: Netgalley
  Publisher: Walker Childrens     Published: January 17, 2012
  Series: N/A                               Purchase: Amazon

For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric-who may or may not betray them.

I don't typically like or read books about faeries, so when Stolen Away caught my attention, I was surprised. However, I was disappointed with a lukewarm story that left me wishing I'd picked something else up instead.

Eloise and Jo were great characters. I liked having the two different perspectives between them and seeing how they both reacted to the same event, but I was often wondering why there were two different perspectives. It seemed unnecessary and like a tactic to make the story longer at times.

That being said, they were really good characters. They complemented each other in a great way. Jo was a strong, kick-ass girl and Eloise more started off pretending to be, as a defense mechanism, but I felt she grew into the role a lot.

I felt Devin wasn't that important to the story. He seemed like a filler character, just to provide occasionally "witty banter" and that was it. I also felt that having both girls fall in love was a bit much. One romance seemed more important to the story, though, but I won't say which one as it is a spoiler for the ending.

The plot was probably my favorite part, as it seemed pretty unique for a faerie novel. I liked how everything played out and loved the action bits.

Overall, I didn't like Stolen Away as much as I wanted to, but despite some flaws, I did end up on the liking side, rather than the disliking side. I probably wouldn't recommend this one, however.

Pass or Read? I would pass, unless you're a hardcore faerie lover.

Cover thoughts: I really like it, it's pretty and I love that the model has bright red lipstick, like Eloise wears.

Want to read someone else's opinion? Here are two positive reviews: A Dream of Books and I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read. Or, link your own positive review in the comments!

In My Mailbox (22)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and is a weekly meme to showcase what you got over the week by buying, receiving, borrowing, stealing from a friend etc.

For Review:
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith - Haven't heard much about this one, but it looks good!
Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler and Maira Kalman - This book is so freaking heavy!

Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan - These books look so good! I've heard good things about Cate Tiernan!
Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan - Such pretty covers, especially this one!

I'm sorry for the crappy pictures, they were taken on my phone :P.

That's all I got this week or so, what did you get in your mail box? 

Review: Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

  Title: Every Other Day                 Pages: 336
  Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes      Source: Netgalley
  Publisher: Egmont USA               Published: Dec 27, 2011
  Series: N/A                                  Purchase: Amazon

Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She attends pep rallies. She's human.

And then every day in between... She's something else entirely.

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism.

When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her and, unfortunately, she'll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive... and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process.

I hadn't heard much about Every Other Day before I found it on Goodreads. Actually, I hadn't heard anything at all. After reading and discovering how good this story was, I'm very surprised I haven't heard anything, because this novel was wonderful.

Kali is the best female character I've read in a while. She reminds me a lot of Emily Webb from Vesper by Jeff Sampson - kick-ass sometimes, and regular girl the rest of the time.

When she's not being her kick-ass, paranormal-killing self, Kali is a vulnerable teenager. While that may sound like a cliche, I actually felt something for Kali and thought she brought uniqueness to this overdone cliche. She doesn't have all the answers at first - she doesn't even know what she is.

Her background, once it was all unfolded and on the table, was quite tragic and I felt for her even before her past came to light. I was also very surprised at what paranormal creature she was revealed to be and loved the unique take on said creature.

The rest of the characters were all important in their own way and all had unique personalities. My favorite was, of course, Skylar. I thought her character was just brilliantly done. She seemed so bubbly and positive and exactly like the type of person you'd want to give a hug because they're so adorable.

Every Other Day's writing was excellent. It was sarcastic and witty and imaginative. It was very easy for me to get a clear picture in my head of what was happening.

The plot was equally amazing. So many twists and only a few I saw coming. It was a fresh take on old, tired paranormal creatures and I applaud Jennifer Lynn Barnes on a job well done.

Overall, I absolutely loved Every Other Day. I was sucked in immediately, though I was sucked in even more so in Chapter 2 and beyond. I highly recommend to anyone getting a bit tired of paranormal novel clones.

Cover thoughts: I rather like this cover. It appeals to me because of the lack of a person on the cover and the fact that it relates to the story.

Review: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

  Title: The Pledge                                Pages: 323
  Author: Kimberly Derting                    Source: Netgalley
  Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry       Published: Nov 15, 2011
  Series: The Pledge #1                       Purchase: Amazon

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

The Pledge's synopsis intrigued me from the moment I read it and the fact that Kimberly Derting was behind the story made my interest pique even more.

Charlie was such a great character to me, she was so brave, yet cautious at the same time, always walking on egg shells to make sure her - and her sister's - secrets were safe. She was so protective of her sister, Angelina, and it brought a smile to my face.

I also admired the way Charlie was so passionate about language - she just wanted everyone to be able to communicate with each other and not have socioeconomic barriers. Her ability to decipher all languages, even ones she's never heard before was absolutely fascinating and I loved the way Derting handled writing these different languages - simply by italicizing dialogue in a different language than Englaise, the most common language in Charlie's world.

Max was amazing. I loved his character and how protective he was over Charlie. He was so sweet and downright sexy. Derting has once again proved she is a master of romance, even when there isn't very much in the story. The one thing I would have liked done a bit differently, is to have it not be so instantaneous, though it doesn't bother me as much as some people.

The plot was pretty straight forward for me, I guessed pretty much every twist, so it wasn't exactly surprising, though it was still very enjoyable. Derting has a simple way with words that is entirely effective and with The Pledge, it's no different.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Pledge and found it to be a solid entry into the dystopian genre. I would recommend The Pledge to fans of Kimberly Derting and fans of the dystopian genre.

Cover thoughts: I really like the darkness and the almost monochromatic color scheme to the cover. It reminds me of Charlie's Vendor class and how everyone wears more practical colors, such as gray and brown. I also love the font design.

Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi (Luxury Reading review)

  Title: Shatter Me                            Pages: 338
  Author: Tahereh Mafi                    Source: Luxury Reading
  Publisher: HarperCollins                Published: Nov 15, 2011
  Series: Shatter Me #1                   Purchase: Amazon

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

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

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

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

I've been extremely excited to read this book for a while because every review I've read has been a positive one. I'm so glad I got my hands on a copy! It was definitely one of the best young adult books of 2011!

Read the rest of my review over at Luxury Reading!

Cover thoughts: This cover is just so cool looking. It doesn't seem to have much to do with the story, but I love the dress the girl is wearing and she's really pretty!

Review: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

  Title: Anna Dressed in Blood            Pages: 316
  Author: Kendare Blake                    Source: Own
  Publisher: Tor Teen                          Published: Aug 30, 2011
  Series: Anna #1                               Purchase: Amazon

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

Anna Dressed in Blood reminded me so much of Supernatural when I read the synopsis that I had to get my hands on it!

I was a bit reluctant to read a male perspective, as I haven't read many and those I have read were hard to relate to. I was pleasantly surprised, however, that Cas was not like other male perspectives. I really liked Cas' attitude towards the ghosts and towards the towns he moves to. He wants to get in and get out without making much of a splash, so he doesn't have to deal with loose ends like girlfriends. This made him act snarky and a bit cold, but my favorite characters are always masters of these two personality quirks.

The writing was pretty simple and enjoyable. Occasionally the dialogue confused me because of vagueness, which was never explained, but this was easy to ignore as it didn't seem any of it was important to the story.

The plot was excellent and gory enough to meet my creepy desires. It's not my fault when I picture ghosts murdering people that enter their house because they were murdered brutally, I picture a ton of gore! And Kendare Blake hands you the gore on a silver platter and announces it as the first course out of a fifty course meal.

Overall, I highly enjoyed Anna Dressed in Blood. There was a bit of romance to satisfy romance-buffs, a bit of gore for horror-buffs, and some magic and voodoo and of course scary ghost action for the paranormal-buffs. I recommend it for anyone looking for a creepy story to stay up late reading into the wee hours of the night.


Cover thoughts: I absolutely love it! It's so very pretty and I love how everything is black and white except for a bit of red. I also love the fence detail around Kendare Blake's name.