Captivated (An Affliction Novel) by D. Apodaca

Format: Kindle ebook
Published: June 10, 2011
Publisher: Eminent Books
Genre: YA Fantasy, Paranormal

Description:

Mindy Keenan couldn't shake the feeling that somehow...in a matter of moments...the boy she once knew was not the one standing before her.

After Mindy's childhood best friend, Dean Aiken, shuts her and everyone else out of his life, she learns to move on. Years pass and she gets used to the fact that he's no longer a part of her life, but things begin to change...

Mindy's new best friend, Markus Medina, witnesses Dean kill two people behind a club. Mindy has a hard time believing him, especially when he mentions that the bodies disappear. Poof! Into thin air. Markus decides he has to follow Dean around in order to get evidence that he's been killing people, so he doesn't sound like a nut to the police. Despite Marcus crazy theories about the possibility of Dean not being human. And not to mention the fact that he's dangerous. Mindy can't help that she may be falling in love with him.

Even after hiding their feelings for each other from the world. Dean and Mindy being together stirs up dangers that neither of them could ever imagine. When she finds out about what Dean really is and the world he tried to keep her away from...it's already too late.

Review:

I have to admit, I was initially lured in by the stunningly beautiful cover of this novel. It is haunting, beautiful, and mysterious. D. Apodaca managed to pull all of those same elements into her plot.

Main character, Mindy, is your average teenage girl until her friend Dean's parents are tragically murdered. Dean undergoes a radical transformation into a withdrawn, brooding person that Mindy no longer seems to know.

As the years pass, Mindy makes a new set of friends, continues her everyday life, and then her new best friend Markus tells her he has just witnessed Dean murder two people...and made the bodies disappear.

With this revelation, comes the question: who is Dean and WHAT has he become in the years since they were so close? In addition to this, Mindy and Dean are beginning to reconnect their friendship and the embers of their old friendship are igniting into something more serious. Mindy is falling in love with someone she isn't sure is even human.

This book was extremely good once I got into it. The beginning was a bit slow and hard to immerse myself in, but once I hit around the 50 page mark, I literally could not put it down! The action picked up, the characters' personalities form, and you start rooting for the characters and their plights and wanting to find out their fate.

One thing I really loved about this book was how the author left the mystery of Dean and the paranormal open to the reader's imagination up until the end of the book. The ending was absolutely amazing and left me speechless! Readers will immediately be wanting the sequel!

Rate: 4/5

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Crossroads by Mary Ting

Format: Hardback
Pages: 384
Published: 6th April 2011
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
Genre: YA Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

Description:
On the same night of her friend’s tragic death, Claudia Emerson encounters another world, Crossroads, through her dream. There, she learns about a mix breed of angels and humans, who possess supernatural powers. Among those with these powers, lies evil, known as the fallen. Mystified by her ability to enter this place called Crossroads, certain that the fallen will be after her, she is assigned a guardian angel named Michael. Aden, the fallen leader, is convinced that Claudia holds the key to help destroy Crossroads. Her dream becomes a nightmare as more secrets are revealed, about who she really is, and the true identities of the people she loves most.


Review:
WOW!! Seriously just WOW! Crossroads is one of those stories that you can just lose yourself in. With a gripping storyline and adorable main characters its everything that is wonderful about Young Adult Literature.

Crossroads is about 16 year old Claudia who while sleeping enters into a world called the Crossroads. There she meets Michael who has fallen in love with her before she even knew him. However, Claudia shouldn't be able to get into the Crossroads and soon everything she thought was true in life is turned upset down and she is being hunted by fallen angels.

The characters in this book are all so likeable. Claudia is really down to earth and even when faced with terrible situations she is still strong. When she meets Michael she is completely smitten. It's really easy to understand why. Even though at first Michael is rude to her. It's only because he confused about why he is feeling human emotional. You see Michael is an Alkin, half angel and half human. It's not long though until they are both madly in love and seriously the thing Michael say's to Claudia is so romantic it makes me jealous. My favourite character is another angel, Davin. He is just so funny and cute. There is just something that make you connect with him. He is just an all round nice person who is loyal to his friends.

Now the story at first was a little slow for the first couple of chapters. However, after I got into it I was completely hooked! The storyline is simply fantastic!! It's about angel but Mary has created a story that is completely different to more angel stories. She has put alot of Mythology behind her angels and it just makes the readers understand and connect easier with the characters.

Crossroads is a beautifully written debut novel that has everything you need for a outstanding read. Forbidden love, danger, angels and demons what not to love?

I just want to thank Mary for giving me this wonderful book for review. As well as the hardback book I also got a fab bag that is now my library bag and a beautiful neckless that I gave to my mum for her birthday because she loved it so much! Lol. Also stay tuned as there will be giveaway coming soon for the paperback copy of this book as well as teh bag and necklace donated by Mary.

Rate :4/5

Order your copy: Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ Mary's Site

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Guest Review: Sleight (AVRA-K #1) by Jennifer Sommersby

Format: Paperback
Pages: 316
Published March 23rd 2011
Publisher Accendo Press
Genre: YA fantasy

Description:
Her mom is dead.
Ghosts follow her around.
Her best friend is an elephant.
And she’s about to meet the biggest game changer of all: a boy. With a secret.

When circus-dwelling Gemma Flannery learns she will be attending public school for the first time in her seventeen years, little does she know that fitting in with her 12th-grade classmates will be the least of her concerns. A pro at hiding her knack for seeing the dead (“shades”), Gemma is grieving the recent suicide of her mentally ill mother, a process eased by the introduction of her first real love interest, the charming and painfully handsome Henry Dmitri, who is harboring his own collection of dangerous secrets. Together, they will be presented with a frightening challenge: to assume their roles as heirs to a 3000-year-old magical text, the AVRAKEDAVRA, a book the über-rich, sleight-of-being master Lucian Dmitri would do anything to get his hands on. As each terrifying layer in her new reality melts away, Gemma unearths truths that her quiet, nomadic life with the Cinzio Traveling Players is not at all what she’d always cherished. Gemma and Henry must rely on each other to stop Lucian’s diabolical plotting that will bring the world to its tired, scab-riddled knees, and are sent on the flight of their young lives, to save themselves, their families, and the world from the darkest kind of destruction.

Let the chase begin.

Review:
Sleight is a beautifully written story and is one of the most original plots I've read so far. The idea of growing up in a circus surrounded by all kind of things, traveling around the country is very appealing and makes you wonder: how would that be?
The first chapter is the hook for the rest of the book, the funeral of Gemma's mother. She doesn't even know how to feel about this, she spent her life seeing her mother in and out of psychiatric hospital and dealing with her mental illness. That is why the circus performers are her family and legal guardians, they took Gemma as their child and really care for her. Added to all this, she can see "shades" as she call the ghosts that are around her; they don't talk to her so she has learned to live with them.

Gemma's life changes completely when the circus decides to settle for a while so she needs to attend regular high school, instead of her tutors and she is not eager about it. Here she meets Henry her first friend outside the circus and immediately get along, their friendship develops naturally. Everything starts to unfold and reveals a little bit of all the mystery that surrounds the story, with lots of twists and turns and at the end, a few unanswered questions with a cliffhanger that will leave you on your toes.
There are several characters but my favorites were Gemma's uncle Irwin -funny and caring- and Henry, he is simply magnificent! Gemma on the other hand was a little difficult character, she got on my nerves sometimes because she could have been more caring, less obsessive and not take everything for granted, but at the same time it felt appropriate because of her age. And the villains perfectly portrayed, pure evil amazing!

I love all the quotes at the begining of every chapter, no need for a title with such incredible research that explains a little bit of each chapter. Magic, circus freaks, ghosts, romance and mystery makes Sleight one of my favorites books and I highly recommend it to everyone. I make a bow to Ms. Sommersby and her majestic writing.

Rate: 4/5

Ana Lucía Arroyave

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Guest Review: The Childe by C.A. Kunz

Pages: 390
Published: February 18th 2011
Publisher: C.A. Kunz
Genre: YA Fantasy

Description:
Cat Colvin is pretty much your typical run-of-the-mill teenager growing up in the small port town of Astoria. Sure, she is taller than average, has a mane of fiery red hair that is impossible to tame, is left handed, and has one eye that is sky blue and one that is amber, but that is where the differences end . . . unless you include the detail of her slow metamorphosis into the Childe.

We all know how difficult high school can be, and for Cat Colvin it is no different. Except for the fact she has the daunting task of trying to hide her budding Childe traits as they begin to reveal themselves at the most inopportune times.

This first book in this coming of age fantasy series follows Cat's life through the twists and turns toward finding out what and who she really is. Come and take the plunge with Cat into a world filled with biting humor, darkness, and yes, a few life lessons as well.

Review:
The Childe is the first book in a fantasy series with a very promising future. The premise of the book is fantastic, filled with mystery in every chapter. The storyline flows so easily that I didn’t even notice when I was halfway through the book in just a couple of hours.
 There were many characters, all of whom were very likeable. I love how each one of them had different personalities and I found myself laughing with Cat and her friends at some of the moments they share. The story unfolds through their high school experience and it was very believable: mean teacher, popular girl, sports, homecoming dance, etc.
 Of course there is a handsome boy, Ryan, who unfortunately hangs out with the bully and villain of the school. Cat melts when he is around, but she tries to deny it at all costs. Especially because of her overprotective brother Taylor, who is  always sarcastic but really cares for Cat.


 I think Ryan and Taylor were my favorite characters.


 There is a lot going on that the reader doesn’t know about – everything is a question – but the story unfolds a little bit every chapter and the reader will be able to figure some things out.
 The only problem I had was at the end there were more questions than answers. I wished they would have revealed a little more and given closure to this part of the story.
 I also hope we see more of the villains in the next book, with a little less of the high school experience, because what little we see of them shows that they are pure evil.
 I can’t wait to find out more about Cat and her past and how all the answers to the questions will determine her future.

Rate: 4/5

Ana Lucía Arroyave

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In The Arms Of Stone Angels by Jordan Dane

Format: Trade Paperback
Pages: 320
Published: April 1, 2011
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Genre: YA Fantasy, Paranormal, Suspense

Description:

Two years ago, Brenna did the unthinkable. She witnessed the aftermath of a murder and accused her only true friend--the first boy she ever loved--of being a killer.

Now sixteen, Brenna returns to Oklahoma only to discover that Isaac "White Bird" Henry isn't in juvie. The half-breed outcast is in a mental hospital, frozen in time, locked in his mind at the worst moment of his life. And when Brenna touches him, she's pulled into his hellish vision quest, seeing terrifying demons and illusions she doesn't understand.

Feeling isolated and alone, she's up against the whole town, targeted by bullying former classmates, a bigoted small town sheriff, and a tribe who refuses to help one of their own. But when Brenna realizes she's as trapped by the past as White Bird is, this time she won't turn her back on him. She's the only one who can free them both.

Even if she has to expose her secret--a "gift" she's kept hidden her whole life.

Review:

In The Arms of Stone Angels was overall a really good book. Jordan Dane, usually a writer of adult suspense novels, writes a YA parnormal suspense novel here for the first time. The characters of Brenna and White Bird are fleshed out well and the murder is set up nicely leaving the reader on the edge of their seat wanting to know who the real killer is.

Brenna, having turned White Bird into the police, is on her own personal quest to save him now that she is back in Oklahoma, which proves to be one suspense filled adventure after another. However, White Bird is catatonic in a hospital, so he is not a major player in the whole of the book, except in Brenna's dreams and visions.

While Jordan Dane nailed the suspense, I was slightly disappointed that she changed from first to third person point of view so often. Frist person (told by Brenna) read like a young adult novel, while thrid person read like an adult suspense novel. This made the novel slightly disjointed and lack cohesion. Also, the paranormal element was very, very light. Other than the occasional flash or vision of a dead person, most of the paranormal elements are drawn from the Native American beliefs and practices of Shamanism.

Jordan Dane captured the voice of her characters well and ventured into depths of teen angst most authors won't. The suspense was fantastic and surprising. This book was well-written and held my attention and I will definitely be picking up Jordan Dane's next book, only with less expectations of the paranormal.

Rate: 4/5

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Passion (The Fallen Series #3) by Lauren Kate

Format: ARC Paperback

Published: 23 June 2011

Publisher: Doubleday Children's Books

Genre: YA Fantasy, Paranormal

Description:

Before Luce and Daniel met at Sword & Cross, before they fought the Immortals, they had already lived many lives. And so Luce, desperate to unlock the curse that condemns their love, must revisit her past incarnations in order to understand her fate. Each century, each life, holds a different clue. But Daniel is chasing her throughout the centuries before she has a chance to rewrite history. How many deaths can one true love endure? And can Luce and Daniel unlock their past in order to change their future?

Review: 

First I just want to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU!!! To Random House Publishing for providing me with a manuscript/ARC copy of Passion. Second I am so glad I enjoyed it. I was honestly a little disappointed with Torment and was really worried that I wasn't going to like Passion. Boy was I wrong.

Passion is the third installement in the Fallen series and it is completely different from books 1 and 2. It follows Luce as she goes on a journey visiting her past lives trying to to break the curse that causes Luce to die and be reborn. Will she find a way to break this curse or are they doomed to live through this curse forever?

I really enjoyed this novel. It was rather different from the first two book as we dive into the past going back 5000 years. It was a really interesting journey for Luce. I'm torn when when it comes to Luce. One one hand, I really do like her, she is strong enough to go through the pain of visiting all of her past lifes and trying to break this curse. However, on the other hand all she went on about was Daniel and trying to prove how much he loved her and wasnt with her just because of the curse. In this book there aren't really alot of characters unless you count the past Luce and Daniels that we meet. It really is all about Luce's journey and how Daniel is trying to find her traveling back in time but always just missing her.

At first I found the story a little slow but when we are introduce to a new Character called Bill I was hooked. Bill is very funny and I really like him. He helps Luce on her travels and they form a great bond and it was hard not to like him.

Now as I said at first the story is a little slow but it picked up on Chapter Five and it was really good. I loved that we get to see so many past lives and experience so many emotions that Luce went through. There are so many different time periods that we go through and no doubt everyone will have their favourites. I loved reading about Chichen Itaz, Mesoamerica Period that was 555CE. This is the Mayan's and Lauren has managed to create in a way that even though I have no idea what it was like back then I really think it would have been like how she describes.

One of the big downsides to this story is Cam. We hardly see Cam. However, we do get to see him a little bit of him and its totally different side to him. I do love Cam. Its the bad boy image lol. I love it.

If you have read the Fallen and Torment then this is a must read! It's a captivating story full or drama and emotions as well and one heck of a twist in that my god I never saw coming but it was pure genius and you are going to love it!!!

Rate: 4/5

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Bloodspell (Bloodspell #1) by Amalie Howard

Format: ARC Paperback
Pages: 369
Published: 1st June 2011
Publisher: Langdon Street Press
Genre: YA Fantasy, Paranormal

Description:
The spell was simple …

CRUENTUS PROTECTUM. Defend the Blood.

But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?

Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds—much less one that reveals she’s a witch with unimaginable power.

What’s more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own …

Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood’s deadly desires? Or will she lose everything, including herself?

Review:
What an exciting read!. I am obsessed with vampires. I really am. However, sometimes it seems like I am reading the same book over and over. Not with Bloodspell. Its unique and fun and just an overall wonderful read.

Bloodspell is about Victoria (Tori) she has grown up with her Aunt Holly after an accident killed her parents. The story starts with an incident in school that ends up with Victoria in hospital. On her birthday she is given a music box and her world is turned upside down as she learns the truth about her family and what she is. She soon meets the mysterious Christian who hide a dark and dangerous secret.

I loved Victoria as a character. Unlike a lot of females in books she is such a strong character. She is independent and doesnt rely on others to save the day for  her. Tori is not only strong and independent, she is loving and funny. Christian, oh Christian. Christian is very swoon worthy. I think its the french accent. Christian is a vampire but he has kept his humanity. He feeds on mostly animal blood but sometimes human however he doesnt kill. The relationship between Tori and Christian did give me a headache. One minute Christian was being super sweet to Tori the next they were fighting. Although it clear just how much he likes Tori and once you get into the story you under just why he like this. There are so many different characters in the novel. Some who you will like others you will love to hate. Lol.

This was truely a great read. A bit slow to start but once we get into the story and Tori finally accepts what she is things all start to come together. And the book refused to be put down. I tried a few times and just couldnt. I had to read more and more. I was addicted! As much as I did really enjoy this novel. I thought it was  big slow to start with and it felt like it jumped, skipping over parts that could have been explained a bit more.

Amalie has created a world full bloodthrust creatures, danger and centuries old hatred between Vampires and Witches thats makes the relationship between Tori and Christian forbidden and exciting it will keep to on the edge of your seats and begging for the next installement.

Rate: 4/5

Visit Amalie: [Website/Blog][Twitter][Book Site]

Not 100% where you buy this book. I will find out and link =)

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Happy Birthday to Me (Birthday Trilogy #1) by Brian Rowe

Format: Kindle
File Size: 268 KB
Published: 7th April 2011
Published: Brian Rowe
Genre: YA Fantasy, Paranormal

Description:
Seventeen-year-old Cameron Martin has a huge problem: he’s aging a whole year of his life with each passing day! High school is hard enough; imagine rapidly aging from seventeen to seventy in a matter of weeks, with no logical explanation, and with prom, graduation, and the state championship basketball game on the horizon. That’s what happens to Cameron, a popular pretty boy who's never had to face a day looking anything but perfect. All Cameron wants to do is go back to normal, but no one, not even the best doctors, can diagnose his condition. When he finds love with a mysterious young woman, however, he realizes his only hope for survival might be with the one person who started his condition in the first place.

Review:
Happy Birthday to Me was one of those books that truely suprised. I was asked to review this novel by the author and after I read the description nothing really did stand out and scream at me "read me" but it still sounded a pleasant read so I decided to review it. And I am really glad I read. I devoured this book in just over a day. I was addicted to it.

This book follows the unique story of Cameron. It starts with him in hospital an old mad at seventeen and its him telling us his story up to that point. Cameron was a popular seventeen year old basketball player. He has everything he wanted. Until one fateful day he wakes up and starts aging. He is growing older by a whole year everyday and no one knows why.

HBTM really was a suprise to me. I never really thought I would enjoy it as much as I did. I never thought Id feel for the characters as much as I did either. Before Cameron started aging I have to admit I didn't like him. However, I don't think you are meant to. He is self centred and an ass. Once he starts aging we see a totally different side of him, he goes on a personal journey to self discovery and you just can't help but like him in the end. He does a complete 180. He goes through so much through this story and it would be hard for anyone not to like him in the end.

The secondary characters are also very important to the story line. Wesley is Cameron's best friend even though they are in different social circles they still make time to spend time together. Wes was the character that had me in tears near the end (cant say much without spoiling it) what he does for Cameron was just beautiful. He really stuck by Cameron even when others didn't. Cameron's family got on my nerves a little. Mainly his dad. Who is a complete jerk throughout the story until near the end. There is one more character, Liesel. I really like her. We don't see alot of her in the story but she plays a big part especially near the end. I hope we see more of her in the next book.

Happy Birthday to Me, was the kinda of story that just flowed without a hitch. There wasn't much suspense as you already knew what was going to happen before it happen. But it was still an addictive read. Im not entirely sure where the author can take this story next. The ending was a fantastic ending that wrapped up the story nicely. However, I look forward to see what happens next in this trilogy.

Thank Brian for providing me with this copy for review. I look forward to the next installment and urge those who like paranormal stories to check this out. Its a nice quick read with a great plot and wonderfully written characters.

Rate: 4/5

Visit Brian: [Blog]

Buy Book on Kindle

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April BotM: Uglies (Uglies #1) by Scott Westerfield

Format: Paperback
Pages: 425
Published: 3rd Jan 2006
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's
Genre: YA Sci-Fi, Dystopia

Description:
Tally lives in a world where your sixteenth birthday brings aesthetic perfection: an operation which erases all your flaws, transforming you from an 'Ugly' into a 'Pretty'. She is on the eve of this important event, and cannot wait for her life to change. As well as guaranteeing supermodel looks, life as a Pretty seems to revolve around having a good time. But then she meets Shay, who is also fifteen - but with a very different outlook on life. Shay isn't sure she wants to be Pretty and plans to escape to a community in the forest - the Rusty Ruins - where Uglies go to escape ' turning'. Tally won't be persuaded to join her, as this would involve sacrificing everything she's ever wanted for a lot of uncertainty. When she is taken in for questioning on her birthday, however, Tally gets sent to the Ruins anyway - against her will. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she could ever imagine: find her friend Shay and turn her in, or never turn Pretty at all. What she discovers in the Ruins reveals that there is nothing 'pretty' about the transformations...And the choice Tally makes will change her world forever.

Review:
I have been eying these books for well over a year. I kept meaning to buy the first one but something else always caught my eye. So I decided to buy a used copy on Amazon and yet it still sat on my bookcase for months. I am kicking myself now for leaving it so long. Uglies was a wonderful read.

Uglies is set in a future world where when you turn sixteen you go through an operation to turn you from Ugly to Pretty. Young Tally wants nothing more to turn Pretty. Her best friend Peris has already Pretty and she is now alone. One day she mets Shay and they form a friendship out of loneliness and grow very close. However, Shay doesn't want to turn Pretty so she runs away to the Smoke. Suddenly Tally's world is turn upside when she is forced to find Shay, turn her in to the Specials or stay Ugly forever.

At first I found this book very slow I think I had really high expections from this book and was just disappointed. However after about 70 pages into it I really started to enjoy it. I really loved Tally as main character. She is really fun to read. Always playing tricks and sneaking around. She was just really fun to read. We also see another side to her when she is forced to travel to the Smoke. She is alone and scared on her travels and when she gets there you really feel what she is feeling and how she is confused. I have to admit though I really didn't like Shay, I don't know what it was about her. You sometimes just don't click with a character. Although I do understand her at one point when she is jealous of Tally and David growing friendship. I really liked David. He is an really nice guy who falls for Tally when he meets her. The cast of characters overall and a very mixed bunch. The main and secondary characters bring something different to the story and its very interesting and keeps the story full of suspence.

As mentioned above I did find the start of the story a bit too slow and it left me slightly disappointed at first. However the once the story picks up. WOW its really picks up. Its full of action and suspense and the ending it just wonderful. I want to share the end quote because just love Tally attitude but I won't because it's a major spoiler.

I highly recommend this to anyone who likes their Dystopia fiction and to those who don't its a great starter book into the wonderful genre of YA Dystopia, its easy to follow yet packs alot of meaning. So if you haven't read Uglies yet then please get out there and give it a try.

Rate: 4/5

Visit Scott: [Website] [Facebook] [Twitter]

Order Uglies #1

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