Book Review: Lords of Misrule

Lords of Misrule by Rachel Caine

Thoughts: Don’t even attempt to start this series with this book. I think you would be so confused you wouldn’t know what to do. This isn’t my favorite book in this series – but I am hooked and want to see where things end up. So I am stuck continuing. Overall the series is an interesting one. A town where it is run by vampires. Which in itself isn’t a good thing but at least they follow the rules. Then bring in an outside vampire who wants to take it all over and the rules go out the window.

The series is interesting but it really requires you to remember a lot of what happened in previous books in order to get into the story and enjoy it.

What genre would you consider this?
Teen Paranormal


Overall:

Book Review: Evermore

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Thoughts:
Ever since she was in an accident that left all of her family dead Ever Bloom has been able to see dead people and know what has been going on in people’s lives. And that leads to an interesting book. You find out about Damen this new kid at her school who she doesn’t really know what is going on with.

I really liked this book and plan on following this series for a while. I thought it was a great book in another Teen Vampire Series (that has seemed to become all the rage). It is different. It deals with soul mates (which I think teens really enjoy – knowing that someone is out there for you and only you). And the power that Ever has but doesn’t know it is spectacular. I can’t wait to see where this one leads us.

What genre would you consider this?
Teen Paranormal

Overall:

Book Review: Fragile Eternity

Fragile Eternity (Sequel to Wicked Lovely) by Melissa Marr

Description: Aislinn is queen and that means that she has to spend time with her faerie king - Keenan. But her mortail love Seth is having problems dealing with Aislinn's double life. She wants to hate Keenan but she can't. Both for her people and just in general.

Can Seth figure out how to fit in her world without destroying himself? Is it worth it to be part of Aislinn's world?

Thoughts: Do I love this series? I don't know. For me at times it seems a bit slow. In the end though I end up happy with how things have progressed and want to keep reading. Everyone in this books seems to want to be with someone that they shouldn't. Whether it is romanticly or just because. And while that is good - I just don't see where it is all leading. There isn't really an overarching plotline other than the need to see where all these relationships are leading and moving together.

Again something I would continue reading (at least for a while). But not something I put on the top of my can't wait for list.

What genre would you consider this?
Teen Paranormal

Overall:

Book Review: The Awakening

The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

Description:Chloe has been captured by the Edison Group. She wants to know why they seem to be after her and her friends with special abilities. (Chloe can raise the dead and speak to ghosts - she is a necromancer). Her getting captured means two things - an opportunity to find out what is really going on and an opportunity to get back and save her friends.

Simon has always liked Chloe and he is protected by his werewolf brother Derek. Derek seems to not appreciate Chloe but will do anything to protect her. Add to that the complication of someone who seems like a friend who isn't and maybe someone who doesn't seem like a friend truely being one.

They need to escape the Edison Group and stay together. But is that possible? Why are they really here?


Thoughts: I had forgotten how much I liked this series until I picked up this book and started reading. The characters are great and not your normal run of the mill story line. I have my very own suspicions as to who is supposed to end up with who. Who is good and who is bad. And all of those kinda thoughts show me what a good book that this is.

It definitely is appropriate for teens. Other than the paranormal twist there is no sex - some limited violence (but not graphic).

In fact I like this teen series even better than Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld series. And I always thought that was good.

What genre would you consider this?
Teen/Paranormal

Overall:

Book Review: The Princess Plot

The Princess Plot by Kirsten Boie

Description: Jenna is used to being the ugly girl on the block. She has a mother who is way to overprotective and doesn't let her do anything. Then a movie role comes up where she can go to a foreign country and play a princess. And wonders of all wonders - she gets the part.

So off she goes to Scandia. What Jenna doesn't know is that the countries princess is missing (and Jenna looks surprisingly like her). Imagine that when she realizes that they don't just want her for a movie role but for soemthing way more dangerous. Can Jenna get herself out of the sticky suituation she is in?

Thoughts: Generally I don't feel this way - but when reading this book I felt I was too old to enjoy it. I had been wondering if I would find the fact that it is translated to be an issues (sometimes the translation leaves a bit to be desired) and maybe the cultural differences is what gave me the biggest problem.

I really just couldn't get over the fact that a 14 year old girl decided to be in a movie, had a movie producer supposedly call her mother, and her overprotective mother just let her go. I know it was all a trick but are teen girls really that stupid? If they were I think there would be more than the already depressing number of them that disappear each day. I mean did she really believe that her normally technological unsavy mother all of a sudden learned how to text? Just in time to ignore her phone calls? It just was scary to me to believe that they could really believe that to be the truth.

The rest of the story was cute and Princess Diaries like (with a little more action) but because of the beginning I just couldn't get into the book.

What genre would you consider this?
Teen

Overall:

Book Review: City of Glass

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments)

Description: Clary has found out that her mother and her life isn't what she always believed it to be. She is a Shadowhunter with a special power. She can create new ruins with her stele. This allows her to fight the evil man that has put her mother in a coma and is trying to distroy the world - her father.

Her father started out being a good person but when his first child was born he changed. He became evil. And he took his son with him. Jace has always believed that he is evil and he is doing all he can to not be like that. Add to that his attraction for his newly found sister Clary and he can't help but thing that there is a possiblity that he cannot be good.

Valentine is now ready to declare war on all of the Glass City. The Shadowhunters cannot stop him by themselves. Can they trust Clary and Jace? What about the werewolves, vampires, and warlocks? Can they all learn to work together before Valentine wipes them all out?


Thoughts: I enjoyed this series when it first started out. I had no idea it was only going to be a trilogy - until I got to this book. Personally I would have liked to see it go on a little longer (because I both liked the series as well as because I thought there was so much thrown into the last book that I feel like things may have been a little rushed).

Overall though the series was a good series and I would recommend any of the other books as well - City of Ashes and City of Bones though it really is one of those series that I recommend starting at the beginning.

I don't want to ruin anything but I really started to wonder in this book about the relationship between Jace and Clary. I really didn't think at any point in this book that they could be brother and sister like we were led to believe. I mean they scream - soul mates. Some may feel that the way this ended was a good thing while others may feel like the ending in that particular matter was a bit of a cop out.

As a quick note - even though I think that it is almost nothing like the Harry Potter series, something about this last book reminded me of it. Maybe it was the big battle, maybe it was the evil guy, I just don't know - but it was interesting.

Another thing that I thought a good thing in this book is while it is definitely aimed at teens - other then violence there really is no sex or any sort of act that would be inappropriate. I even loved the way they inserted (even earlier in the series) a gay character who had to come out to his parents. Everyone felt the same about him- even though it was a hard and courageous thing to do.

What genre would you consider this?
Teen/Paranormal

Overall:

Book Review: Fade

Fade by Lisa McMann

Description: If Janie is around someone she can see their dreams. That has led her to her best friend and boyfriend Cabel. Cabel works for the police department undercover and Janie has begun that work as well.

The police need Janie and Cabel to figure out why they were getting calls about a teacher possibly drugging a student. This is dangerous for them both. Can they figure it out before anyone else is hurt? What does Janie's abilities mean for her future?

Thoughts: This book started out a little slow for me. When I first picked it up I was thinking how much I liked the last book. When I got started on this one - I just didn't remember what it was. But eventually it did progress to the part where I remembered what I liked and liked this one as well.

The best part of this book though is the digging in to what being a dreamcatcher is. What are the good things and what are the bad. They are answered and it makes you wonder if Janie is strong enough to deal with those things. Sometimes to help others means bad things for yourself.

What genre would you consider this?
Teen

Overall:

Book Review: Lovestruck Summer

Lovestruck Summer By Melissa Walker
Description:Priscilla "Quinn" likes being the alternate girl. She thrives being the girl with the blue short hair that loves bands and alternative music. When an opportunity comes up to go work for her favorite bands music label she jumps on it. Even if she is only 18 years old. So off she goes to Texas to live with her cousin "Party Penny". Penny is everything that Quinn hates - pink, bubbly, and a sorority girl. When Quinn meets the guy of her dreams - Sebastian she thinks her summer is made. But why can she not stop thinking about her cousin's friend Russ.

Russ is exactly what Quinn thinks she doesn't want. I mean he likes country music. Can Quinn get past her own reservations and preconceived notions about what people are like? Will that help her really enjoy her summer?

Thoughts: What can I say - I love Melissa Walker. I loved all of her Violet books (Violet in Private, Violet by Design, and Violet on the Runway). Melissa has been kind enough to stop by a Blog of Books and give both an interview and guest post. And based on the response that I have gotten - more people then just me love her.

For me this was a classic Melissa Walker book. Lighthearted and fun but with a lesson in it that isn't preachy. Do we sometimes get so focused on who we want to be (or think we should be) that we start to close ourselves off to new experiences and people? Add to that a romance with a couple boys and a girls first adventure out on her own and you have a great entertaining book. While I know it is geared towards the 14 year old (and up) set - for me this book is something anyone who likes teen lit - would like.

I look forward to reading more of Melissa Walker in the future!

What genre would you consider this?
Teen Romance

Overall:

Need

Need by Carrie Jones

What was this book about?

Zara watched her father die of a heart attack. Being left behind when someone you love dies almost killed her. She was so depressed that her mother sent her to live with her step-grandmother in Maine. What kid wants to go live in Maine? It was cold and all of a sudden she was the new kid in school.

Something odd is happening in this small town in Maine. Boys have begun to disappear. It had happened years before where none of them were found again. There is a strange man that keeps appearing before Zara and seems to want something from her. Is she in danger?

Zara is also trying to deal with the things every kid does – fitting in at school and finding friends.

What did you think about the book?

This was a great book. I love it. I don’t know if this is the first in a series or a single book (it does have a rather complete ending so it could be either). I like it enough that I even tried to find out and the answer is…I don’t know.

Anyways this book was great. Yes it is in the genre that is taking off – all things paranormal for teens. But it isn’t totally like anything out there that I have read. I really think my favorite part is the buildup. You spend a large part of the book not knowing if there really is just a creepy guy kidnapping young boys or if there is something supernatural going on. And if it is supernatural then what exactly is out there? How does it tie in with Zara and her friends?

For any teen (or even adult) that likes the Stephanie Meyer, Kelly Armstrong, Melissa De La Cruz and are a little tired of just reading about vampires – this is a great book for you. It has a good story that keeps you interested throughout! I know once I started it I didn’t want to put it down.

What genre would you consider this?
Teen/Paranormal

Overall:

Question for You!
Did your parents ever keep secrets from you? For your own good? If you are now a parent - do you feel differently about them now?

Feast of Fools

Feast of Fools by Rachel Caine (Morganville Vampires)

What was this book about?

Claire is still in Morganville with her friends. She is still working for Amelie on a cure for the vampires. Her parents have moved to town and now are aware of all the secrets that she was keeping from them. There is nothing she can do to stop it.

When Mr. Bishop comes to town they all know there will be trouble. Mr. Bishop is Amelie’s “father”, creator and ancestor. He brings trouble and would like nothing better for him and his minions to get their hands on Claire and her friends.

Can she stop him? Can she find the cure in time to save the vampires? Does she really even want to find the cure?

What did you think about the book?

For me this was like another chapter in the 3rd book. Yes it is its own book and it has its own mini-plot – but for me the mini plots just don’t cover enough material. Someone knew shows up – you have a secret plan to deal with it – the book ends and you know some of it but really not all that much.

But the book explained more and revealed more than it had before and I enjoyed that. I still like the series I just wish more happened before a book ended. But I guess you can’t complain that much about something like that?

What genre would you consider this?

Overall:

Question for you?
What would you do to keep your loved ones out of harms way?

Midnight Alley

Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine (The Morganville Vampires)

What was this book about?

Claire is stuck in Morganville. And when we left off in the last book she had agreed to be protected by Amelie. Amelie is powerful and has a new thing that she wants Claire to get involved with – she is to study with a vampire.

Claire has a lot going on – she only signed to protect her friends. Her roommate Michael was a ghost and is now a vampire. Her boyfriend hates his best friend Michael now because he gave in and in his mind has become evil. They all, along with Eve live in the same house.

Dead women begin showing up all over the place. They are just trying to survive and now they are being framed for murder. Add to that Claire trying to keep her secrets from her parents and even a few from her friends and things get dicey quickly.

What did you think about the book?

I enjoy these Morganville Vampire books. You really do have to start reading from the beginning of the series though. They attempt to explain what is going on but there is so much history and so much going on that you need more then they can give you. Add to that the feeling that I get that each story is less its own mini-story and instead a book in the larger picture. I get very little satisfaction in that things are resolved in these books. It doesn’t take away from the story – but everything is one big cliffhanger that takes you to the next book.

Claire is a kind a generous person who will do anything for her friends and family. I like that. Some may say she is a little naïve but when it comes down to it – she handles things the best she can and isn’t afraid to make the difficult decisions.

What genre would you consider this?
Paranormal Teen

Overall:

Question for You!
Would you give up your freedom for your friends?