From Goodreads: Dale had everything—dream job, dream girl, dream life. When he moved to New York to chase his dreams, he never planned on returning to the Indiana farm where he grew up. Yet, one phone call from his ex-fiance brings him back to face the brothers he abandoned and the consequences of the choices he made in pursuit of those dreams. Will a father’s last wish be the key to reuniting a family torn apart by tragedy? Or will Dale lose everything while driving to BelAir.

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I’m sorry to say that this novella just wasn’t for me.  It’s very well written, but it read as a fantastically surreal story, with a series events that I just couldn’t fathom as being “real.” From the circumstances surrounding the drugs to the time the characters spend in jail, as well as all the other fantastical events within, I just didn’t see much of the story as being plausible.  Which is okay.  No one said the events have to be true-to-life, or full of drama, but that was my expectation going into this novella.  I was thinking this would be a road trip story about redemption, a serious story with events that bring about change, but in reality, this novella is more like a mash up of crazy events, yelling, fights, hatred, and sheer stupidity on the characters’ parts.  I also had a very difficult time connecting with the characters, which I think feeds in to another reason why I didn’t care much for this novella.  If I had Dale’s family, I wouldn’t have gone to the “funeral” at all.  Now, I know he’s just as much to blame for the problems within the family as the others, but I wouldn’t want to deal with his brothers if it was the last thing I had to do.  As the novella unfolded, I began to dislike Dale’s family a lot, and I even began to like Dale less and less because, in my opinion, none of the characters were likable.  I found them all to be quite selfish and unreliable.  And, the youngest brother, the one who was high all the time, just grated on my nerves.  I think this would be a good, quick read for an audience that finds drug hazed characters or family drama fun(ny), but it’s just not my style.  Two stars.

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

From Goodreads: Kira Miller is a brilliant genetic engineer who discovers how to temporarily achieve savant-like capabilities in all areas of thought and creativity. But what if this transcendent level of intelligence brings with it a ruthless megalomania?

David Desh left the special forces after his team was brutally butchered in Iran. Now he has been reactivated for one last mission: find Kira Miller, the enigmatic genius behind a bioterror plot that threatens millions. But when Desh learns that the bioterror plot is just the tip of the iceberg, he is thrust into a byzantine maze of deception and intrigue, and he becomes a key player in a deadly game he can’t begin to understand. A game that is certain to have a dramatic impact on the future course of human history.

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This is one of those awesome mystery/suspense novels that takes everything you think you know and turns it on its head.  You meet characters that aren’t all they seem, hear stories of wonder only to find out they’re false, and are glued to the pages through all the the twists and turns.  I really enjoyed Richards’ novel, Wired, and the characterization of Kira Miller and David Desh was superb.  I really enjoyed getting to know them, and though I’m no science buff, I was able to follow their conversations and understand the powerful creation that Kira produced.  The power to think faster and smarter is something all the world would covet, and the fact that Kira has it at her disposal is a very scary concept, but not all is as it seems…

I enjoyed nearly every aspect of this novel, except for the long discussions concerning philosophy.  While I do believe the discussions need to be had, especially as Kira possesses something that can change the world as we know it, I felt like these philosophical conversations were longer than necessary on more than one occasion, and I found myself becoming sluggish as I read.  The pacing of the novel, in general, is great, but the long-winded conversations did damper it a little, in my opinion.  Of course, the question of good versus evil is always present, and whether we should tamper with human ability is a great question, just like the question of sacrificing one for the greater good, but I found myself tiring of the topic as the novel moved forward because it was a constant soundtrack, and I was more interested in the action within the novel.  But, if you’re a big philosophy buff, you’ll love this aspect of this novel too, and I highly suggest all read it, because overall, this is a great novel!  Four stars.

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

From Goodreads: In this fourth mystery on Deep Creek Lake; Mac Faraday finds himself up to his eyeballs in mobsters and federal agents.

After an attempted hit ends badly with two of his men dead, mobster Tommy Cruze arrives in Spencer, Maryland, to personally supervise the execution of the witness responsible for putting him behind bars—Archie Monday!

Mac Faraday believes he has his work cut out for him in protecting his lady love from one of the most dangerous leaders in organized crime; but when bodies start dropping in his lakeshore resort town, things may be hotter than even he can handle.

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Mac Faraday is back in this fast-paced mystery novel by Lauren Carr! Once again, trouble seems to have found its way to Deep Creek Lake, this time, following Archie Monday’s past involvement with the mob, which landed her in the witness protection program many years ago.  Now, I have to say, I’ve always thought Archie’s name was a bit weird, but I chalked it up to author creativity.  Authors can give their characters strange names if they want to.  But, now, knowing what I do about Archie and her name change in the witness protection program, well, I have to wonder if Carr had this planned all along… Ingenious, really.  They say that while an author begins a novel, they’re already two books ahead in their mind, and I think that might just be true of Carr.  For the past few books in the Mac Faraday series, I really did think her true name was Archie Monday.  Really, I’m floored, and I think this is so awesome!

Thus, as you can probably already tell, the fact that this novel focuses on Archie’s past life really intrigued me, and I loved every minute of it.  Archie is a great character, and I’ve always highly enjoyed her.  In past Mac Faraday novels, we’ve learned about her work with Faraday’s mother, her knack for research, and her ability to help uncover mysteries, as well as her refusal to back away from a fight.  She’s a strong female character, making this novel a fun read as she takes care of herself, but still leans on  Faraday and the police force for help, giving readers the full spectrum of intrigue as Faraday, Gnarly, and the rest of the gang I’ve come to love help solve the murder mysteries within this novel.  With mobsters, Gnarly’s doggish antics, the mysterious deaths, undercover hit men, and extreme craziness all around, and this novel takes on a voice of its own, making it an extremely amazing read.

Carr is a very gifted novelist.  Her mystery novels, both the Mac Faraday and Lovers in Crime Series, are phenomenal.  Her ability to keep the reader guessing, as well as her plotlines that flow so effortlessly as they work up to the big reveal, always make her novels a fun endeavor, and I look forward to even more of her work as this year unfolds.  Blast From the Past is a fantastic novel, and if you haven’t read any of Carr’s work, I highly suggest you give this novel a read.  Though part of a series, Carr’s novels do not need to be read in any particular order; they are stand-alones that feature the same great characters and supply the reader with all the background knowledge they need in order to keep up with the fantastic storytelling, and they are truly with the read. Five stars.

Acorn Book Services has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read a copy of this novel, via Netgalley.

From Goodreads: Imagine a modern spin on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein where a young couple’s undying love and the grief of a father pushed beyond sanity could spell the destruction of them all.

A string of suspicious deaths near a small Michigan town ends with a fall that claims the life of Emma Gentry’s boyfriend, Daniel. Emma is broken, a hollow shell mechanically moving through her days. She and Daniel had been made for each other, complete only when they were together. Now she restlessly wanders the town in the late Fall gloom, haunting the cemetery and its white-marbled tombs, feeling Daniel everywhere, his spectre in the moonlight and the fog.

When she encounters newcomer Alex Franks, only son of a renowned widowed surgeon, she’s intrigued despite herself. He’s an enigma, melting into shadows, preferring to keep to himself. But he is as drawn to her as she is to him. He is strangely… familiar. From the way he knows how to open her locker when it sticks, to the nickname she shared only with Daniel, even his hazel eyes with brown flecks are just like Daniel’s.

The closer they become, though, the more something inside her screams there’s something very wrong with Alex Franks. And when Emma stumbles across a grotesque and terrifying menagerie of mangled but living animals within the walls of the Franks’ estate, creatures she surely knows must have died from their injuries, she knows.

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First, let me say that I really enjoyed this novel.  Then, let me say that I completely misread the beginning of the synopsis prior to reading the novel, which is turn made me expect something vastly different.  See, I automatically misinterpreted the phrase “modern spin on Frankenstein” as a statement that this novel was a retelling of the classic, because that’s what I’m so used to seeing in novels nowadays.  But, if you make that assumption, you’d be wrong, just like me.  Nope.  This is indeed a spin on an old classic, borrowing just a few aspects of Frankenstein and, I hope I’m not about to spoil anything for you, but if you’ve read the synopsis above, the one accompanying the book itself, then you’ve probably already figured it out, because it basically tells you the entire novel in a very watered down nutshell… So, the main aspect that gives this a “Frankenstein spin” in the first place is the creation of the “monster,”  however, I wouldn’t consider our modern day “monster” evil, by any means.  Nor is he a “monster,” actually.  Nor is he greedy, revolting, desperate of acceptance, calculating, manipulative, hardened, or full of hate.  Nor is he a murderer, as it were.  So, Broken isn’t a retelling by any means.  Instead, it’s a wonderfully written tale in which Rought borrows the idea of reanimating the dead through the assemblance of stolen body parts.  And it’s great.  It is.  I just wish I’d read the synopsis correctly and didn’t automatically think Broken was a “retelling,” because I was expecting something completely different, and it wasn’t until I re-read the synopsis and really thought about the word spin that I figured out I had been completely off the mark. 

This is a beautiful novel.  Once I figured out that this isn’t a retelling, but an actual a love story in which two young adults must beat the many odds against them, a tale of rekindled love, I fell right in to loving it.  And yes, the synopsis pretty much gives away the entire plot, which is unfortunate, but Rought is a beautiful storyteller.  While it’s true that not a whole lot happens in the first half of the novel, we do have a lot of character development, which is key to the success of this story.  We need to understand Emma’s extreme connection to her deceased boyfriend.  We need to feel her pain alongside with her, which is probably easier for those of us who have experienced the death of a loved one, but even if we have not, Rought is able to forge that connection between us as the reader, and Emma as the distraught, unsettled main character.

Enter Alex.  You know who he is, since we’re doing the Frankenstein comparison, and yet, as I said, he’s nothing like the character he is meant to portray.  And that’s perfect.  I actually prefer it that way.  Alex is wonderful.  He doesn’t understand the truth about himself; no one really does for much of the novel—dramatic irony much?—and his and Emma’s journey and connection is truly amazing to watch as it unfolds.  Sure, it happens much too quickly, but shouldn’t it, if Alex is who he is?  I think yes. (Too cryptic?  Sorry.)

I really enjoyed the entanglement of Dr. Franks, Emma, Alex, and Josh as they danced around one another to the point that it all comes to a head, and the novel quickly goes from character and romance building to a fast-paced race against death.  Superb, though I’m not sure why Josh does what he does throughout the entire novel, or why he chose to go that route in the first place.  But that’s a whole different discussion that I’m not going to have at the moment.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel.  It’s unique, yet familiar as we all know the idea behind Frankenstein, I just hope everyone knows that these two novels really aren’t the same at all, and that they don’t make the same assumptions that I did.  Four stars.

Angry Robot and Strange Chemisty have been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release tomorrow, January 8, 2013.

From Goodreads: A tragic act of violence echoes through a small Minnesota town

Set on the Minnesota prairie in the late 1980s during a drought season that’s pushing family farms to the brink, Little Wolves features the intertwining stories of a father searching for answers after his son commits a heinous murder, and a pastor’s wife (and washed-out scholar of early Anglo-Saxon literature) who has returned to the town for mysterious reasons of her own. A penetrating look at small-town America from the award-winning author of The Night Birds, Little Wolves weaves together elements of folklore and Norse mythology while being driven by a powerful murder mystery; a page-turning literary triumph.

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I really enjoyed this novel.  It’s got a little bit of everything: mythology, folklore, murder, mayhem, intrigue, and even magical realism.  All in all, it wraps up to be a very well written psychological thriller focusing on the lives of two seemingly unconnected characters, Grizz and Clara.

The novel opens with a surreal event that seems unrelated to the story on the whole.  We later find out just how much it connects to some of the characters as certain details, easily overlooked, are divulged to the reader throughout the novel.  If one isn’t paying particular attention, the pieces may not add up until quite late in the novel, but for those who pay attention to even the most minute detail, the novel itself will begin to share its secrets quite early on, whispering the truth to us as we read.

Grizz, a middle age man who has found life to be much unkind to him, enters the story upon learning that his son, Seth, has shot the Sherriff in the face at point blank range.  Seth then commits suicide, throwing Grizz’s life, and that of the entire town, into disarray.  Fingers begin to point, and Grizz, like any parent, struggles to understand exactly what happened and why, setting out on a quest to understand what pushed Seth over the edge.

Clara, the wife of a young pastor, moves to Grizz’s small town a few months prior to the shooting and, as the story unfolds, we learn that she has much more to do with the circumstances than even she understands, initially.  Clara also struggles to connect the stories her father told her while growing up to the true events of her life, and as the story unfolds, we learn that not all is what it seems within this town of secrets.

I really enjoyed the characterization and mystery surrounding this novel.  Maltman does a superb job roping the reader into the story, as well as fleshing out the characters and circumstances behind everything, and I truly enjoyed it, though, honestly, I’m not exactly sure what happened at the end.  But, I have an idea that works in my head, and that’s good enough for me.  Four stars.

Soho Press has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on January 8, 2013.

From Goodreads: A seven-year-old girl puts a nail gun to her grandmother’s neck and fires. An isolated incident, say the experts. The experts are wrong. Across the world, children are killing their families. Is violence contagious? As chilling murders by children grip the country, anthropologist Hesketh Lock has his own mystery to solve: a bizarre scandal in the Taiwan timber industry.

Hesketh has never been good at relationships: Asperger’s Syndrome has seen to that. But he does have a talent for spotting behavioral patterns and an outsider’s fascination with group dynamics. Nothing obvious connects Hesketh’s Asian case with the atrocities back home. Or with the increasingly odd behavior of his beloved stepson, Freddy. But when Hesketh’s Taiwan contact dies shockingly and more acts of sabotage and child violence sweep the globe, he is forced to acknowledge possibilities that defy the rational principles on which he has staked his life, his career, and, most devastatingly of all, his role as a father. Part psychological thriller, part dystopian nightmare, The Uninvited is a powerful and viscerally unsettling portrait of apocalypse in embryo.

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This novel had a very intriguing premise, but unfortunately, I didn’t find the execution of the story itself to be all that interesting.  The story revolves around Hesketh, a middle age man who interviews companies to discover who sabotaged them, and why. Right away we find out that his Asperger’s has gotten in the way of his relationships; he seems to enjoy being alone, though he loves his stepson, Freddy, dearly, and he highly enjoys figuring out patterns within society.  Hesketh is also obsessed with origami. Not to be a jerk, but I find him to be a boring main character.  I don’t mind quirks in my characters, in fact, I love them, but I don’t particularly enjoy listening to Hesketh describe how to fold specific origami patterns in order to create different animals and flowers.  I know it’s his coping mechanism, but it really bored me to tears.  Every time I saw the word “origami,” I inwardly groaned.  That, along with the strange pacing of the novel, made it difficult for me to get through.

I was intrigued by the sabotage and the suicides.  I was intrigued with the downfall of childhood innocence, the mass hysteria, and the murders, but so much of this novel centers on Hesketh trying to make sense of his life, and I just don’t care about him, his sex life, his ex’s lesbianism, or his origami.  Harsh, I know.  But I really think the novel was trying to take on too much, to discuss too much and cover all the bases that we are now seeing in modern literature (loneliness, coping with love and loss, sexuality and homosexuality, etc).  Thus, the novel seems to lose sight of the main issue facing Hesketh’s society: the children and their murdering tendencies.

Once I was able to hurdle the middle of the novel, I did find that things got much more interesting.  The pacing began to quicken, and the truth about the destruction of children began to take the forefront.  This was interesting, and I enjoyed the focus on Freddy and the children as Hesketh and his team attempted to figure out what, exactly, was going on.  The underlying factor of spirits and the taking over of bodies was extremely discerning, and I really enjoyed the last quarter of the novel, since it wasn’t so much about Hesketh, but rather about society as a whole.  Had the entire novel been like the last quarter, I think I would have enjoyed it more.  Two stars.

Bloomsbury Publishing has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on January 8, 2013.

From Goodreads: Allie Kim suffers from Xeroderma Pigmentosum: a fatal allergy to sunlight that confines her and her two best friends, Rob and Juliet, to the night. When freewheeling Juliet takes up Parkour—the stunt-sport of scaling and leaping off tall buildings—Allie and Rob have no choice but to join her, if only to protect her. Though potentially deadly, Parkour after dark makes Allie feel truly alive, and for the first time, equal to the “daytimers.”

On a random summer night, the trio catches a glimpse of what appears to be murder. Allie alone takes it upon herself to investigate, and the truth comes at an unthinkable price. Navigating the shadowy world of specialized XP care, extreme sports, and forbidden love, Allie ultimately uncovers a secret that upends everything she believes about the people she trusts the most.

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I struggled a little bit with the believability of this novel, but as I’m no expert on Parkour or how long it takes to get really good at this sport, I guess I can’t say all that much about the validity of the characters’ abilities.  A few months seems a little short to master such an extreme sport, but at the same time, if that’s all you do for three months straight, then I guess you could build up the strength and endurance needed in no time flat.  It’s probably because I’m a bit lazy when it comes to getting in shape, so I wouldn’t be able to do what our characters do with the same amount of discipline, plain and simple.  I’m also not a teenager anymore; my bones are old and I’ve lost the agility needed to do a lot of sports, so it’d probably take me years to get anywhere close to being decent at Parkour, whereas it only takes the teens a few months to master it.  Ah, well.  To be young.

There were some other elements I had a hard time believing within the novel as well, such as forcing a witness to work alongside the person she’s terrified of and whom she’s accused of murder.  Again, I’m no expert, but if my child accused someone of being a murderer, and she was terrified of said person, I certainly wouldn’t force her to work alongside that person, and I don’t think the law would either.  Perhaps it’s some character building idea within the court system of the novel, but I don’t think it’s plausible.  It certainly will help pave the way for more events within the upcoming sequel, but plausible, I think not.

All that aside, though, I actually really like the idea of Parkour and the murder mystery.  I’ve read a few novels in which characters are very good at Parkour, and that’s actually why I wanted to read this novel.  Granted, the characters in the novels I read prior to this one had been practicing Parkour for years, but they also didn’t have an allergy to sunlight or any restrictions on leading a “normal” life, whereas our characters in What We Saw At Night have both. So…

I liked Allie’s character the most.  She struggles to come to terms with the idea that she will probably die soon, and yet she strives to live.  I found her character to be very believable, though wishy-washy and a bit negative.  I did not care for her friend, Juliet, however.  Juliet is crazy.  She isn’t sympathetic, and in retrospect, everything that happens within the novel itself it her fault.  Yes, I’m pointing the finger, and I know we’re not supposed to do the whole, “if s/he didn’t do this, then X, Y, and Z never would have happened,” but as I look back over the course of the novel, it’s true.  For nearly every situation that happens, Juliet can be pegged as the reason for its outcome.  And, since she’s not a very nice person with one too many secrets, I definitely don’t care for her.

Now, this novel is apparently one in a series.  I expected it all to tie up nicely at the end, but it doesn’t.  In actuality, it leaves the reader with many questions as to what really happened.  I am on Allie’s side, 100%, but I’m not sure about some of the events that took place… did they really happen, or is it another huge cover up?  I guess time will tell, and I am looking forward to the sequel as I am invested in Allie’s life.  I just hope the next installment has a little more realistic feel to it.  Three stars.

Soho Press has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on January 8, 2013.

From Goodreads: Meghan Chase is finally getting used to being the Iron Queen, ruler of the Iron Fey. Her life may be strange, but with former Winter prince Ash by her side at last, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

But when they travel to the Summer and Winter courts’ gathering for Elysium, the oracle from Meghan’s past returns with a dire prophecy: “What you carry will either unite the courts, or it will destroy them.” Now Meghan faces a devastating choice that may determine the future of all fey—and her and Ash’s unborn child…

A novella from the bestselling Iron Fey series.

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This is a novella that really should be read between The Iron Knight and The Lost Prince (hence it’s #4.5 in the first Iron Fey series).  I didn’t happen to do it that way… I read it after The Lost Prince (the first novel in the spinoff series of the Iron Fey, Call of the Forgotten), which doesn’t hurt anything, but I really wish I had read this novella prior.

In Iron’s Prophecy, our favorite characters are back—Meghan, Ash, Puck, and Grimalkin—and though things are going well for the characters, for the most part, another quest is on the rise.  his time, it deals with Meghan’s unborn child, and we learn a lot more about the dire circumstances surrounding this child than we did in The Iron Knight.  Not everything is as it seems with this child, and dire things are destined to happen should he be allowed to live.  Now, if you’ve read The Lost Prince, then you know the outcome of this novella already, but what you don’t know is how it came to pass, or why Meghan chose what she did.  In truth, this novella sets up a huge part of the premise for The Lost Prince, which you don’t realize without having read it.  Now, do you have to read Iron Prophecy at all?  No.  Should you?  Of course!  I’ve loved all the novellas by Kagawa concerning the Iron Fey, and this novella is no different.  And, who doesn’t want to know more surrounding the birth of Meghan and Ash’s child?  I think, had I read Iron’s Prophecy prior to The Lost Prince, my thoughts about some of the characters and events would have been different.  So now, knowing what I do, I’m actually planning to go back and re-read The Lost Prince, because some of my thoughts have been tainted, and some of my thoughts were dead wrong.  In other words, Iron’s Prophecy is so worth the read.  Four stars.

I purchased this novella from Amazon.

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for my blog…

Here’s an excerpt:

• 4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 29,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 7 Film Festivals

• In 2012, there were 459 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 888 posts.

• The busiest day of the year was January 22nd with 487 views. The most popular post that day was Are Your Books Safe From The Goodreads Switch?

Click here to see the complete report.

And, and special THANKS to my many faithful readers!!  Happy New Year!!  I can’t wait to read even more books in 2013 and share my thoughts with you.  Cheers!

From Goodreads: Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can’t.

 She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

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Hodkin has, once again, written an epic novel chronicling the strange life of Mara Dyer, and I loved every minute of it.  Picking up where the first novel in the series left off with its wicked cliffhanger, Hodkin continues Mara’s journey toward the truth in this middle book, which, in my opinion, is always the hardest book in a series to write.  Yet, Hodkin keeps the action, suspense, and intrigue continuously going as this novel evolves and we learn more about Mara’s strange abilities.  I have to admit, part of me wondered if Mara was truly psychotic, as her parents and doctors seemed to think.  And, even though the synopsis states that she isn’t, necessarily, I was thinking that, at any minute, Hodkin might pull the rug out from under her readers and show just how much of an unreliable narrator Mara really is; but that’s not so, which the reader quickly learns when certain life threatening events begin to enfold.

What I really enjoyed about this novel is the uncertainly of it all.  You want to hate Mara’s parents for putting her through psychological evaluations and refusing to listen, but at the same time, they have a point… I wouldn’t listen either.  You want to smack Noah around for being distant when Mara needs him so much, but if I were uncovering strange and potentially dangerous information that could set her on edge, I’d probably be distant, too.  And, is Jude really back?  According to Mara he is, and Noah says he believes her, but it’s not until the death-defying end of this epic read that we learn the truth.  Can we say conspiracy theory?  I’ll just leave it at that.

And, so… Noah?  He’s my boy.  I almost wish I was in Mara’s shoes so I could have him all to myself, but then again, I value my freedom, so Noah will just be my imaginary, swoon worthy, heroic book boyfriend.  He is a truly good character, well rounded, caring, compassionate, and able to care for Mara in ways others are not.  And I love him.  I do.

While I honestly loved this novel to pieces, and didn’t want to put it down for an instant, I found that I needed to, after the first few chapters, because I needed a refresher on all the people and circumstances surrounding Mara.  It’s been over a year since I first read (and fell in love with) The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, so I cracked it back open and re-read the last few chapters again, as a refresher.  I really needed this because Hodkin doesn’t actually give the readers the “information dumping” from the first novel that we’ve become so accustomed to in most sequels.  I actually really liked that there wasn’t a lot of “information dumping,” as it were, because I generally remember and know exactly what happened in previous novels without it, but this time, I really needed it.  So, if you haven’t read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer in quite a while, I suggest refreshing your memory with a re-read, or skim, in order to properly set yourself up for The Evolution of Mara Dyer, because, trust me, once you start it, you won’t want to stop.  Five stars.  

I recieved this novel from the publisher at NCTE 2012.

From Goodreads: Will love conquer all?

Nora and Patch thought their troubles were behind them.  Hank is gone and they should be able to put his ugly vendetta to rest. But in Hank’s absence, Nora has become the unwitting head of the Nephilim and must finish what Hank began. Which ultimately means destroying the fallen angels – destroying Patch.

As the battle lines are drawn, Nora and Patch must confront the differences that have always been between them and either choose to ignore them or let them destroy the love they have always fought for.

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A few years ago, when I first picked up the Hush, Hush series (based completely on the cover alone, I won’t lie), I fell deeply in love with Patch.  Though troubled and headstrong, a villain by all rights, Patch quickly garnered my attention—I’ve always been attracted to the bad boy image.  And that’s exactly what Patch is: a bad boy.  A bad fallen angel, as it were.  But fallen angels can reconsider their path in life, and this series takes readers on an epic journey through Patch’s heart, thoughts, and feelings as the series unfolds.  His and Nora’s story is one of epic proportions, and I really loved every minute of it.  If only I was Nora.

In all honesty, it’s bittersweet to be writing a review for the final novel in this series—I really enjoyed the novels and the stories within, especially as we watch Patch and Nora grow.  They are wonderful characters, though I will admit that Nora is a bit of an airhead in this novel, making rash decisions and not thinking through many things.  She did get on my nerves a little, what with her indecisive attitude and blatant disregard to the warning and danger signs all around her, but I do have to admit, I was just as shocked as she to find out the exact truth about who really was trust worthy, and who wasn’t.  While I had the inkling that things weren’t right with a few of the characters, I never expected the betrayal at the level it ensued, and I was also surprised by how wrong I was about a lot of the characters’ loyalties.  Those who seemed good, weren’t necessarily, and those who seemed bad, weren’t necessarily, so I guess I do understand where Nora is coming from with her inability to read the warning signs—it’s much easier to see from the outside looking in, as I was, but even then, I was a bit blind.

Fitzpatrick throws many curveballs at her readers as each novel unfolds, and Finale is, indeed, no different.  Nora is, once again, caught in the crossfire of the fallen angels versus the Nephilim, between life and death, love and loss.  I am very happy with the conclusion, but I will say that it is a bit abrupt.  I still have questions about the war that are unanswered, and I felt that I was left without a real conclusion concerning the aftermath of the war.  Towards the end of the novel, there is an epic battle, but once it concludes, everything just seems to end alongside it, without explaining what happens next, and I really needed that “next.”  Instead, there is a jump ahead of three years, and nothing is actually set in stone, aside from the peaceful closure to the love stories of the multiple characters.  Now, I am very happy with the conclusion of the love stories, but I’m still wondering what happened with the Nephilim after the war… and the cryptic mentioning about the fallen angels.  Perhaps there will be a spinoff series to fill in the gaps?  Probably not, but our hearts can wish.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, and highly recommend the series to all YA and fallen angel lovers alike.  Four stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

NEW RELASE! THE HAUNTING SEASON

New Adult/Horror Recommended for readers 17+

Be careful what you let in…

Siler House has stood silent beneath Savannah’s moss-draped oaks for decades. Notoriously haunted, it has remained empty until college-bound Jess Perry and three of her peers gather to take part in a month-long study on the paranormal. Jess, who talks to ghosts, quickly bonds with her fellow test subjects. One is a girl possessed. Another just wants to forget. The third is a guy who really knows how to turn up the August heat, not to mention Jess’s heart rate…when he’s not resurrecting the dead.

The study soon turns into something far more sinister when they discover that Siler House and the dark forces within are determined to keep them forever. In order to escape, Jess and the others will have to open themselves up to the true horror of Siler House and channel the very evil that has welcomed them all.

Available now:    Amazon |  B&N

Check out Michelle’s other books | Visit Michelle’s Blog |  Follow her on Twitter |  Michelle’s FB Fan Page

From Goodreads: After uniting the shifters and calling in reinforcements, Chase has to face his toughest challenge yet: learning to control his emotions. But as tensions rise and his powers grow, controlling his emotions becomes the least of his problems.

Terrorized by a multi-shifter who is hell-bent on turning him, Chase questions just how far he’s willing to go to stop his father. Meanwhile, Tiki’s virtuous nature has placed him in the middle of Vincent’s past, leaving Chase to oppose a senate of vampires and defend a demon he hates.

Trying to balance his friends, his enemies, and his inner demons, Chase is left searching for answers about the Mark, his destiny, and where he can find the next soul piece. Stopping Riley is his top priority, but as more obstacles arise, he finds himself doubting all the decisions he’s made – especially regarding Rayna.

One thing is for certain: Chase has finally realized that he doesn’t know anything. The light doesn’t always quell the darkness, the monsters don’t always stay in the shadows, and the past doesn’t always stay in the past – sometimes, the demons inside are the hardest to fight.
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I’m not sure why I originally thought this was the last novel in the series, but I am so glad it’s not! In this third installment of the Protector series, Chase and his friends are back, more determined than ever to put a stop to Riley’s attempt to take over the world, and it’s a wonderful, fast paced ride! Chase is still struggling with his anger, but he must learn to put differences aside and accept help, or even offer it, when it’s for the right cause.

I really liked watching Chase come into himself in this novel; his struggles were extremely real and vivid. I don’t know that I’d be able to help someone who attempted to kill me, so Chase is a far better person than I, but he certainly didn’t do it out of his own free will, and I loved that he struggles with his decisions and his anger, as I would, I’m sure. I also loved the many conflicts between characters, the romance, and the intense show downs with the characters we so love to hate. Merrick is a master storyteller, and Release packs a punch that really leaves the reader satisfied.

Yet, this fast paced, enticing read isn’t all fun and games. I definitely balled my eyes out as I read; Merrick threw some curve balls at me that I never expected, that I certainly wasn’t ready for, and, I’ll admit, left me less than pleased. However, that’s the makings of a great storyteller right there. The fact that I am so invested in the characters and their well-being that any misfortunes bring me to tears is a testament of Merrick’s sheer writing genius. In other words, I highly recommend Merrick’s novels!! Five stars.

To read how M.R. Merrick came up with this phenomenal series, click HERE.

Exiled (#1)

Shift (#2)

Release (#3)

Endure (#4)

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

ALSO…

RIGHT NOW, M.R. Merrick is giving away LOTS of prizes, to 28 different winners, to be EXACT!

Grande Prize Pack (3 Winners)

3x Signed  paperbacks (Exiled, Shift, Release)

3x  Signed 8×10 posters (Exiled, Shift, Release)

5x Bookmarks

Runner-up Prize Pack (5 Winners)

1x Signed  paperback (Winner’s choice of Exiled, Shift, or Release) with signed poster

1x  bookmark (Winner’s choice)

1x  Magnet

Secondary Prizes A (10 Winners)

Release eBooks

Secondary Prize B (10 Winners)

1x bookmark (winner’s choice)

1x The Protector magnet

Winners  will be chosen as follows: First 3 names drawn from  Rafflecopter will get the grand prize. The following 5  names get the runner-up prize. The following  10 names win ebook copies of Release, and the final 10 names win the swag pack.

There  will also be multiple opportunities to win signed paperbacks, signed  posters, notebooks, swag packs, and bookmarks throughout the tour on  both Twitter (@MRMerrick) and M.R. Merrick’s Facebook Fan Page.

To enter, click this Rafflecopter Entry Form and fill it in (the blog that sent you is A BOOK VACATION)!  There are extra entry options for those interested!

From Goodreads: Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father regain his spirits when his academy fails, agrees to travel with him to the distant Cornwall coast, to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But after they arrive and begin teaching the younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen and danger mounts. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte, only to find the music room empty? Who sneaks into her room at night? Who rips a page from her journal, only to return it with a chilling illustration?

When the suspicious acts escalate, can the clever tutor’s daughter figure out which brother to blame… and which brother to trust with her heart?

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This is my very first Klassen book, and let me tell you, it certainly won’t be the last!  I was absolutely floored by Klassen’s writing; her prose and beautiful imagery really solidifies her story, as does her amazing characterization.  Add in the intrigue and mystery, times two, because there is definitely more than one mystery to be solved, and it all blends seamlessly together to create a beautiful, enticing Austenesque novel.

I haven’t read many novels that really draw me into the world of the classic Regency era that Jane Austen is so famous for, but Klassen does a phenomenal job capturing the life and times of those who lived during this time, and her writing emulates the great author, Austen.  Truth be told, I’m not actually a fan of Jane Austen’s writing as her stories themselves seem to focus too much on the fine details, but Klassen’s novels, though paralleling the times and style of Austen, are exactly what I’ve been looking for when it comes to the Regency era.  The bit of mystery, the intrigue, and the slow romance are all aspects that I really love in my novels, and Klassen delivers exceptionally as she tells the story of The Tutor’s Daughter.

Klassen actually looks at the treatment of children who were born “less than perfect” the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries, and it’s a very interesting aspect of the Regency era that I did not realize existed.  We always hear about how people with mental illness or who have physical defects were treated in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, but I haven’t heard much, or thought about, how they were treated prior to these time periods.  Klassen did much research on this topic for her novel, basing much of what she learned on Austen’s own family tree, which I found highly intriguing.  I also loved that Klassen chose to show just how wonderful those “less than perfect” actually are, though society at the time did not agree, and Klassen’s own character within the novel turns out to be a much nicer, truer character than others, which I absolutely loved.

Along the same lines, Emma is a very personable character that I truly enjoyed.  She is strong-minded and takes the reins when her father begins to deteriorate, yet she does not overstep the bounds of womanhood for her time period.  She knows her place in society, yet challenges them accordingly when it comes to the well being of others.  Her caring and compassionate nature make her easily likable, and the fact that she isn’t a pushover makes her a much better heroine, in my opinion, than some of the traditional heroines from novels paralleling the same era.

Phillip and Henry are also very interesting characters, and Klassen devotes much of her novel to their development, from when they were young teens studying at the boys academy to their coming-of-age as young men.  Yet, Klassen also convolutes our perception of these young men through conflicting information that causes readers to side with one, and then the other as we get to know them and try to figure out who is actually in love with Emma (and who Emma is actually in love with…).  In truth, I was a bit surprised by the character of Henry as we learn more about him throughout the novel.  He is known as the trickster, someone Emma actually feared throughout his time at the academy, but as the novel unfolds, we learn of the many changes he has gone through, and I really liked how his character was handled.

I actually really enjoyed the spiritual aspects within the story as well.  Though I didn’t peg The Tutor’s Daughter as a religions novel when I began, God is definitely a revered entity within the novel, and I loved that Klassen works in religion and spirituality without making her novel preachy.  I generally dislike most novels I read that are religious due to the amount of preaching and repetition of Biblical teachings, but Klassen does not approach religion in the same way in her novel.  It is there, but it isn’t overbearing, and I really enjoyed it.

Overall, this was just a fantastic read, and I highly suggest that all read it, especially lovers of Austen.  Five stars.

Baker Publishing Group has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this fabulous novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on January 1, 2013.

From Goodreads: Learning the painful secrets of her past, Kiera must understand why the truth had been kept from her. When confronting Murphy, Kiera soon discovers he has been keeping his own terrible secret.

With Kiera’s and her friend’s past lives coming back to haunt them, Jack Seth tells her, she must discover the identity of the hooded photographer if she is to push her life back and save those she loves.

But is the photographer linked to Murphy’s past? If so, can they be trusted to help Kiera like Jack says they can?

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O’Rourke’s latest Kiera Hudson novel hits the ground running, picking up exactly where book four, Dead Seth, left readers with its unbearable cliffhanger.  Once again, we are absorbed into the world of vampyrus and lycanthropes, but this time we follow Murphy’s story as we continue putting together the pieces of O’Rourke’s vast, and amazing, puzzle.  Murphy’s story, like all those that came before (Potter’s, Isidor’s, Jacks, Kayla’s, and Kiera’s), is extremely engaging, and I was enamored from the very beginning.

All of the characters we have met in this beloved series have been flawed in some way, shape, or form, and though we hate to admit it, even the characters we love to hate seem less evil once we know what makes them tick. Murphy isn’t evil, by any means, but he is indeed flawed, though I wouldn’t have realized it without this in-depth look into his life.  Murphy has been with us from the very beginning—from Vampire Shift, the first book in the Kiera Hudson Series One, and I’ve always liked him.  He’s the elder grandfather type, but a hardballer all the same.  He’s caring, compassionate, but straightforward and blunt all in the same breath, and he’s always been there for the other characters (except when some unfortunate circumstances took him out of the novels for a little while in the first series, but, you know).  And his flaws are what really make him a believable character in the first place.  That goes, of course, for all the other wonderful characters O’Rourke has created, and I think that is why I love these novels so much.  Even though there are intense paranormal entities within the novel itself, the characters have thoughts and feelings just like you and me, and that makes the novels even more powerful as they unfold.

I can’t say I agree with all the choices that Murphy made in his younger years, just like I’m sure someone scrutinizing my life would say the same, but I definitely understand why Murphy did what he did, and how it all leads to the point where we are now within this fluid story.  And, I’m dying to read more!  Many questions have been answered, but there is so much more that I want to know; I can’t wait for the next installment!  In all honesty, I haven’t met a novel of O’Rourke’s I haven’t loved, and Dead Wolf is another wonderful testament to his sheer writing genius.  Seriously, you need to read his work.  Five stars.

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

O’Rourke’s Amazing Novels YOU NEED TO READ  (On Amazon):

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)–Coming Soon 2013

Black Hill Farm Series

Black Hill Farm (#1)

Black Hill Farm Andy’s Diary (#2)

The Moon Trilogy

Moonlight (#1)

Samantha Carter Series

Vampire Seeker (#1) (Formerly known as Cowgirls and Vampires)

Doorways Series

Doorways (#1)

The League of Doorways (#2)

Flashes Series

Flashes (#1)–Coming 2013

From Goodreads: Manhattan, 2147

Seventeen-year-old Sera Fisk gleefully celebrates the death of her 114-year-old great-grandmother, the last Atraxian alive who still remembers what New York was like before Felicity.

There is only one principle of Felicity: Suffering is optional. Those who disagree or forget this principle, as Sera’s father did, are detained and “purified”. Through the use of the Darklandia virtual reality and mandatory water rations, the Department of Felicity has transformed metropolises all over the country into happy, obedient communities.

Inspired by her great-grandmother’s last words, Sera stops drinking the water rations and is soon recruited by Nyx into a rebel organization in the midst of planning a full-scale attack on Darklandia. When Nyx attempts to override the Darklandia system, he stumbles upon shocking information about Sera and her family. After years of living in a haze of virtual reality and drugs, Sera finds herself running from a powerful surge of raw emotions and a government agency intent on keeping reality a secret.

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This was a very intriguing dystopian read.  I’ve always wondered what life would be like if I didn’t feel emotional pain—I’ve wished for it on more than one occasion, to be honest, but in truth, I think life would be quite bland.  And, according to Welti’s novel, Darklandia, it would be worse than bland, so I guess I’ll thank my lucky stars I can feel emotional pain, because for Sera Fisk, that’s something she must fight to experience.  Without it, there is no truth to her life—no real feelings towards anything, and life is lived in a bubble, as it were.

I really enjoyed watching Sera’s story unfold, and though I occasionally thought the story was pushed, or that the romance moved much too quickly, etc., the ending completely knocked my sox off and solidified the reason for the quick succession of relationships and adventure throughout the novel. I can’t tell you any more than that, as it’d give away the epic conclusion, the “aha” moment, as it were, but just know that there is a rhyme and reason behind everything Welti does within her novel, including hurrying along the plot, action sequences, and romance.  And it just fits.

Let me tell you, the novel’s ending really did blow me away.  I’ve only read a few novels that left my jaw on the floor due to a conclusion I never saw coming, one being 1984 (I’ve got my theories on that one), and the other, The Catcher in the Rye (which I actually hated, but the ending made it redeemable, in my eyes).  If you’ve read those novels, then you know there’s a big twist at the end that somewhat blindsides readers, and that’s exactly what Welti does with her own novel, and I loved it.  I completely explained everything that I hadn’t understood before, and it made this novel jump in status, for me, from good, to really good.  Honestly, I highly recommend this novel—it’s not too long, and the ending I think it’ll leave many readers shocked.  Four stars.

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

From Goodreads: A studio executive leaves his family and travels the world giving free reign to the bipolar disorder he’s been forced to hide for 20 years.

In her tour-de-force first novel, Juliann Garey takes us inside the restless mind, ravaged heart, and anguished soul of Greyson Todd, a successful Hollywood studio executive who leaves his wife and young daughter and for a decade travels the world giving free reign to the bipolar disorder he’s been forced to keep hidden for almost 20 years. The novel intricately weaves together three timelines: the story of Greyson’s travels (Rome, Israel, Santiago, Thailand, Uganda); the progressive unraveling of his own father seen through Greyson’s eyes as a child; and the intimacies and estrangements of his marriage. The entire narrative unfolds in the time it takes him to undergo twelve 30-second electroshock treatments in a New York psychiatric ward. This is a literary page-turner of the first order, and a brilliant inside look at mental illness.

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I’m sorry to say that I really didn’t care for this book.  It’s not the writing, by any means, but the main character, Greyson, that I didn’t like.  The writing itself is very well done, Garey is an exceptional writer, but when I don’t like the central character, for eighty percent of the book, it’s hard to like the novel overall.  In the end, I did end up caring a little bit about Greyson—his life was difficult, bipolar disorder is extremely hard to live with, and the reunion and situation at the end with his memory loss, etc., made him a much more sympathetic character, in my opinion.  But, it’s still hard for me to forgive and forget his many terrible choices throughout the novel, such as picking up and leaving his wife and child without a word.  Now, I do understand why he did it… it is explained within the text, as is his illness, but his character still rubbed me the wrong way, which is unfortunate.

The story itself unfolds as Greyson undergoes electroshock treatments, and thus, the novel is somewhat choppy as Greyson remembers different sections of his life and relays them to the reader.  I found this choppiness to be a little too sporadic for me, but I enjoyed it in that it really symbolizes Greyson’s mind and mental illness.  Really, the way the novel is set up is quite genius, and I think many will really enjoy it—I just need a lighter, happier setting, I think.  Greyson’s many choices throughout life were less than pleasant, and his manner towards everyone really made me dislike him.  Two stars.

Soho Press has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on December 26, 2012.

From Goodreads: The Graysheets remain ominously quiet during the teen’s senior year. When tragedy strikes Tiff, her confidence shatters into a million pieces and the group doesn’t know how to pick up the scattered mess of her emotional health.

As the control of the Zondorae scientists slips away, they make a final move to swing the balance in their favor, negotiating a future for the paranormals that is so final, a covert group moves to halt the momentum of their control over humanity with Jeffrey Parker as the catalyst.

In a final bid to protect everyone, Caleb discovers he was at the center from the beginning, an unwilling pawn moved on a chess board that no longer exists. Will he have a future of safety and happiness for himself and Jade? Or will the decisions made before the fateful day of inoculation remain to hinder that forever?

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This book is amazing! In my humble opinion, it is actually the best of all the Death Series novels, but all six books are phenomenal, so, in all honesty, it’s hard to place one over another.  Tamara Rose Blodgett has accomplished a lot in the last two years, from her very first novel release, Death Whispers, to the creation and promotion of two other great series, Blodgett has worked diligently to provide her readers with the next installment of her books in an extremely timely fashion.  And, in doing so, it’s come to the point that she’s now completed the beloved Death Series.  It is a sad day in that it has all come to an end, especially as I’ve been drawn to these novels since the very beginning.

Over the last two years, I’ve learned a lot about Caleb Hart’s future world.  I’ve made some great friends, laughed extremely hard, felt pain, hatred, and happiness, as well as extreme love.  With the completion of this novel, I truly feel like I’m losing a small piece of my soul—my friends have grow up and will no longer grace the pages of a Blodgett novel, which is a bit heartbreaking.  The main groups’ coming of age, from ages 14-25, has been amazing to watch as Blodgett carefully wove her story together, creating extremely real, vivid, and loveable characters, and I hate, just hate, to see them go.

This novel is extremely special.  It touches on exceptionally difficult topics, yet Blodgett treats them all with genuine care.  And, though I was a bit nervous to dive in, especially as the synopsis alluded to a very dark experience for Tiffany, I don’t think it could have been written any more delicately than Blodgett has written it.  And though there are sections of the book that will make readers flush with anger and cry for the all the characters’ pain, it’s perfect.  Absolutely perfect, and I wouldn’t want the story to unfold in any other way.

Even though there are passionate sexual experiences in this novel, and yes, they’re fairly explicit (though short), and I always shy away from situations like this in my books, what I liked about Blodgett’s inclusion of them is that it’s taken five novels, extreme character development, and years of friendship for the characters to actually act on their feelings.  It’s not a one-three month relationship where the characters can’t contain their “love,” but actually a true love story in which the characters have developed and matured to the point that they are ready for more.  There are also real life consequences for their actions, which is another aspect of the novel I loved, because, unlike so many novels that I’ve read where sexual relations just seem to be there to be there, Blodgett actually works it into the mainstream plot.  And sex is acted upon through true love, showing our teen readers what a healthy relationship is like, and how all decisions have consequences.  It’s great to see a teen novel get it right, and that’s exactly what Blodgett does in this sixth book.

For those of you who have read the entire series and are awaiting this final novel, I believe you will love it just as much as I do.  It couldn’t be any more perfect.  And for those of you who haven’t read any of the series, or only part of the series, well, this is a series you will not soon forget.  It’s full of wonder and true-to-life characters, dialogue, and situations that will make you connect to the characters in ways you didn’t know you could connect to fictional characters from a book.  I highly recommend this series, and am hoping that maybe, just maybe, a spinoff series is in order. Five stars for a truly perfect ending.

I received an ARC of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.  Unrequited Death releases on December 31, 2012.

The Death Series Novels:

Death Inception (#0.5)

Death Whispers (#1)

Death Speaks (#2)

Death Screams (#3)

Death Weeps (#4)

Unrequited Death (#5)

Enter to WIN the ENTIRE Death Series:

From Goodreads: When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp.  Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

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You know those books that you finish reading that leave you asking, “Damn, did that just happen?”  The ones that leave you feeling like there’s a hole in your heart, and like any minute depression is going to set in?  This is one of those novels.  And I wouldn’t necessarily say that that’s a bad thing, some novels are just a bit gloomy, but right now I’m feeling kind of down, and it’s all because of the cliffhanger with which The Darkest Mind just slapped me.

Bracken has created a novel centering on kids that, at the age of 10, either die, or develop special abilities.  The death of children is never an uplifting topic, and when it’s by the thousands, you just know the events about to unfold are probably going to be depressing. But, sad topics aside, let’s discuss the special abilities of those who do survive.  Truth be told, I wasn’t 100% sure what was being described when the abilities were discussed.  Now that I’ve finished the novel, I have a fairly decent idea about most of the abilities, but still, not all—they were a bit vague for me.  And, because I wasn’t sure what all the abilities meant, or how some were classified as dangerous, I did find parts of this novel hard to follow.  For instance, in the beginning, I couldn’t understand why Ruby considered herself to be such a monster, and as I didn’t know what happened with her parents, I wasn’t able to put two and two together.  She is so afraid of her abilities that she seems to lack the ability to put them to use, so she doesn’t, for a very large part of the novel.  Hence, I wasn’t sure what she was talking about.  That’s probably just me, but because things weren’t spelled out for me (and I may have just missed some vital sentence in there somewhere, it happens), I struggled to fully understand the story.  So, here’s what I think I know about the abilities, in hopes that it helps potential readers.  All surviving kids are classified by their colors: Reds, I think, deal with fire.  Oranges can take over the mind, among other mind capabilities.  Yellow’s control circuits, mainly lights and such.  Blues can make anything move using their mind, and Greens are… well, I’m not sure.  I think they’re really good with numbers and have photographic memories.  Maybe.  I probably messed that up, but… I hope I’m on the right track.

Ruby is an Orange. Hence, she’s able to pass herself off as a Green for quite some time.  Six years, to be exact.  And then, all hell breaks loose.

What I really liked about this novel was that the story was enticing so, while I didn’t necessarily understand everything that was happening, I was interested enough to keep reading.  When I was trying to explain the book to a friend, she asked me why I kept reading The Darkest Minds if I was as confused as I sounded, and my response was that the novel was, indeed, intriguing, and sometimes, that’s all I need for it to be a good book.  I mean, the colors and coding all reminded me of Divergent, by Veronica Roth, which I really enjoyed, and the characters were appealing, though I couldn’t tell who was true to their word, and who was manipulating others.  Of course, neither could Ruby, and that was half the fun.  I love a good mystery, and this novel is full of it.

What was difficult for me, however, was that the novel seemed to jump around.  It begins with a prologue that makes sense later on in the novel, but not right away.  I like beginnings like this, because it creates a bit of mystery and something to look forward to.  Then the first chapter takes us all the way back to the very beginning, detailing where Ruby was and what she saw during the beginning stages of the outbreak, IAAN.  What I didn’t understand, and never did grasp, is where the disease came from, how it was contracted, why it only affected kids and teens, and why it randomly popped up in the USA.  It just seems like it broke out one day, and there was no explanation behind it, which I really needed, even though the story is well written.  But back to the format.  The novel does a series of jumps throughout the duration of the story, going from past, to present, to past… being at the camp in the present, remembering something that happened at camp in the past, remembering home, remembering school, then we’re whisked back to the present, and the cycle keeps repeating itself.  Usually I do very well with novels that are set up like this, but in all honesty, I really think this set up is why I am a bit confused about the teen abilities and such.  I just felt like I, personally, didn’t have a deep enough grasp on anything prior to a past/present shift, so it made it a little hard for me to follow.

But again, the story itself was captivating.  Even though I didn’t understand why Ruby considered herself a monster (for a very long time), it did eventually click, and the more I read, the more I made sense of this dystopian world where teens are much to be feared.  Do I think everyone who reads this novel will be a bit lost?  Nope.  I think it’s mainly me here, and I certainly think that this novel is worth the read.  I truly did enjoy it; I just wish I had more background knowledge going in.

But, back to my original statement—my very first paragraph.  Wow.  Ruby and her friends just don’t catch a break.  Any time anything starts looking up, terrible things happen.  And the last instance broke my heart, though I can see why Bracken would do it… this is a series novel, after all, and the cliffhanger kind of needs to be a slap in the face.  Yet, though it’s depressing, it’s one I’m not going to forget. In fact, I’m not going to forget this story at all, because it has jarred me and made me feel even more sorry for the characters—they never asked for any of this—and that’s why I’m going with a higher rating than I originally thought I was going to give this novel.  It’s all about the ending, every time.  Four stars.

I received a paperback ARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Darkest Minds (#1)

Never Fade (#2)