From Goodreads: Riley’s finding that the afterlife can be a lonely place when all you do is focus on work. So she goes to the place where dreams happen, hoping to find a way to contact her sister, Ever. She meets the director, who tells her about the two ways to send dreams. As a Dream Jumper, a person can jump into a dreamer’s dream, share a message, and participate. As a Dreamweaver, an entire dream can be created in a studio and sent to the dreamer. But Dreamweaving was outlawed decades ago, and the studio was boarded up. Thinking it’s her only way to reach out to her sister, Riley goes in search of the old studio. There she finds a ghost boy, who’s been creating and sending nightmares to people for years. In order to stop him and reach out to Ever, Riley is going to have to confront and overcome her own fears.

__________________________________________________

This novel is more closely connected to the first book in the series, Radiance, though it picks up right where Shimmer left off.  Now, while I liked this novel more than Radiance, Riley seems to have taken one step forward and two steps back in the maturity realm.  Riley has always been obsessed with her inability to age, but she takes it on tenfold in this story, and I found it to be extremely repetitive.  She  gripes about having a flat chest too many times to count, and she again decides to defy all authority around her and do her own thing.  However, Noel puts a spin on this novel, and it has a much darker quality to it, especially in terms of the ending.  I was glad for the way Noel chose to end this novel, especially as I think it might benefit Riley greatly, and she might mature enough to realize that the world doesn’t revolve around her.  Bodhi has matured a lot in this novel, and so I have high hopes that our little heroine might do the same in the next novel, Whisper. Three stars.

From Goodreads: Having solved the matter of the Radiant Boy, Riley, Buttercup, and Bodhi are enjoying a well-deserved vacation. When Riley comes across a vicious black dog, against Bodhi’s advice, she decides to cross him over. While following the dog, she runs into a young ghost named Rebecca. Despite Rebecca’s sweet appearance, Riley soon learns she’s not at all what she seems. As the daughter of a former plantation owner, she is furious about being murdered during a slave revolt in 1733. Mired in her own anger, Rebecca is lashing out by keeping the ghosts who died along with her trapped in their worst memories. Can Riley help Rebecca forgive and forget without losing herself to her own nightmarish memories?

________________________________________

I’m so glad that I decided to keep reading this series; I liked this novel a lot more that I liked Radiance.  I felt like this second novel in the series has much more substance, and while Riley is still an immature pain in the butt, she’s growing just a little bit, making better choices, and I was able to stomach her a lot more in this novel—and the same goes for Bodhi. 

I also really enjoyed the pretense of the novel a lot more.  The fact that events in this novel are loosely related to true events in the 1800s makes it that much more interesting.  There is a real moral to this story, especially as it deals with forgiveness while also showing the horrors of slavery, which most young people gloss over as it’s not the here and now (no reference to where Riley now lives).  I was much more pleased with this novel and hope that Noel continues down this path with the series.  Three and a half stars.

Brown, Patrick. “Goodreads Librarians – Amazon Is Going Away as a Data Source.” Goodreads. Web. 26 Jan. 2012.

            <http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/776968-amazon-is-going-away-as-a-data-source&gt;.

From Goodreads: Riley has crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. She has picked up life where she left off when she was alive, living with her parents and dog in a nice house in a nice neighborhood. When she’s summoned before The Council, she learns that the afterlife isn’t just an eternity of leisure. She’s been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a possibly cute, seemingly nerdy boy who’s definitely hiding something. They return to earth together for Riley’s first assignment, a Radiant Boy who’s been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But all of that was before he met Riley…

________________________________________

I was really excited to begin this series but, unfortunately, this novel turned out to be much different than I was expecting.  Noel is an amazing author, and I absolutely loved  her Immortals series, so I think I was expecting something along those lines.  If you’ve read the Immortals series, then you are no stranger to Riley, and in this series, we get to know Riley a lot more, which I thought was a really cool concept.  Unfortunately, I’m not a fan of who she is turning out to be. 

Riley is a 12 year old girl stuck in Here, and she’s not happy about it.  I guess I probably wouldn’t be either if my life had been cut short, but Riley’s behavior and attitude really put me off, making me feel little sympathy for her at all.  Her immaturity is extremely evident, and her interactions with many of the other characters really rubbed me the wrong way.  I think part of this is because I’m an adult, whereas a MG reader may be able to identify more so with Riley and her thought process than I was able.  The same goes for Bodhi, I’m afraid.  While I found him to be an interesting character, he also seemed extremely immature at times and I had a hard time coming to like him as I read.   

But, characterization aside, I also felt like this story was too short.  Much of the story was spent leading up to meeting the Radiant boy, but then the scene is over in just a few pages and I was expecting much more.  I know that Noel had to set everything up for this series in this first book, but I would have much rather had more meat in the story and less explanation of school Riley attends for a day, etc.  While Noel is a fabulous writer, and I am interested to know what happens to Riley as the series progresses, I unfortunately didn’t care for this novel. Two stars.

From Goodreads: On May 13, 1945, twenty-four American servicemen and WACs boarded a transport plane for a sightseeing trip over Shangri-La, a beautiful and mysterious valley deep within the jungle-covered mountains of Dutch New Guinea. Unlike the peaceful Tibetan monks of James Hilton’s bestselling novel Lost Horizon, this Shangri-La was home to spear-carrying tribesmen, warriors rumored to be cannibals. But the pleasure tour became an unforgettable battle for survival when the plane crashed.

Miraculously, three passengers pulled through. Margaret Hastings, barefoot and burned, had no choice but to wear her dead best friend’s shoes. John McCollom, grieving the death of his twin brother also aboard the plane, masked his grief with stoicism. Kenneth Decker, too, was severely burned and suffered a gaping head wound.

Emotionally devastated, badly injured, and vulnerable to the hidden dangers of the jungle, the trio faced certain death unless they left the crash site. Caught between man-eating headhunters and enemy Japanese, the wounded passengers endured a harrowing hike down the mountainside–a journey into the unknown that would lead them straight into a primitive tribe of superstitious natives who had never before seen a white man or woman.

Drawn from interviews, declassified U.S. Army documents, personal photos and mementos, a survivor’s diary, a rescuer’s journal, and original film footage, Lost in Shangri-La recounts this incredible true-life adventure for the first time. Mitchell Zuckoff reveals how the determined trio–dehydrated, sick, and in pain–traversed the dense jungle to find help; how a brave band of paratroopers risked their own lives to save the survivors; and how a cowboy colonel attempted a previously untested rescue mission to get them out.
___________________________________________________

Lost in Shangri-La is the untold story of three plane crash survivors, their daring rescuers, and the native people of the land.  Zuckoff has done a wonderful job compiling interviews, diaries, photos, letters, and even real footage in order to present this forgotten tale in a bold telling from start to finish.  I am not one to read many historical accounts, but when something as intriguing as this comes along, I am always game to try it.  And, I wasn’t disappointed.  Zuckoff has written a wonderful account of events that any history buff is sure to love, while also captivating those of us who aren’t as in love with history.  The presentation of the story is done in such a way that it entices the reader to continue; it’s not all dry and boring like a history textbook, but reads very much like an action novel once the background information of the characters is given and the tale of survival commences.  I personally found some of the background leading up to the story to be a little boring for me, not so much because of the writing or the fact that it’s a historical account, but because I was dying to get to the main portion of the story, which didn’t start until around page 50.  Yet, a good history must give all the details, and that is exactly what Zuckoff does, meticulously explaining the background of the many people involved in this account in order to give the reader a complete history of events.   

I loved following the survivors tale and obtaining the detailed accounts of their perilous journey, and I especially enjoyed finding out what the natives of Shangri-La were truly thinking as they met the survivors and the rescue team.  The juxtaposition of what one group was thinking versus the other was extremely interesting, and Zuckoff has truly put together a wonderful retelling, covering all the bases, including testimony from the natives who were there to witness the events.  This is a very well written account of events long forgotten, and I highly suggest it to anyone interested in history and WWII.  Three stars.

I won a copy of this novel from Goodreads First Reads.

From Goodreads: New York City’s spirit has been crushed. People walk the streets with their heads down, withdrawing from one another and into the cold comfort of technology. Teenagers Mal and Laura have grown up in this reality. They’ve never met. Seemingly, they never will.

But on the same day Mal learns his brother has disappeared, Laura discovers her parents have forgotten her. Both begin a search for their families that leads them to the same truth: someone or something has wiped the teens from the memories of every person they have ever known. Thrown together, Mal and Laura must find common ground as they attempt to reclaim their pasts.

____________________________________________

This novel was completely new and different, and I enjoyed that aspect of it a lot.  I was drawn into the story by the characters as they struggle through their daily lives until they realize they have been forgotten by all.  At that point, all hell breaks loose and I liked that the characters reacted in much the same way that I imagine I would react, completely freaking out.  It added validity to this fantastical novel, and I found it quite interesting as the characters began to piece everything together, slowly, until they realize exactly what has happened.  It’s quite an interesting novel and I think it’s very well written, though I must be honest and admit that the last quarter of the book lost me.  I’m not sure if it’s reader error or not, I may have just missed an important section somehow, but all of a sudden I found I wasn’t making the needed connections within the story to understand the multiple, quick succession of developments that the novel employs.  I don’t think this necessarily ruined the story, but it did leave me feeling a bit bewildered.  Three stars.  

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read a copy of this novel, via Netgalley.

From Goodreads: Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

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

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

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

___________________________________________________

This novel is written in a way that is unlike any other novel I’ve ever read.  Upon first opening the book to begin reading it, my eyes were automatically drawn to the many strikethroughs that pervade the pages.  Juliette is constantly minding her words, watching what she says, but especially what she thinks, and it was a very interesting concept to sit alongside her and obtain these morsels of self-reflection that Juliette is so eager to keep to herself.  It’s almost as if she is admonishing herself for her thoughts; as if she believes someone like her shouldn’t have anything good in her life.  And she doesn’t.

Now, while the strikethroughs were a little cumbersome to me as it’s a very innovative style of writing that I’m not yet used to, the extreme use of metaphors throughout the novel were absolutely captivating.  Mafi is able to paint extremely vivid portraits through her metaphors, giving the story flight with the beautiful imagery that allows the reader to feel Juliette’s pain.  It was breathtaking and I can’t help but want to use these metaphors in the classroom in order to help students understand the makings of a beautiful metaphor.  They are superb!

I really enjoyed the overall concept of this novel, but I have to admit that it was a bit too fast paced for me.  Mafi introduces her characters very quickly, moving from one action sequence to another in fast strides, and this made it a little difficult for me to wrap my head around everything that was happening, while at the same time gripping me and not allowing me to put the novel down.  It was such a quick read, in fact, that I’m still spinning from it all.  This is definitely one of those novels I’ll have to read again, much more slowly the second time around, so I can savor the situations and the characters more thoroughly.  Especially as I felt like everything happened so quickly that I didn’t have time to really connect with the characters or their plight.  I don’t think that is any fault of the author, though.  I’m quite sure it was my overall excitement just to read this novel, and the metaphors… those beautiful metaphors!

While not all the answers are given to us in this novel, such as how Juliette came to have her power, I am excited that there will be a sequel that will hopefully shed some more light on the topic.  I had many, many questions at the end of the novel, so I can hardly wait until next year when the sequel releases.  Three and a half stars.

From Goodreads:

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn’t know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn’t ring and bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth

Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn’t do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem – when the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her “gift” for and evil purpose, Hazel couldn’t say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wishes she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams.

Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn’t see it. He doesn’t even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery—although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially in front of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely – enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.

Beginning at the “other” camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven.

_______________________________________________________

I really enjoyed the Percy Jackson series, and when Riordan decided to continue the story of our beloved characters in his Heroes of Olympus series, using both Greek and Roman mythology, I was hooked.  This is a fabulous sequel to The Lost Hero, a novel in which Percy is mysteriously absent.  Instead we meet Jason, a Roman demigod who has lost his memory and ends up a Camp Half-Blood.  It’s a great read, but I was extremely excited to get ahold of The Son Of Neptune because this book is all about Percy, and I do love Percy. 

Much like Jason, Percy has lost his memory as well, and he finds his way to Camp Jupiter—the Roman camp—with some help from the gods.  From there we are sent on a rollercoaster ride as Percy struggles to remember his identity, fit in with the Roman legion, save the world and, ultimately, stay alive.  Riordan has written another fascinating novel, intertwining both Greek and Roman mythology, and it was extremely interesting to note the subtle differences between the gods and goddesses as the story progressed. 

Though more so a middle grade book, in my opinion, this is a great read for all.  The amount of action in the novel alone is enough to keep the reader glued to the pages, but the characterization and mystery surrounding the novel as a whole is what really makes it worth the read.  Riordan is a master storyteller, building up the climax in every chapter, yet leaving the reader with a cliffhanger, making it impossible to put down.  Although I’ll admit that some of the characters irked me a bit with their childish actions, it is easy to overlook them as the story creates a riveting world and journey that the reader won’t soon forget.  Four stars.

Goodreads. Web. 22 Jan. 2012. <http://www.goodreads.com&gt;.

From Goodreads: There’s a fine line between love and hate.

For five years, Sally and Clive have been lost in a passionate affair. Now he has dumped her to devote himself to his wife and family, and Sally is left in freefall.

It starts with a casual stroll past his house, and popping into the brasserie where his son works. Then Sally starts following Clive’s wife and daughter on Facebook. But that’s alright, isn’t it? These are perfectly normal things to do. Aren’t they?

Not since Fatal Attraction has the fallout from an illicit affair been exposed in such a sharp, darkly funny, and disturbing way: The Mistress’s Revenge is a truly exciting fiction debut. After all, who doesn’t know an otherwise sane woman who has gone a little crazy when her heart was broken?

____________________________________________________

Aside from being interesting because it has “fatal attraction” qualities, this novel really pulled me in through the use of the second person point of view.  I can’t remember ever reading any fiction novels that truly evoke this point of view, and I became extremely excited when I realized that this book was different from anything I’ve ever read before. 

Sally Islip is keeping a journal about her life after her former lover, Clive Gooding, leaves her by the wayside, concluding a five-year, passionate affair.  Although the journal is about Sally’s daily activities, these journals are written to “you,” (Clive) creating an intense look into the past and present relationship of Sally and her former lover as Sally  obsessively attempts to get over “you.”  However, her words and attempts are much more scornful that she lets on.  Sally is indeed an angry woman; her life is all but ruined once the affair ends, and she spends her days stalking “you” until the very last page. 

Who will have the last laugh?  This is an intense read that really pulled me into the story once I realized what was happening and the storyline picked up.  I found the beginning of the novel to be a bit boring, as it had to set up the background and Sally seems like a very fickle, sad character.  But, as we learn just who “you” actually is, and Sally records the phone calls, facebook messages, dinner parties, etc. in her journal, the pieces of the puzzle begin to come together at an alarming rate, sucking the reader into the story and not releasing it’s hold until the very last page.  This is a story of meeting one’s comeuppance.  This is a story of revenge.  But, whether or not it’s sweet revenge or bittersweet is up to you.  I highly suggest reading this novel.  Four stars.

I won a copy of this novel from Goodreads First Reads.

From Goodreads: It starts with an itch you just can’t shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you’ll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.

And then you’re dead.

When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back.

Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.

Because how will she go on if there isn’t?

__________________________________________________

This novel is unique in that it is an epistolary novel, told through diary entries as Kaelyn writes to the “man of her dreams” during what begins as a simple “flu” epidemic and turns into much more.  Epistolary novels are my favorite as they allow the reader to piece things together, although Crewe did a great job filling in all the blanks to make it easier on the reader.  Kaelyn is an extremely interesting character, adding much to the novel as she recounts each day she is marooned on her island, watching as the sickness comes and takes nearly everyone away.  This is a sad but triumphant novel; a scary look into the future should an uncontrollable epidemic breaks out.  This raw look at humanity makes it a scary novel as families, and then individuals, begin to spout the “each man for himself” attitude that is so familiar whenever fear strikes the heart.  This is a very compelling read.  Four stars.

Disney-Hyperion has been extremely gracious in allowing my to read an ARC of this novel prior to its release on January 24, 2012.

From Goodreads: The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They’ve overcome the secrets riddled in Patch’s dark past…bridged two irreconcilable worlds…faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust…and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they’ve worked for—and their love—forever.

___________________________________________________

This is a very well written third installment in the Hush, Hush series, and I must say I am ecstatic that Fitzpatrick will be writing a fourth book, whereas this was supposed to be the series finale.  And, we all know what that means… more Patch.  I absolutely adore Patch; he’s the perfect book boyfriend, and I really enjoy Fitzpatrick’s characterization of him.  He’s dreamy, and I fell in love with him from the very beginning of Hush, Hush, and my love hasn’t waned a bit.

Now, I loved Hush, Hush and Crescendo, but I haven’t read them in a while.  I know, I really need to re-read them because they’re that fabulous, but I also really wanted to read Silence, because I knew it’d be fabulous as well.  So, I chose to read the third book in the series using just my memory of main events from the other two books.  And… that was a bit difficult.  Many times during this novel I thought to put it down and go re-read the other novels, and while I probably will do just that now that I’ve finished Silence, I found that as I continued to read, all my memories came back; Fitzpatrick touched on all the main situations once again in this novel, jarring my foggy memory and allowing me to understand the events, even if it wasn’t a complete understanding right away.  By the end, I was able to remember everything I needed to from the previous novels, and it all fit together so perfectly.  That, I believe, takes talent and I am very grateful that Fitzpatrick is able to keep her characters consistent and draw in the storyline of previous novels at just the right time to jar the memory of her readers. 

Now that I think about it, I think part of the reason I found myself confused and wondering who people were throughout the novel is because of the way Fitzpatrick sets up the story itself.  It does pick up right where Crescendo left off, but then jumps ahead three months and we are left to figure out everything that happened in-between, along with Nora.  While this adds suspense and mystery to the novel, I also found it a bit frustrating, as did Nora, because some things didn’t make sense, especially the appearance of a character that I was pretty sure I’d never heard of before… but, again, Fitzpatrick brings it all together and it all makes sense in the end.

Nora is a bit stronger in this novel; not as needy and whiney as the last two books, and I enjoyed this development a lot.  I still don’t think she deserves Patch, but… you know.  Four stars.

From Goodreads: Seventeen-year-old Jaycie Lerner’s psychokinetic power surge is over, and her astounding powers are under control for the time being – sort of. As she struggles to maintain her humanity in the face of the awesome terror and responsibility of her abilities, she also yearns for the chance at a normal life – and a relationship with Matt Carter, the best friend she had to leave behind. But Matt’s got a few tricks up his sleeve, and he’s not about to give up on his feelings for Jaycie.

As Jaycie and her family grapple with the day-to-day routine of trying to keep their world together, Jaycie’s mother figure, Allison Young, endures a personal crisis of her own. The superhuman blonde possesses the physical equivalent of Jaycie’s awesome psychic power. So evolved, at ninety-two she still looks twenty. But what good is extended life when everyone else around her is so fragile? With no one to share her unusual life, she’s a uniquely lonely woman yearning for the romantic love she sees all around her. But in a dream she gets her wish – and it quickly turns to a nightmare for everyone else in her life. The memory of a rose is all she can hold onto in the storm of obsession that nearly sweeps her away.

Things quickly turn deadly for the vampires, but the Dey-Vah Guard fairies refuse to acknowledge there’s an imbalance in the nature they protect. As the danger gets ever closer to Jaycie and her family, the race is on to find answers before a secret plot can destroy them all.
_____________________________________________________

This novel picks up where the first novel in the series, Darwin’s Children, left off as Jaycie works to remember and understand her powers and abilities after her power surge.  I very much enjoyed this novel, especially as Jaycie and Haylee have now begun to mature to a point that they’re extremely likable characters. While Jaycie does occasionally lapse in her ability to control herself, her selfishness and jaded personality has all but disappeared, and she really works to do what is right throughout this novel, endearing her to my heart. 

As the characters and back-story was fleshed out in Darwin’s Children, this novel has less down time and much more action from the very beginning.  There is a lot going on in this novel as Jaycie, Haylee, and her family struggle to figure out what is happening to Allison and who the mystery man is killing off the vampires.  I spent a majority of this novel trying to figure out “who-done-it” and really enjoyed that aspect of mystery as well as the superb characterization.  The fact that there are many key characters, yet they remain easily definable and don’t make the story difficult to follow, is a testament to Larry’s writing abilities.  I think she’s refined her writing in this sequel and I cannot wait for more from her.  Four stars.    

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

From Goodreads: Austin Parker is on a journey to bring truth, beauty, and meaning to his life.

Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. The doctors say his chances of surviving are slim to none even with treatment, so he’s decided it’s time to let go.

But before he goes, Austin wants to mend the broken fences in his life. So with the help of his best friend, Kaylee, Austin visits every person in his life who touched him in a special way. He journeys to places he’s loved and those he’s never seen. And what starts as a way to say goodbye turns into a personal journey that brings love, acceptance, and meaning to Austin’s life.

_____________________________________________

This is an amazing novel and I truly hope you take the time to check it out!!!  To read my review, click HERE.

From Goodreads: Just when Maddie Angler thinks she’s over the death of her longtime boyfriend, Alvin, she discovers that he’s not only alive, but he may just be part god. And a killer. Now it’s up to her to unite Eight Worlds she didn’t even know existed in the first place, before chaos reigns.

_______________________________________________

I’m not really sure why I thought this was a YA book, but when I first read the synopsis, that is exactly what I was expecting.  However, this is not a YA book at all, but rather an adult book with some adult situations that I wouldn’t necessarily want my teen reading about; not that it’s extremely bad or extremely erotic, but there are some scenes within that are not my cup of tea, let alone something I would give to a younger reader.  And, since I made the mistake of thinking this was YA, I’m guessing others might as well, so I just wanted to put that out there.

Now, my prudish self aside, there weren’t that many sexual encounters, and the book was very well written as it is, but it wasn’t really my style, not because of the sexual encounters, mind you, but because I had some difficulty connecting to the story itself.  I am still new to the steampunk era, and I haven’t quite wrapped my head around it all, but I truly believe an avid steampunk reader would love this book.  The other worlds within Barron’s novel were extremely interesting, but I had a little difficulty connecting everything together, though I think this is more reader error than author error.  I also feel like this would be the type of novel that lovers of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland would enjoy as it follows that same type of surreal writing.  Unfortunately, it is not for me. Two stars.

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

From Goodreads: Growing up not far from the road to Chinta on the edge of the Jungle Dragon, Tallen is excited to have her two brothers home. Recent times have been hard, Tallen herself barely surviving an attack by a derelict stranger in their very own barn.

The war that never was has relieved them of their duty at Chinta, so much so, that her father, the Sergeant of the Guard, is able to return for a visit, bringing news of a possible suitor for Tallen, given that she is almost of that age.

Tallen is not sure what she wants, and the man her father brings home is not what anyone expected. But at least she knows that her family has her best interests at heart when the pompous, self-interested merchant’s son is sent back to Chinta.

The aftermath of the Offworlder’s quest remains uncertain, the battle apparently lost. But for a reluctant Tallen, the journey is only just beginning, upon a path from which there may be no return.

___________________________________________

Tallen, a character briefly met in Quest of the Demon, is back and the center of attention in this new book by M.L. Sawyer.  A much darker book than the original, Sawyer dives deep into the world of a young woman betrayed and looking for revenge.  Though I felt terribly sorry for Tallen throughout much of the book, I found her to be an extremely strong, very well written character.  And, though I didn’t always agree with her choices, I completely understand where she is coming from and how grief and anger can cloud a person’s judgment.  Sawyer has created a very real character in that of Tallen, and I truly enjoyed reading her story. 

Again, Sawyer has left the ending of the novel open for a sequel, and I am very interested to know what happens next for Tallen, especially as there is much foreshadowing throughout the novel.  I also really enjoyed how Sawyer tied events from Quest of the Demon to those with Tallen, and I am excited to read more of both stories.  Three and a half stars.

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

From Goodreads: Beheaded by a statue that came alive?

In Victorian London, the head of a rich writer in the hands of Hindu goddess Kali would certainly indicate so and raises some peculiar questions.

Trying to find out whether the killer was even human, Inspector Lestrade decides to consult two detectives – one, the premier authority in the crime field, the other, famed ghost hunter Jason Dark.

Despite the overwhelming evidence, Dark and Siu Lin reckon there might be an even more sinister force at work than they originally suspected – and a nemesis returns!
___________________________________________

This is the tenth, and final novella (for now) in the Jason Dark series, and I must say I have had a blast reading and reviewing these novellas.  Henkel has created a series for the paranormal junky that has multiple gothic elements and rivals Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series.  Speaking of which, in this final novella, we do meet Holmes in the flesh!  Up until this point there have been a few implication of Holmes, as rivalry almost, but in this novella, the rivalry becomes blatantly clear and Holmes continually scoffs at Jason Dark’s theories of the paranormal.  Lestrande brings together the two great masterminds and their sidekicks in a battle of the wits, and while it may seem like Homles wins, there is more than meets the eye afoot in this great mystery of the decapitated man. 

Of course, Holmes is extremely smart, but also brash and brazen; nobody in the novella likes him, and with good reason.  I thought it was ingenious of Henkel to write Doyle’s mastermind into his own series and I liked the subtle snubs toward Holmes as the novella progressed.  This is a fantastic end to such a great series, and I am eagerly awaiting more! Four stars.

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

From Goodreads: Conjured from the bowels of the abyss by ancient magic, the Terrorlord has one desire — to open the Seven Gates of Hell and unleash the horrors of the undead upon mankind.
Reliving the nightmares of his youth where an encounter with the Terrorlord left him scarred for life, Jason Dark must once again confront the powerful gatekeeper from Hell before his reach and power spiral out of control. With the help of Siu Lin, the ghost hunter will have to put an end to the Terrorlord’s dark reign before he can devour our world in his evil blackness.

___________________________________________

Although the ninth book in the series, this is the first in depth look into Jason Dark’s background.  We learn about his father and how Dark originally was introduced to ghost hunting and the like.  I really liked that Jason is vulnerable in this novella.  He is affected by his past in a way he never expected to be affected again, making him a character who needs to be saved in this novella.  Because of this, Siu Lin, Dark’s sidekick, has much more up front involvement and I really enjoyed seeing much more of her.  H.G. Wells is also back in this novella and it was a very nice change to see the more minor characters take on a bigger role, especially as Siu Lin is such a kick butt heroine.  Four stars.

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