From Goodreads: Ves Asirin wins a trip to the Tower of Parlen Min. There, with 19 other children, he competes in the Sword Challenge; a series of puzzles and tasks, for $12 million. As fantastic and glorious as the tower seems to be, Ves finds that it keeps a dark and secret history that he has been connected to for over 150 years, a secret that will define his destiny … if he can escape ‘The shadow.’

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This novel is a rollercoaster ride of suspense and mystery, complete with nonstop action and a conclusion that will leave you reeling.  Needless to say, this is a great novel for all ages!  It has a very interesting premise and the prologue had me hooked within moments. Although the writing style of the prologue is a little different, reading more as an informative narrative than an actual story, it gives the reader a much-needed rundown of Ves Asirin and his life leading up to the opening of the novel.  The writing style then switches to a third person narrative, from the first chapter through the remainder of the novel, and is very well written.    

Ves, the protagonist of the story, suffers from memory loss.  Every ten to fifteen hours, he loses his memories, and if he hasn’t written his memories into his special book, those memories are gone forever.  This intriguing disability, along with a “haunted” tower, a series of gruesome murders, and a sword challenge worth 12 million dollars creates a spellbinding coming-of-age tale as Ves and his friends battle not only to win the challenge, but also to survive with their lives.

Xell is a natural storyteller, creating a unique world in which Ves and his friends thrive.  I was reminded of Tolkien while I read, Xell having the same creativity throughout this fantasy world and names for people and places, just like Tolkien and Middle Earth.  I am always extremely impressed by authors capable of creating entire worlds, complete with new species and exotic names that flow perfectly within the story.  Though the novel is quite long, each piece is important to the story, building upon itself to come to the conclusion.  The action was nonstop, and though I would have liked some down time between events, I was intrigued and glued to the pages.  Xell layers on the suspense and at times my thoughts were running in many different directions trying to piece together the truth.  I was shocked by the ending and am in much anticipation for the next novel in the series.  Three and a half stars.

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

From Goodreads: One of America’s hottest shows returns! For three years, millions of eager fans tuned in each week to watch Nickelodeon’s hit animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender. Ever since, fans have been hungry for more – and now their wait is finally over!

This volume collects the long-out-of-print, fan-favorite comics previously published in Nickelodeon Magazine and with the Airbender DVDs, plus over 70 brand-new comics pages. That’s over 26 stories set in Airbender continuity, by a host of top-notch talent, many of whom worked on the original animated series itself.

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I first came across The Last Airbender cartoons in January of 2010.  I remember I was flipping channels and stopped on Nickelodeon because there was a bald kid running around manipulating the elements, and it peaked my interest.  I only planned to watch a little bit, but a few hours and episodes later, I was hooked.  Of course, I came into the re-runs of the third book, fire, so I was completely lost, but Netflix comes is very handy for a crisis like that.  And, Netflix was running them through instant play, no less, so I had instant gratification and watched the entire series in a few weeks.  Imagine my surprise, and excitement, when I found out there was a movie coming out by my favorite director, M. Night Shyamalan!  Of course, I HAD to go see it, and I tried to buy up all the comics, but Barnes and Nobel was all out, so reading the comics never did happen, but oh well, I saw the cartoon series and the first movie (which I did like—acting abilities aside, the effects made it worth it, in my opinion), and I was in heaven. 

The other day I came across The Last Airbender: The Lost Adventures on Netgalley, via Dark Horse Comics, and instantly requested it because, though I’m not really a comic book person, I had originally wanted the comics for the series, and this comic book has bonus materials!  Of course, I highly enjoyed it; the adventures are funny/interesting and gave me a new perspective, making me want to watch the entire series/movie all over again (and I probably will soon).  I really did enjoy this comic book, and recommend it to all fans of The Last Airbender, but be forewarned, if you haven’t seen/read the series in its entirety, some of this comic book won’t make sense, since it jumps around from place to place, adventure to adventure.  Three stars.    

From Goodreads: Wendell is a young man who learns what his potential is while on a strange, enchanted world with a funny old wizard and ugly troll to mentor and guide him. Prelude to a Hero, the debut book about how Wendell came to be the one expected to save an entire world… by accident.

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I really liked this novel.  The writing, the characterization, the plot… it was all very well done, and it was funny too!  Wendell is a really likable character and I loved his wit throughout the novel.  I found myself snorting in laughter as I read, especially as Wendell interjects his thoughts and feelings about being the long lost hero that an “alien” world has been waiting for.  I see a little of myself in Wendell, and so I can’t help but like him—and I think he will appeal to readers of all ages, especially MG and YA, as he tells it like he sees it.

Buckley is a fantastic writer, keeping the reader entertained throughout the book.  I must say that I was very impressed with the writing style of the novel and, as Prelude to a Hero sets the background for the rest of the series, I believe the series is going to be exceptionally good.  The story is packed with lots of action and there was never a dull moment, keeping me glued to the pages until the conclusion, which I must say left me hanging.  I usually can’t stand to be left in the dark, but Buckley has been diligently working on the series and the next novel should be releasing soon, so hopefully I won’t have to wait long to find out what happens next for Wendell.  I highly recommend reading this novel!  Four stars!

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

From Goodreads: Five months ago, Valerie Leftman’s boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

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This novel is chillingly real.  The way teens treat each other, the way people attempt to heal after a huge tragedy, the inability of people to forgive… all haunting.  The novel made me livid and sad at the same time.  I cried the last quarter of the book, nonstop; it was breathtaking and beautifully written.  It took me a long time to read this novel, which is unusual since I normally read books in one sitting, but this novel rubbed me raw, and I had to read it in installments.  Hate List is a wonderful novel, don’t get me wrong, but it was so vivid and tragic that I needed to read it in small doses.

Brown is a beautiful writer and her story is set up in four parts, combining news articles with segments entailing the morning of versus segments of the present, weaving together this intricate story.  I really enjoyed this writing technique as it added suspense to the novel.  Just as vital information is revealed, the story fast forwards to the present, or rewinds to the past.  I enjoy novels like this because I think it makes the tension palpable.  The fact that the reader doesn’t know Valerie’s exact role in the shooting in the beginning of the novel also helps add to the suspense, and I spent a lot of the novel going back and forth between the guilty and not guilty verdict, just like Valerie’s family and friends. 

Hate List is a very powerful novel, and I enjoyed Valerie’s character very much.  Watching her grow, mature, and ultimately learn to live with herself was fascinating.  Though this novel’s story surrounds a school shooting, it is actually a depiction of Valerie coming to terms with her life and learning that forgiving doesn’t mean you have to forget.  I really enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it to all readers.  Five stars.

From Goodreads: Some Murders Shouldn’t Be Investigated.  The City of San Francisco is locked in a grip of fear. A series of occult murders has led, Inspector Thomas James, to a crime scene similar to a murder committed 90 years ago in the once grand Aleris Hotel. A place where power barons of the early 20th Century engaged in witchcraft. And silent film stars indulged in the most wicked of sins.  A place where no one questions the black smoke that rises from the hotel’s incinerators in the middle of the night.

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I liked this novel a lot, though I need to admit that I was confused for a bit of it.  Now, I was confused.  But, I looked at review, after review, after review, on Goodreads, just to check, and no one else seems to be confused.  So, this tells me something: I am weird.  Yep.  I am.  Remember that my reviews are a personal reflection of my reading capabilities, and I think I may have missed a vital sentence here or there, because, while I really did like the novel, I was confused on occasion, such as the devil and legion coming out into the mystery story.  I guess I wasn’t expecting that and it threw me for a loop, and somewhere around there I must have missed something.  But, that being said, you have to remember that this review is my personal take on the novel and just because I was confused doesn’t mean you will be too, and it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t pick up this novel, because you should!  I didn’t start to get confused until halfway through the book.  The beginning and first 150 pages had me captivated and completely enthralled with the story.  Murders and suspense were everywhere, and I really enjoyed it.  Then the devil came into play and I became confused, as I’ve already stated, and then the novel went back to being really good again!  More murders, suspense, and creepiness ensued, brining into play highly publicized murderers, such as Charles Manson, and it was really interesting. 

And the writing—I can’t forget the writing!  Amo is a very talented writer with a highly active imagination, and I loved reading his prose!  His gift for writing is apparent within the first chapter of the novel, and I really enjoyed this aspect of the story as well.   There were a lot of characters in the novel, and at times it was difficult for me to follow along with all of them (again, personal issue), but overall I liked it and cannot wait for the sequel, especially since Amo leaves the reader hanging with a conclusion that will have you dying for the sequel.  Three and a half stars.

From Goodreads: Aunt Imani comes to take Robbie and his sister, Brittany, to visit a museum and its Archives Center. Robbie doesn’t want to go. He thinks it will be boring. Then Aunt Imani shows him how he already created his own archives by hiding his treasures in his tree house. Now both Robbie and Brittany are excited! They even get to bring along some family photos and other treasures. They learn more about their family history and American history as they travel downtown. At the museum, Robbie and Brittany discover a lot of fun exhibits on their own. But, they feel really special when they take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Archives Center with Maxi, Aunt Imani’s friend. Maxi helps them preserve their treasures just like she does it at the museum. Robbie and Brittany learn that they are making history every day.

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The Elevator Group has been extremely gracious as to allow me to read an ARC of this easy reader chapter book, via Netgalley, prior to its release come September 2011.  This chapter book is for children in grades K-4 and presents young learners with vital information in regards to creating and preserving history.  This easy reader not only show students the exciting exhibits they can view in museums, but also how they too can create and preserve their own history.  The story portion of the easy reader, along with the pictures, make this a sure hit with K-4 learners as its interesting and something with which these young learners will easily identify.

I really liked the suggested activities in the back of the book as they cause the young learners to think and participate in creating their own box to preserve their history.  There are a lot of great questions that will force the reader to actively think and respond, and I believe a lot of young learners will enjoy the activities, which can be done both in and out of a classroom.  If you have young children at home, I recommend picking up a few copies of this easy reader and working through it with them.  They will not only have fun, but also learn valuable lessons about history and museums (and probably beg to go visit a museum nearby).

Richardson reads her easy reader chapter book to third graders (above)

Students use the activites in the chapter book to create their own achivist tool kits (above).

From Goodreads:  Chase Williams is a demon hunter in the Circle, or at least he was supposed to be. Failing to develop any elemental magic on his fifteenth birthday left him exiled in a world full of half-demons, and no hunters to protect him.

When Chase discovers the Circle’s plan to unlock a portal and unleash pure-blood demons into the world, he vows to stop them. Knowing he can’t do it alone however, he accepts help from Rayna, a sexy witch with an attitude and a secret.

As the pair attempt to stop the Circle, Chase realizes working with a demon is only half the battle. When they find themselves in the middle of the Circle’s plan, it leaves one of them to decide what their friendship is worth, and the other’s life depending on it.

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Merrick’s debut novel, Exiled, captives the reader through beautiful characterization and a fast paced, action packed story.  Completely original, Merrick has created a unique world beneath the surface of everyday life in which demons, hunters, vampires, goblins, and the like, thrive.  Cast out of his home within the Circle, Chase Williams must learn that not everyone is what they seem, and that he can’t believe everything he’s told.  Faced with the realization that he may have been mislead in his previous assumptions, Chase embarks on a highly dangerous quest for truth and, ultimately, to save the world.

I really enjoyed this story!  Merrick is a wonderful writer; his characters are extremely well developed and real and, by the end of the novel, I truly felt like I knew them.  I especially enjoyed Chase and his inner struggle to do what is right, and though he makes multiple mistakes in this coming-of-age novel, he continually learns and endears himself to the reader’s heart.

The concept behind the story, including the demon hunter Circle and the underworld, was very well thought out and, of course, very well written.  Merrick had my attention from the very first page to the last, and I read the novel in one sitting; it was that good.  I enjoyed that, while I had inklings of what was to come, Merrick kept me guessing as I read this thrilling tale, and I cannot wait for the sequel.  I highly suggest everyone read this wonderful story!  Five stars.

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

Check out the whole series:

Exiled (#1)

Shift (#2)

Release (#3)

Endure (#4)

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

From Goodreads:  It hasn’t been a very good day for attorney Samantha Khouri. She’s been passed over for partner at her law firm, she’s coming down with the flu, and she’s discovered that her parents’ business is teetering on the brink of failure, thanks to a brother widely known as the world’s dumbest terrorist. But when she discovers her financially desperate boss is planning to steal their new client’s gigantic winning lottery ticket, she realizes her day is just getting started.

After witnessing a violent confrontation that leaves the ticket in her hand, Samantha will risk everything to return the $415 million fortune to its rightful owner. But Samantha’s nothing-to-lose boss isn’t the only one hunting for the ticket. A homicidal mercenary has been hired to track it down at all costs, and he will stop at nothing to find it.

And as her pursuers close in, Samantha must resist the growing temptation to show up at SuperLotto headquarters, smile for the camera, and walk away with the biggest jackpot in American history.

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This is an extremely well written, captivating novel.  Kazzie has a superb way with words and is able to keep the reader easily engulfed within this suspenseful tale of deceit and betrayal.  Samantha Khouri, an attorney trying to do right by her client, quickly finds herself in the middle of a cat and mouse chase as she attempts to return a lottery ticket, worth $415 million, to the rightful owner.  Unbeknownst to Samantha, and those she comes into contact with, her life is in danger simply because she holds the key to a vast fortune. 

I highly enjoyed this novel.  Kazzie has created suspense at every turn in this riveting story and I could not put it down!  The lives of many are intertwined as the ticket literally changes hands multiple times, through both honesty and deceit.    There were so many twists and turns within the novel, yet it was easy to follow as Kazzie keeps the reader extremely well informed; the ending left me reeling as it all came together.  This is an amazing debut novel and I hope that we will be seeing much more by this author.  Five stars. 

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

Well, here’s the deal: I did pretty horrible during this readathon.  It’s sad to say, but I only read three books, and that, for me, is ridiculous (one was a comic book–does that even count?)!   

But, anyway, here are the three books I was able to complete during the #OUreadathon:

Hopefully I’ll do better the next time around, especially because I really do love readathons!!!

From Goodreads: People are predictable. That’s what makes them easy to kill. Acting out of misguided loyalty to his friends, police officer Prosper Snow is goaded into helping them perform a copycat killing, but when the real killer comes after him, it’s not only his life on the line, but his family’s too. Now if he goes to his colleagues for help, he risks being arrested for murder. If he doesn’t, he risks being killed.

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This was a very well written, thrilling read.  I was anxious from the very beginning, as the Oracle tracks down his first victim and slowly calculates his next move.  It was chilling, and definitely not for the faint of heart.  This novel is classified as horror, and I now know why!  There are very graphic, gruesome descriptions of the mutilated bodies, and much of the work is done while the victim is alive… so if you have a weak stomach, I’m telling you now that this isn’t for you.  I wasn’t expecting so much insight into the murders, but in order to really understand the psyche of the Oracle, especially as information begins to surface regarding the Oracle’s identity, the graphic prose are needed.

This is a very twisted story that kept me turning the pages even though other obligations arose.  I couldn’t put the novel down; Jeffrey’s has a knack for storytelling, and the many twists and turns of the novel left me reeling, especially during the big reveal.  This novel is a great horror/mystery/thriller novel that I highly suggest people read, especially if they’re lovers of the Saw movies—but make sure you don’t read this right before bedtime, because it’s quite certain that you’ll have nightmares.  Four stars for a riveting, scary read!

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.  This novel is also being filmed by an independent production company, so you should check it out as well: http://thekultmovie.com/

From Goodreads: When Olivia Landry screams, people die. No wonder she’s been shunned by humans her whole life. When Olivia makes a huge mistake, she’s banished for a summer to a human town; forced to live as one of them. She’s out for revenge when she discovers the humans are different than she imagined, especially the rugged, sexy guitarist, Jackson Vance.

Pretending to be human isn’t as hard as she thought it would be…until the witch hunters attack. Now Olivia must somehow protect herself, her family, and her new human friends. There’s a problem with that. When you go around screaming, people are bound to learn your secret. Can love really conquer anything.

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What I like the most about this novel is that it sits apart from traditional witch stories.  All the witches have special powers—they don’t chant and read out of books to cast spells, but rather have different individual powers, a high priestess, and are in constant battle with the evil group of Venators, who are set on destroying all covens.  I really enjoyed the different special powers the witches possess.  For instance, Olivia can terminate anything living by directing a scream at it/them, which makes her a wonderful fighter against the Venators.  Other characters have equally cool powers, such as excessive strength, healing, and the ability to foretell the future.  I really enjoyed this individuality of the characters as it sets them apart and, while still dealing with magic, is similar to the old TV show heroes, which I loved!  I do wish there was more information about the Venators, as I’m still curious about them, but as Amaretto Flame is the first in the series, I am sure that more light will be shed in the sequels.

Another aspect of the novel I enjoyed is that, while I think this novel is technically YA, as Olivia is 19 and dealing with many teen issues, it’s a little higher level than most YA novels.  It’s still exceptionally clean, which is great, but Olivia, while coming of age and falling in love for the first time, is past school age and actually ends up working in a bar.  I liked this aspect; I don’t think I’ve read any clean novels in which there is a bar, and reading about Olivia’s first experience with alcohol, falling in love with Jackson, the bar singer, and making friends with the waitresses was really fun.  Olivia is a little bit older than the traditional YA, and so are some of her experiences, but I liked that this novel gives younger readers an idea about what life is like outside of school, in which they have to fend for themselves, find a job, show up to work on time, and make new friends.  I just thought this was a very interesting presentation within the novel.

I really enjoyed Spencer’s writing style and the story was very captivating and full of suspense.  The story is fast paced and moved between events quickly, which helped maintain my attention.  I also identified with Olivia a lot, and found myself feeling similar to her in many of the situations, which is a testament to Spencer’s beautiful writing capabilities.  To be able to make the reader feel alongside of a character is very hard to do, and I think Spencer did a fabulous job.  Four stars.

From Goodreads: There are no accidents. When fifteen-year-old Jacob Lau is pulled from the crumpled remains of his mother’s car, no one can explain why he was driving or why the police can’t find his mother’s body. Made a ward of his uncle and thousands of miles from home, a beautiful and mysterious neighbor, Dr. Abigail Silva, offers to use her unique abilities to help him find his mom. In exchange, she requires Jacob to train as a Soulkeeper, a biologically gifted warrior charged with protecting human souls. He agrees to her demands, desperate for any clue to the mystery of his mother’s disappearance. But soon Jacob finds himself trapped in a web of half-truths, and questions Dr. Silva’s motives for helping him.

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I liked this novel a lot.  It’s a completely different take on good and evil, God and the devil, but it isn’t a highly religious, preachy novel, for which I am thankful.  It was really interesting and insightful, and I am in awe of authors that have such creative imaginations and bring forth completely different views on topics like this.  The idea of Soulkeepers protecting humans and the controlling of the elements was really interesting and I loved getting to know Jacob, especially as he came of age, learning to control his anger and take charge of his circumstances.  The mystery in the novel had me captivated, and I really enjoyed the novel—especially as Jacob begins to remember and realize that his nightmares are actually a reality.

I loved the bigotry in the novel—and by that I mean Ching does a phenomenal job showing how difficult and dangerous bigotry can be, and how easy it is for people, especially those in close knit, small towns, to become close minded and prejudice.  The abuse that Jacob and Malini endure is overpowering—even stemming from Jacob’s own family—yet they survive it all and come out on top.  Though the name calling and reactions of Jacob’s peers had me seething on more than one occasion, I loved the in-depth analysis Ching presents as she hashes out the evils of prejudice and small minded people.  Although this is really a small portion of the whole, this is the portion that really stood out to me the most—the underlying message is a wonderful lesson for all, especially teens.  Three and a half stars.

From Goodreads: When a father discovers his newborn has been turned into a vampire, he’s forced to make a choice: Hide his child’s secret… or end his family line.

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You know the story you’re reading is going to be good with an opener like this: “This is the night I’ll finally kill my baby.”  I read that line and was hooked; my curiosity peaked and I put down everything else and read this short story, and I’m so glad I did.  Patterson has a way with words.  This is the third work of his that I’ve read, and I’m absolutely in love with his writing style and imaginative storylines.  He’s written about zombies in his novel Mercy, fairytale characters in his hilarious short story Fairy Godmother-In-Law, and now vampires in his psychological novelette Baby Teeth.  What I really enjoy the most is that Patterson creates completely original pieces, and he’s not set in just one genre, like many authors out there.  Instead, Patterson is able to write about many different topics and still create an air of awe in the reader, for which I am grateful!

Baby Teeth is the witty story of a man who loses everything.  His wife and newborn child die during labor, yet he finds out later that the culprit was a vampire, and that his child has accidentally been turned.  Unable to let his heritage die, and having no one else in his life to love, he takes in his baby and hides him throughout the day, feeding him at night, all while struggling to create a new life for himself.  The novelette is told in the past/present style, juxtaposing past events with his current decision—telling the story as the baby comes thumping down the hallway, opening doors, trying to get to his father.  This is a very well written story, showing the complexities of the human psyche, and I really enjoyed it!  Four stars!

From Goodreads: Ava O’Brian is dealing with more than a teenager’s typical temptations of right versus wrong. Ava is unaware she possesses a rare and unique gift, a soul with the ability to influence. Unfortunately, Satan will stop at nothing to gain control of her special ability.

Ava’s faith is seriously shaken when she is the sole survivor of the car accident that kills her father and twin brother. When she relocates and faces the ultimate temptation in Samuel Perry, her mysterious classmate living on earth since 1798 to tempt and damn mankind, Ava isn’t sure she can resist.

Sam must decide if he will lead Ava straight into the devil’s trap or place his immortal existence on the line in order to keep her alive.

What ultimate price is Ava willing to pay for love? What if it means giving up her life or turning over her soul straight into Satan’s hands for the boy of her dreams?

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The prologue of this novel is beautifully written and drew me into the story in a heartbeat.  Needless to say, I liked this novel a lot!  Kuehne is a gifted writer and to say I was mesmerized by the prose and the storyline would be an understatement.  I liked the ideas of dark angels controlled by Satan, and I really loved Sam’s character.  Although he’s a dark angel, he does seem to come over the light and remain there throughout most of the novel, which will automatically endear him to the reader’s heart.  Although confused and fighting his own nature, Sam is a wonderful representation of a dark angel gone rogue, and I loved his relationship with Ava.  I spent much of the novel on pins and needles as the prologue set the stage for the novel, and I was convinced that Sam was inherently evil from the very start—so although I fell in love with his character, it was with much trepidation because… who wants to love a backstabbing evil menace?  And that’s as much as I can say about the prologue and the novel without giving away anything… so you’ll just have to read the novel to find out if Sam is truly good or evil.

I must admit that I found the changing between points of view a little awkward in the beginning, as most of the story is told through Ava’s first person narrative, yet occasionally the narrative changes to third person and we learn more about Sam’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences while away from Ava.  This was a little strange as I’ve never come across a novel that shifts points of view like this before, yet while I would rather have had the entire novel written in first person, from both characters, this writing technique does not take away from the novel in any way.  If anything, it is a testament to Kuehne’s writing capabilities as she flawlessly switches between the points of view.

This novel is set up for a sequel, for which I am ecstatic, mainly because I want to know more, and was left hanging, but also because I did become a little confused when the angels of God came on the scene near the end.  I have many questions about them, and therefore cannot wait for the sequel so that I have a more rounded picture of both sides of the angels. 

Now, obviously the synopsis and much of my review talks about the angels of Satan and God.  While these two factions are the main premise of the novel, rest assured that this novel is not highly religious itself, and it is not preachy in any way, shape, or form, so do not let the fact that Satan and God are mentioned stop you from reading this great novel!  Three and a half stars!

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

From Goodreads: Xandir has been exiled to earth until the end of time. But when his cherub trainee disappears, Xandir makes a deal with rogue angels and giants that could restore life to the mortal woman he loves and end his assignment as a destroying angel in exchange for helping them bring about the end of the world and all of mankind.

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Cedar Fort has been extremely gracious to allow me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on July 14, 2011, and so I’m extremely sorry to say that I just didn’t care for this story.  The idea of giants was a new concept for me in terms of angel themed novels, and while I really enjoyed the idea, the characters and situations within the novel didn’t spark my interest as much as I had anticipated.  While Young is a talented writer, this story itself didn’t pull me in and I struggled to connect with the many characters introduced within the novel.  This lack of connection, in and of itself, made the reading of this novel quite difficult for me and, to be honest, I thought about setting the book aside because I wasn’t too interested.  Though I did finish the novel, I am saddened to say that my feelings towards it did not change as the story unfolded, and although the action within the novel was non-stop, I think it all was a little too much for me.  One star. 

From Goodreads:  Krista Miller feels like she has lived her entire life in a glass box with her every emotion on display. She can’t help feeling like a defect as her sensitivities have made her socially inept and without any real friends; the one exception being the boy that visits her each night in her dreams.

Krista’s emotions are put to the test when a move to California triggers a devastating change to her fantasy world. The nightly comfort that the boy provides has now become a recurring nightmare as he is taken from her by an unseen force.

Struggling to appear normal, Krista enrolls in a new school and finds it to be nothing like she thought. Her new life is sent spiraling out of control from a strange connection with a boy, Mark, who claims to know all her secrets.

As Krista begins to explore the emotions that Mark evokes in her, secrets about their mysterious past and their predestined purpose threatens to separate them just when they have found each other.

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This was a phenomenal novel!  I am always extremely impressed when authors come up with a completely original idea and make it come alive on the page, and King is a superb writer that does just that.  Krista and Mark are beautiful characters that I want to meet in person—I want them to be real; their caring personalities and wonderful abilities make me wish we could be friends.  King has written their dispositions and life events so convincingly that I truly feel like I know them.

This novel was a rollercoaster ride for me; the sensations I felt as I read were extremely real: anger, gratitude, sadness, anxiety… I felt it all and, on more than one occasion, I actually yelled at the characters, as if they could hear me… I could see it all in my mind’s eye, and that, for me, is what really makes a book phenomenal.  I felt like I became one with Krista, feeling her pain, her confusion, her anger, and it amazes me that I felt so strongly throughout the entire novel, especially as one of Krista’s abilities is her strong sense of emotions—I really connected with her on that point as I read, which is a testament to King’s sheer writing capabilities.  I admit that some of the characters really upset me, such as Matt, and even Krista’s mother, and on more than one occasion I wanted to punch them in the face (professional, I know).  But, King has created these characters to evoke this exact emotion, and as King was able to induce these feeling in me, as the reader, I know that she is destined for great things as an author!

The suspense in the novel kept me on edge as I read, and King creates some wonderfully romantic moments, as well as some nail biting moments in which my anxiety for the characters was overwhelming.  I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel, which is actually set to come out soon (YES!).  I am truly in love with this novel and highly suggest that everyone reads it, sooner rather than later.  You will not be disappointed!  Five stars.

From Goodreads: There are nineteen provinces in the Land held aloft by nineteen pillars. Above the earth there is sky, and nobody knows what goes below except the Nineteen Dragons.

That is all you need to know, but that is not all there is to be known.

The Device has been stolen and the godlike Dragons have been rendered mortal. Someone is murdering them one by one, and each death brings the world closer to its end. Unless the Device is somehow restored to its deceased owner, the Dragons are doomed to destruction—and the human world will go with them.

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Reine has created a wonderful Steampunk novella that will keep readers glued to the pages throughout the suspense and mystery.  Although somewhat confusing in the beginning, as Reine jumps directly into the story, the important characters and relationships within the novel are quickly identified as the Device is stolen and the Dragons must race against time to find the person behind the theft.  If they should fail, they will all die, taking the human world with them.  This was an intriguing concept and I really enjoyed watching the novella unfold.  Reine has created wonderful characters, in the form of Dragons, perfectly matching their dispositions with their human form.  Although short, this novella packs a lot of information into the story, leaving the reader with much to think about even after the conclusion.  While completely different from Reine’s debut novel, Six Moon Summer, this novella is a great read and I highly recommend it!  Four stars!  

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

From Goodreads: Is the perfect murder the one you can’t forget or the one you can’t remember? Dr. Jennifer White, a brilliant former surgeon in the early grips of Alzheimer’s, is suspected of murdering her best friend, Amanda. Amanda’s body was found brutally disfigured — with four of her fingers cut off in a precise, surgical manner. As the police pursue their investigation and Jennifer searches her own mind for fractured clues to Amanda’s death, a portrait emerges of a complex relationship between two uncompromising, unsentimental women, lifelong friends who were at times each other’s most formidable adversaries.

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Grove/Atlantic, Inc. has been extremely gracious to allow me to read a copy of this novel, via Netgalley, which released on July 5^th, and I’m sorry to say that I didn’t care for this novel.  Told through the first person narrative of Dr. Jennifer White, the reader is given a firsthand glimpse of  the rapid deterioration that dementia has on the mind.  While anything other than the first person narrative would have left much to be desired within the novel, the narrative itself is extremely heartbreaking and, at times, difficult to follow.  I have never met anyone with dementia, but LaPlante has created an all too real account of what it’s like inside the mind of someone suffering from this disease as they rapidly go from one thought to the next, only to lose the previous one.  

While there is much suspense and mystery surrounding the death of Jennifer’s friend Amanda, I did find the novel overly repetitive at times, which only makes sense since Jennifer is constantly relearning the same information.  However, repetition of events, especially sad ones, isn’t really my forte.  As I like more upbeat, happy novels, this was somewhat of a downer for me, as the treatment of Jennifer by her family, along with her own lapse of memories, creates a depressing tone and left me feeling dejected in the end, especially as the deterioration of Jennifer’s mind increased.  However, LePlante’s revelation of the murderer does make it a worthwhile read–I never saw it coming.  So, if you don’t mind a little repetition and sadness that accompanies dementia, then I recommend you read this novel.  Two and half stars.

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

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

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O’Rourke has done it again, creating an intriguing masterpiece, completely original and captivating.  This vampire novel is not like anything I’ve ever read before, and O’Rourke’s combination of police knowledge and vampire lore makes for a riveting new series starring Kiera Hudson, a young aspiring policewoman.  Complete with suspense, mystery, and intrigue, Vampire Shift takes the reader on a journey into the depths of The Ragged Cove, a place where many have ventured, but few have returned. 

I love that Kiera is a strong female lead, possessing the gift of sight where so many others miss vital clues.  An asset to any police force, Kiera comes on the scene in The Ragged Cove only to be met with disdain by the current police force.  The fact that Kiera does not crumple and stays true to herself, trusting her instincts, makes her an outstanding, strong character that readers will quickly come to love.

O’Rourke weaves together a story of horror and romance in this first book of the series, and I cannot wait for the sequel to release.  I highly recommend this novel to all readers, both young and old alike.  Five stars to this magnificent novel. 

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

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

Check out O’Rourke’s other novels:

Black Hill Farm

Black Hill Farm: Andy’s Diary

Zachary Black and the Doorways to Endra