{December 25, 2013} {Re-Read Review} Vampire Shift by Tim O’Rourke (Kiera Hudson Series One, #1)

From Goodreads: When twenty-year-old police recruit Kiera Hudson is posted to the remote town of The Ragged Cove, her life is changed forever. Investigating a series of horrific murders, grave desecrations and missing persons, with her unique ability of ‘seeing’, Kiera soon realizes her life is in danger.

But when Kiera falls in love with Police officer Luke Bishop, not only is her mind and her heart opened to a terrifying new world, she comes to suspect that Luke might be involved in the killings. In a race against time to unearth the truth, Kiera must discover the identity of who or what is behind the gruesome deaths on the ‘Vampire Shift’.

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This holiday season, I am re-reading two of my favorite series by author Tim O’Rourke: Kiera Hudson Series One and Two. As the second series is nearly at its end, and the third series is about to begin, I thought to myself that it was high time I re-read, especially since the Kiera Hudson series was originally only going to be a one series, three book deal. Sixteen books later, O’Rourke still has my attention, and the world he’s built is so intricate and captivating that Kiera Hudson and her friends have become to me what Harry Potter and his friends are to many the world over: a special part of my life.

A completely original masterpiece, unlike any other vampire novel I’ve ever read, O’Rourke combines his knowledge of the police force alongside vampire lore to create a riveting new series starring Kiera Hudson, an intelligent, alert, strong, aspiring young policewoman fresh out of the academy. And while you may know all about vampires, they’ve got nothing on O’Rourke’s creation, the Vampyrus. Complete with suspense, mystery, intrigue, and horror, Vampire Shift takes readers on a journey into the depths of The Ragged Cove, a place where many have ventured, but few have survived. And it’s an amazing rollercoaster of a ride, even the second time around. Knowing what I do now about the characters, the winged Vampyrus, and the world in which it all takes place, re-reading this series is actually even more fun than the first as I’m able to piece it all together and see how all the books and different series that O’Rourke has written are actually all intertwined. Noting the small but important missteps of the characters, knowing who is ultimately good and who is bad, and falling in love all over again is just a bonus as I go through my re-reading. I’m seeing it all in a new light, but that really doesn’t change my perspective at all–this novel is still a 5 star in my book.

I love that Kiera is a strong female lead, possessing the gift of sight when so many others miss vital clues. She sees what others miss, like a stain on a tie or a slight favoring of a leg, and she’s able to assess the person, quite quickly might I add, based on her multiple observations that seem to happen in the blink of an eye. Of course, though an asset to any police force, Kiera comes on the scene in The Ragged Cove only to be met with disdain by the current police force. There are many sinister plots at work here, and nothing is indeed what it seems. But, the fact that Kiera does not crumple and stays true to herself, trusting her instincts, makes her an outstanding, strong character that readers will quickly come to love. If you’re a fan of Sherlock Holmes, then you’ll love Kiera, though she thankfully lacks the haughty and sometimes infuriating attitude of Mr. Holmes.

In truth, O’Rourke weaves together a seamless story of horror and romance in this first book of the series, and it will captivate both new and old readers alike. I highly recommend this new adult novel to all readers, both young and old alike. Five stars to this magnificent novel.

Vampire Shift is FREE on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and Kobo at the time of this post, so do make sure you scoop it up and join the world of Kiera Hudson.

I own multiple copies of this novel in both paperback and ebook format.

Check out the book trailer to further whet your appetite for this amazing novel:

Check out O’Rourke’s other novels (they are indeed all amazing):

Kiera Hudson Series 1

Vampire Shift (#1)

Vampire Wake (#2)

Vampire Hunt (#3)

Vampire Breed (#4)

Wolf House (#4.5)

Vampire Hollows (#5)

Kiera Hudson Series 2

Dead Flesh (#1)

Dead Night: Potter’s Secrets (#1.5)

Dead Angels (#2)

Dead Statues (#3)

Dead Seth (#4)

Dead Wolf (#5)

Dead Water (#6)

Dead Push (#7)

Dead Lost (#8)

Dead End (#9)–Coming Soon

Kiera Hudson Series 3

Lethal Infected (1)–Coming Soon

Jack Seth Novellas

Hollow Pit (#1)

Vampire Shift Graphic Novels

Vampire Shift Volume 1

Black Hill Farm Series

Black Hill Farm (#1)

Black Hill Farm Andy’s Diary (#2)

Return to Black Hill Farm (#3)–Coming Soon

Doorways Series

Doorways (#1)

The League of Doorways (#2)

The Queen of the Doorways (#3)–Coming Soon

Samantha Carter Series

Vampire Seeker (#1)

(Formerly known as Cowgirls and Vampires)

The Moon Trilogy

Moonlight (#1)

Moonbeam (#2)

Moonshine (3)–Coming Soon

Sidney Hart Series

Witch (#1)

Yellow (#2)

Raven (#3)–Coming Soon

Unscathed Series(?)

Unscathed

Stilts Series

Stilts (#1)

Eat Me Series

Eat Me (#1)–Coming Soon

Pick Series

Pick (#1)–Coming Soon

Flashes Series

Flashes (#1)–Coming 2013

{December 24, 2013} {Review} Dead Lost by Tim O’Rourke (Kiera Hudson Series Two #8)

From Goodreads: Confronted by the photographer, Potter reluctantly gets caught up in delivering photographs and letters that could either destroy the pushed world or make the wolves stronger.

After Jack Seth pushes the lever, Isidor sets off in search of Melody Rose. His journey takes him back to Lake Lure where a series of child murders have been taking place. The murders are believed to have been committed by a winged creature, making Isidor the prime suspect.

While both Potter and Isidor hope the journeys they’re taking will push the world back to how it once was, neither of them can truly understand why cracks are forming in the ground…and in the sky above them.

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I’ve waited so very long to know who the photographer is, and I finally have my answer. And of course, I never ever would have guessed it is who it is. Once again, O’Rourke has floored me and left me speechless with his amazing plot twists and I am in awe of his sheer writing genius.

With the revelation in book seven, Dead Push, that time travel is possible, readers will be delighted to see just how this time change has been working out for our heroes Potter and Isidor, especially as the truth behind Kayla and Sam’s disappearance in book five, Dead Wolf, finally comes to light. Heroes on their way to change the world, or pawns unknowingly doing the bidding of their mortal enemy? The truth awaits those who dare to be consumed by the awesomeness that is Dead Lost.
And I can’t say much more than that without giving away any of the secrets within this novel.

Dead Lost is the eighth in this second Kiera Hudson series, and at this point, it really cannot be read without having read all the others. O’Rourke creates such an intricate web, and the idea of the pushed world, especially with the revelation of the photographer, has become so much more complicated that readers jumping in at this point without an anchor in the texts would be dually lost. And that’s one of the many reasons why I love this set of series so much. O’Rourke has made me fall in love with every single character, both the good and the bad, through extensive characterization and world building—they have become a wonderful part of my life. The ideas are so creative and well written that I have been engrossed in every single novel in the series and I am always on pins and needles waiting for the next as these characters continually evolve and change. The amazing Kiera Hudson series, both one and two, are definitely not to be missed, and I highly suggest you start from the beginning if you’ve not already done so—Vampire Shift, the book that started it all, is FREE on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Scoop it up, because by the time you’re done you’ll be hooked, and it won’t take you long to read through them all and make your way to this phenomenal novel, Dead Lost. Five stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

Amazon

For MORE books by Tim O’Rourke:

Kiera Hudson Series 1

Vampire Shift (#1)

Vampire Wake (#2)

Vampire Hunt (#3)

Vampire Breed (#4)

Wolf House (#4.5)

Vampire Hollows (#5)

Kiera Hudson Series 2

Dead Flesh (#1)

Dead Night: Potter’s Secrets (#1.5)

Dead Angels (#2)

Dead Statues (#3)

Dead Seth (#4)

Dead Wolf (#5)

Dead Water (#6)

Dead Push (#7)

Dead Lost (#8)

Dead End (#9) Coming Soon

(Formerly known as Cowgirls and Vampires)

Doorways Series

Doorways (#1)

The League of Doorways (#2)

Stilts Series

Stilts (#1)

Flashes Series

Flashes (#1)–Coming 2013

Pick Series

Pick (#1)–Coming Soon

{December 24, 2013} {ARC Review} The Token by Marata Eros (The Token #1)

From Goodreads: Twenty-two year old Faren Mitchell hears the two words that change her abbreviated life forever. They’re so final Faren decides she has nothing to lose by seizing every remaining moment of what life has to offer.

Until Faren collides with a motorcycle ridden by billionaire Jared McKenna.

Even the dark secret of her past and catharsis as a physical therapist can’t save Faren from the sexual spiral that waits for her in the arms of a man who commits to no one. When circumstances force her to get a second job as an exotic dancer, Faren never imagines how close that choice will bring her to the brink of a new reality she is unequipped to handle.

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With two small, quick words, Eros immediately hooks her readers at the beginning of this novella, causing a series of successive thoughts to rampage through our heads as the story takes off. It’s impossible not to be intrigued—even though we don’t know Faren Mitchell at all, we understand the words, we understand their all encompassing meaning, and we understand the pain, fear, and heartache that stands behind them. We know, and Faren knows, and so we are quickly united from the very first page. It is a great beginning.

Faren is a strong character. She is a fairly broken person, in more ways than one, but her heart is in the right place, and though I don’t necessarily agree with her final choice for work, I understand how she feels and why she chooses to do what she does. Told from her point of view, we learn her thoughts, regrets, desires, and wishes for the future, especially where her mother is involved, and as this story unfolds, we also learn the harsh reality that engulfs Faren’s past, putting us eye to eye with her on an even deeper level.

As a novella, events within move rapidly, and while chapters do tend to jump from scene to scene, it keeps readers guessing. I actually really enjoyed that Faren would suddenly be somewhere else after a chapter break, with Eros using Faren’s thoughts and actions to explain the time lapse and what happened in between. While initially jarring for me the first time it happened, I realized what Eros was doing failry quickly and it works very well for this type of story, especially as so much happens to Faren throughout.

Now, this novella does deal with strip clubs, but it is relatively clean–at least, not explicitly graphic, for which I am thankful. Eros toes the line very gracefully, and as we learn Faren’s true reasons for taking on this line of work, we begin to understand exactly why she chooses to do what she does. That, and the two little words at the very beginning of the story…

Of course, Eros leaves readers hanging in the worst possible way, which is exactly her style, as it were, and I wouldn’t expect anything less, though I am indeed dying to know what’s going to happen next for Faren as her situation is quite dire, to say the least. Thankfully, The Token is the first of a novella series with monthly release dates—novella number two is already 71% complete with a pending release in mid January, and the third in the series is slated for release on February 1. Good reads are ahead. I can feel it. Four stars.

I received this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

{December 23, 2013} {Review} Doodling by Jonathan Gould

From Goodreads: Neville Lansdowne fell off the world.

Actually he did not so much fall off as let go. The world had been moving so quickly lately and Neville was finding it almost impossible to keep up.

Doodling is an engaging comic fantasy which relates the events that befall Neville after he finds himself abandoned by the world and adrift in the middle of an asteroid field. Douglas Adams meets Lewis Carroll (with just a touch of Gulliver’s Travels) as Neville wanders through his new home, meeting a variety of eccentric characters and experiencing some most unexpected adventures.

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This short novella has many aspects that make it utterly absurd, aspects that I believe middle grade readers, and even the younger end of young adult readers, will really enjoy. I, myself, am not really a lover of the absurd or fantastical, however, I understand its appeal for those who just want to read something interesting and not have to find deep meaning behind every single book they pick up. The English teacher in me, of course, wants to discuss how this novella is actually a clever metaphor for the world in which we live, with our fast-paced lives and ridiculous “first world” problems, but I will refrain because I can just see my students cringing as I launch into it, them telling me to just enjoy the story and stop picking it apart… just know it’s there, and going into the reading knowing that makes it much more fun for readers like me. Overall, this is a very well written novella (with a deep-rooted meaning) and, as I said previously, I believe that younger readers will really enjoy the fantastical aspect of it all. Three stars.

I received this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.

{December 23, 2013} {ARC Review} Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic by Meghan Ciana Doidge (Dowser #2)

From Goodreads: Three months ago, I lost my foster sister, Sienna, to the darkness. As in blood magic and chaos and general mayhem. No one saw it until it was too late, but I should have. Now, I have a wounded heart and soul that I can’t even reveal to anyone around me, because I’m supposed to hate Sienna with the fiery passion of the justified. And I do. I just wish I didn’t feel so lost without her, so unsure of the path I thought I had carved for myself, and so outclassed by the powerful Adepts constantly by my side these days. I’m not even sure if they’re with me for my own protection or because my shiny new powers are rare and valuable. Assuming I ever figure out who or what I am, and how my magic actually works.

Even chocolate can’t save the day every time … just most of the time. At least I’ve got that going for me.
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This second novel in the Dowser series is just as enticing as the first, Cupcakes, Trinkets, and other Deadly Magic. Complete with scrumptious cupcakes, snarky attitude, and a fast-paced setting, this novel will keep you entertained from the very first page. Picking up three months after the conclusion of the first, Jade is still a little green when it comes to her Dowser powers, though her aura is strong and she’s working doubly hard to become that much stronger.

The fun really begins when Jade is invited to see a special collection of artifacts, and together with her were friends, vampire escort, and a stowaway, she embarks on an adventure unlike any other, with spells, curses, and powerful trinkets at the forefront.

Jade is a great character, and I really enjoy that she’s believable. Although the novel is steeped in magic and situations beyond the natural realm, Jade’s actions are very real. She feels emotional pain, yearns to help those around her, is selfless and caring, and yet she doesn’t roll over and allow others to walk all over her. I really liked that about her, especially because I feel like had I been in her shoes, learning everything and being betrayed time and time again, I’d probably have curled up in a corner somewhere. But Jade is strong and works through her issues, and I admire that about her. She’s also obsessed with chocolate, and her cupcakes and bakery tidbits are always fun to read about, especially with all the snark Jade delivers as the story ensues.

With the blindsiding ending that Doidge bestows upon her readers, we learn much about the origins of magic and the truth behind where Jade comes from, and to be honest, I feel like Doidge is going to take us in a completely different, but awesome, direction now, and I can’t wait. Four stars.

I received this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Find it on Amazon.

{December 21, 2013} {ARC Review} Witch Finder by Ruth Warburton (Witch Finder #1)

From Goodreads: London. 1880. In the slums of Spitalfields apprentice blacksmith Luke is facing initiation into the Malleus Maleficorum, the fearsome brotherhood dedicated to hunting and killing witches.

Luke’s final test is to pick a name at random from the Book of Witches, a name he must track down and kill within a month, or face death himself. Luke knows that tonight will change his life forever. But when he picks out sixteen-year-old Rosa Greenwood, Luke has no idea that his task will be harder than he could ever imagine.

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This novel actually started off slowly for me. At 30% in, I was thinking that I really didn’t want to finish it–I just wasn’t hooked, but I always give books the benefit of the doubt, as I did with this one, and as I went on, it got much better, and by the end I was turning the pages so quickly I would have had whiplash had I not been reading on a stationary Kindle.

The way Rosa’s family treats her and those around them is disgusting and very hard to stomach. There is a scene with a puppy that horrified me, and I nearly put the book down right then because I hated the heir so very much, but I kept going, because by that point, I was very interested in the plot. And, this novel tackles some great topics for younger readers, such as racism and abuse, two aspects that are rampant within the text, stemming from the Brotherhoods hatred of all “witches” and the abusive relationship between Rosa, her brother, and her “fiancé.” Through it all, the novel shows how clouded one’s judgment can be based on hatred, and how entitlement and greed can ruin families. They were great lessons for readers about refusing to take abuse, though for a while there I was afraid Rosa was just going to roll over and take it.

While it may sound like Rosa is a week character that needs saving, in truth she is not. She is the subject of abuse on many levels, from physical to mental, and as a 16 year old without a friend in the world, she struggles on a very real level with her own wants and needs versus pleasing her family. At times I did want to reach through the pages and shake her, but then again, she must contend with the lesser of two evils–abuse from her family, or the death and destruction of others. Her selflessness is very real, but when it comes down to it, she refuses to stand on the sidelines and allow others to be terrorized. I really did like her and Luke (and they’re the only characters I really did like, save Cassie, the fiancé’s sister, but she was extremely miniscule).

The love relationship in this novel was slow between Luke and Rosa, and I liked that he saw her for what she was, a young girl abused and afraid, versus a witch worth killing. His attempts on her life were extremely interesting to see unfold, especially as his conscious plays a huge part in it all, and his attempts to finally stand up for what is right, along with Rosa’s make them vivid and real.

I can’t wait to see where the sequel of this one takes us because, while not ending on a cliffhanger per se, we are right in the middle of the action and you just know there is so much more to be told. Four stars.

Hodder Children’s Books has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on January 2, 2013.

{December 20, 2013} {Review} Pour by Taylor Napolsky

From Goodreads: When Paul Dodgson finds an unnamed bar filled with blobs of ethereal light, he’s caught off guard, yet intrigued.

The more he hangs out there, the more his life twists around, and he can’t decide if it’s for better or worse…

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This novella is written around a very interesting concept. It’s about a bar (with no name) where patrons pour out their drinks and then good things happen to them. However, if one breaks the rules by talking about the bar, or mentioning the good luck it brings, everything quickly goes south. Patrons can be barred; servers can be safed. Intriguing? It is, and I really enjoyed the idea behind the story, but there are a lot of holes that need filling in. I do enjoy the paranormal and the unexplainable, but on occasion I find that I need a little more detail, and unfortunately I didn’t receive that in this novella. Much is left unsaid: What are the lights? How does the pouring work? What is the safe? While allusions are made, there is no concrete evidence given, and I need something that I can toy with and state, “this is what I think happened.” Instead, I finished this novella with a bit more questions than answers or even ponderable ideas in regards to the meaning or explanation behind these things. While some people really do enjoy not knowing, I feel like a little too much was left unexplained for me to really grasp the novella, but perhaps that’s the point? Three stars.

I received this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.

{December 18, 2013} {ARC Review} Ashes to Ashes by Melissa C. Walker

From Goodreads: If I Stay meets the movie Ghost in this first book in a teen duology about a teenage-girl-turned-ghost who must cling to the echoes of her former life to save the people she left behind.

Ashes to Ashes is author Melissa Walker’s sweeping, romantic, and emotionally rich story about the things that torment and tempt us, even from the Great Beyond. This book is perfect for fans of Die for Me and Imaginary Girls, and its breathtaking ending will leave readers anxiously awaiting the series conclusion, Dust to Dust.

When Callie’s life is cut short by a tragic accident, she expects to find nothingness, or maybe some version of heaven.

Instead, her spirit travels to the Prism, an ethereal plane populated by the ghosts she thought were fictional. Here she meets a striking and mysterious ghost named Thatcher, who is meant to guide her as she learns to haunt and bring peace to the loved ones she left behind.

However, Callie uncovers a dark secret about the spirit world: The angry souls who always populate ghost stories are real, dangerous, and willing to do whatever it takes to stay on Earth, threatening the existence of everyone she ever cared about.

As she fights to save them, Callie will learn that while it may no longer beat, her heart can still love-and break.

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While I had high hopes for this novel, especially with its claim to be a mix of the novel If I Stay and the movie Ghost, I felt like Ashes to Ashes moved much too slowly for me. Likewise, I didn’t really feel any connections with the characters. Callie dies before we really get to know her, or her friends, for that matter, and once she’s dead, she behaves very much as you would expect a young child to behave when told they can’t have something. She throws some tantrums and goes off and does whatever she wants, pushing caution to the wind, over and over again.

In truth, I spent much of the novel highly annoyed with Callie because she continues to make the same stupid mistake while ignoring not only her inner conscious, but also her guide, Thatcher. The fact that Thatcher continually keeps Callie in the dark, refusing to supply answers or clarification, did little to put him in my good graces, either. Instead, he only frustrated me because there seems to be a disconnect and readers don’t know why. And, instead of answers, the same scene plays out many a time, nearly lulling me to sleep: Callie messes up and is really sorry. Thatcher is angry; he tells her not to do it again without really giving any concrete reasons why. They make up. Then, Callie does it again and is really sorry…. By the third time this sequence occurred, I was ready to put the book aside. I just felt like nothing was truly happening in the novel; I had no connections with anyone, and we rarely saw Callie attempting to comfort anyone still left on earth—the aspect I really wanted to see.

And then? Walker surprised me with her quick and fast ending—one I wasn’t expecting but that, in retrospect, makes sense. I should have seen it coming, but I didn’t, and this surprise actually brought this novel up a notch in my esteem, clarified a lot of my original issues, and interested me to the point that I actually would like to read the sequel when it comes out. So in the end, while I did finds it someone trivial and stagnant, Ashes to Ashes did throw me for a loop, and as it only takes one small event to really change a person’s perspective of a novel, I liked it, overall. Three stars.

HarperCollins Publishers has been extremely gracious in giving me an ARC of this novel, during NCTE, in exchange for an honest review prior to its release on December 23, 2013.

{December 16, 2013} {Review} Semester Aboard by Elizabeth Kirke (More than Magic #1)

From Goodreads: Jen is looking forward to spending an entire summer studying abroad on a cruise ship and she knows the experience will change her life. Then she sees something she wasn’t supposed to see, something she can’t explain. Jen finds herself thrust into a world she never knew existed and her life will change more than she imagined. That is, if she can survive the dangers lurking on the ship.

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I have always wanted to experience a semester of schooling aboard a ship. But, because I have a fear of the ship sinking, I’ve never followed through—I’ve never even been on a cruise, to be honest. Instead, I opted for educational semesters in Europe, Asia, and South America, so I can’t complain in the least, but… the semester aboard a ship—that’s the one that got away.

Kirke presents a magical world aboard this ship, one of vampires, merfolk, water and fire elementals, witches, and werewolves… and I can only imagine how much fun it would be to be on a ship with all these colorful characters. However, Jen herself put a damper on my mood when it came to all the festivities and issues: Jen always seemed to need saving. She didn’t listen to others and, on many an occasion, got others hurt because she wouldn’t listen and then wouldn’t be able to take care of herself. I’m more of a strong female lead enthusiast than a damsel in distress one, and so I held some animosity towards Jen and her inability to do anything throughout much of the text. The other characters were great, and I enjoyed them very much, but Jen just wasn’t my favorite, which is a shame as she was the main character. However, by the end she does learn to take care of herself a little bit—she’s growing, as it were—and I think she’ll be a much stronger character in the next installment. Three stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

{December 15, 2013} {ARC Review} Angelbound by Christina Bauer (Angelbound #1)

From Goodreads: Eighteen year old Myla Lewis is a girl who loves two things: kicking ass and kicking ass. She’s not your every day quasi-demon, half-demon and half-human, girl. For the past five years, Myla has lived for the days she gets to fight in Purgatory’s arena. When souls want a trial by combat for their right to enter heaven or hell, they go up against her, and she hasn’t lost a battle yet.

But as she starts her senior year at Purgatory High, the arena fights aren’t enough to keep her spirits up anymore. When the demons start to act weird, even for demons, and the King of the Demons, Armageddon, shows up at Myla’s school, she knows that things are changing and it’s not looking good for the quasi-demons. Myla starts to question everything, and doesn’t like the answers she finds. What happened seventeen years ago that turned the quasi-demons into slave labor? Why was her mom always so sad? And why won’t anyone tell her who her father is? Things heat up when Myla meets Lincoln, the High Prince of the Thrax, a super sexy half-human and half-angel demon hunter. But what’s a quasi-demon girl to do when she falls for a demon hunter? It’s a good thing that Myla’s not afraid of breaking a few rules. With a love worth fighting for, Myla’s going to shake up Purgatory.

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I am so sorry to say that, while this novel started off interesting enough, it soon lost its luster, and at 535 pages, my lack of interest made this difficult to finish. In my opinion, it was just too long, and not enough happened to hold my attention. Instead, much of the text was repetitive, with Myla either fighting, lamenting about her life, or trying to find the truth. Due to the repetitive nature of the text, in my opinion it could actually be paired down quite a bit, making the novel a much more manageable size at about 250-300 pages, and including only the most important, fast paced action. I lost count the number of times Myla’s sickness during warp or the way the sand fell away to actual images during dreamscapes was referenced in the text, but I do know it was a lot, and this repetition of play-by-play, along with repetition of certain scenarios, took its toll after a while. As the novel stands now, there is just too much down time, in my opinion, and its choppy nature left me with many more questions than answers. And at 535 page, I feel like I should have all the answers.

Myla is a great fighter with a huge chip on her shoulder, and to be honest, she didn’t impress me. I got the feeling that the author really wanted to create a kick butt heroine who didn’t need anyone, someone who could take care of herself, but in truth, Myla just rubbed me the wrong way. She’s rude to those around her, is obsessed with fighting, doesn’t listen to anyone, and was a bit comical in her relations to those around her, especially with her incessant fist pumps every time something made her happy. Her best friend, one full of envy thanks to her demon half, was a complete jerk, and yet Myla repeatedly took the blame for their fights, which in my opinion, undermines her kick butt status because it’s plain to see her BFF is rude and using her, and I didn’t like either of the characters by the end.

Likewise, the insta-love relationship between Myla and Lincoln didn’t pan out in my mind. To go from hating each other so passionately to being undoubtedly in love, well… that just didn’t work for me. I think it had potential, but the execution of it all didn’t fit, which is unfortunate.

Myla’s mother’s story also had the potential to be enthralling, but it took so long to come out, chopped up in bits and pieces, that I lost interest before all was said and done. The dreamscape was a great idea, but as it was extremely repetitive in nature and went unexplained much of the time, I found it fell a bit flat.

Overall, I found that I wanted a faster pace, less repetition, a better scene flow with less plot holes, realistic characterization, and a shorter text. So, while this novel had much potential and I really wanted to like it, it fell a bit flat for me. Two and a half stars.

INscribe Digital and Ink Monster LLC have been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on December 17, 2013.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

{December 12, 2013} {Review} Crash Into You by Katie McGarry (Pushing the Limits #3)

From Goodreads: From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that’s who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers…and she’s just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can’t get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they’ll go to save each other.

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This is an absolutely stunning and beautiful story, one that gripped me from the very beginning and held me captive long after the final page. The characters are extremely real and well written, and on many an occasion, I wanted to reach through the pages and shake Rachel’s family. The dysfunction that both Isaiah and Rachel are dealing with is so different, yet the same in that they’re both struggling. Rachel’s family is suffocating and demanding, while Isaiah’s in non-existent, but their love for one another amidst all the adversity, the anticipation of their relationship, their money issues, and their family issues made this an unputdownable read. I especially loved the back and forth narration, giving readers both sides of the story and allowing us to see deeper into their lives.

Although it’s a very car oriented story, with drag racing, a betting crime lord out for blood, and car lingo sprinkled throughout, it wasn’t overbearing for me—a reader who couldn’t care less about all things cars—and I think that this novel will also appeal to male readers because of the topic. Yes, there is a love relationship in the novel, but it’s not gushy-kissy-gross, and the fact that there’s a crime lord threatening both Isaiah and Rachel definitely adds to the melee that is their life. While I have a crush on Isaiah and his swoonworthyness, Rachel is an awesome female lead that I think many readers will love just the same, especially the male populace, again making this a great book for both genders. And, truth be told, the drag racing and car stuff was kind of cool to read about, even though I wouldn’t normally.

The end of Crash into You had me on pins and needles, and I thought I was going to scream the way McGarry drew it out, changing between the character’s points of view and making me wait to know exactly what was happening. It was torture, but the best kind in that the novel was drawn out even more, because I just couldn’t get enough!

This is my first novel of McGarry’s, but it certainly won’t be the last. I already purchased all the other novels in the Pushing the Limits series, and I can’t wait to read them, especially as I just learned that these are all companion novels and not sequels, with each novel focusing on a different set of characters, and I can’t wait to learn the entire back story of the side-characters I met in this novel. Five glorious stars.

Harlequin Teen has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read this novel, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

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{December 12, 2013} {Review} The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith

From Goodreads: A brilliant debut mystery in a classic vein: Detective Cormoran Strike investigates a supermodel’s suicide.

After losing his leg to a land mine in Afghanistan, Cormoran Strike is barely scraping by as a private investigator. Strike is down to one client, and creditors are calling. He has also just broken up with his longtime girlfriend and is living in his office.

Then John Bristow walks through his door with an amazing story: His sister, thelegendary supermodel Lula Landry, known to her friends as the Cuckoo, famously fell to her death a few months earlier. The police ruled it a suicide, but John refuses to believe that. The case plunges Strike into the world of multimillionaire beauties, rock-star boyfriends, and desperate designers, and it introduces him to every variety of pleasure, enticement, seduction, and delusion known to man.

You may think you know detectives, but you’ve never met one quite like Strike. You may think you know about the wealthy and famous, but you’ve never seen them under an investigation like this.

Introducing Cormoran Strike, this is the acclaimed first crime novel by J.K. Rowling, writing under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.

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As I was reading this novel, I couldn’t help but think of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. In my mind, Cormoran Strike is Eddie Valiant (i.e. Bob Hoskins), living in his office, drinking his life away, and not doing very much of anything. But here’s the thing: I didn’t like Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and I didn’t care for The Cuckoo’s Calling much, either. For one thing, the novel is extremely long (500 pages long), and not much happened to keep my interest.

Strike has no money and no place to live, so he’s staying at his office. He hires a temp secretary who really likes the job and decides stays a while, even though she might not get paid much (this is a side story that, in my mind, really had nothing to do with anything). A model throws herself from her balcony, and her brother hires Strike to investigate. What ensues is an investigation that is long, long, long, without much of anything happening. Strike interviews many people—some who are suspects, and some who aren’t—but no one seems to know what really happened, and the police want to close the case. Yep. That’s about it.

I just wasn’t interested throughout much of the novel, which is a shame because I absolutely adored the Harry Potter Series. However, this adult fiction novel just didn’t do anything for me. I didn’t care about any of the characters, especially the model who died; her hang-ups and “whoa is me” attitude about being adopted actually put a very bad taste in my mouth, mainly because I’m adopted and I’m so tired of people making adoption out to be such a terrible thing. It’s not, yet books and movies continue to depict it as a crushing “event” that will ruin the child’s psyche and make him/her dysfunctional in the world, and I have to disagree. Adoption doesn’t do that. Bad parenting does, as is evidenced by her crazy adoptive parents. Where was the screening process here?

But, I will hold my rant. All in all, this novel just wasn’t all that interesting. But neither was Who Framed Roger Rabbit… so, different strokes for different folks. I’m thinking that if you enjoyed that movie, you may like this novel; it’s just not for me. Two stars.

I borrowed this novel from the library.

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{December 11, 2013} {Review} Severed by Dax Varley

From Goodreads: Katrina’s still haunted by her encounter with the Headless Horseman – the night he beckoned to her. Now he has risen again, slashing heads and terrorizing the quiet countryside.

Her only joy during this dismal darkness comes when Ichabod Crane, a gorgeous young man from Connecticut, moves to Sleepy Hollow and their attraction turns to romance.

When the Horseman marks Ichabod as his next victim, Katrina, despite dangerous efforts to save him, sees no other choice than for them to flee.

But the Horseman awaits. Now it’s up to her to sever the horror and alter the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

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This is a very, very well done take on the classic short story, “Sleepy Hollow.” In truth, I actually like Severed much more than I like the classic for a number of reasons, two of them being that I can actually connect with the characters and I can fully understand the text! No offence of Washington Irving, but his story is very dry, whereas this recent rendition is full of characterization, mystery, intrigue, and romance. Varley does an amazing job staying close to the original story throughout much of her retelling, but adds her own flare near the end, changing the story to a much more sinister and intriguing end, I think, than that of the original. In fact, as I was reading I pictured the film version with Johnny Depp from 1999, and just like the movie, Daxley creates her very own end that fits perfectly within the storyline.

The story itself kept my attention late into the night, and had my eyes allowed it, I know I would have finished this in one sitting. Varley definitely knows how to spin a tale, and her characterization was spot on. I loved Katrina and Ichabod, and loathed Brom and Peter, just, as I imagine, Varley wanted readers too. In the end, the characters do get their comeuppance, and this twist was really intriguing. I never saw it coming, and truth be told, I think this is an even better ending that the film version.

If you are intrigued by the legend and would like a different approach to the classic, I highly suggest you read this novel. Four stars.

Dax Varley was extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

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See my review of Washington Irving’s “The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow” here.

{December 11, 2013} {Review} The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

From Goodreads: The chief part of the stories, however, turned upon the favorite specter of Sleepy Hollow, the Headless Horseman, who had been heard several times of late, patrolling the country; and, it was said, tethered his horse nightly among the graves in the churchyard. The story was immediately matched by a thrice marvelous adventure of Brom Bones, who made light of the Galloping Hessian as an arrant jockey. He affirmed that on returning one night from the neighboring village of Sing Sing, he had been overtaken by this midnight trooper; that he had offered to race with him for a bowl of punch, and should have won it too, for Daredevil beat the goblin horse all hollow, but just as they came to the church bridge, the Hessian bolted, and vanished in a flash of fire. All these tales, told in that drowsy undertone with which men talk in the dark, the countenances of the listeners only now and then receiving a casual gleam from the glare of a pipe, sank deep in the mind of Ichabod…

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If you read the above “synopsis,” you’ll see the basic writing style of Washington Irving. For his time period, the early 1800s, his writing was easy to understand and was highly interesting, especially as he’s discussing a ghost story. However, it’s not so easy to follow and understand in today’s time period, and the writing itself is somewhat dry and, for me, boresome, especially with the huge array of novels that now grace the world, allowing readers to be even more so picky with their reads.

This is a novella that follows Ichabod as he learns the story of the Headless Horseman. It’s an intriguing idea, and I’m sure many of us have heard of it, if not read it—my high school English teacher made me read this in 11^th grade and I was a bit lost—but in my opinion, it’s anticlimactic. Irving sets up this ghost story to lure readers in, and then ends on a bland note, one that made me feel like sitting here and rereading the story wasn’t really worth my time at all. Likewise, I felt like there was little to no character development, something I’ve come quite accustomed to in my novels, and I felt like Irving was more so telling and not showing. Again, this worked very well in 1820, but I find it does nothing for me as a 21^st century reader.

However, in the last few decades there have been new renditions of this novella that switch up the ending and that take the reader along for a wild ride, such as the novel, Severed, by Dax Varley, and these stories are much more my speed.

Overall, I think that Irving’s short story/novella has the right idea, but just doesn’t captivate today’s audience much anymore. Two stars.

I own a copy of this novella handed down to me from my parents.

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{December 10, 2013} {Review} Haunting by B.J. Sheldon (The Dusty Chronicles #1)

From Goodreads: When sixteen-year-old, Dusty Vermeer, moves to rural Iowa with her dad and sister at the start of her sophomore year, she undergoes major life changes – a new school, new friends, and a popular new boyfriend. But she soon discovers all is not what it appears to be. When Jack Olson, a handsome young soldier, begins to invade her dreams each night, she bears witness to the horrors of war and must determine what is real and what is just a dream. When Jack finally steps out of her dreams in ghostly form, begging for help and struggling to remember his life, Dusty makes it her mission to solve the mystery behind his death. As she draws closer to the truth, she places her own life at risk while struggling to cope with the feelings she develops for the soldier who’s been dead for nearly 60 years.

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This was a great mystery novel. It’s fairly short and to the point, making it a fast paced read that you won’t want to put down. Dusty is a great character that is easy to fall in love with, especially because she’s so innocent and genuine. She really wants to do right by others, and I loved that about her. I easily related to her, though we’re vastly different, and though she’s technically a story-book character, I think we’d be great friends in real life. Finishing the novel was like leaving a friend behind, and I can’t wait for the next installment in this intriguing series.

Though I figured out the truth about Jack Olson much sooner than I’d have liked, Sheldon does a wonderful job keeping the reader interested, especially with its epic conclusion. My heart was definitely in my throat as I read through to the end—I could see it all unfold in slow motion, even though I was tearing through the pages at warp speed by that point.

This is a great read that I think readers from all walks of life will enjoy. I highly suggest picking it up. Four stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

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{December 9, 2013} {Review} Poor Little Dead Girls by Lizzie Friend

From Goodreads: Perfect people aren’t just born. They’re made.

The first time she is blindfolded and kidnapped, star-athlete and posh boarding school newbie Sadie is terrified. She wakes up in a dark room surrounded by hushed whispers, hooded strangers, and a mysterious voice whispering not-so-sweet nothings in her ear.

But once the robes come off, she realizes it’s just an elaborate prank designed to induct her into the group that’s been pulling the strings at Keating Hall for generations. The circle has it all–incredible connections; fabulous parties; and, of course, an in with the brother society’s gorgeous pledges.

The instant popularity is enough to make Sadie forget about the unexplained marks on her body, the creepy ceremonial rituals, and the incident that befell one of her teammates the year before. So the next time Sadie is kidnapped, she isn’t scared, but she should be. The worst of Keating Hall is yet to come.

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Sadie has just received a scholarship to the prestigious Keating Hall, the boarding school of the elite. It sounds innocent enough, but the real reason behind the scholarship has yet to be revealed, and Sadie has no idea what she’s about to get herself into as she accepts the lavish gifts bestowed upon her, or how it all relates back to her dead mother…

I went in to this novel thinking that it would be similar to other novels I’ve read that have to do with secret societies, and while it is, in a way, it’s also vastly different. I can’t say much more than that without giving away pieces of the plotline, but know that this society delves deep in its sinister plans, especially when it comes to the lives of its members.

I really like Sadie, though she drove me a bit nuts at times. I do understand being sworn to secrecy, but I also understand gut feelings, and if something just doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. In other words, it’s better to tell someone than to try and go it alone. Sadie struggles with this throughout the entire novel, which actually makes her extremely real. Working with high school students, I see this often—many teens would rather go it alone or tell someone their age than deal with an adult, which fits Sadie’s M.O. exactly. I loved that she was snarky and real, but as the story went on, some of it did seem a bit far-fetched to me. Now, I’m also not rolling in money and I’m not famous, so it is quite possible that the people Sadie runs with do have the means to do much of what they do in the novel, but as a regular everyday person, I still feel like some of it is just beyond real. I mean, if I was Sadie, I wouldn’t have been able to do some of those things… but that’s okay, because regardless, the story itself was extremely interesting and I enjoyed it overall. And if you’re even the tiniest bit interested in secret societies, mystery, and suspense, then this is a novel that I highly suggest you read. Four stars.

F+W/Adams Media and Merit Press have been extremely gracious in allowing me to read this novel, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

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{December 8, 2013} {Review} Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins (The Sweet Trilogy #2)

From Goodreads: Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

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Kaidan Rowe, glorious, swoon-worthy Kaidan Rowe, is back. And I love him. My heart belonged to him in Sweet Evil, and this second, riveting novel in the series solidified that fact in this steamy portrayal of love. He is perfect.

In the beginning, I was a little worried that Higgins was pulling a Stephanie Meyer in that Kaidan’s scenes were few and far between. Just like when Meyers removed Edward from New Moon, placing Jacob at the forefront, Higgins seemed to pull Kaidan. He barely existed within the pages, and it was killing me as I watched Anna’s love for him slowly deteriorate as she struggled to understand and internalize his rejection. They were so perfect together, and while it made sense that he had to back off, his blasé mannerisms and lack of scenes within the novel drove me batty, especially as Kopano is now on the scene, attempting to win Anna’s favor, and while I do like Kopano, he’s no Kaidan. Just like Jacob is no Edward.

Thankfully, Higgins only toys with our emotions for so long, bringing Kaidan back into the novel on an extremely high and sensual note, and Anna and his love once again has the chance to kindle and grow. But it is still touch and go, especially with the demons out to destroy all Nephilim who stand against them, and in solidifying their love, that is exactly what Kaidan and Anna are preparing to do.

This is not a story of angels, but rather a story of demons and their half children—a love story so powerful you won’t be able to put it down. If you haven’t yet read the first novel in this amazing trilogy, Sweet Evil, then you need to do so ASAP, because Sweet Peril is just as amazing, and you don’t want to miss. Believe me. Five stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

Enter to win a SIGNED PAPERBACK of Sweet Peril.

{December 6, 2013} {ARC Review} Flickers by John Abramowitz (Weaver #3)

From Goodreads: Alex Cronlord has failed.

The zombie apocalypse that she foresaw months ago has come to pass–in part because of her visions. Trapped in the now-quarantined city of Dallas, Alex struggles both with the undead and with her own guilt. She blames herself for the fall of Dallas, for leaving FBI Agent Moira McBain to die, and for the lies she’s still telling her father. When Zach, her friend and fellow superpowered fighter, makes a startling confession, it only increases Alex’s inner turmoil.

Unknown to Alex, Moira is still alive. Imprisoned in an alternate dimension and facing certain death, Moira receives help from an unlikely source. To get home, she must fight her way past both the soul-sucking Xorda and a frightening and mysterious group of werewolves. She knows who her enemies are. But can she trust her only ally?

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This novel had me on pins and needles as I read, jumping back and forth between the perilous adventures of Alex Cronlord as she battles the zombie apocalypse she unwittingly released on Dallas based on a Weaver premonition, and Agent Moira as she attempts to escape the confines of the Xorda world. Complete with soul sucking demons, lycanthrope monstrosities, harrowing escapes, sorrowful deaths, and time warping, this novel has a little bit of everything for everyone.

So much has happened to Alex in the past few weeks, and with the weight of the zombie apocalypse and the death of Agent Moria on her shoulder’s, Alex has had about enough. This young woman can’t seem to catch a break, so it comes as no surprise that she’s willing to give up her own life in more ways than one if it means putting a stop to it all, even if it means she’ll erase her entire existence from the world.

I loved the deeper glimpse readers obtain through the past events that happen at Pinnacle with Alex’s mother, Ainsling. In book two, The Void, we begin to learn about the events at Pinnacle that started it all, with Sigmund, Xorda extraordinaire, targeting Ainsling from the very beginning. But in this third installment, we learn even more as Alex stumbles onto an ability that has the power to stop Sigmund and the zombie apocalypse forever. But will she succeed?

Abramowitz keeps his readers on edge with his perfectly timed cliff hangers interspersed within the novel. Jumping from one point of view to another, readers find themselves at the climax of an important scene only to be whisked away and dropped into the thoughts and adventures of another. I absolutely adore this type of writing style as it keeps the reader on their toes. Expertly crafter, readers experience an emotional rollercoaster as they jump between characters, and what makes it work so seamlessly is that each time readers are dropped into another character’s experience, it picks up exactly where the original cliffhanger left off a few chapters prior. So, while readers may groan as the shift in character takes place, leaving them hanging, they are quickly thrown right back into the story as a previous cliffhanger begins to resolve itself. This is ingenious and I highly enjoyed it and can’t wait for the fourth and final novel. Four stars.

I received an ARC of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review prior to its release on December 10, 2013

{December 6, 2013} {Review} The Void by John Abramowitz (Weaver #2)

From Goodreads: The zombie apocalypse is nigh!

The trouble is, Alex Cronlord is the only person who knows it. She is a Weaver — one of a group of superhuman children who are able to see the future — and she can still remember the vision she had just weeks ago of being chased by a shambling undead horde. But that’s all she’s seen of the coming horror, and lately, her visions have mostly been confusing. Dead bodies in dumpsters, a strange place called “Pinnacle,” and no sign of a Xorda anywhere. At least, not at first.

As Alex struggles to make sense of these bits of information, a stitch-faced assassin surfaces with a vendetta against Ainsling Cronlord, Alex’s mother. Ainsling is a member of the enigmatic Wells Society, a secret order of women who genetically mutate their own children to turn them into fighters against the Xorda. She is the person who gave Alex her Weaver powers. And she is the person Alex can least afford to trust.

But when the stitch-faced man steps up his campaign against the Cronlord family, Alex begins to realize she may not have a choice. As she learns the disturbing truth behind her recent visions, Alex must decide how far she is willing to go to save the world.

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This sequel to the thrilling novel, Weaver, picks up soon after the first ended, thrusting readers back into the melee that is Alex Cronlord’s life. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Alex must now face the truth of what her mother did to her, and decide if knowing the future in order to protect those she loves is more important that her own sanity. It also begs the question… is she a reject or a Weaver?

Whereas the first novel focuses on that of the future through Alex’s visions, this second novel back tracks and begins to show readers glimpses of the past, a power that scares Alex as she believes she’s losing her edge; that she won’t be able to help anyone battle the Xorda without the serum her mother was testing on her. And slowly, readers begin to piece together what Ainsling’s life was like prior to becoming a part of the Wells Society. With the special forces of the FBI at her back, Alex learns important information that just might save them all, if only she could cross the planes of their colliding worlds.

This is an intense read that sweeps readers up and carries them along in this fast paced, action packed novel. Alex is, of course, a kick butt heroine, but her need to protect others will be her downfall if she doesn’t decide which side she wants to be on, because lying to those around you never works out well in the end. Four stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

{December 5, 2013} {Review and Giveaway} Stilts by Tim O’Rourke (Stilts #1)

From Goodreads: While eighteen-year-old, Tessa Dark was serving her prison sentence for murder, the world beyond her cell walls changed forever. The thunder came and destroyed the world she had once known.

Trapped inside the prison and faced with no future, Tessa’s only glimmer of hope is her friendship with fellow inmate Joe McBride.

Despite Tessa’s fear, Joe decides to go beyond the prison walls to seek help. But when he fails to return, Tessa is determined to go and search for him.

To gain her freedom, Tessa must first learn to walk, run, and fight on stilts if she is to survive the new and terrifying world on the other side of the prison walls.

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Imagine a world without music. Without moms or dads. Without a home to call your own. Imagine a world lacking beauty. Safety. Medicine. Imagine you were given the opportunity to leave it all behind, to fight your way across a desolate land filled with peril in order to obtain the truth. To obtain freedom. To obtain help. To possibly perish in agony along the way. What would you do?

Tessa Dark chooses to fight. Sent to prison at age 13 for murder, Tessa lost everything when the thunder came six months later. She hasn’t heard real music in five years. She hasn’t heard from her family in that long, either. Not since the thunder desolated the earth and charred the remains of all those outside the safety of the prison walls. She doesn’t know what happened. She doesn’t know why. But she does know that if she doesn’t bring back help, everyone who’s left will die. She does know that her one true love left to get help, and never returned. She does know that her attempt to find “the island” is virtually a suicide mission. But she doesn’t care. She has to try. She has to hope.

O’Rourke’s latest release, Stilts, is a riveting novel that takes a unique concept and brings it to life. In a world where walking along the earth is much too dangerous, Tessa and her comrades must learn to utilize stilts in hopes of surviving, of reaching the “island,” a place they aren’t certain really exists, in hopes of helping those who are left. Those who survived.

From the very first page, O’Rourke sweeps on the scene with an epic battle on stilts; captivating readers immediately and not releasing them until long after the final page. And it’s extremely well done. Tessa is a believable character, and so is that of Beau, her foil and companion along the trek across the ruined earth to find the rendezvous point. But with a timely appearances of the mysterious hooded figure, the zombified scorchers, and the erratic behavior of Beau, the going is anything but easy or forthright. Forced to make split second decisions and haunted by the fate of her love, Joe, Tessa, and readers alike, are in for a wild ride.

Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of this novel, for me, is that is takes place in one of O’Rourke’s intricate “pushed” worlds, seamlessly extending itself into the riveting Kiera Hudson and Jack Seth series by default, two series I absolutely adore. Although it doesn’t directly reference any events within the previously mentioned series, O’Rourke reveals the location of the world through his use of surrounding towns, which clues readers in that Tessa’s story might, just maybe, eventually intersect with that of Jack Seth, and possibly with that of Kiera Hudson as well… an enticing thought.

For those new to O’Rourke’s writing, pushed worlds are parallel worlds to the one we know. In other words, an alternate plane in which we also exist and experience different outcomes on our paths of life. In the world you and I know, humans rule and a world recession is in our midst. In Tessa’s world, there is no recession and humans don’t rule anymore because a great thunder, perhaps a war, has torn apart the world as we know it, and zombie like creatures called scorchers roam the desolate earth—a type of goopified zombie whose touch causes one’s body to incinerate.

Sound intriguing? It is. And if I lost you with my attempted explanation of a pushed world, no worries. You actually don’t need to know anything about pushed worlds or have read any other O’Rourke novels to follow this latest release. And Stilts is a great novel to begin with if you’re new to O’Rourke’s tales. He is one of my all-time favorite authors, and Stilts does not disappoint. Five stars.

Hashtag Books has been extremely gracious in providing me with this novel in exchange for an honest review.

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