Upcoming Release: Shadow Bound by Rachel Vincent

Shadow Bound by Rachel Vincent

If you live in the dark long enough, you begin to forget the light…

KORI DANIELS is a shadow-walker, able to travel instantly from one shadow to another. After weeks of confinement for betraying her boss, she’s ready to break free of the Tower syndicate for good. But Jake Tower has one final job for Kori, one chance to secure freedom for herself and her sister, Kenley, even if that means taking it from someone else…

The job? Recruit Ian Holt—or kill him.

Ian’s ability to manipulate the dark has drawn interest from every syndicate in the world, most notably an invitation from Jake Tower. Though he has no interest in organized crime, Ian accepts the invite, because he’s on a mission of his own.

Ian has come to kill Tower’s top Binder: Kori’s little sister.

Amid the tangle of lies, an unexpected thread of truth connecting Ian and Kori comes to light. But with opposing goals, they’ll have to choose between love and liberty….

Available May 22, 2012 in the US and Canada.

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Books A Million / Indie Bound

Book Review : The Goddess Test by Aimée Carter

The Goddess Test (Goddess Test, #1) by Aimee Carter

Paperback, 304 pages

Published April 19th 2011 by Harlequin

Synopsis

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, no 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 pass 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 suceeds, she'll become Henry's future bride and a goddess.

IF SHE FAILS...

Review 

Pros:  

1. It's based on Greek mythology, and the idea of the story itself is charming. 
2. Our heroine is not a wimpy, weak girl; she's loaded with spunk and a strong sense of justice, although sometimes she may think of others too much and blames herself for whatever bad things that happen. 
3. The author's writing has a great flow and the story is suitably paced. I felt myself skimming through the pages without any sense of time.
4. I admired the gorgeous cover and the beautiful font choice more than once. ♥

Cons:

1. I knew something was up with Kate's mom from the beginning of the novel and I suspected her true identity all along. The author made it so obvious that mummy has something to do with the mansion Henry lives in.
2. Kate is a loner who tend to distance herself from everyone. She has zero (mortal) friends. Which is sort of pathetic. She is not a bright person, by the way.
3. The sucky ending. It is incoherent with the rest of the novel. Long story short, it's just plain weird.

Bottomline:

It is true that Aimee Carter's writing style is great, and the storyline is somewhat unique. But, the twist at the end of the story is ridiculous - it feels like the author couldn't come up with enough characters so she just threw in whatever character she could think of and these people were automatically exalted to the status of immortal beings.

Rating:

About The Author

 

Aimée Carter was born and raised in Michigan, where she currently resides. Her first novel for young adults, THE GODDESS TEST, was published by Harlequin Teen on April 19th, 2011. The sequel, GODDESS INTERRUPTED, followed in January 2012.  Find her on Twitter at @aimee_carter.

Book Review : Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin (Author) & Lisa Brown (Illustrator)

Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin (Author), Lisa Brown (Illustrator)

Published February 1st 2012 by Sourcebooks, Incorporated
Paperback, 272 pages
Available on Amazon | The Book Depository | Sourcebooks

Jennie feels the tingling presence of something unnatural in the house now that Will is dead.

Her heart aches without him, and she still doesn't know how he really died. It seems that everywhere she turns, someone is hiding yet another clue. As Jennie seeks the truth, she finds herself drawn ever deeper into a series of tricks and lies, secrets and betrayals, and begins to wonder if she had every really known Will at all.

Picture The Dead is a charming gothic ghost story which incorporates elements of suspense, mystery and paranormal. Each chapter is ended with detailed illustrations which reflects the bits and pieces of Jennie's scrapbook. The overall design of the book is very eye-catching and special. However, I don't feel particularly spooked or frightened by the story.

Jennie is a likeable heroine. She has just lost her beloved Will in a battlefield, and her heart aches for him, but be that as it may, she is still a normal girl who craves for love and attention. So when Quinn (Will's brother) expresses his love for her, her heart starts to flutter. She considers of letting go of Will and try focusing her life in a new direction.

However, when strange things begin to happen in the Pritchett household, Jennie fears that Will's spirit is angry and unforgiving. But then, she also discovers various clues in different forms, which arouses her suspicion about things that happen around her.

The author's command of language is rather impressive. Her writing style is distinctive and descriptive, her words significant yet easy to understand, gives the reader a better perceptive of what is happening at an exact moment. The historical background of the story is quite refreshing - it is set during the period of the Civil War in America, when spiritualism is starting to take hold of the society.

I liked how the story turned out in the end. It was really unforeseen that I would heartily applaud the author's way of turning the direction of the novel. Clues are thrown in bit by bit, but I never thought of the possibilities that there is a secret behind Will's death.

Picture The Dead is a quick, enjoyable read, but it is not as creepy and haunting as I'd expected. I'd say this book is more suitable for middle graders, but if you're a teen or adult who likes ghost stories, then by all means pick it up. ;)

Rating:

ADELE GRIFFIN has written a number of novels for middle grade and young adult readers, including the Witch Twins and Vampire Island series, as well as the novels Sons of Liberty and Where I Want to Be, both National Book Award Finalists. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, New York.

Visit the Official Website for Picture The Dead for more details.

Book Review : Angelfire (ARC) by Courtney Allison Moulton

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Hardcover, 453 pages

Published February 15th 2011 by HarperCollins / Katherine Tegen Books
Available on Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

Synopsis

First there are nightmares.
Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.

Then come the memories.
When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.

Now she must hunt.
Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.

Review

Ellie is a typical seventeen-year-old teenage girl. Well, that part is true until she meets Will, a handsome stranger whose face looks strangely familiar to her. Turns out, Will is her Guardian, and Ellie is the Preliator, a being destined to fight evil to prevent the Apocalypse and save humanity.

The concept of Angelfire isn't new to me, as angel-themed books, both fallen angels and vice versa, have been flooding the YA market since the birth of Hush, Hush (which I loved) and Fallen (which I despised). The novel, which spans a thickness of 453 pages, is actually a bit too long for me. I think some of the parts can be omitted as they are not really needed in the novel.

Something I want to comment is the romance between Ellie and Will. I don't really feel the chemistry between them. Sure, they have been partners for many times in the last 500 years, and Will has sworn to protect Ellie with his life, but I just don't feel their immense love for each other.

Angelfire has lots of kick-ass fighting scenes, in which Ellie and Will battle the evil reapers - monsters which consume human's flesh and soul. Ellie and Will, along with fellow angelic reaper Nathaniel, plan to throw the locked-up-in-a-sarcophagus Enshi, or the giver and taker of life, overboard into the depths of the deep blue sea so that Bastian and his thugs cannot get their hands on the ancient evil that is sealed within and trigger the Apocalypse.

Angelfire is action-packed, and I'm sure those who love a butt-kicking heroine would greatly appreciate this novel. The ending, though a little anti-climatic, will leave you in awe with The Preliator. That is, if she is in a movie with cool music playing in the background.

Notable Quotes:

“I guess it's true that love makes you blind."
"No," my mom said. "It doesn't make you blind. You're very, very aware of everything about the one you truly love, whether you know it from what your eyes tell you or your heart. So no, love doesn't make you blind. It paralyzes you until you can't breathe or run away from it.”

Rating:

About The Author

Courtney Allison Moulton lives in Michigan, where she is a photographer and spends all her free time riding and showing horses. She has always loved reading about ancient mythologies, dead languages, and telling scary, romantic stories. ANGELFIRE is her debut novel. For more information about Courtney, visit her online at www.courtneyallisonmoulton.com.

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Book Review : The Secret of Spruce Knoll by Heather McCorkle

The Secret of Spruce Knoll by Heather McCorkle

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Compass Press (November 11, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0984786309
• ISBN-13: 978-0984786305
• Available on: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

Synopsis

It's hard enough being a teenager under normal circumstances; imagine being orphaned, sent to live with an unfamiliar aunt-and learning that there really is magic in the world. Following the tragic death of her parents, Eren Donovan moves to Spruce Knoll to live with her aunt. Little does Eren know the entire town of Spruce Knoll is filled with so-called "channelers"-a magical group of people who immigrated to the small Colorado town when they were driven out of their own lands.

Channelers are tied to the fate of the world. As the world slowly dies, so do they-and they alone have the power to stop the destruction of Earth. Now, Eren learns she not only lives among them, but she is one. When she meets local boy Aiden, his charming tricks show her being a channeler isn't all bad; in fact, it's kind of cool. But is it Aiden's abilities or Aiden's looks that Eren finds so fascinating?

As Eren and Aiden's relationship blooms, so too does a mystery in Spruce Knoll. The town holds many secrets-and many enemies. It soon becomes apparent that the untimely death of Eren's parents was no accident and that her life might be in danger, too. Only time will tell if young, inexperienced Eren has the power to protect the people she has come to love.

Review

Being the first book in the Channeler series by debut author Heather McCorkle, The Secret of Spruce Knoll presents readers with a refreshingly new type of paranormal - one that concerns the Earth and its inhabitants - a magical group of people called "channelers".

In this novel, our protagonist Eren Donovan is a teenager who has recently lost her parents. She has no other choice but to move to a place called Spruce Knoll to live with her aunt. As she learns about her heritage and the different societies in the said community, she discovers that she is also one of the people with magical abilities, and that comes as both a surprise and a shock.

When she encounters a good-looking young man called Aiden, she realizes that being a channeler isn't too bad after all. It is later revealed that Aiden is an orphan as well, which makes Eren feel a deeper connection with him. As the story progresses, the plot thickens as well. Eren and her family members raise some suspicions about her parents' untimely death.

McCorkle captures the sweetness of Eren and Aiden's courtship, their sincere feelings for each other, and their differences, partly — but not only — because they are from different societies. Eren has been brought up in the city, and when she arrives in Spruce Knoll, the lack of "living necessities" (TV, cinema and such) surprised her to a certain degree. She is an outcast in school - almost no one wants to hang with her because of her "halfbreed" identity. As for Aiden, he is sweet and charming, but he holds a dark secret about himself. Aiden, being an Irish by birth, was adopted by a family from a different society since he was born. However, it seems that he hates it when Eren inquires about his family.

Even though this book is set in the world of adolescence, adults also play an important part - Aunt Sylvia always takes good care of Eren and is concerned of her well-being, Grandpa Zolin teaches Eren about their kind and gives her some exposure about the history of the different societies in Spruce Knoll. While being kind and loving, these adults are strict when it comes to Eren's relationship with Aiden. They young lovers are not allowed to overstep the limits of a healthy relationship.

The Secret of Spruce Knoll is a good introduction to the Channeler series, and I'm sure it will greatly appeal to fans of paranormal and young adult novels. Albeit being a work of fiction, this novel manages to highlight the importance of conserving and preserving the Earth - which earns some extra brownie points from me. However, the part where the teens (Eren and Aiden) channel together in their birthday suits more or less freaked me out. It just doesn't sound right to me.

Rating

Note of Thanks

I would like to thank Heather for sending me a copy of this book for this review.
Thanks, Heather!

About The Author

"I am an author of young adult fantasy, in all its many sub-genres. Helping other writers and supporting fabulous authors is my passion. When I'm not writing or surfing my social networking sites, I can be found on the slopes, the hiking trails, or on horseback. As a native Oregonian, I enjoy the outdoors almost as much as the worlds I create on the pages. No need to travel to the Great Northwest though, you can find me here, on my blog four days a week, and Monday night's on Twitter where I co-moderate the #WritersRoad chat with my good friend TS Tate."

Heather McCorkle's Online Connections
Blog :: Twitter :: Goodreads :: Facebook :: Critique Sisters Corner :: Scribblerati

Book Review : Air by J.D. Richard

Air by J.D. Richard

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace; Lrg edition (November 3, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1466390514
• ISBN-13: 978-1466390515
• Available on: Amazon (Paperback) / Barnes & Noble, Diesel, Sony Reader Store, and Smashwords (E-book)
  

Synopsis

Prepare to feast your mind on the death defying, thrilling, and unexpected! Smarty and Speedy are two boys in the wrong place at the wrong time. They become the unwitting executors of a supernatural artisan's estate. Consequently, the two must flee in terror for their lives from a threat that is set upon them—which they cannot see or touch. Three years later Essie, a runaway, balks at inheriting her cousin's three-year-old son. She is sure that the way to deliverance from her drifter existence lies in attending the prestigious Mann University. Yet, the seemingly ordinary child, with an aura in the magic rings around his neck, and his insightful German shepherd protector defy that logic.

Review

Air is quite an interesting read, in which the author presents an entirely different paranormal element with skill and ease. I like how the author describes the situation when the main characters face trouble and the events which take place. However, I think some of the descriptions can be omitted, as it is not necessary for readers to know their every move.

Smarty and Speedy are two youngsters, who, I believe, will play a greater role in the second installment of this series. Though I do not understand the motive of the experiment run by Dr. Thomas Salvo which was attended by Essie and her "baby" (who is actually Juliana's son), I suspect that there might be an evil plot behind all these things. I'm curious about what would happen next. Hopefully Essie and little Henry can be safe from harm.

Air is targeted at middle grade and young adult readers. I find it quite enjoyable and easy to read with its large print. The author's use of language is excellent, and there are no mistakes in terms of grammar, spelling and sentence structure. Furthermore, the content is clean, so it would be suitable for young readers. The only drawback is that the book cover looks a little strange. It would be better if the cover has something that depicts the title or a scene in the book, such as Juliana's power releasing in the flames.

Rating:

About The Author

"In grade school my love of reading carried over to a secret resumed after 8:00pm by night light. My mother's expansive garden with every good thing from strawberries to strawberry popcorn, the rusty old station wagon that magically cranked up on frigid mornings, and looking up to the princess that fought the dark side on movie screens were further inspiration. It all helped me to see past bad days and growing pains and to strive to rise above indignities to the tune of 90th percentile SAT scores and completed undergraduate studies at Indiana University--the unintended side effect of my secret practice. "

You can buy the 99¢ ebook at Barnes & Noble, Diesel, Sony Reader Store, and Smashwords OR the large print paperback at Amazon. Visit the author's blog HERE.

Book Review : Nightshade by Maryrose Wood

Nightshade (Poison Diaries, #2)
by Maryrose Wood

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Balzer + Bray (October 25, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061802425
• ISBN-13: 978-0061802423
• Available on: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

Synopsis

Sixteen-year-old Jessamine Luxton is heartbroken. Her true love, Weed, the strange and intriguing young man who came into her life so suddenly, has disappeared.

Jessamine suspects that her own father, Thomas, may have been involved. Thomas was obsessed with poisons and discovering Weed's secret understanding of dangerous plants. This suspicion and her own growing expertise with poisons have changed her. She is no longer innocent. So when Jessamine learns that Weed is alive and in danger, she will do whatever it takes to be reunited with him, including killing whoever gets in her way.

Review

Nightshade picks up where Poison Diaries end. Now awaken, Jessamine is heartbroken to find out that Weed has left, his whereabouts unknown. Her father tells her about how Weed, feeling helpless, left her to die because he knew that he could not save her. However, Jessamine doubts her father’s words, for when she was in a delirium, the Prince of Poison, Oleander had shown her everything.

When she finds out the truth behind her mother’s death, she wants to get revenge… and no other way is better than using what she knows best: poison. After she gets a taste of revenge, she flees from the place she once called home in a quest to search for Weed. On the journey, Oleander seduces her to do bad things and causes her to degrade both mentally and morally. She changes into a whole new person: a beautiful, seductive and heartless woman called Belladonna. (Sounds familiar? Yes, that is the name of the deadly plant which her father planted in the Poison Garden.)

Weed, on the other hand, embarks on a journey to search for his beloved Jessamine, and eventually reaches Italy. He learns about a plot to overthrow the King and set the world in chaos, and he knows that the perfect medium for killing the King is poison. He is determined to stop this from happening.

In this installment, the story turns toward the dark side. It is fast-paced, gripping and infused with elements of fantasy, but there is some confusion between the narratives as the point of view shifts from Jessamine to Weed and then back again. Nightshade ends drastically, leaving readers anticipating the final book in the Poison Diaries trilogy.

Rating:

Note: I received this book as part of the Nightshade Online Book Tour program hosted by KDotOnline. Thanks to Leanne for sending me a paperback copy of this book for review.

About The Author

Maryrose Wood began writing fiction after many years performing, directing, and writing for the theater. Her novels for teen readers include The Poison Diaries, Why I Let My Hair Grow Out, and My Life: The Musical. She is also the author of a series for younger readers, The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place. You can follow her on Twitter at @Maryrose_Wood.

Nightshade is available on Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository