The Deliverers: Sharky and the Jewel

The Deliverers: Sharky and the Jewel by Gregory S. Slomba (New Fairfield, CT, 2012). Review copy provided by author.

The accidental death of his father haunts twelve-year-old Eric Scott, and he thinks he's dreaming again when Stig, a talking owl from another world, shows up late one night. Stig wants Eric to help him on a quest to deliver the small seaside town of Calendria from a greedy pirate named Sharky.  Eric agrees, but doubts his qualifications; could he possibly be a hero? Once there, Eric discovers that delivering the town is but one of the problems he'll have to solve. With Stig and new friends Kate and an outcast dwarf named Hallo Tosis, Eric battles for Calendria--and himself!

Slomba delivers an action-packed adventure that's sure to thrill middle grade and younger readers.  Even little ones (I'm thinking first and second graders) will enjoy this tale as a read-aloud because of its magical characters (a talking owl! a conniving pirate!) and wacky humor (like the name of the dwarf) in a fascinating and well-conceived setting. In addition to the quest to save Calendria, Eric struggles to regain own confidence, making this a lovely story of self-discovery as well. Highly recommended for ages 6 to 12.

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Torn

Torn (Torn Series #1) by Ashley S. Morgan.  Reviewed from e-copy provided by author.

Isidora Rivers feels everything deeply, which helps her acting, but not her life so much. Recklessly riding her bike down the hill to school, she is nearly hit by a car driven by a hot new guy, Tristan Rhodes.  Worse, she's immediately drawn to this broody newcomer who seems to know too much about her.  Plus, he pulls her in one moment and pushes her away the next. What's a girl to do? 

With character names like Tristan and Isadora (so close to Isolde), this novel is obviously playing on the star-crossed, ill-fated love theme.  Tristan's odd familiarity and then the endless flashbacks make the reading sort of self-fulfilling, although there is a twist at the end. This may be enough to keep some readers going. For me the characters were somewhat flat and Morgan relies on telling rather than showing to demonstrate their traits.  Izzy's best friend Sarah seems to exist mainly to relay information about Izzy.  Overall, not a bad read, but not overwhelmingly good either.  Fine for ages 13 & up. Sexual situations, drugs, alcohol, language.

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Calico Joe

Calico Joe by John Grisham (NY: Doubleday, 2012). Reviewed from ARC provided by publisher.

Joe Castle was going to save the Cubs from the brink of another lackluster season. Like most boys, eleven-year-old Paul Tracey followed Joe's meteoric rise, watched him smash records every game, and thrilled to each success. He was somewhat ashamed that Joe meant a bit more to him than his own father, Warren Tracey, a pitcher for the Mets, and excitedly looked forward to seeing what would happen when his dad pitched against Joe in an upcoming home game. Little did anyone know that the clash would send vibrations throughout the baseball world, and many lives would be changed forever.

No one spins a tale like John Grisham, and his mastery is apparent in this story of baseball, life, and death. The past and present merge seamlessly as readers follow the rise of Joe Castle (aka Calico Joe because he's from the small town of Calico, Arkansas), Paul's immersion in that career and his sad life as the son of an abusive father, and the ultimate showdown that leads to Paul's estrangement from his father are only half the story, however.  The rest revolves around Paul's desire to bring closure to his dad's horrific deed--for himself, his dying father, and Joe. Baseball fans will enjoy the (fake) baseball history and game details, while the rest is good enough to sustain interest, largely because of Grisham's skills. I love baseball--and I'm a Cubs fan to boot--so this was a good pick for me.

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Interview with M. Clifford, author of Felinian

Hey everyone! Welcome to Mera’s YA Book List!

Today, we have author M. Clifford joining us for a interview. For my opinion on the first released novel in his series, Felinian, check out my review here.

Thanks for joining us, and for allowing me to interrogate (oops, I meant question) you!

On to the interrogation!

Mera:

Felinian tells the story of Katherine, a girl gifted with uncanny abilities, and nine lives. While there are a few books out on the topic of nine lives, as many people associate with cats, there aren’t many. What made you choose a topic that could be considered obscure, when placed next to the ever-present abundance of vampire, or werewolf novels?

 M:

Good question.  Mostly, I wanted to create something new.  I realize the cat woman genre has been done to some degree, but I wanted to approach the topic in a different way than my predecessors (and perhaps to raise the bar in terms of creativity).  There aren’t too many authors creating new, gothic monsters these days.  I figured it would be a challenge.  My “monster” is a high school girl.  Scary right?  Though she may seem to be the victim of unfortunate circumstances, the story will eventually reveal the dark side of the Felinian race.  I am very interested in those huge dynamic ideas being squeezed into the overstimulated, emotional mentality of a high school student.

Mera:

Felinian, which is number one in the Book of the Felinian series, is actually the 5^th installment of series. What prompted you to write this story in such a manner, with it being written out of order?

M:

Sometimes, stories are best relayed when you fast-forward to the middle and press play.  On one hand, you are missing a large portion of the overarching story.  On the other, Book Five begins the series in present day, introducing the most crucial character to the reader first.  I thought about calling FELINIAN “A New Hope”, but changed my mind at the last second (sorry for the cheesy Star Wars bit).  In the end, BOOK OF THE FELINIAN is like a three act play: four stories building the base of the mythology, then four stories increasing the tension on today’s stage, and finally four stories releasing tension and bringing overall resolution.  My hope is that people will appreciate the way it was released and will feel free to read them in order of publication date or chronologically.

Mera:

Eygptian mythology and lore plays a vital role in the lives of the characters of your novel, much more than the audience could realize by reading just this installment. Which of the many unusual Egyptian gods, or goddess would you choose to be, if you could?

M:

Hmm…didn’t see that one coming.  How about the Egyptian God of Not Procrastinating?  Don’t know if he exists.  If he does…boom.  That’s gonna be me.

Mera:

Which character in Felinian do you feel you most relate to?

M:

Not sure.  There’s a little of me in everyone.  I relate to Katherine because I also grew up in a very small, dead end neighborhood lost in a forest preserve, surrounded by married people without kids my age.  For that reason, I was cut off from making friends and often felt alienated.  Thankfully I never had to change schools like Katherine.  BUT, I mostly see myself in Boonch the cat – lying around all day, sleeping in the sunlight, and dreaming of dinnertime. 

Mera:

Have any of the characters been inspired by people you know or look up to?

M:

No, but Hector reminds me of a kid I grew up with.  Wicked smart and a great companion, but on his own planet.  Most characters in my books are a collection of multiple sources.  For example, in my novel THE BOOK, Holden is a mix of myself, my father and my brother.  That’s why I chose to give the character my own last name.

Mera:

In the novel, the idea of soulmates is introduced. What is your personal thought on the matter? Do you believe in soulmates?

M:

This may let a few people down, but I don’t.  I guess I did when I was young, but then you realize that life is less about fate and more about the individual choices we make.  That’s the interesting dichotomy for Katherine as the stories progress – this battle between her fate and her decision making.  If you believe in soulmates, right on.  Soulmates in this series represent a specific bond between a Felinian and a “mate”.  Though a Felinian has the capability to live forever if she is safe, there will only be one soulmate for her for all eternity.  You can see how that could make life difficult.

Mera:

Great answer. It would be horrible, at least for me.
Okay, let’s talk about some fun stuff!

If you could choose anyone in the world to write a book with, who would you choose and why?

M:

Joss Whedon.  He’s not a novelist, but he’s still my answer.  Why?  Because he’s awesome.  If you don’t understand, go out and rent Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  The series or the movie, doesn’t matter.  The man is a Jedi at balancing wit, drama, romance and gore (sorry for another Star Wars bit).  His timing is spot on every time.  In a perfect world, Joss and I would be best friends.  With a secret handshake and theme music and everything.

Mera:

Hilarious! Love Buffy, though I haven't seen it in years. 

Have you ever re-read a book? If so, which re-read book is your favorite?

M:

Yes, everyone should.  Typically the classics.  Which is great because they’re free in the public domain.

Mera:

Love this one! Write a haiku about your book!

M:

A girl with nine lives

Brings fear to Sleepy Hollow

Girls, hide your boyfriends.

Mera:

 Love that. I'll have to remember it!

If you could have written any book already in existence, what book would you pick?

M:

I wouldn’t.  If something strikes my fancy that much, I’ll just find a better way to write it myself.  Something that’s more me (and maybe better).  Hope that doesn’t sound arrogant or something. 

Mera:

You're hilarious! And that doesn't sound arrogant at all!

Unfortunately, however, we’ve come to the end of this interview! Thanks so much for joining me!
One more question!

Can you tell my awesome Listers where they can find your awesome novel, as well as more information about yourself?!

M:

Thanks for having me!  Your awesome Listers can find my novel and lots of useless author garbage on my website: www.m-clifford.com.  From there, if you want up-to-date info, check out the blog that I share with my wife called “A New Impressionism”:  anewimpressionism.blogspot.com  My wife is way cooler than me, so you’ll probably like her more in the end.  I’m good with that.

Mera: Lol, thanks M.
M. Clifford's Felinian is available on Amazon. Check out the next in the series, which is already out, entitled Fertile Crescent! 

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In Which I Review... Felinian by M. Clifford

 Katherine Luna lives in Sleepy Hollow. And she is upset with her life. She is being forced to go to a different high school than all her friends, the creepy cat lady who lives in her neighborhood is getting stranger each day and she has just been humiliated at a senior party on Halloween in the worst way possible for a teenage girl. As her body suddenly begins to change in the most unexpected way, forcing all the boys to fawn over her, she is confronted with the realization that she can communicate with cats and that a mysterious man is now following her. All starts to make sense when she learns that she has become a Felinian and that she has been quickly gifted with the fabled nine-lives of a cat, tied somehow with ancient Egyptian lore, and empowered with the ability to control the passions and minds of men. As Katherine fights her lustful, Felinian nature, attempting to stop herself from stalking the boys of her school, the man stalking her begins to reveal his purpose. With the help of her neighborhood friend Hector, a boy that seems more connected to this haunted world than he lets on, Katherine tries to manage her new life and struggles to strike a balance between monster and girl, all the while hoping and wondering, will she ever be a regular girl again?

Paperback, 454 pages

Published September 10th 2011 by Independents 

  

5/5 stars

Felinian is a great book. I feel comfortable starting there. That statement is all that need be said. However, I will definitely shed light onto some of the reasons why. Felinian tells the story of Katherine Luna, a young teen starting off high school without any of her friends. Throughout the beginning of the novel Katherine seems to be just a normal girl with normal issues. She hates her school, she misses her friends, and she gets majorly embarrassed doing the beginning of her high school career. Honestly, Katherine is slightly whiny and self- absorbed, easily slipping into the "woe is me" role.

Luckily, the plot of the story is perfectly engaging. I couldn't bring myself to hate Katherine, because much of what she goes through includes those horrid teen moments that we all look back on and cringe. She has a right to be the way she is, after all she is just beginning to blossom.

This mild, slightly annoying, relatable Katherine, however is not the same girl you see as you read the last page of the novel. I like that during the story you can definitely see Katherine changing, as the environment and her instincts, steadily alter Katherine and her personality. Many books have the main protagonist suddenly realize something major about themselves which makes them change their whole attitude. Come on, does that really happen in life?

Katherine's attitude change happens slowly but steadily. As Katherine becomes a Felinian, one of the select people who has inherited the abilities of a cat, including the whole nine lives bit, she becomes what she likes to think of as a monster.

Why like this book?

There's mystery and intrigue.
There's Hector and the glimpse at what could become a love triangle in future books.
There's Nola, who is sufficiently creepy, and there are the horrific occurrences in Katherine's life that will make you cringe.

Plus, I've never seen the 9 lives tale executed in such a manner. I can say this book excited me to the fullest. It's just slightly creepy (which is all I could handle, by the way) and that makes the book all that more alluring. "New" Katherine's antics with the boys of her town made me feel sorry for her, and had me wondering what would happen next.

Bonus: References to Sleepy Hollow, the Salem Witch Trials, and Egyptian mythology = an awesome backstory.

Also, I must commend the author on the accurate portrayal of the bodily problems teen girls face, especially since M. Clifford is clearly male.

Another interesting fact is that while Felinian is the first published book in the series, it is actually part 5 of the series.  Books written "out of order" always intrigue me.Luckily, this one was successful.

I give it 5 stars!

BTW (I did a interview with the author! Check it out! )

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Graceling by Kristin Cashore- Guest Review by Leah Dewet

 Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.     When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone. 

Hardcover, 472 pages

Published October 1st 2008 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

“In a world where people born with an exceptional skill, known as a Grace, are both feared and exploited Katsa carries the burden of a skill even she despises: the Grace of killing”

An adventurous romance that had me begging for more. I had to know how it ended. Graceling is a wonderful read filled with fighting, love and a world created by a talented author. This story follows the hardship of Katsa, the girl with one blue eye and one green eye. She is feared throughout the land, trained in fighting skills no man can beat and works for a cruel king that is blinded by his greed.

Katsa is a great character. She may be feared by everyone and could kill you in  the blink of an eye but she shows how compassionate she is by helping those that can’t help themselves. She goes on rescue missions and tries to always be there for anyone who needs her.

What I really love about this story is that it isn’t one of your typical lovey-dovey type novels that concentrates mostly on the romance between characters. This book is more about the adventure and how Katsa discovers her true self. She has no interest in love but she of course falls for the man that matches her in skill and ability.

A wonderful story that made me not want to put it down. A great cast of characters throughout the book with moments of comedy and sadness. This book made me smile and loose a night of sleep. Kristin Cashore is an excellent writer and makes you believe you can actually see the characters and the scenes they play a part of.

5/5 rating from me.

This book is followed by Fire, another outstanding story set in a time before Katsa and the third installment is on its way, called Bitterblue.

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The Annihilation of Foreverland

The Annihilation of Foreverland by Tony Bertauski (Smashwords, 2011). Review copy provided by author.

The island where thirteen-year-old Danny Boy wakes up should be every boy's dream--a tropical paradise, no parents, lots of other boys around his age, and plenty of time to play video games between visits to the ultimate alternate reality world, Foreverland. They're told that the island is a rehab center, and Foreverland is key to healing their minds before they graduate.They all have sockets embedded in their foreheads for the probe needle that transports them from the torture of the Haystack into Foreverland. But Danny can't seem to remember how he got to the island or much else about his life before he arrived at the island, and he doesn't understand why one of the boys, Reed, resists entering the alternate reality of Foreverland to suffer in a cold wet cell in the Haystack. There's also the question of what happens to boys--and their sponsors--when the Chimney smokes. Then Danny meets a girl who knows Reed in Foreverland and together they unravel the reasons why Foreverland must end.

This science fiction novel is most reminiscent of Ender's Game and has the same creepy overtones of adults manipulating children for their own gain. While the plot is a bit convoluted and some aspects of Foreverland remain nebulous, the gaming and alternate reality aspects will undoubtedly appeal to sci fi fans, especially boys, while the mystery broadens the appeal to all readers. Danny is an engaging character, and Reed's dilemma renders him highly sympathetic. Recommended for ages 13 & up.  Intense and violent situations.

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Grave Mercy

Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin, #1) by Robin LaFevers (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012). Reviewed from e-ARC provided by publisher via netgalley.comnetgalley.com.

Ismae Rienne bears the mark of St. Morain, the god of death, yet her hateful father arranges a marriage for her that nearly gets her killed. Rescued by the parish priest and village herbwitch, Ismae is spirited away to a convent of nuns dedicated to St. Morain, where she is trained as an assassin. Although her first assignment hits a small snag, Ismae quickly begins her next and greater assignment in the royal court of Brittany where she poses as the cousin of one of the deceased duke's bastard sons, Gavriel Duval, to seek out and kill suspected traitors to Anne, the Duchess of Brittany.

Grave Mercy offers a unique, quasihistorical blend of action, court intrigue, and romance. The world of the convent,where Ismae is trained, remains largely undeveloped, which may disappoint some readers. LaFevers portrays the inevitable romance between Ismae and Gavriel well enough, but the court intrigue drives the story. Kindle readers, like me, might need to consult Wikipedia for a fifteenth-century political map that shows Brittany and its neighbors as this illuminates the reasons for the political plotting; the map that accompanied the e-ARC was not readable on my Kindle. Suitable for readers 13 & up.  Violence, sexual situations.

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Favorite Reads of the Month #3

Hey everyone! It's May and I'm a little late but here's favorite reads for April/ May!

 

 Mera's Favorites of April! 

So, April was a slow month for me as I was constsantly finishing up assignments for my last few weeks of the semester at school. But I did manage to read an adequate amount of books (probably 5), and I'll tell you which I liked most.

I was super stressed with school so I seemed to gravitate towards light YA reads during April. One of them was Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby. It was a cute fun fast read that I thoroughly enjoyed. It definitely made me smile. Shooting Stars is one of those books that you'd turn to when you don't feel like reading paranormal, or when you just want something sweet. Though it's a normal YA romance, Rushby managed to spice it up, which is something I really appreciated. The plot makes turns one wouldn't expect, and come on. Before this book, I have NEVER read a book about a teen paparazzo, which is what really drew me to Rushby's novel. (Check the Reviews page for my review. )

At the end of the month I began reading Reclaiming Ter Chadain by C.S. Yelle. This book is great! It's one of those books that many girls might be hesitant to pick up, but it's definitely worth the read. I loved this so much more than I hoped to. Reclaiming Ter Chadain tells the story of twin siblings, one girl and one boy, who go on an adventure to reclaim their rightful throne. This book literally had me yearning for the next in the series. I'm hoping to read it soon.

Lastly, I think I have to pick Goth Girl Rising by Barry Lyga. I really liked this book, though I didn't love it. Lyga, however, is an amazing author. His first in this series "The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, is what drew me to his writing. It's frank and there are sometimes when a male author writes a book in an alternative tone, and it just shocks you. That's how Lyga is. This book was the continuation of Fanboy and Goth Girl's relationship and lives separately, this time told from Goth Girl's perspective. I had to give this book a nod, but Lyga is more suited to writing books written in the perspective of a male character. When he does this they are phenomenal. He does deserve a round of applause for writing Goth Girl Rising, which is a good point. It shows that he stretched his limits to create something worthy in a different form than he usually does. Challenging yourself is one of the major tasks of a good author.

Kristi's Favorite!

Hey everyone! This is my favorite book that I've read in May; sorry this review is a little late, I've had some pretty wicked homework assignments lately. Okay, anyways, my favorite book of May ISSSSSS *dot dot dot* INSURGENT by Veronica Roth!!
So I'm pretty sure everyone and their brothers have heard about "Divergent," but if not, I'll give you the run-down: America=5 factions. Each faction= particular moral trait that is abided strictly. Beatrice=Tris. Tris=Abnegation (selflessness) turned Dauntless (bravery.) It's a pretty confusing concept, but Tris leaves her old faction and becomes a Dauntless trainee, fighting to stay in the initiation competition. She meets Four, whose real name I won't post to avoid any spoilers. It's a semi-romance, but mostly an action-packed slab of awesomeness.
INSURGENT is book 2 in the trilogy. It picks right up where Divergent left off, and I mean RIGHT UP, as in like five minutes later. This book seemed to drag a little bit, with about 500pages of action-stuffed WOWness, but I absolutely LOVED it!!!! I honestly cannot say very much, due to some major spoilers, but I definitely and totally recommend Divergent and Insurgent. It's worth the money to buy them because they are just fantastic! The next Hunger Games, definitely.

Nadege's Favorite Reads of April 

 I am an Indie author lover--always have been, always will be. This past month, actually, that is ALL I read. I feel like some Indies don't get the credit they deserve, but when I come across some who MUST be appraised, I'm going to preach it to the choir. But...I'm human, and I have my weaknesses, so I do indulge in un-Indie reads every now and then.

H.M. Ward. Is that enough? No? Let me elaborate--I LOVE HER! I just finished reading Satan's Stone (Demon Kissed #4) and she has yet to disappoint me. And it just gets better with every new installment! She keeps you excited, all while leaving you on the bridge between sane and completely crazy. As I wait to get my hands on 13th Prophecy, I may just go nuts!

Hm. If I had to pick another favorite, I'd pick Angel Fire. I LOVED it, but not more than the first. There was too much...background and drama, not enough...Alex. I liked that the love triangle came into play here, but it was a little too intense for me, if that makes sense. It wasn't fair. Anyway, it was still a GREAT read and L.A. Weatherly will always reserve a special spot in my heart.

R.K. Ryals--Indie author with sass! I love her writing, it's so...SPICY! Does that make sense? When her MC in Redemption is scared, so are you! And she has a way of just completely capturing a reader it's terrifying. But I love her scheming mind and the way she allows her story to unravel is AMAZING! She's an awesome person on top of that!

Read these three books and we could be friends for life. Happy reading, Listers!


Adeeb's Favorite Reads of the Month

I'm giving you guys my top 3...I'm only copying my reviews that are on my blog up here because I really don't wanna restate my opinions on them...so this might be long...
I had a really amazing reading month in April.

book 1 of April:(Legend by Marie Lu)
Another dystopian. AHHHHHH. The new trend. I must say, I'm in LOVE with dystopians. SO good. Yes, they are getting similar. I might get sick of this soon, but while it lasts, I am devouring dystopians and being addicted.

Let's get on with this review:
First of all, I adore the cover for this, but I don't understand why the girl looks Asian. I mean, she isn't described so in the book. Maybe it is the fact that the author, Marie Lu, is originally Chinese? Could it be?
Let's talk in details:
Pros:
Characters:
1-June:
I loved June. She was an amazing female protagonist. She was smart, witty, and skillful. She wasn't all powerful, nor was she all weak. She wasn't the typical female dystopian character.

2-Day:
Best way to describe Day is: BADASS. Yes, he was so freaking awesome. That's one helluva boy character. Women authors, learn from Miss Marie Lu. I'm not saying you're characters are bad, but they can be much better.

Plot:
The plot was mind-blowing. Yes, the world is a bit cliche. We've all seen people controlled by the government, but this book was just different. I loved it so much. I was on fire. Was reading so fast. It was full of twists and turns. I cared about the characters too much I wanted to know what will happen to them, so flipping the pages was on for hours, mainly because of the magnificent writing style.
 

Cons:
There wasn't much I disliked about this book.
1-In the beginning of the book, everything was going on way too fast. It was like BAM BAM BAM BAM and I was like NOOOOOOOO that's too early to happen.
2-Hormones: You don't even know her name and you're kissing her? Seriously? Why is it in most YA books whenever a guy/girl meet, they suddenly have the urge to kiss each other. SHEESH. I know you're teens, but no teen has this strong of an urge.
Overall, I deeply enjoyed this book. It was a thrilling book. I was riding a roller coaster reading this book.
I cannot wait to read book 2

book 2 of April:(Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare)

I have book 1 and 2 already reviewed in one post so(BUT MY TOP FAVORITE IS CLOCKWORK PRINCE):
Look at those covers. They are BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL. Clockwork Angel features Will, and Clockwork Prince features Jem.

I'm gonna review these two books together. First I'm going to talk about this series in general, then I'm going to talk in details about each book.

The Infernal Devices series. That title is just powerful for some reason. It just gets to me. I don't know why. I think it's a very creative title. So this series is the prequel series to The Mortal Instrument series. Everything going on here is before Clary and Jace's story.
The titles of the books, even more haunting. Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince. Those titles alone make you start wondering what the books will be about.

I cherished the setting in this book. Its set in the early 1800s, I don't remember the actual date, but it was mentioned in the book. The setting was a great escape from books set in everyday life era. Cassandra Clare managed to vividly describe the culture and everyday activities of that time. You can't help yourself, you fall in love with the women's fluffy dresses, the men's hats. You fall in love with the places, the carriages, EVERYTHING.

The writing style is breathtaking as always. These are the fifth and sixth books of Cassandra Clare I'm reading. So yes, I know a good writing style of hers when I see it.

The characters. AHHHHHHHHHH the characters. I was extremely attached to the characters. Each and every one of them. Especially the main three: Tessa, Will, and Jem. Yes, some characters will drive you crazy. You will hate them. But they are supremely developed. You care for them. If they are sad, you are said. If they are happy, you want to laugh for them.

1-Tessa: Tessa is our protagonist. She is on a mission to find her missing brother. I personally liked Tessa. She had very ladylike qualities and was a thoughtful character.

2-Jem: Jem. Jem. Jem. The boy with white hair. The gentleman. Jem was amazing. He's how every man should be. He is kind. He is brave. He respects ladies.

3-Will: Will is the rude bad boy. The one we see a lot in lots of young adult books. The boy that girls suddenly fall for.

I think that some of the other notable characters are: Henry, Charlotte, and Magnus.

What I liked about this series is that I got to see the back stories of certain characters that appeared in The Mortal Instruments.

I think one of the best things Cassandra Clare did, was introducing us to the Shadowhunter world again. It was really great experiencing how the main character gets introduced. So, if you want to start reading a Cassandra Clare book, it doesn't matter if you start with this series or The Mortal Instruments. Do not hesitate buying this just because you haven't read The Mortal Instruments.

Clockwork Angel:

At first, it took me time to get into the setting of this book. It was weird. Not only the setting, but I don't know, it just felt like WEIRD WEIRD. If you feel this way, DO NOT put this book down. As I progressed, it got better and better. I reached a point where I thought, this SERIOUSLY cannot get any better, but it did. There were moments I was literally jaw-dropped. You have to learn one thing about Cassandra Clare's books. You don't know who will survive and who will not.

Clockwork Prince:

This is the best Cassandra Clare book published so far. EVER. I was sucked in right through the first page. I was addicted to the third person narration (I usually prefer third person). I loved the reference to classics in this book. I love how Tessa loves books. Will as well. Reminds me a lot of myself. The book is huge, but I couldn't feel it at all. I kept turning pages. Adrenaline was rushing through me. I was way too excited. Reminded me of the days I was reading Harry Potter. Near the end of the book I felt SOOOOOO shocked. I couldn't believe what was happening. My words cannot describe how great this book was. The ending killed me. It was a cliffhanger.


  ClockworkPrincess comes out in March next year. I am waiting eagerly.

book 3 of April:(Pandemonium by Lauren OLIVER):

NOTE: THIS WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ DELIRIUM

Female authors are just variant. They think differently. On another level. Look at some my favorite author names EVER: J.K. Rowling, Cassandra Clare, Suzanne Collins, etc..
Lauren Oliver is NO exception. She's officially topped my list of favorite authors. And no, I am not being sexist. There are many male authors who have breathtaking books, but books by female authors have a different touch. Their minds go on a completely different path that men can never go there. Don't get me wrong, men go different places. EPIC places, but right now, I'm just sucked into the women's imagination. I don't think this spell will leave me anytime soon.

Let me start talking this review by saying that this book feels ABSOLUTELY different from Delirium in many ways.

First of all, the setting was completely different.

This time, Lena is in the Wilds. She's living elsewhere, with a completely new life. She's in what we call "nature". She's facing problems from the freezing weather. I really loved how in this book, we got to see different types of conflicts; not only problems caused by the "perfect" society.

Second of all, the writing style stood out.

In Pandemonium, Lauren Oliver has entirely changed her writing style. She divides her chapters in a "Now" and "Then" format. Each chapter shifts accordingly. "Then" is where Delirium ended, and "Now" is a certain time in the future. This technique was pretty confusing for me in the beginning to figure out what was really going on. However, that's nothing to be worried about. Everything is perfectly explained.
Oh, and be prepared for a KILLER cliffhanger. I was annoyed because of the ONE-WORD sentence at the last page, which was the HUGEST cliffhanger, so I knew about the OMG moment. But, it doesn't matter, I was still looking forward to how the cliffhanger would come up in the story.

Thirdly, it was wonderful to get to see new characters.
I think it was well-thought out that there were bunch of new characters. New life=new characters.
Some characters bugged me. Some, I fell in love with. This made it all so realistic. The relationship between the characters were so real as if the scene were happening right in front of you.
Notable characters: Blue and Raven.

I was generally on a roller coaster while I was reading this book. I read this book in 24 hours (maybe less). I couldn't put it down. I carried it with me everywhere I went. Yes Lauren Oliver, you managed to get me break records. I haven't ever read a book that fast.
That's everything positive I have to say.

However, there were a few extra things I was expecting, but I never found them in the story.
A chapter where the time shift wraps up. Where we see what happened "Then" that "Now" is going on. Maybe we will find some of that in Requiem.
Characters from Delirium had no appearance in this book. I kept thinking, perhaps Hana will suddenly appear somewhere in this story. But no, there never was an appearance. Again, maybe, and most probably, we will get to see the characters in Requiem.
These are very minor issues, and they did not affect my reading experience. I loved this book TOO MUCH

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In Which I Review... Reclaiming Ter Chadain by C.S. Yelle

              

 “If the true bloodline does not rule Ter Chadain, the Protector shall appear and reclaim the throne for the rightful Queen.”
King Englewood reads the prophecy every day since he murdered the royal family, all of them. Or so he thought. The three year old twins escaped that night thirteen years ago, but his men are closing in to finish the job before they can turn sixteen and activate the magic spell making his worst fears a reality. A Protector in Ter Chadain and a royal heir with claims to the throne he now held.
Logan and Teah Lassain witness the violent murder of their family and narrowly escape. They now find themselves not only thrust into the revolution, but the keys to the reunification of Ter Chadain.
Bestowed with the powers and spirits of past Protectors, Logan must learn to control both before their memories destroy him. Wrenched with anger and the desire for revenge on the man responsible for decimating his life, King Englewood, Logan must keep to the path of greater good and gather support for the revolution from the dukes and duchesses of Ter Chadain.
Teah is trained by the Zele Magus, an order of sorceresses, to control and accept her newly discovered magical powers enabling her to take the throne. Struggling, she must also ask the question…what happens when there are two Protectors of Ter Chadain? Two Protectors are not foretold in the prophecies….

Paperback, 282 pages

Published March 3rd 2011

Have you ever read a book that wasn’t what you would normally read and had it subsequently shock you to the core? That is what happened to me while reading C.S. Yelle’s novel, Reclaiming Ter Chadain. When I was graciously offered this book for review, I agreed thanks to the great blurb. My initial inkling of reluctance towards this action adventure novel, however came to two points, which basically laughed in my face while challenging me to a duel.

               

               Firstly: I was worried that it would be a “boy’s book”. By that I mean that I was afraid that the book, which had a cover depicting two crossed swords, would be filled with unnecessary violence, and would completely disregard normal human interaction. You know, bloodied swords, men running from beasts, or unrealistic sorcerers casting spells that make no sense. I dreaded the possibility of it being a book where the male species seemed superior to the female while the women of the novel simply played with their hair and looked wistfully out of windows.
                 

                However, I was pleasantly surprised. The main male protagonist, Logan Lassain was without a doubt a strong character. His sister, Teah, however, was a strong character as well, which is what made the book so enjoyable.

                Secondly: I didn’t want to read a book written in the tongue of old. I wasn’t in the mood for old yore. I often find myself bored with novels that are written in the current day but use prose befitting the stories of Austen, or even written in the manner of the books of old philosophers. The main reason being that it isn’t used properly in many occasions.  Luckily, the writing in the novel was spot on and time appropriate.

                With my qualms thrown out the window at the beginning of my experience with this novel, there was nothing else to do but immerse myself in the plot. Some might call it blasphemous to compare this novel to many stories filled with an adventurous quest thought to be epic, but Reclaiming Ter Chadain is just that. This novel takes us on an epic quest to reclaim the throne that rightfully belongs to the Lassain twins, and every moment of it is a breathtaking experience.

                 

                The best way to explain the novel is as fantasy adventure. Reclaiming Ter Chadain was a book that is appropriate for people of all ages and preferences. Rarely do I recommend a book to both males and females, from early teens to older adults but this book was one that I could indeed do so for. Reading C.S. Yelle’s novel was a pleasure and I am hoping to read the second in the series soon. With its powerful ending, I can only salivate at the thought of the next in the series. Reclaiming Ter Chadain like few others has become one of those books that ended before I was ready for its departure, despite the over adequate 277 pages it harbors. As the central conflict of the novel comes to a smile inducing close, a new conflict comes into light and then… you feel that heart-wrenching pull because only then do you realize the story has nearly reached its end. Not only do you become invested in the characters and their fates, but you become invested in Ter Chadain as a whole, and that is a great feat to accomplish. The only thing left to say… Thanks you C.S. Yelle. Your imagination has provided me a new book to love. I, like the Queen’s Guard, like the Betra, like Talesaur and Sasha, am invested in the fates of both the Queen and the Protector of Ter Chadain.

                Definitely a must read.  5/5 stars

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YA Excerpt Week Winners!

Hey everyone! YA Excerpt Week is officially over and it's time for me to announce the winners of the awesome prizes that accompanied those amazing excerpts.

Read on and see if you won! If you'd like to read the excerpts just check out the giveaway tabs or the history (left sidebar) to click on the links!

Congrats to all of the winners!

I will email you all within approximately 24 hours from now to confirm addresses and prize retrieval. After I email you, you'll have 48 hours to respond, at which time I'll pick a new winner.

Okay, here goes:

For Day One, the winner of Pat McDermott's Glancing Through The Glimmer is ...

Devan K. !



For Day Two, the winner of the Jenna Kay swag is...

Carole D. !


For Day Three, the winner of  Kimberly Kinrade's Forbidden Mind is...

Crystal B. !

 

For Day Four, the winner of Brea Essex's Foreshadow is...

Monica  G. !

 

For Day Five, the winners of  the Janell Rhiannon Invisible Wings bookmarks are...

1. Yamna M.
2. Melissa M.
3. Sue

For Day Five, the winner of  Janell Rhiannon's bookmark and paperback of Invisible Wings is...

Kara G. !

For Day Six, the winner of Shelly Crane's Devour is...

Gale A. !

 Congrats! Hope you all enjoy your prizes and thanks to everyone who entered!

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Leaving Sophie Dean

Leaving Sophie Dean by Alexandra Whitaker (New York: Five Spot, 2012). Reviewed from ARC provided by publisher.

Goaded by her best friend, Valerie forces her lover Adam to choose between herself and his wife and kids. Although Adam chooses Valerie, his wife, the eponymous Sophie Dean, takes the unusual route of leaving Adam in the family home with the kids.

I was hoping this would be a kick-ass, female power novel of take it to the man, and it sort of was, but not really. There were some good laughs at Adam and Valerie's expense as they dealt with the unexpected childcare. But mainly Valerie and her best friend are plain old nasty, and Sophie is a bit too nice. Adam just doesn't seem worth any woman's bother. The kids are adorable. The ending was reasonably good, though, and not as pat as I feared it would be.  Overall, not a bad read, but not as good as I had hoped.

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Cycles

Cycles by Lois D. Brown (n.p.: Levanter Publishing, 2011). Review e-copy provided by author.

After an accident, thirteen-year-old Renee Beaumont needs a blood transfusion, which shouldn't be a big deal, but it turns out her blood is unique. Her neighbor Dr. Dawson fortunately has some blood that he claims is hers that the doctors can use to save her life, but Renee can't remember ever giving him her blood.  When she and her best friend Sam investigate, they discover a cache of blood in Dr. Dawson's lab that's all labelled with his dead daughter's name.  What does it mean that Renee's blood matches his daughter's?

This novel seemed uneven and juvenile at the beginning until I realized the characters were only thirteen!  Action, suspense, and mystery propel the story, along with supernatural and mystical elements.  Many readers will enjoy the native American (Ohone indian) spiritual elements as well. The evil villains, especially the woman, make the story seem a tad melodramatic, but overall this novel works well as a middle grade read, not YA, as it is labelled.  Recommended for ages 10 & up.

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Casey Barnes Eponymous

Casey Barnes Eponymous by E. A. Rigg (2011). Reviewed from e-book provided by author.

Sophomore Casey Barnes sees it as her mission, maybe even duty, to alleviate the misery that is high school one three-song playlist at a time.  She leaves the lists in library books for her unsuspecting victims--three perfect songs to boost them through the day.  Her killer taste in music makes her confident that her lists can make all the difference...and maybe even get her back the guy she sort of dated over the summer, Alex Deal. They have so much in common, too.  He's in a band, and she wants be a rock star.  She's got the guitar playing and song writing down, but she's not too keen on playing in public, but she will if that will help her get Alex Deal back....

Casey Barnes rocks--in all the right ways. Sharp, sarcastic, passionate, daring, slightly self-enthralled, obsessed and obsessive, yet a bit naive and vulnerable, she makes a great YA protagonist. While the plot focuses mainly on Casey's plan to get Alex Deal back (in spite of his obvious-to-the-reader flaws), Casey propels the story and makes it well worth reading, especially her supreme devotion to music and spreading the love of obscure bands to her fellow students; it's her own music ministry. She has a great cast of supporting characters, too, including her perfect (gay) older brother Yull, her best friend Leigh, the enigmatic new guy Ben (who happens to be a drummer), and the despicable Maxine French.  Highly recommended for ages 13 & up.  Language plus sex(ual situations), drugs (mentioned), and rock & roll.  Available @ Amazon!

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Goddess Interrupted

Goddess Interrupted (The Goddess Chronicles #2) by Aimee Carter (NY: Harlequin Teen, 2012). Reviewed from e-ARC provided by the publisher via netgalley.com.

Kate returns to the Underworld after her summer on the surface with James ready to be crowned Queen and live with Henry, though she feels sure he still loves Persephone.  The coronation barely begins when Henry is spirited away and an age-old rivalry between the gods and goddesses and the Titans, specifically Cronos, threatens to end everything--even the immortals! Kate is desperate to save Henry even as she doubts his love and must enlist the aid of Persephone to locate him and solve a tricky situation before she loses everything she loves, forever!

Carter spins a fine dramatic tale in this sequel to The Goddess Test. Kate's doubts about Henry, and indeed Henry's enigmatic actions, are a bit overdrawn, but seem realistic enough. The drama among the gods and goddesses, charged with ancient rivalries, spices up the plot, and the situation with Cronos adds a lot of interest and will undoubtedly draw in fans of Greek mythology.  Kate spends a bit too much time waiting around the Underworld and dithering about what she should do, which makes the cliffhanger ending a bit annoying. Her dealings with Persephone, though, add an interesting twist, as Persephone helps her understand Henry and her new goddess powers.  Kate's problems with Henry, largely due to misunderstandings and lack of communication, are somewhat overplayed, but overall, this is a solid sequel, recommended for ages 13 & up.

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Spellcaster

Spellcaster (Spellbound #2) by Cara Lynn Schultz (New York: Harlequin Teen, 2012). Reviewed from e-ARC provided by publisher via netgalley.com.

Spellcaster picks up where Spellbound left off.  Emma and Brandon are blissfully in love and all seems perfect.  They successfully defeated the evil spell that had doomed their love for centuries, and now Emma is coming to terms with her newfound witch powers under the tutelage of her best friend Angelique. But the power of true love attracts others who would use it for nefarious purposes, so Emma and Brandon again find themselves fighting for their love--and their lives!

In this excellent, exciting, and worthy sequel, Schultz nicely depicts the growth of Emma and Brandon's relationship beyond the initial first flush of young (though centuries old) love. The minor misunderstandings that get blown into needless drama seem all to realistic, as does the cautious exploration of passion.  And that's just the romance angle!  Angelique has a bigger role in Spellcaster as she and her sister attempt to help Emma defeat the evil transgressor whose greed for power knows no bounds.  Yes, it's as melodramatic as it sounds, but it's well done and makes for a page-turning speed read.  Highly recommended for ages 13 & up.  Sexual situations, alcohol.

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Starters

Starters by Lissa Price (NY: Delacorte Press, 2012).  Reviewed from digital ARC provided by publisher via netgalley.com.

Callie Woodland, her little brother Tyler, and their friend and former neighbor Michael are barely managing on their own.  They are Starters--anyone twenty or younger--who survived the Spore War because the government opted to inoculate only the young and the old, leaving a lot of kids with no living relatives when the war ended. Callie desperately needs money to help Tyler get medical attention, so she decides to investigate Prime Destinations, a company that implants chips in the brains of Starters so Enders (the seniors who were also inoculated and survived the war) can rent young bodies. The first two rentals go well, but the third one gets tricky when the renter, Helena, gets the chip altered so she can communicate with Callie and then tries to enlist Callie's help investigating the disappearance of her granddaughter--a  situation that may call for desperate measures, even murder!  Meanwhile Callie finds herself involved romantically with Blake, the grandson of a senator who is at the center of a possible power grab.  But Blake seems to change every time Callie sees him, and the altered chip may be communicating in ways Helena and Callie hadn't foreseen....

Set in a post-war dystopic future, Starters is a riveting read with engaging characters involved in a fascinating plot. The huge divide between kids who having nothing because they had no older relatives who were inoculated and those who have everything because they had wealthy older relatives subtly critiques the current widening gap between the rich and poor, though mainly it serves to illustrate the huge difference between the hardships Callie, Tyler, Michael and other orphans suffer and the opulent lifestyle of those more fortunate, like Blake. The deviousness of Prime Destinations' manipulation of desperate children plus the possible government conspiracy to use Starters strikes a one-two punch at both corporate greed and political power broking. Lots of actions and some excellent twists at the end make Starters the page-turning dystopia no one should miss in 2012!  Highly recommended for ages 12 & up.  Violence, mild sexual situations, alcohol.

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