Friday, March 30, 2012

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Summary: (from back of book) Every girl who has taken the test has died. Now it's Kate's turn. it's always been just Kate and her mom- and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, not other family and the fear that her mother won't live past the fall. Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld- and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to past seven tests. Kate is sure he's crazy- until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess. If she fails...
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I liked the fresh take on Greek mythology. Even though this book is heavily based on thse stories, what i didn't know about them did not detract from the story at all which I liked. Although, it did start off a little slow after the first few chapters I was hooked and couldn't stop reading until the end. I thought the plot overall was well paced. There were a lot of surprising and suspenseful twists and I am really excited to read the sequel. I really liked all the characters. Kate is a really likable character and as the book went on I was rooting for her to succeed. I also really liked Henry. He was so sweet and yet mysterious. James was also a pretty cool character. I can't wait to see where this sory goes in the sequel. Anyone who is interested in a Greek mythology retelling shouls try this one out.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

Summary: (from goodreads) Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand—one who can see faeries. Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy who enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of thin air. Trouble is, the enigmatic and gorgeous Luke turns out to be a gallowglass—a soulless faerie assassin. An equally hunky—and equally dangerous—dark faerie soldier named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. Sworn enemies, Luke and Aodhan each have a deadly assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen's sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend. Deirdre had been wishing her life weren't so dull, but getting trapped in the middle of a centuries-old faerie war isn't exactly what she had in mind.
Review: I am always a little skeptical when getting into faerie stories, but I thought this one was pretty good. The mystery started pretty early on and that kept me interested. I did think that the plot dragged a little bit in the middle. I think Luke's story added a lot of intrigue and made the story line unique and entertaining. Deirdre and Luke were both interesting characters and overall, I liked getting to know them, although Deirdre had a few moments where she was kind of annoying. James was really funny and I hope he continues to have a part in the sequel. I wish Delia's role in everything had been explained more, hopefully it will be in the future. I also thought the ending was a little bit anticlimatic after everything leading up to it. I was pleasently surprised with how captivating this book was. I didn't want to stop reading unitl I was done. I'm glad i won't have to wait for the sequel.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Eve by Anna Carey

Summary: (from book jacket) Sixteen years after a deadly virus wiped out most of the Earth's population, the world is a perilous place. Eighteen year old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a future as the teachers and artists of the New America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school's real purpose- and the horrifying fate that awaits her. Fleeing the only home she's ever known, Eve sets off on a long treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Arden, her former rival from school, and Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust... and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers began hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.
 Review: I was really excited to read this book after I bought it, because the premise seemed interesting and entertaining. I have to say I was not disappointed. The dystopian elements were scary and kept the story moving. The only parts that I thought were a little slow was when Eve was alone. The ending was surprising and and I am really excited to get my hands on the sequel. All the characters were really well written and I was rooting for them throughout the book. Eve, Arden and Caleb were very belivable and unique characters. I can't wait for their story to continue. I think anyone who is a fan of dystopian will enjoy this book.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

The Name of The Star by Maureen Johnson

Summary:(from book jacket) The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city-gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific work of Jack the Ripper in the autumn of 1888. Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, what is he planning to do about her?
Review: This is the first book in the Shades of London series and I really liked it. The plot was well paced and exciting and I liked the inclusion of the Jack the Ripper story. The mystery and suspense made it hard to put this book down after things got going. I also really enjoyed the setting of boarding school in London. I always enjoy books that have a really unique setting and I think this one added a lot to the story. The way things eventually played out was exciting and then ending was a slight cliffhanger which made me really excitied to continue with this sereis.  The characters in this book were very well written and unique. I really liked Rory as a main character. She was a very believable character and I liked that she showed her fear yet still was strong when it mattered. Jazza was also a really fun character. I wish she had been included more especially in the second half of the book. Boo, Stephan and Callum were interesting as well. I hope we get to know them better in the next book. I am really looking forward to seeing where this story goes in the future books of this series.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Clarity by Kim Harrington

Summary:(from book jacket) Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift. And a curse. When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex boyfriend wants her to help solve the case- but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother, who has supernatural gifts of his own, becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?
Review: This book has a pretty interesting premise and I was sucked in right from the beginning. I did think it was a little bit slow during the middle when the murder was trying to be solved. But the ending was exciting and surprising. This was a pretty short book and I flew through it quickly because I wanted the answers. I liked the plot twists that made me want to keeping reading. The family business aspect was a unique twist to this type of story, where everything is usually so secretive. I thought it was a little bit refreshing. The setting was really awesome too, I love books that are set at the beach. I thought Clare and her family were really great characters. They were very well written and interesting, but I did think some of the things Perry did were kind of weird. I also didn't think any of the romance was all that believable. It seemed like Clare had some feelings for every guy she came across. I definetely have an opinion on who she should end up with though. Anyone who likes mystery mixed with paranormal I think this is a good place to start.

Monday, March 12, 2012

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series.
Summary:(from back of book) Half Summer faery princes, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey- ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all too human heart.
Review: This is the second book in the Iron Fey series. This book had high and low points for me. I thought the action scenes were really good and everything going on in Faery kept me interested in where the story was going. Although, I did think there was a few things that were pretty predictable. Also, there were a few portions where I thought the plot was really slow moving. The ending made me really excited to keep reading this series, because it was surprising and I will be very interested to see how this story continues. I really have mixed about these characters. At one moment I was rooting for them and the next they were all driving me crazy. Most of the time I liked them, but I was a little surprised at how self centered they all were. As far as the romance goes I'm not sure how I feel about where this book left off. Guess that means I'll just have to keep reading. I do think some aspects of this Faery world are original. It puts some new twists on old myths and stories and anyone who wants that will enjoy this series.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl

Summary:(from goodreads) MacColl presents a novel of intrigue and romance about how Princess Victoria became queen with the help of a maid, a newspaperman, and a scoundrel.
Review:I don't read that much historical fiction but I thought this book was pretty good. It was a little slow at first but once things picked up I couldn't stop reading. The plot was really entertaining if not a little predictable. My favorite part of this book was definitely getting to see a different side of the historical characters and places that really existed during that time period. All of the characters were very well written and I really liked Liza as a narrator. Liza and Victoria were both a little bit self centered, which I thought was a little bit annoying after a while.  but it was still entertaining. I liked the ways that both of these girls changed throughout the book. Overall, this is a good read for anyone who likes historical fiction.