From Goodreads: Shelby Kitt never gets lost. Shauna, his sister, never gets sick. As far as most people are concerned, the inseparable Kitt twins are odd 13-year-olds. No one, however – not even Shelby and Shauna – can guess how extraordinary they are until the vice consul of Miriax, a planet from another dimension, asks them to take part in a dangerous mission. From that moment on, Shelby and Shauna Kitt discover that the universe is full of Klodians, cities in jungles, giant bats, and tea with mushrooms. Most of all, they discover that it will take more than special powers for them to face – and survive – the evil that threatens the galaxy.

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Marchesi is a phenomenal storyteller, roping the reader into this wonderful tale of other dimensions and species.  Though the story revolves around two thirteen-year-old protagonists, I’d have to say that this is a book for everyone.  Parents can read it to their children, MG and YA readers will eat it up, and adults will enjoy the premise, themes, and overall fun this book has to offer. 

Not only does this novel have a very interesting storyline, but Marchesi’s writing capabilities also shine throughout the entire tale.  I am always excited when I start a new novel and, three pages in, note to myself that “this book is really well written.”  It is few authors that have me singing their praises that early on in the novel, so I must say, this novel is very well done.  Although the novel is somewhat long, with the protagonists being whisked from place to place, dimension to dimension, it keeps the reader’s attention throughout, which is a feat in and of itself, as many authors lose their reader when so much is happening within the text. 

Marchesi has a truly vivid imagination, and her explanations throughout the novel were really interesting.  I am in awe of the sheer amount of imagination Marchesi brings to her story, tweaking it just so, making the reader experience it and not just read about it.  I highly recommend this novel to all readers, and am hoping for a sequel!!  Four stars!

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

From Goodreads: Saari Mitchell sees a psychologist in order to understand why-500 years later-she’s still dreaming of her dead lover. Her shrink isn’t helping, the nightmares come every time she closes her eyes, and the lack of sleep is interfering with her job at Sacred Heart Hospital. With her psychic ability to heal the human spirit on the fritz, her auric radar becomes as reliable as her spotty cell phone service.

By day, Dhelis Guidry works as a detective for the new Angeles Police Department investigating the missing or murdered women in the Full-Moon Killer case. In his spare time he hunts rogue vampires as a Tueri executioner.

Brogan Vincent is a Tueri healer. Though he could offer his miraculous talents to the rich and powerful, he has chosen anonymity and peace by only using his psychic abilities among the Tueri.

One look into Saari’s tri-colored eyes and both men realize she is Tueri. One touch tells them each she’s their soul mate. But can either of them protect her from the Full-Moon Killer?

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To be honest, I didn’t know if I was going to like this book, based on the synopsis.  I was a little concerned over the love triangle, especially as so many books seem to have them these days, and it all sounded a bit confusing.  But, I quickly found out that it’s an amazing book, and I’m really glad I picked it up!  Rearden has created a completely original piece, love triangle included, that kept me captivated throughout the entire novel.  It’s a very quick read in that it’s extremely interesting, especially with a murderer on the loose, vampires and weres working together, and the introduction of a new “species,” the Tueri.  And, it’s all tastefully done. 

I enjoyed all of the characters, even the ones I love to hate.  Rearden has created a wonderful group of characters that steal the show, allowing the reader to drift into their world rather seamlessly.  This is a very daunting task for a writer, but Rearden has no difficulty making her characters vivid and genuine, even if it does deal with the mythical more so than real-life.  I found myself melting into the story on multiple occasions, and the characters even permeated my dreams.  Now that, in my opinion, constitutes good writing!

I loved that Rearden doesn’t keep the murderer’s identity a secret.  The readers know the who and why early on in the novel, and I think this adds to the suspense because we have a leg up on the other characters.  It’s dramatic irony at its finest (if I’m allowed to use that term with novels) and I loved knowing something the rest of the characters didn’t, and watching them slowly realize… until it’s too late.  Rearden presents it in such a way that I actually enjoyed knowing the murderer’s identity more than not knowing and finding out along with the characters, if that makes sense.  Rearden is a very talented writer with a wonderful imagination, and I’m ecstatic that she is sharing it with us through her novels.  Four stars.    

From Goodreads: Emmy Rane is married at nineteen, a mother by twenty. Trapped in a life with a husband she no longer loves, Baby is her only joy. Then one sunny day in September, Emmy takes a few fateful steps away from her baby and returns to find her missing. All that is left behind is a yellow sock.

Fourteen years later, Sophie, a homeschooled, reclusive teenage girl is forced to move frequently and abruptly from place to place, perpetually running from what her mother calls the “No Good.” One afternoon, Sophie breaks the rules, ventures out, and meets Joey and his two aunts. It is this loving family that gives Sophie the courage to look into her past. What she discovers changes her world forever. . .

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This was an interesting look at the life of those dealing with a kidnapping.  I’ve never thought of what life would be like if a loved one went missing, and I think Kephart does a phenomenal job really reaching into the mind of a frantic mother.  Although Emmy was somewhat annoying on multiple occasions, her reactions, to me, seem valid.  She is almost psychotic in a way, causing her to make bad choices, which was irksome, but made my truly feel sorry for her.  Although I wasn’t able to connect with her on a deeper level, I think her character is, in fact, very real. 

I enjoyed Sophie’s story much more than Emmy’s.  Emmy’s story was completely depressing, but Sophie’s was a little bit lighter.  Sophie is now at an age where she begins to question things around her; to crave attention from others, and watching her slowly pull away from her overprotective “mother” was interesting.  However, it was a very slow process, and at times I found myself yelling at Sophie to get it done and over with.  I do understand her trepidation, especially as she was brought up to fear others, but, truth be told, I found this a little draining as Sophie took such a long time making her decisions. 

I have to admit that I wasn’t too impressed with the ending, either.  I thought it was a little abrupt and I really wanted more.  I was expecting to see the two stories intersect at some point and a reconciliation to take place, but I was disappointed to find that there was none.  All in all, I’d have to give this novel two and a half stars.

 Egmont USA has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on October 25, 2011.

From Goodreads: Most teenage girls have teenaged problems, like what to wear to prom and did I remember to shave my legs before gym? Seventeen year old Alina has all those problems, and a whole lot more. The list does tend to get longer when you’re an alien. An alien empress, to be exact.

Number one on Alina’s problem list is her desire to fit in and feel accepted, without having to hide any part of her true self; something she’s never quite been able to do on Earth. Also on that list are the Shadows, a race of dark and ugly monsters that attacked her home planet ten years ago, killing her parents, and still search for her now, to wipe out the last survivor of the royal family.

A moonlit walk in the forest changes everything. She is discovered, by more than one being from her galaxy, and has to run for her life with a Shadow close on her trail. Her new protector – a talking wolf – whisks her to the safety of his planet, to regroup and maybe figure out a way to destroy the shadows. Unfortunately, Alina soon finds she’s only traded one danger for another.

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Originally, I thought this book was going to be like I Am Number Four, but it’s not.  It’s better.  Hildenbrand has created a great novel for all ages, and I was captivated from the very beginning.  It is obvious that a lot of time and energy went into creating this novel, and it flows so perfectly that it’s impossible to put down.

I really liked the character of Alina; I highly enjoyed watching her come into herself, finally able to make friends and fully discover her potential as the empress of her galaxy.  She is a well-rounded character with a wonderful disposition, and I feel like I’ve made a friend through her.  Likewise, Ander is to die for.  He is a beautiful character, and the romance between Alina and Ander was fascinating to watch.  Though at times I feared the worst for the budding couple, Hildenbrand did right by me in the end, though that’s as much as I’ll say about that… 

I really enjoy novels that create separate worlds and galaxies, showing the creativity of the author, and here Hildenbrand has done just that in Across the Galaxy.  Her descriptions and explanations are vivid and entrancing; part of me wants to move to Alina’s world and leave my world far behind… all in all, this is a wonderful novel, and I highly recommend it to all readers.  Four stars.

From Goodreads: All she ever wanted was a chance to settle down in one place.

Thistle Nettlebottom knows her life isn’t exactly normal. She travels the country with her secretive mother and bestselling author grandmother in a pink RV going from book signings to crazy research trips. She’s never been to public school or had a boyfriend, but she can pick a lock and hotwire a car. One day the phone rings and they set a course to a tiny town that’s not on any maps. Suddenly, Thistle finds her whole life changing.

She’s finally found the home she’s been searching for.

Thistle soon realizes that Desire isn’t like other towns and she’s not like other girls. The family she trusted has lied to her about everything her entire life and the things she doesn’t know about herself could cost her everything. Her legacy as one of the most powerful witches the town has ever seen has made her enemies that have been waiting patiently for a chance to destroy her. Thistle needs to learn to use her powers to protect herself before they succeed.

Be careful what you wish for.

Thistle has a power unique even among the magic wielding witches of Desire. She can wish things into existence. At first she enjoys the freedom of having everything her heart desires, but she soon realizes that her power comes at a terrible price. She’s losing her grip on her sanity at a time when she can’t afford any weakness. Her enemies are closing in quickly, but she might not have the strength to save herself.

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I thought this novel and the idea of a matriarchal society of witches was extremely unique.  In the small town of Desire, things are not what they seem, and Thistle soon finds herself thrust into the middle of this backwards town, where her very name evokes hatred and spite among females, while causing males to forget their current girlfriends and fawn all over her instead.  As if finding out she’s a very powerful witch isn’t hard enough, trying to find true friendships in a town full of alliances and spite, as well as stay alive in the process, becomes her biggest challenges of all. 

I really enjoyed this novel.  I connected very well with Thistle.  She’s a great character, and her refusal to adhere to the hierarchical system of this town she is bound to further elevates her in my opinion.  Stepping into Desire is like stepping into the 18^th century, where marriages are arranged based on power and not love, and Thistle is having none of it.  I found Thistles’ determination a wonderful attribute, and I really enjoyed getting to know her throughout the novel. 

Emerson keeps her novel full of suspense, adding a little romance, making this a rollercoaster ride of a read, and I highly recommend it.  Although it ends abruptly, leaving the reader hanging, it’s a great read, and I cannot wait for the sequel!!!  Four stars.   

From Goodreads: Love can never die.

Love conquers all, so they say.  But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead?  Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly, is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune, and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, steampunk meets romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.

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This debut novel is not only unique and interesting, but also extremely riveting.  The cover alone is a piece of art, but Habel’s prose and ability to spin a story outshines the cover tenfold.  The cover, of course, is what caught my attention in the first place, and I just happened to be one of the lucky few to win an ARC of this novel from Goodreads First Reads, for which I am truly thankful, especially and this book is amazing.

The story itself is told using multiple narrators, each chapter a different character giving the reader their first person point of view of the situations.  This allows the reader to know what is going on within in all spectrums of the story while also giving the reader firsthand knowledge of all the characters’ thoughts.  This type of storytelling is my favorite; while third person narratives are decent, they don’t promote the same sense of connection to the characters as a multiple first person narrative does.  Of course, the downside of multiple perspectives is that the reader might not care for all of the characters, causing them to sigh when a new character takes over.  While this is true with me as well, I will say that, though I started out sighing when certain characters took over, they’re story became just as riveting as the other characters, and I soon found myself in love with them all—well, except for the bad guy, but, you know.

Another reason I really like having multiple narrators is because this allows suspense to build.  When done correctly, such as how Habel writes her chapters, the reader is forced to live in suspense throughout the entire novel as most chapters leave the story undone, swiftly moving to another point of view before coming back to the original story at hand.  This, in turn, can create multiple instances of suspense in which the reader is waiting to know what happens to Nora, what Bram was doing, where Victor really ended up, whether Pamela survived the attack… all at the same time.  Hence, I truly love multiple perspectives.

The characterization in this novel is phenomenal.  It’s a lengthy novel, 470 pages and, yes, on occasion I was a little bored and wanted to fast forward (mainly in the beginning), but Habel uses her time wisely, fleshing out the characters (no pun intended) to the point that the reader feels like he/she knows them on a personal level.  Again, a lot of this has to do with the narrative style, but a lot of it also has to do with Habel’s sheer writing ability.  Not all authors can create connections between readers and their characters, but Habel has no trouble making the reader fall in love.

Now, as I stated before, I found portions of the beginning to be a little boring.  Habel has a huge tale to tell, and in order for it to work properly, she has to set up the background.  In the beginning, I wasn’t too into the story as the girls left their all-girls school to travel home for the holidays, but it soon became apparent that this information was imperative in giving the background of New Victoria, the Punks, the underground versus above ground living situations, etc.  And, I have to say, Habel doesn’t leave any stone unturned.  I thought her explanations for how and why things are the way they are in New Victoria was airtight and made perfect sense, which is feat in and of itself.

I also enjoyed the idea that technology has advanced to the point that zombies can be kept alive and in good standing.  Usually all zombie books are about surviving the zombie attacks, and while there are crazy zombies that just want to feed off humans, there are also those who, though dead, are able to keep a sound mind for a few years after being bitten, based on the advanced medicine the army has developed.  Yes, this sounds a little weird, but Habel explains it much better than I can, and it makes perfect sense.  

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and am eagerly awaiting the sequel, Dearly, Beloved!  Habel is definitely an author to watch!  Four stars.

This novel releases on October 18th, just three days from now, so make sure you pick up your copy stat!!

From Goodreads: Eva Mozes Kor was 10 years old when she arrived in Auschwitz. While her parents and two older sisters were taken to the gas chambers, she and her twin, Miriam, were herded into the care of the man known as the Angel of Death, Dr. Josef Mengele. Mengele’s twins were granted the privileges of keeping their own clothes and hair, but they were also subjected to sadistic medical experiments and forced to fight daily for their own survival, as most of the twins died as a result of the experiments or from the disease and hunger pervasive in the camp. In a narrative told with emotion and restraint, readers will learn of a child’s endurance and survival in the face of truly extraordinary evil. The book also includes an epilogue of Eva’s recovery from this experience and her remarkable decision to publicly forgive the Nazis. Through her museum and her lectures, she has dedicated her life to giving testimony on the Holocaust, providing a message of hope for people who have suffered, and working toward goals of forgiveness, peace, and the elimination of hatred and prejudice in the world.

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Tanglewood Press has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read a copy of this memoir, via Netgalley, prior to the paperback release tomorrow, and I have to say that this memoir is a wonderful read.  I’ve had it on my list of books to read for a while, and now I’m kicking myself for having waited so long.  Though the topic of the memoir is gut wrenching, the prose and revelations within the book are captivating; something everyone needs to know about.  I’m ashamed to say that I’d never heard of the twin experiments within the camps, though I knew of experimentation, and what Dr. Mengele did to those children is truly atrocious.  Mozes Kor does a wonderful job, though, of making these atrocious actions easier to read through her prose and diction, which help keep the reader from complete despair as there isn’t extreme detail.  Instead, Mozes Kor alludes to many of the atrocities without expressing all of them point blank, which also makes this a great book of MG and YA, as it isn’t too gritty for them. 

I am currently teaching Night, by Elie Wiesel, to my students, and I’m thinking of ways to bring this novel into the classroom as well.  It’s very well written, and it’s a true eye opener.  Five stars.

From Goodreads: It’s been one year since the brutal murder of her older sister, Zoë, and fifteen-year-old Echo is still reeling from the aftermath. Her parents are numb, her friends are moving on, and the awkward start to her freshman year proves she’ll never live up to her sister’s memory. Until Zoë’s former boyfriend Marc shows up with Zoë’s diary.

At first Echo’s not interested, doubting there’s anything in there she doesn’t already know. But when curiosity prevails, she starts reading, becoming so immersed in her sister’s secret world, their lives begin to blur, forcing Echo to uncover the truth behind Zoë’s life so that she can start to rebuild her own.

Prepare to laugh your heart out and cry your eyes out in this highly addictive tale as Alyson Noël tackles the complicated relationship between two sisters and shows how the bond can endure long after one of them is gone.

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This novel is one of the gems that I found at a Borders closing sale!  I apparently really wanted to read this novel since I somehow ended up with two copies, instead of one, but hey, it’s such a great novel that I think a giveaway is definitely in order. But first, the review:

This is a captivating novel.  I started reading it late one evening, and though it’s a little gut wrenching at times and I had to put it aside, I finished it fairly quickly.  It’s a short read, only 230 pages, but it’s packed full of emotion.  Noel has created a vivid portrayal of life and loss entailing the repercussions following the murder of Zoe, Echo’s popular older sister.  What I found intriguing, though some may not, was the way Noel decided to tell the story.  The reader follows Echo as she attempts to deal with both her family, which has all but fallen apart, and her friends, who are tiptoeing around her and just don’t understand what she’s going through.  Echo is a very down to earth young woman, but she is still struggling with the death of her sister. 

This is not a murder mystery, the man behind the murder has been caught, and Echo barely talks about it, leaving the reader to piece together what really transpired.  Although some readers may find this a little annoying, especially as we want answers, I really enjoyed the way Noel decided to tell this story.  Instead of focusing on the murder itself, Noel focuses on Echo as she attempts to fill her sister’s shoes, “saving” Zoe’s journal and reading small pieces of it at a time in order to savor her sister, while finding out who she really was, how she really felt, and what really happened to her in the end.  It is a very powerful, cautionary tale, and though some of the depictions are vulgar, I believe this is a great story for everyone, especially teens.  You’ll see why when you read it.  Five stars.

From Goodreads:  When Alexis’s little sister Kasey becomes obsessed with an antique doll, Alexis thinks nothing of it. Kasey is a weird kid. Period. Alexis is considered weird, too, by the kids in her high school, by her parents, even by her own Goth friends. Things get weirder, though, when the old house they live in starts changing. Doors open and close by themselves; water boils on the unlit stove; and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough to see their breath in. Kasey is changing, too. Her blue eyes go green and she speaks in old-fashioned language, then forgets chunks of time.

Most disturbing of all is the dangerous new chip on Kasey’s shoulder. The formerly gentle, doll-loving child is gone, and the new Kasey is angry. Alexis is the only one who can stop her sister — but what if that green-eyed girl isn’t even Kasey anymore?

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Wow.  This was a really creepy read.  I’ve never read a book about demon possession, though I’ve seen movies about it, and I have to tell you, this book definitely creeped me out much more than any movie ever did.  I’m not one for extreme horror, so rest assured, this novel isn’t anything like that, but it is a bit scary, and it will keep your attention from start to finish! 

This book was one of the gems I found hidden at a Borders closing sale, and I’m so glad I found it!  It was the only one left, and I scooped it up in a hurry! Both the cover and synopsis pulled me in and I couldn’t wait to read it, so it was the first novel I chose to read from my Border’s gems pile, and I must say it was a great choice!  Alender is a very talented writer and her story is very intricately woven, captivating the reader from start to finish.  On more than one occasion, I found I had goosebumps from the descriptions and plotline within the story, and I just love how Alender brought everything together.  Each detail she chose to include has a place and a part in the story as a whole, and it was extremely interesting to see how everything fit together so seamlessly.  It’s authors like Alender that keep me so enamored by books.  I highly suggest reading this novel, and I can’t wait to read the sequel, From Bad to Cursed, which just came out this summer.  Five stars.

Synopsis: Seven year old Grace always dreamt of becoming a guardian angel, like those who guarded and guided her people and prepared to bravely fight in the dreaded mythical event, the Crystal Shade – which never came. It’s not like Grace ever wanted to see Demons. Or wants to know what evil and darkness is – things that no one ever faced on her world and, as the legends say, the Crystal Shade carries within – nor does she want to die to be reborn as a guardian. But, she thinks the mysterious life of angels is so noble, a fable that it sounds exciting – until it actually happens.

Crystal Shade: Angeni, Volume 1, explores the early life of a young daydreaming soul who is destined to reveal the forgotten past of her home world and to seek the answer for the eternal question: what the legendary Crystal Shade really is.

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Istvan Szabo was extremely gracious in allowing me a sneak peek of his upcoming novel, Crystal Shade, co-authored by Orlanda Szabo, and I must say, I’m very interested. 

The novel opens with an elderly man reminiscing about his past, thinking of the past wars and the crystals that have come to mean so much to him.  He seems to live very much in his past, speaking aloud to his memories, and one, about the a beautiful girl, especially haunts him.  He is interrupted in his musing by two young children, children that remind him of someone he knew long ago, and, after a little coaxing, he begins to tell them the story of Grace and the Crystal Shade.   

The story he begins to tell is extremely interesting, and I found myself captivated by the world Szabo creates in his novel.  It is a unique world complete with a sapphire sun, winged guardians, goddesses, and even mechanical birds as transportation.  Though I was only allowed to read the first 70 pages or so of the first volume, the novel really whet my appetite for more, and I am excitedly awaiting the release of the full novel on November 11, 2011.    

For more information, check out the websites below, and don’t forget to add Crystal Shade to your list of books to read!

http://www.crystalshadeangeni.com/

http://www.facebook.com/CrystalShadeAngeni

From Goodreads: A modern retelling of the German fairy tale “Tristan and Isolde,” Tris and Izzie is about a young witch named Izzie who is dating Mark King, the captain of the basketball team and thinks her life is going swimmingly well. Until — she makes a love potion for her best friend Brangane and then ends up taking it herself accidentally, and falling in love with Tristan, the new guy at school.

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Egmont USA has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release today, and it pains me to say that this is going to be yet another negative review for this novel.  If you use Goodreads, you’ll see the same thing I did when I began reading this novel: its overall rating, from over 230 users, is a 2.22.    Out of those 230+ users, 140 gave the novel a two or lower on the rating scale.  So, as you can see, this novel hasn’t been getting the best reviews.  And, after reading the novel myself, I now know why (please be advised, you may view the information below as a bit of a spoiler, so beware).

For me, the low rating has nothing to do with the writing style.  In my opinion, Harrison is a good writer; her prose is very well written.  It’s the characters, and the almost wishy-washy relationships that they have, that did it for me.  It’s almost choppy, in a way.  I like Tristan, and Izzie is a somewhat likeable character, but the relationships within the story had me saying, “really?” most of the time.  At no point did I ever feel like the characters were in love with each other, and that goes for Izzie and Tristan, Izzie and Mark, and Mark and Brangane.  The relationships actually felt like a fifth grade infatuation.  The characters are able to go from “love” to “love” in an instant, and there is no bad blood between any of them, and this is where the characters’ interactions with one another become unbelievable.  Yes, this is a fairy tale novel, with other worlds, giants, talking snakes, and witches, but I do want the actions of my characters to be life-like, and I just wasn’t feeling it with this story.  Sadly, I can only give this novel one and a half stars.

From Goodreads:  In this sequel to STORK, Katla Leblanc has to employ her grit, spirit, and special gifts to rescue the boy she loves.

After the drama of finding out that she’s a Stork, a member of an ancient and mystical order of women, and that her boyfriend, Jack, is a descendent of the Winter People able to control the weather, Katla Leblanc is delighted when all signs point to a busy and peaceful Christmas. That is, until the snowstorm Jack summons as a gift to Katla turns into the storm of the century, attracting Brigid, a gorgeous scientist who, in turn, attracts Jack. Between the school play, a bedridden, pregnant mother’s to-do lists, and keeping an eye on her aging grandfather, Katla doesn’t have time to question Brigid’s motives or deal with Jack’s increasingly cold behavior. But Katla’s suspicions mount when Jack joins Brigid on a research expedition to Greenland, and when the two of them go missing, it becomes clear that Katla is the only one who can save her beloved Jack from the Snow Queen who holds him prisoner. Adventure, romance, and myth combine in this winter escapade for teens who like a bit of fire with their ice.

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Candlewick Press has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release tomorrow, and I’m truly glad because this was a good read.  I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and, even though this was the second book in a series, of which I haven’t yet read the first, I was able to follow the storyline quite well.  Now, do I recommend reading this book before Stork, the prequel?  No.  And here’s why: while I really did like the book, I didn’t fall in love with the characters like I had hoped, and I think, in fact, I’m certain, that the “falling in love” part for me will take place in when I read the first novel, where everything is set up and everyone is introduced.  I wanted to like Jack a whole lot more; however, his actions in this novel made me dislike him on many an occasion, and since I don’t have the background knowledge of how sweet and wonderful he is in Stork, I had nothing to base my love on, but everything on which to base my dislike… 

That being said, I thought everything else in the novel was great.  The storyline itself moved very quickly and keeps the readers’ attention.  Though the way Storks call for meetings is somewhat gross, overall, it was unique and interesting.  I would have liked a little more background on the Storks as a whole, but again, this book is a sequel, and all the information about Storks in general is in the first book—which I’m setting off to read very soon because I did enjoy Frost, I just need to know what’s happening from the beginning and, had I known, I am certain my rating of this novel would have been higher.  So… what I’m trying to say is, read this series, but read it in order.  Three stars.

From Goodreads: A reporter from Marridon, the advanced and allied nation to the north of Frewyn, is dispatched to Diras to meet with the famous Commander and Den Asaan, heroes and saviors of the Two Continents. It would seem to be a simple task, to ask a few questions of the strange woman and giant, but when the reporter slights the king’s personal guard, he finds that getting a story to print may be harder than previously conceived.

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This is a really well done short story.  Franklin is a master at creating new worlds with wonderful characters, and this short story is just a small depiction of how fabulous a writer Franklin really is.  Branching off from the bigger stories and novels about the Commander and Den Asaan, such as The Commander and the Den Asaan Rautu and Tales from Frewyn, Franklin occasionally creates stand alone stories entailing the epic characters from within her 21 book series, this short story being one of them.

I really enjoyed this story and found myself chuckling as I read along.  Knowing the personality of both the Commander and Den Asaan from previous stories, I could easily imagine them within my minds eyes, toying with the egotistical reporter from Marridon.  Franklin even creates great themes in this short work, and the reader can’t help but smile as it all comes to a head in the conclusion.  If you’re looking for a short read, I definitely recommend checking this short story out (and of course, reading the actual novels as well!).  Five stars! 

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

From Goodreads: In a time when the world’s future is more uncertain than ever, two companies look to space to be mankind’s saving grace. One of these companies, led by charismatic engineer Jan Empre, champions pure technology, while the other believes in the necessity of human explorers. The catch is that these human explorers are twelve-year olds. Follow Forrest Winston and the rest of the Horizon crew as they embark on a harrowing journey to Mars, risking not only their normal childhoods, but their lives.
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Even though I’m an adult, much older than the twelve-year-old protagonist, Forrest, and his mates, I really enjoyed this novel.   It is extremely well written and captivating, spurring the reader on, forcing him or her to turn the pages faster and faster.  I was captivated by the storyline and found it a unique, fresh idea.  Darnell creates a race between technology and human wit, in this case, that of five twelve-year-olds, and it’s a very interesting novel.  This is the type of book that I would: read aloud with my children, give to a struggling MG reader to help them along, recommend for YA looking for something fresh and new, and personally read on a leisurely Saturday afternoon.  Honestly, this novel has something for everyone.  Although simplistic is style, making it an easy read for kids, both young and old alike will enjoy this cute read.

There are many great themes within this novel and much that the reader can take away from it as well.  Although it is a fictional story, many of the situations within it are ones that readers can personally relate to, and I am thankful for this good natured, suspense novel that is upbeat, especially as much YA literature out there right now is a bit dark and twisted.  While Darnell does leave the reader on pins and needles at the conclusion of his novel, I am highly anticipating the next installment of this wonderful story and recommend it to all readers.  Four stars!

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

From Goodreads:  For centuries, the kingdom of Alexandria has protected Northern Shala from the monstrous creatures lurking in the Wastelands. Now, a dark force threatens that fragile peace.

Far from home, Alexandria’s princess is abducted. When a young villager named Hellsfire stumbles upon her and her captors, he rushes in to rescue her, alone and unarmed. His fear and fury unleash an uncontrollable magical force that grants him the power to save the princess-and change the world.

Hellsfire has never craved nor dreamed of power. But such magic as he now possesses has not been seen in Northern Shala for a thousand years, since the devastation of the War of the Wizards and the creation of the Wastelands.

Now Hellsfire must leave all he’s ever known, and make a dangerous journey to learn to master this wild, ferocious power—power he knows he is not ready to wield. More difficult still, he needs to master his emotions. If he can’t, the power will consume him, Alexandria will fall, and darkness will eclipse the land, destroying everyone he loves.

In the dead of cold, the spark shall burn…

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This is a very interesting coming of age novel, following the archetypal model very well.  Hellsfire is a wonderful character.  He’s kind, honest, caring… and his quest is one of mystery and intrigue.  While at times I found the novel a tad bit slow in places, overall, this is a great adventure/quest novel following Hellsfire as he learns to control his abilities and his emotions (namely anger).  I thoroughly enjoyed following Hellsfire on his quest, taking him from place to place and overcoming new obstacles along the way.  Complete with wizards, elves, dwarfs, ogres, dragons, and humans, this novel has something for everyone.  If you like YA fantasy, then this is a book for you. Three stars.

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

From Goodreads: Owen, Frank, Audrey, and Jin-Ae have one thing in common: they all want to die. When they meet online after each attempts suicide and fails, the four teens make a deadly pact: they will escape together on a summer road trip to visit the sites of celebrity suicides…and at their final destination, they will all end their lives. As they drive cross-country, bonding over their dark impulses, sharing their deepest secrets and desires, living it up, hooking up, and becoming true friends, each must decide whether life is worth living—or if there’s no turning back.

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I’ve wanted to read this novel for a long time, but I never picked up a copy, and I’m not sure why.  The other day I went to Borders for their closing sale and completely lucked out, finding a copy of Crash Into Me hidden under many other books in the YA section.  Of course, I bought it and started reading it right away.  Needless to say, I enjoyed this novel.  I learned A LOT about suicide, and though it’s a very depressing topic, Borris does a phenomenal job keeping this novel on the lighter side.  While there are some very sad scenes that made me cry, overall, this is novel doesn’t dwell on the negative, but rather on the healing process of four teens who are at their wits ends.  I loved following them across the country as they went on their suicide tour, stopping at the graves of famous people who committed suicide, and I enjoyed watching them come alive again, finding solace within one another.  This is a very touching story, and while some of it may seem farfetched at times, I think this is a very well done novel.  The ending was a bit shocking, but I think it went along very nicely with the book on the whole.  Three stars.

From Goodreads: Twelve-year-old Ruby Majis is learning how to secrete magical ink from her skin’s pores. It’s painful work, but necessary if she wants to practice Hue: a dangerous, magical sport that transformed her caring older brother Chance into a cold-hearted scoundrel.

Guided by a trainer with a shady past and partnered with a supernatural boy, Ruby embarks on a journey to find her brother at the Mix Games, the annual Hue tournament held on the other side of the world.

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This novel is like a rollercoaster ride, smoothly zipping from one event to the next in this action packed MG/YA novel.  The story captures the reader’s attention from the very beginning as Ruby acquires a trainer and sets off on a quest that takes her around the world, learning to control and master her Hue powers along the way.  With its often comical dialogue and situations, I especially think MG students will love this novel.  I believe Seegitz has done a superb job capturing the dialogue and actions of the young protagonists in this story, creating fantastical situations and elements unique to the storyline.  This is a great novel for children of all ages, one that would also be a great for parents and children to read together as it has many great morals as well.  I especially enjoyed learning about hue and the different abilities those in Ruby’s universe acquire, making me wish I had some of these powers myself.  Three stars.

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

From Goodreads: Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don’t know it’s there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.

Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.

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Tanglewood Press has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read a copy of this novel, via Netgalley, and I must say that I am in LOVE!  This is a wonderful story; it’s a very scary depiction of what could happen if the supervolcano at Yellowstone National Park actually erupts, and Mullin, with his vivid prose and enticing characters, draws the reader in from the very first page.  Unable to call his family, unaware of their well-being, Alex decides to done a pair of skis and sets off for his uncle’s house, a mere three hours by car, and a lifetime on foot.  I found myself captivated by this novel, living the story alongside Alex, rejoicing in his fortunes, and cringing in his defeats.

I honestly felt like I was a part of this novel, that Alex was a friend and we were on the road together.  With ash and snow constantly falling around him, covering the earth and trees in its thick layers, I felt Alex’s pain as he tried to breathe clean air, scrounged for food and clean water, and attempted to stay warm amid the sudden climate shift.  There were times when the situations Alex found himself in sent shivers through me, and times when I was so thankful to have running water, an abundance of food, and heat and air-conditioning… this novel really makes you think and feel, and that’s why I love it so much!

Alex is also an amazing character, he’s kind and compassionate, and I truly enjoyed reading about him.  His companion, Darla, who he meets along the way, is another great character, and I truly loved them both.  This is a phenomenal debut novel—one I think everyone should read, and one I think everyone will enjoy.  I cannot wait for the sequel, Ashen Winter, to be released next fall.  Five stars.  

I was given this novel by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: A chilling and masterfully crafted teen horror novel guaranteed to keep the pages turning, the mind reeling, and the lamp on any reader’s bedside table on long after midnight. Privileged and popular Caleb Mason is celebrating his high school graduation when he receives a mysterious, disturbing letter from his long-lost childhood playmate, Christine. Caleb and his jokester friend, Bean, decide to travel to his tiny hometown of Hudsonville, Florida, to find her. Upon arrival, they discover the town has taken a horrifying turn for the worse. Caleb’s childhood home is abandoned and his father has disappeared. Children are going missing. The old insane asylum has reopened, and Christine is locked inside. Her mother, a witch, is consumed with madness, and Christine’s long-dead twin sister whispers clues to Caleb through the static of an a.m. radio. The terrifying prophesies of the spirits are coming to pass. Sixteen clocks are ticking; sixty-six murdered souls will bring about the end of the world. As Caleb peels back layer after layer of mystery, he uncovers a truth more horrible than anything he had imagined, a truth that could only be uttered by the lips of the dead.

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HCI has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release today, and I must say I am intrigued.  This is a really interesting story, which I read fairly quickly as it was quite intense, though I do have to say that the creep factor wasn’t really there for me.  I originally wanted to read it because of the scare factor, and while many reviews I’ve read say they were indeed rattled, I have to admit that I wasn’t.  It was a great ride, don’t get me wrong, but I wasn’t scared to the point of leaving my light on at night, so don’t be disappointed if you aren’t either.

However, this is a great premise for a novel, and Gates is a wonderful writer.  Although a few areas of the novel were a bit slow, most of the novel is action packed, a true rollercoaster ride as Caleb uncovers the truth, bit by bit.  Yes, it’s a little gritty and bloody, so beware, but it’s not enough to make you ill.  I will make this one statement though: don’t get too attached to the many different characters.  I’m not going to say any more than that; no spoilers from me, but reader beware… there are lots of characters introduced within the novel, lots of really great characters, fully fleshed out and very likable… but don’t get attached…

For a debut novel, I have to say that Grant has done a superb job!  The ending of the novel was left open as well, paving the way for a sequel, which I am highly anticipating.  Three stars.   

From Goodreads:  Meet Colin Preston.
19 years old and a student at Elerby University in upstate New York.
He drinks too much.
Lives for the Beatles, John Lennon and classic rock.
Falls for the most beautiful sophomore on campus.
His life is about to change forever.
Funny. Moving. Honest. Raw.
An entertaining coming of age novel about friendship,
music, first love and betrayal.

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This was a really interesting novel.  I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked it up as the reviews of the novel have been mixed, but overall I liked it.  Colin has a lot of issues and, though I know he’s in college, I see these same issues budding in high school students, both male and female.  I had a hard time connecting with Colin on the music front, but I know a lot of people obsessed with music and I can see how it can be a saving grace for someone so confused and distraught.  They latch onto music, feel the pulse, and make an almost otherworldly connection with the beat and lyrics, which is what has happened to Colin.  Colin’s life hasn’t been easy and he becomes easily infatuated with Jasmine, a beautiful college student who loves sex (I say infatuation because I don’t believe there was ever any true love shown within the novel). 

Most books I read deal with a girls infatuation with a boy and her many different attempts to please him in order to keep him, but I’ve rarely read a novel in which the tables turn and a boy in infatuated with a girl to the same extent.  This was a refreshing take on an age old story of love, sex, and betrayal, and I enjoyed Colin’s voice very much, though I believe him to be psychotic.  Like I said before, I see infatuations in high school students all the time, and the drama that ensues when one dumps the other, or a “friend” comes into the picture… can “ruin” lives, and I honestly think Murray has captured the feelings of infatuation, betrayal, and even psychotic behavior very well.

As this novel takes place in the 1980s at a small University, it is not surprising that this novel is full of sex.  Colin and Jasmine have a relationship solely based on sex, and so readers should be aware that a majority of the novel deals with this in some way, shape, or form.  Hence, I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone under 18.  Three and a half stars.

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