Clockwork Prince by: Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Prince by: Cassandra Clare
Publication Date: December 6, 2011
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Page Count: 502
Format: Hardcover/Collector's First Edition
Series: Infernal Devices #2
Buy the Book: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

  In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.

 With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

 Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

 As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

 
My Review:

For an entire year I waited for this book, during which time I formed ideas in my mind as to how the book would play out. None of what I guessed, happened, of course. It was so much better than I could've imagined!

Tessa Gray is one of my favorite characters. Her love of books is amazing and very relatable to myself. Also, she is so full of mystery, because we still don't know what she is! This bothered me a bit and now I have yet another reason to pine like crazy for Clockwork Princess.

The setting of Victorian Era London is even further accentuated in Clockwork Prince. There is also a bit of Yorkshire in there too. I love everything about the UK and so I especially enjoyed escaping into the historical world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders.

After reading Clockwork Angel, I wasn't exactly sure how I felt about Jem. He was a great character, but nothing really made me very interested in him. In this book, however, I completely fell in love with him! No joke. He is utterly selfless and seems to absorb the emotions of the people he cares about, as if they are his own. His sickness made me so sad, especially as his relationship with Tessa started to heat up. Cassandra better find a cure, is all I have to say!

Since people are proudly declaring themselves Team Jem or Team Will, I feel obliged to say that I am proudly on board with Tem Will! This book revealed so much about Will and his past. To everyone surrounding him, he seemed like an unloving, contemptuous, sarcastic boy. When really, he loved so greatly and passionately than any of them. This made me cry a few times, both of joy and sadness.

And, as most of you know who have read any of Cassandra's works, there was an abrupt cliffhanger ending. It showed a lot of promise though, for Will's future especially.

Official Rating

Five Un-Birthday Cakes!

White Cat by: Holly Black

White Cat by: Holly Black

Publication Date: May 4, 2010

Publisher: McElderry

Page Count: 310

Format: Paperback

Series: Curse Workers #1

Buy the Book: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers — people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail — he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.  Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.Holly Black has created a gripping tale of mobsters and dark magic where a single touch can bring love — or death — and your dreams might be more real than your memories.

My Review:

When I opened this book, I really didn't know what to expect. Everything I encountered while reading it was just extremely edgy and amazing. This book is one I will definitely think about re-reading, and I hardly ever re-read books.

I am starting to find that I love to read books with male narrators. Cassel is definitely one of my favorites. He knew the world of crime and conning so well and explained all of the strategies like it was second nature to him. He lives in a world where it is deadly to let your guard down, even for a minute.

The concept of Curse Workers had never occurred to me before, nor had I ever read anything like it. I really love the idea because it isn't entirely supernatural. The people who can work curses are human and with every curse, there is a blowback of some kind. This was refreshing to read, compared to all the books with the seemingly invincible supernatural characters.

During the middle of reading White Cat, I started feeling really sorry for Cassel. The things that his own family did to him out of their own selfish desires was terrible. Things work out in the end and certain people get served some of their own medicine, so that was enjoyable to read.

This is the first book I have read by Holly Black, and she is now up there with Cassandra Clare on my favorite authors list. 

Official Rating:

Four Un-Birthday Cakes!

Ink Exchange by: Melissa Marr

Ink Exchange by: Melissa Marr
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 325
Format: Paperback
Series: Wicked Lovely #2
Buy the Book: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

 Unbeknownst to mortals, a power struggle is unfolding in a world of shadows and danger. After centuries of stability, the balance among the Faery Courts has altered, and Irial, ruler of the Dark Court, is battling to hold his rebellious and newly vulnerable fey together. If he fails, bloodshed and brutality will follow.

Seventeen-year-old Leslie knows nothing of faeries or their intrigues. When she is attracted to an eerily beautiful tattoo of eyes and wings, all she knows is that she has to have it, convinced it is a tangible symbol of changes she desperately craves for her own life.

The tattoo does bring changes—not the kind Leslie has dreamed of, but sinister, compelling changes that are more than symbolic. Those changes will bind Leslie and Irial together, drawing Leslie deeper and deeper into the faery world, unable to resist its allures, and helpless to withstand its perils. . . .

My Review:

This book was not at all what I initially expected. After reading Wicked Lovely, I thought this would be a continuation of that story, as I am sure a lot of other people thought too. However, Leslie's story was a pleasant surprise once I began reading.

What bothered me, starting off, was that I only got to see Aislinn whenever and however the other characters saw her. This disappointed me a little because I was really looking forward to seeing how she adjusted to being the Summer Queen and being more involved with the Faerie world.

Leslie's life was hard and lots of bad things had happened to her, thus making her stronger and a perfect target for Irial, especially because she thought that getting a tattoo would make things better for her. She was a pretty amazing and resilient character, I think. A lot of times she was kept in the dark about certain matters and even though I know her friends didn't want her involved in Faerie politics, I think she should've been more in the know.

Niall is probably my favorite character in the series so far.  Maybe it was the way he fought his nature or maybe it was the way he would do anything in the world for Leslie, but either way, the complexity of him was so enticing. I loved it.  He was in the first book a tiny bit, and more in this one, and I hope to see more of him later in the series.

The end was kind of heartbreaking to me, but still a proper ending. One of the characters began to gain some serious humanity, thanks to Leslie, and one took on a role that he never intended to play.

This all makes me even more eager to dive into Fragile Eternity!

Official Rating:

Three and a half Un-Birthday Cakes!

Hourglass by: Myra McEntire

Hourglass by: Myra McEntire
Publication Date: June 14, 2011
Publisher: Egmont USA
Page Count: 400
Format: Hardcover
Series: Hourglass #1
Buy the Book: Amazon


Summary from Goodreads:

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

My Review:

This was the first YA book I have read about time travel. I read The Time Trilogy by: Madeleine L'Engle a few years ago and loved it, so I thought I would give another shot to the subject. I am so very glad I did!

First of all, let me say how much I love Emerson's name. I have never before heard it used as a female name and I love it! Her character kind of reflects it too. She is not girly in the slightest and one of those edgy girls who knows how to protect herself in dangerous situations. Definitely a heroine.

Emerson and Michael meet seemingly by chance. Their relationship and his involvement with the Hourglass organization prove otherwise, however. The two of them have such incredible chemistry, probably one of the most electrifying (pun intended) relationships I have read about in a book.

All of the characters in this book had a good story to themselves, I think. Thomas and Dru had a really cute relationship. Emerson and Michael's brought goosebumps to my skin on occasion. Kaleb, Michael, and Emerson kind of have a potential love triangle, I think. Kaleb reminded me a lot of Jace Wayland from the Mortal Instruments series. He had a great sense of humor and kind of brooded around, but was also alarmingly strong and handsome. So, ya, Emerson definitely has a lot to think about.

This book was altogether charming and funny, yet the conflict was literally a life-or-death situation, and not in the way you might think.

                                                Official Rating:

Four and a half Unbirthday Cakes!

              Sara

Delirium by: Lauren Oliver

Delirium by: Lauren Oliver
Publication Date: February 1, 2011, Special Edition - August 1, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 441
Format: Hardcover 1st Edition
Series: Delirium #1
Buy the Book: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

My Review:

Disclaimer: The cover above is the Special Edition cover, just because I love it so much. The one I own is the first edition, though.

I read Delirium shortly after the release date. I just decided it was so amazing that it deserved a review. It dragged me in, hook, line, and sinker! The writing style of Lauren Oliver is officially one of my all-time favorites.  She described the dystopian version of Portland, Maine, so majestically and really captured all of the drastically transformed elements of society that come with dystopia.

The setting of Portland in itself is something I really enjoyed in itself. Even though it was a fenced town and an overall dystopian environment, I loved all of the coves and beaches mentioned and visited in the book.

Lena is an incredibly strong character. Sure, she complies with all of the terms of the procedure and the laws at first and she had all of her life up until the events of the book, but still, she has the spirit of a fighter. I love female characters like that. 

As far as the genre goes, this was on of the heaviest dystopian books I've read, and I love the genre.  It was a lot more graphic in certian parts about the consequences of the law being broken. I think that when Lena realized the true nature of the government and their intentions, she was more eager to rebel, and then when she met Alex, it was the domino effect from there.

Alex and Lena's relationship gradually came into being, which I appreciated. I feel like, too many times in YA books that the relationships happen too fast, but this one was perfectly paced. 

The ending was a moderately large cliffhanger. I think, when I finished it, I literally slammed shut the book and scrambled to the computer to find the release date of the next book, foolishly hoping it would be the next day. This book comes highly recommended, just in case you are some uncivilized person who hasn't read this yet.

Official Rating:

Five Un-Birthday Cakes!

              Sara

Beautiful Chaos by: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Chaos by: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Publication Date: October 18, 2011
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Page Count: 518
Format: Hardcover
Series: Caster Chronicles #3
Buy the Book: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What - or who - will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?

For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself - forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he's too afraid to ask.
Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.

My Review:
    
     This book is by far, the best in the Caster Chronicles series so far. As soon as I read the first few pages, I settled into the world of Gatlin, South Carolina and loved every minute of it. As one of my favorite book series', these books never cease to amaze me.
    Every character in this book seemed to come into focus more in my mind this time around. Even the bad ones like Sarafine and Ridley. I saw things that had been previously covered up by time and darkness, which let me really understand their humanity.
   In certain parts, I felt like I could easily predict what was going to happen or who was going to do what, and then the book went and changed what I predicted. I loved this, because it added so much more surprise when Lena, Ethan, and the others deciphered the Shadowing Song and the climax happened. It was such and exciting and impossible realization, which is what I love about reading the works of Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.
    Every person in this story grew so much throughout the journey and hardships they all faced. I love it so much when characters are like that. With Ethan especially. This series, for sure, has the absolute best cast of characters. Ever.
    Things were so out of control and the Caster world was in a grave collision with the Mortal world, which made for quite the uproar among the church people (everybody) in Gatlin. This added a lot of excitement and suspense. I was always asking myself how much longer Gatlin could withstand the weight of a broken Order. Ethan seemed to take it all in stride, however. He seemed to be fairly calm about the whole situation until he witnessed Amma behaving suspiciously and Abraham making appearances. But what with everything he had going through previously, that didn't surprise me, really.
    So many things in this story went right and wrong, all leading up to one great and devastating ending, with the cliffhanger of the century slapped on top. This is the only thing that frustrated me. I think it is good to be frustrated sometimes during a book, though. It means that the author is getting to you and you have developed a genuine understanding of the people and setting.

   

The Iron Knight by: Julie Kagawa

The Iron Knight by: Julie Kagawa

Published: October 25, 2011

Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

Page Count: 361

Format: Paperback

Series: Iron Fey #4

Summary from Goodreads:

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.

To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

 Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

 With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

 To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

 And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

 My Review:
    Since this book is the last in the Iron Fey series, one of my all-time favorites, I felt the need to stretch out the reading time. Well, that kind of worked. And then it didn't. Nevertheless, I think the series came to a comfortable and happy ending.
    At the beginning, and I guess all through the book, Ash and Puck were always in some sort of scuffle. Puck's usual banter made me love him even more, as it always does. That, and Ash's serious and determined state, made for a great pairing to go on an adventure. Maybe not to them, but definitely for the readers!
    I seriously wonder if Grimalkin is based on the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. The way he speaks and disappears all the time seems oddly similar. Nevertheless, I really love him! He always knew the answers to things and had a way of making everyone else look oblivious.
   The lack of Meghan's POV had me stopping occasionally to remind myself that Ash was the narrator in this book, not her. I guess that's just because I was so attuned to seeing Meghan's. The POV change I was a little concerned about at first. I don't know why, Ash had amazing thoughts that only proved how loyal and good a character he was. There were a few flashbacks that let us see both the best and the worst of him. To me, It made me further realize the effect that being in love with Ariella, and then Meghan, had on him.
     Unlike the previous books, this one takes place entirely in the Nevernever. Only a tiny scene at the end is in the mortal world. This I just loved, because the way that Julie Kagawa expresses the nature and creatures that roam in the wyldwood other parts of Faery is made of just pure amazement.
     Ash and Puck gain some unlikely companions in this book on their quest for Ash's soul. I am not at liberty to say, so you should go read it and find out! Seriously, go NOW!

Heist Society by: Ally Carter

Heist Society by: Ally Carter
Published: February 9, 2010
Publisher: Hyperion Books CH
Page Count: 287
Format: ebook
Series: Heist Society #1
Buy the Book: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

My Review:

    I am always on the  hunt for books that involve some type of edgy female heroine. This one came highly recommended, as Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series is still going strong and amazing.
   Katarina was so amazingly skilled in the art of thievery. She knew what to look for and when something was out of place. Being at a boarding school set her back a bit in the business and now she is kind of out of the loop.
   W.W. Hale the Fifth, Hale for short, bails her out of the school. The reason? Several extremely valuable paintings were stolen from the big bad Arturo Taccone and he wants them back, ASAP. Kat's father is who he suspects is behind the theft, putting him in danger.
   Kat and Hale have such great chemistry. It was humorous and contridictory to read. Kat seemed reluctant to ignite any flame between the two of them, but at the same time, I knew she longed to. Her determination was flawless, she knew what had to be done and wouldn't distract herself. This was her dad's life they were fighting for.
   The gang of thieves all either still in their teens, younger, or early adults, are a really talented and exciting bunch of kids. They all know eachother well, as they have been on missions and training with eachother over the years.
   A plan is formulated by Kat and Hale and the others that they need to follow through and complete in order to clear Kat's father's name. It is an intricate plan, only successful if everyone plays their part correctly. I must say, this was my favorite part of the book, them acting out the plan. It was so great to concentrate on and suspenseful at the same time.
   A romance slowly begins to develop between Kat and Hale, and I think they are perfect for eachother. He is very protective of her, which I think she probably hates because she can take care of herself. And she would never let anything happen to him either.
   This all mashed up together made for an al-fantastic, suspenseful, edgy, and all-out fantastic read!

Inheritance by: Christopher Paolini

Inheritance by: Christopher Paolini
Published: November 8th, 2011
Publisher: Random House
Page count: 880
Format: hardcover
Series: Inheritance cycle #4
Buy the book: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

Not so very long ago, Eragon—Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider—was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders.

Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances.

The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost?

This is the much-anticipated, astonishing conclusion to the worldwide bestselling Inheritance cycle.

My Review:

       This last, long-awaited book in Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle was the perfect conclusion to a classic series that will never be forgotten. Honestly, I couldn’t put the book down—from its complex and still-developing characters to its intense and gripping plot with plenty of gore to go around, it was an enticing story that had dozens of plot twists and tied up all the loose ends. The building suspense to the climax of the entire series was almost unbearable but definitely paid off, and I was completely blown away by the unpredictable yet unforgettable ending. I’ve been so pleased with the entire cycle, and I’m utterly astounded by Paolini’s characterization, plot, and vocabulary, all tied together in a well-planned, thick, and complex cycle. I’ve never read a series like it, and it would take a lot to top his stories. While this book would not come recommended to anyone who has not read the first 3 books—read those first, it’s worth it!—I positively beg you to try his books out. They are well worth your time.

Forbidden by: Tabitha Suzuma

Forbidden by: Tabitha Suzuma
Published: June 28, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Page Count: 464
Format: ebook
Series: None
Buy the Book: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives--and the way they understand each other so completely--has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending.

My Review:

    How do I start this?
  
   Let me begin by saying what I was feeling during the first couple chapters and even before I began the book. The idea of a brother and sister having an intimate relationship was repulsing and creepy, and I had never heard of a book revolving around such disgusting nonsense. At the same time I figured there had to be some reason that Hyperion published it, right? So, I decided that giving it a chance was the best thing to do because if I didn't, it would be nagging at me until I did.
   I will analyze this book thouroughly and as best I can.
    The beginning and the first few chapters seemed pretty normal and somewhat slowgoing. I was paying special attention to the character development of Maya and Lochan, however, which made it interesting to read.
   They are basically homemakers all by themselves. Their mom still acts like an irresponsible teenager and they are always fighting to try and not have their younger siblings picked up by child services. The way it switches percspectives helped me in feeling exactly what the two of them were going through.
   Their more intimate relationship developed both slowly and suddenly. It took them both by surprise, like they had been denying there was ever anything more than family between them. They were utterly confused. It didn't make sense that they should feel anything more than a familial bond. It weighs on them so much, what they have started to realize and what refused to be ignored. They were in love and could tell no one. Anyone who knew would judge them automatically as being sick and perversed for even entertaining the idea.
   Both Maya and Lochan were tearing themselves apart, thinking there was something wrong with them. Surprisingly, in the middle of the book, I felt like yelling in there faces that there was absiolutely nothing wrong with them, that they were really and impossibly in love.
   This book taught me an important life lesson. A lot of the time, I judge people or situations automatically after acknowledging them. Now, if ever I hear about a situation like the one in this book or a simple news story, I will not judge the people involved or begin to assume anything about them or their situation. Thanks, Tabitha Suzuma, for teaching this to me and your other readers.
     I must praise Tabitha Suzuma on writing this novel so artfully. If anyone had to write a book on the very controversial subject of incest, she was the one for it.

The Near Witch by: Victoria Schwab

The Near Witch by: Victoria Schwab
Published: August 11, 2011
Publisher: Hyperion Books CH
Page Count: 282
Format: ebook
Series: None
Buy the Book: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

 If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. 

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

 But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

My Review:

     This book started off with Lexi seeing something strange outside her bedroom window, which I must say, was one of the best ways to hook me onto a mystery book. Instantly, a thousand questions sparked in my head and I just had to keep going at a rapid rate!
     The place where the main character, Lexi, lives is called Near but she doesn't live in the town, per say, more like the edge of it. The way she describes the moor seemed directly parallel to the mystery, in a way. The wind whispered over the hills and Lexi had something of a sixth sense to listen to it and hear its beckoning call.  That was a creepy element that I got all jittery about, which, of course, made it so much better!
     Lexi was so independent and determined to find out who or what was causing the children to go missing. She would stop at nothing, despite the how persistent everyone around her was that she shouldn't pursue something so dangerous.
     Then Cole enters the story. Really, that boy could be a mystery novel in himself. The way he spoke and held himself was intriguing to behold. There seemed to be an alternate meaning behind everything he said, always something hinting at his troubled past. He and Lexi pair up to set things right in Near and  as they delve deeper into the mystery surrounding the town, there relationship blossoms into romance at the same rate. The romance and mystery kind of intertwine into a really exciting relationship between Cole and Lexi.
    I kind of predicted some of what happened in the middle of the book, but it didn't lessen the amazement I felt when I read how it all played out. This book comes highly recommended from me, as it is a rare occurrence of jitter-inducing, creepy, romantic, gritty mystery in Young Adult literature.
   
    

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by: Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by: Laini Taylor
Published: September 27, 2011
Publisher: Little Brown
Page Count: 418 (324 on Nook)
Format: ebook
Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1
Buy the Book: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

My Review:

    I think it is beyond safe to say that this book makes my top five list of books for 2011. I kept sapping up the goodness of this book, I hardly realized I was speeding through it so fast!
   The books initial setting is in Prague, which is so awesome! I've never read a book set in such a place and it was amazing to read about it. This is only part of what hooked me from the beginning. Karou has blue hair that grows out of her head that way; awesome!
   The way Laini wrote this story really made me feel like I was watching it happen, which helped me envision the events of the story so much better. Questions blew up in my mind pretty much after the second chapter. Karou is my new favorite character name, I think. It will always remind me of how strong and resourceful she was, yet at the same time, she was concealing an emptiness inside her that no one and nothing ever seemed able to fill. She longed to know her own self, saddened that her only parent, Brimstone, wouldn't even allow her that truth. Towards the end, however, I come to admire Brimstone as one of my favorite pupils in the story.
   When Akiva enters the story, I basically knew that he was going to be the one to rid Karou of her loneliness. Still, when they met for the first time, it was amazing to behold. It was one of those moments when I saw myself three years into the future when the series has progressed a lot, and I would look back to the first book and think "Wow. They really didn't know what they were in for."
   The flashbacks to Madrigal's time kind of confused me at first, only because they were so much longer than usual flashbacks are in books. Then I began to realize what was going to happen and it made sense. The flashbacks helped me understand a lot and it was cool to see how the world of Elsewhere was outside of Karou's previous knowledge.
   I'm pretty sure I teared up a few times in this book, to be honest. There was so much deep, heavy emotion in parts and I had connected to the characters so well that I couldn't help it.

 

Catching Fire by: Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by: Suzanne Collins
Published: September 1, 2009
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Page Count: 391
Format: Hardcover
Series: Hunger Games #2

Summary from Amazon:

Every year in Panem, the dystopic nation that exists where the U.S. used to be, the Capitol holds a televised tournament in which two teen "tributes" from each of the surrounding districts fight a gruesome battle to the death. In The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, the tributes from impoverished District Twelve, thwarted the Gamemakers, forcing them to let both teens survive. In this rabidly anticipated sequel, Katniss, again the narrator, returns home to find herself more the center of attention than ever. The sinister President Snow surprises her with a visit, and Katniss’s fear when Snow meets with her alone is both palpable and justified. Catching Fire is divided into three parts: Katniss and Peeta’s mandatory Victory Tour through the districts, preparations for the 75th Annual Hunger Games, and a truncated version of the Games themselves. Slower paced than its predecessor, this sequel explores the nation of Panem: its power structure, rumors of a secret district, and a spreading rebellion, ignited by Katniss and Peeta’s subversive victory. Katniss also deepens as a character. Though initially bewildered by the attention paid to her, she comes almost to embrace her status as the rebels’ symbolic leader. Though more of the story takes place outside the arena than within, this sequel has enough action to please Hunger Games fans and leaves enough questions tantalizingly unanswered for readers to be desperate for the next installment.

My Review:

   I don't know what possessed me to procrastinate in reading this book! It had been sitting on my shelf for like a year. Perhaps I just didn't want the series to be over so fast. At least now I can get right into Mockingjay, because boy, that was some cliffhanger!
  Catching Fire started off a bit slow for me but at about the second or third chapter, it abrubtly caught me on and wouldn't let me go til the end. There is definitely a lot more mystery and wonder in this book than the first. The Capital just seems relentless and  won't let Katniss have the moment of peace she so rightly deserves. She thought that maybe the publicity would die down after the Victory Tour, but President Snow always has some evil plan up his sleeves, it seems.
  There wasn't much Gale in this book, possibly even less than the first, which kind of upset me at first but then I got so wrapped up in the action that Gale didn't even cross my mind much. Just by the ending, I could tell that he is going to be in Mockingjay a fair amount, which made me feel better.
  We meet a lot of the previous Hunger Games victors in this book and that was exciting for me. Some of them were on drugs or drinking like Haymitch and that made me further understand the toll that the Games take on the tributes. But a lot of them like Finnick Odair and Johanna Mason are still young and strong.
  Katniss makes the transition in this book from fighting her own survival as she did in the Games to fighting for everyone elses. She thinks that no one else should suffer from the repurcussions of both Peeta and her winning the previous year. I admire the way she thinks so selflessly like that. I wonder if she would have known what an effect her and Peeta's winning would be on Panem, if she would have let herself survive. I hope so. Because the ending was so plain and simple yet so dangerously hinting at the plot for the last book.

 
  

Open Minds by: Susan Kaye Quinn

Open Minds by: Susan Kaye Quinn
Published: November 1, 2011
Publisher: Self-Published
Page Count: 326
Format: Signed paperback
Series: #1 in Mindjack series
Buy the Book: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

 When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.

Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can’t read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can’t be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf’s mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she’s dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her.

“Quinn has created an intensely dangerous world both inside the minds of her characters and outside–a world that left me asking myself questions I would never have asked before. When you can literally control the thoughts of others, how far will you go?” — Michelle Davidson Argyle, Author of Monarch and Cinders

My Review:

      Before I begin, let me thank Susan Quinn for giving away a copy of her book and Amanda at Letters Inside Out for hosting the giveaway. It was the first giveaway I won as a book blogger!
      This book was probably one of the most impressive displays of world building I have ever experienced. The book was set in Chicago New Metro, which seemed to me to be the futuristic version of the Chicago we know now. There were a lot of elements that had been changed, which,  being a lover of dystopian, I enjoyed reading a lot. For example, people drove hydro cars that had to be charged instead of gassed. All of that futuristic stuff really helped me visualize this new version of the world we know.
     I've read a couple books about people who can read minds being separated from society for that, so a book about everyone who can read minds except for one girl, Kira, was quite an amazing new take on things.
    As Kira goes through the process of realizing she is a jacker, I began to really admire her character because once she finds out about the Clan and their plans, she instantly thinks about all the people she would be hurting if she told anyone that she is a jacker. She has limitless care for everyone she cares about and sometimes people she hardly knows.
   Kira goes through such a transformation in such a short time, I had to wonder if her head would just explode right there! She discovers so many things about herself and uncovers truths about her family. Beyond being a dystopian story, it was kind of contemporary in the sense that she grew to become not neccesarily the person she wanted to, but a person her parents and she can be proud of. She shows remarkable courage at the end, however, and with the great first person point of view, I was really able to get into her head and connect with her as a reader.

    
    
 

City of Ashes by: Cassandra Clare

City of Ashes by: Cassandra Clare
Published: March 25th 2008
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Format: Hardcover/soft cover/eBook
Page count: 464
Series: #2 in Mortal Instruments Series
Buy the book:

Summary from Goodreads:

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father. To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father? In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.

My Review:

For anyone who has read City of Ashes, this review probably isn't needed--you'll already be running toward the nearest bookstore looking for it, dying to have some answers. Although this book presents just as many questions as it does answers (if not more so), its complex storyline, characters, and concepts are enough to keep readers coming back for more every time, and City of Ashes is no exception to the series so far.

I don't feel compelled to retell the summary (above), so let me tell you this much: the constant mystery, suspense, and curveballs of the plot will leave readers gasping for breath by the end; and trust me, Cassandra never lets up. As innovative as the series is in and of itself, it's hard to believe she could take anyone by surprise, but she does so. How difficult it is not to include any spoilers! Anyhow, the development of the characters is amazing, and continues to leave me falling in love with each and every one of them. Clary is still struggling with her romance, and it takes several dark turns throughout Cassandra's breathtaking tale. Still, she does not overdo it as she takes us dozens of places, each drawing us in more in its intrigue, fantasy, and yet touch of realism than the last.

In all, it's an incredible story of mystery, fantasy, darkness, demons, and Hope that comes recommended to every reader. And for those who have not yet read City of Bones: What are you waiting for??

Note: It has been rated 4 stars instead of 5 only for its length--as difficult as I know it is for an author to cut out any word, page, or scene, I think it could've used a *bit* more editing. However, this can be overlooked for its amazing plot and characters, and does not affect my recommendation whatsoever.

Wicked Lovely by: Melissa Marr

Wicked Lovely by: Melissa Marr
Published: June 17, 2007
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 328
Format: Paperback
Series: Wicked Lovely Series #1
Buy the Book: Amazon

Summary from HarperTeen:

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

Faerie intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning 21^st century faery tale.

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My Review:

      I was excited about starting this series from the get-go. After finishing the Iron Fey series by: Julie Kagawa, I needed to get started on some more faery stuff! This seemed like the perfect solution, and I had heard lots of marvelous things about this series beforehand. And now I have my own marvelous things to say about it!
    Aislinn's ability to see faeries is apparent on the first pages of the book, which I liked. It automatically hooked me onto something unique about Aislinn's character. She seemed pretty smart about avoiding the faeries, until she met Keenan.
    It seems like Keenan has real feelings for Aislinn, but he also talks about courting her like it is a duty he has to fulfill, all business. It confused me a bit at first as to where his true feelings lay. As for Aislinn, she seemed to be constantly swallowing her feelings for him, no matter that they always came back up eventually. This definitely qualifies as an potential love triangle because of her blossoming relationship with Seth, that she isn't ashamed of.
     Seth was one of those eccentric people who seemed a bit off to me at first but I came to love him a lot. His eccentricity, I found, was what really made him different and compatible with Aislinn and her Sight. The fact that he lives in train cars was so cool and mystic to me!
    My favorite character that I really connected with and understood was Donia. She was in so much pain all the time and she brushed it off knowing that she must fulfill the vow she took when she took on the Winter Queen's chill, all because she loved Keenan that much. She seemed to be just hanging on all through the book until the end, not recognized or credited enough for the risks she took and the love she still secretly held for Keenan.

    The book in all was awesome. It was paranormal fantasy but there was a lot of interpersonal things going on too that would be found in a contemporary novel. The perfect balance. Now my desire to read Ink Exchange has peaked again writing this review!