Unearthly (Unearthly #1) by Cynthia Hand

Format: Paperback
Pages: 433
Published:2nd May 2011
Publisher: Egmont UK
Genre: YA Fantasy, Paranormal

Description:

Clara has known she is part-angel since she turned fourteen two years ago. But only now, through fragmented visions of a terrifying bush fire, is her Purpose - the crucial rite of passage for every part-angel - becoming clear to her. When Clara meets Christian, the boy in her visions, he is everything she could wish for - so why does she also have feelings for her enigmatic classmate, Tucker? Clara discovers that her Purpose is only a small part of a titanic struggle between angels and their destructive counterparts, the Black Wings. And when the fire of her vision erupts and both Christian and Tucker are in danger, who will she choose to save?

Review:

Unearthly is about a teenage girl called Clara. However, Clara isn't a normal girl, She is part angel. And she has been having vision of her "Purpose" as an angel. This see her and her family (her mum and brother) move Wyoming so she can fulful her purpose. However, this don't go smoothly got Clara and soon she is faced with a terrible choice. Fulfill her purpose or save the boy the she loves?

First I want to just mention this books cover! How freaking pretty is that? I mean its stunning. I think its fits really well with the story. Clara all white which is how I picture her when she does her glowing Glory thing. And standing in the forest is massive to plot. The cover just has a very ethereal feel to it.

Unearthly is one of those stories that you just lose all sense of time reading. For me, it was the relationship between the characters that I found to entertaining that I just couldnt put this down. Clara is just super cute! She really is a fantastic main character. She is one of those characters that you can imagine being friends with her. When she moves to Wyoming she quickly becomes friends with Wendy and then Angela. Both these characters are total opposite from one another but when reading the story its easy to see why Clara is friends with both.

Now the reason Clara moves to Wyoming is to fulfill her purpose as an angel. Her purpose is involves Christian the hottest boy in school and Clara of course like any girl would is drooling over him. They becomes close but Christian has to go away for the summer. Enter Tucker! Wendys brother. oh Tucker! From the moment Clara arrived in Wyoming Tucker and Clara show a dislike to one another. Soon though after Tucker is roped into being Clara's birthday present from Wendy they start to form this undeniable connection. And honestly one of the cutest book couples ever!! I love them. I love Tucker!

For me the story plays second to the characters. But what an awesome story line. There is never a dull moment in this book. Its full of supense slowing building up to the tough choice Clara has to make. The romance in this story is one the gradually develops making the story that more believable.

What a fantastic, gripping and cute book Unearthly is. Its such a refreshing tale of angels. Angels have completely blown up on the YA market just now and this book its honestly one of my faves. I dont have a bad word to say about this book. Cynthia has created something that is so good and literally leave you begging for more

Rate: 5/5

Buy Unearthly: 

Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ 

Waterstones ~ Book Depository ~ B&N

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The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Format: ARC Paperback

Pages: 288
Published: August 2, 2011
Publisher: Hyperion
Genre: YA Fantasy, Paranormal

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

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

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

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

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

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

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

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

Review:
The Near Witch was a spellbinding read from start to finish. Victoria Schwab dazzled in her debut novel! From page one, the story is lyrical, magical and enchanting.

The book begins as the old folklore story of The Near Witch is told by Lexi to her sister Wren. Immediately readers are drawn into the allure of the village and moors of Near and the folklore surrounding the Near Witch.

Soon children start to disappear from their beds at night, drawn from them by a seemingly magical, singing wind. Lexi is determined to track down the missing children, despite her uncle's disapproval. At the time the children begin disappearing, a stranger appears in the village of Near...and everyone knows there are no strangers in Near.

Lexi, the new stranger, and the village's only witch sister's are quickly swept up in a dangerous race against time to save the children before it's too late.

The Near Witch was beautifully written and I found myself completely lost in the story. Very few books are so captivating that I just can't stop thinking about the book long after I have finished. This is one book I will definitely read more than once! Bravo to Victoria Schwab for a magical novel and for showing fairy tales can still be written today!

Rate: 5/5

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In The Dead: Volume 1 by Jesse Petersen

Format: Kindle ebook

Published: July 17, 2011
Publisher: Jesse Petersen
Genre: Adult Fantasy, Paranormal

Description:
When the Zombie Apocalypse began in Seattle and spread within days to almost the entire western half the country, the survivors had to figure out how to deal with the plague and live one day at a time. These are their stories.

If you liked Jesse Petersen’s zombie comedies Married With Zombies, Flip This Zombie and Eat Slay Love, these nine stories are set in the same world, but from the perspective of other survivors.

Review:
In The Dead: Volume 1 is a collection of short stories all centered around the zombie apocalypse. Each story contains new characters, new scenarios, and new locations, as the Outbreak spreads across the United States.

Each set of characters couldn't be less different, but Petersen weaves each story together with her unique brand of wit, snark, and humor. Her descriptions of the zombies are so vivid that you can actually imagine yourself running from the zombies in the stories!

Some stories were more detailed than others and I was partial to those as the endings had more "closure", while others had the type of ending that had each reader use their imagination to decide the character's fate.

One thing that stood out to me was that the premise of every story had the potential to be fleshed out more, so I truly hope Petersen decides to revisit some of these characters again in the future because to me, some of them are just begging to have a full-length book of their own!!

Fans of zombie books will most definitely enjoy In The Dead: Volume 1 - and will equally be left wanting more!

Rate: 5/5

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My Love Lies Bleeding (Drake Chronicles #1) by Alyxandra Harvey

Format: Paperback
Pages: 256
Published: 22nd Dec 2009
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Genre: YA Fantasy, Paranormal

Description:
The Blakes are rather different to your usual neighbours. They are vampires and some of the members of the family date back to the twelfth century. One of the children, Solange, is the only born female vampire known and, as such, she poses a direct threat to the vampire queen. Her best friend Lucy is human, and when Solange is kidnapped Lucy and Solange's brother, Nicholas, set out to save her. Lucy soon discovers that she would like to be more than just friends with Nicholas. But how does one go about dating a vampire? Meanwhile, Solange finds an unlikely ally in Kieran, a vampire slayer on the hunt for his father's killer.

Review:
My Love Lies Bleeding is one of those stories that just grab you from page one. I completely devoured this novel. I have read many many vampire novels but this one was fresh, fun and seriously funny.

The story follows the story of two best friends Solange a vampire and Lucy a human. Solange is the only female born vampire and because of this she is a threat to the vampire queen, Vampires are either trying to kill her or date her. Lucy is a strong willed young woman who cares alot for her best friend and her family and when Solange is kidnapped Lucy is distraught and is determind to save her best friend.

This is told from both Solange and Lucy point of view and I feel it gives the readers a better perspective into the relationships between our two main characters. They are both total opposites of each other yet they fit perfectly together. Solange is quite and shy where as Lucy is loud, out going and not afraid to tell people like it is. Even a vampire. Lol.

 There is a whole cast of characters in this story and they bring something into the story to make is magical and exciting. However, my favourite aspect of this is the relationship between Lucy and Nicholas. Its just so comical. They are grown up together always arguing and getting on each others nerves until they actually start to realise they like each other and its just so cute. They try to fight it and deny it to themselves but it doesn't work.

My Love Lies Bleeding has a very fast paced storyline. There is always something happening so there is nevera dull moment. Alyxandra has created a tale that is really fresh and exciting that any vampire lover will enjoy. I recommend it to everyone love, action, suspence and really comical moments.

Rate: 5/5

Buy a copy: [Amazon UK][Waterstones][Book Depository]

[Amazon US**][B&N]

**My Love Lies Bleeding is title Hearts at Stake in America. 

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Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Format: Paperback

Pages: 336
Published: May 3, 2011
Publisher: Little Brown
Genre: YA Fantasy, Paranormal

Description:
Scarlet March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend--but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for?

Review:
Fairy tales are generally never re-told well. In this case, Jackson Pearce should have been the one originally telling the fairy tale! I was blown away by this story! This is not "Little Red Riding Hood" - it is Sisters Red. The March Sisters, to be exact, and they are on a mission to destroy all Fenris. The Fenris are the proverbial "Big Bad Wolf", only these are mean wolf packs, who prey on innocent people.

The March sisters are orphaned as young girls and live with their grandmother, Oma March. One night, they are savagely attacked by the Fenris, and Scarlett is left scarred and with only one eye. As Scarlett and her sister Rosie mature into young adults, the girls train and learn to fight the wolves and save others from being attacked.

A series of disappearances and unsolved murders leads the girls and their old friend, the woodcutter, Silas, into the big city, looking for the Fenris responsible and the Sisters Red are forced into a new world of fighting and adventure they have never before faced.

Jackson Pearce has a magical pen when she writes! This one novel managed to be dark, humorous, romantic, witty, enchanting, and at times, even a little frightening. The suspense begins on page one and literally does not end until the very last page. I could not bring myself to put this book down once I had started.

I am eagerly looking forward to Jackson Pearce's next novel, Sweetly (a re-telling of the classic Hansel and Gretel), which is due out next month.

Rate: 5/5

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No Shoes, No Shirt, No Spells (Mystic Cafe #1) by Rose Pressey

Format: Kindle ebook

Published: June 1, 2011
Publisher: Rose Pressey
Genre: Adult Fantasy, Paranormal

Description:
Elly Blair welcomes the chance to escape her ex-fiance and job from hell when Grandma Imelda, ready to retire to sunny Florida, calls for her to take over her little southern cafe.

Elly has no idea her grandmother has baked up magic for the unsuspecting townsfolk for thirty years-and now Grandma Imelda insists that Elly use her own hitherto unsuspected magical powers to carry on the family tradition.

But Elly's new at this stuff. Her dishes don't turn out as full of smidgens of enchantment and dashes of wishes come true as she'd hoped. When handsome customer Rory Covington takes a bite of the wrong burger, he ends up capturing the attention of every woman in town. Elly doesn't know if her feelings for Rory are true or based on her magic gone awry.

Tom Owenton is an investigator the National Organization for Magic sent to look into the magical mishap. Unless Elly can reverse the spell, the cafe will be closed permanently. Tom is more than willing to help Elly out of this magical pickle, but she's not sure she should accept his offer.

Elly only has forty-eight hours to find a way to reverse the spell, or she'll lose the cafe and never discover if her feelings for Rory are real.

Review:
Rose Pressey delivers another dose of her quirky sense of humor with this new series! From the beginning of the book, I was laughing out loud! Main character Elly Blair not only inherits a cafe from her grandma Imelda, but a large helping of chaos when she discovers the cafe come with a side order of magic!

Grandma Imelda has been helping the local townspeople by serving their food spiced with a splash of her special magic. Most are general spells, the feel better-no arthritis pain-spell or maybe even a cheer up spell. Elly has this same magic in her genes and while she's not quite ready to take over, Grandma is on her way to soak up the sun, assuring Elly all is well because she's done her practice spells perfectly.

All goes well and the characters are riots...until Elly's best friend/waitress accidentally gives the wrong customer the wrong magic--a love spell of all things! This spell not only backfires on Elly because she shouldn't have done it, but also because she had her eye on the customer, Rory. From here on out, Elly's world is a series of magical chaos, magical interventions, interruptions, and love spells gone awry - many courtesy of Tom Owenton from the National Organization for Magic, who is supposed to be overseeing and helping Elly in her time of need!

Elly has only 48 hours to reverse this spell gone wrong or she may lose her cafe, her friends, her family's trust, and possibly even her heart.

This book is hilarious, fast-paced, romantic, and has a fantastic twist at the end! I am so excited this is the beginning of a series because there are so many characters in this book I would love to revisit!

Rate: 5/5

1

Jane Jones: Worst. Vampire. Ever. by Caissie St. Onge

Format: Kindle ebook
Published: May 10, 2011
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Genre: YA Fantasy, Paranormal

Description:
For Jane Jones, being a vampire is nothing like you read about in books. In fact, it kind of sucks. She's not beautiful, she's not rich, and she doesn't "sparkle." She's just an average, slightly nerdy girl from an ordinary suburban family (who happens to be vampires.) Jane's from the wrong side of the tracks (not to mention stuck in the world's longest awkward phase), so she doesn't fit in with the cool vampire kids at school or with the humans kids. To top it all off, she's battling an overprotective mom, a clique of high school mean girls (the kind who really do have fangs), and the most embarrassing allergy in the history of the undead, she's blood intolerant. So no one's more surprised than Jane when for the first time in her life, things start to heat up (as much as they can for a walking corpse, anyway) with not one, but two boys. Eli's a geeky, but cute real-live boy in her history class, and Timothy is a beautiful, brooding bloodsucker, who might just hold the key to a possible "cure" for vampirism. Facing an eternity of high school pressure, fumbling first dates, or a mere lifetime together with Timothy, what's a 90-something year-old teen vampire to do? 

Review:
I was initially drawn to this book by its cute, bright pink cover, and title. Then I read the synopsis and it sounded so funny. Can you imagine a vampire stuck in an eternally awkward tween phase, from the wrong side of the tracks, and to make things worse, has a blood allergy? I HAD to have this book!

Caissie St. Onge did not disappoint. The hilarity begins from page one and does not cease. Meet Jane Jones. The Worst. Vampire. Ever. Jane has been battling a series of undead lifetimes of being less than beautiful, unpopular, slightly poor, and part of your average dysfunctional suburban vampire family. You wouldn't think all of those things would be funny, but the author makes you literally laugh out loud. Additionally, Jane has gone from never dating to having two boys interested in her, which throws Jane's repetitive undead life into a complete whirlwind. Both boys are cute, nice, and couldn't be any different...right down to their mortality.

The synopsis paints a picture of a cute vampire story, which this is, but the author also tells us about Jane's past which is coming back to haunt her, and about a possible cure for vampirism that is leading Jane on a series of fortunate and unfortunate events!

Rate: 5/5

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Me and My Ghoulfriends by Rose Pressey

Format: Kindle ebook
Published: April 10, 2011
Publisher: Rose Pressey
Genre: Adult Fantasy, Paranormal

Description:
There's always fun to be had on a ghoul's night out.

By day, Larue Donovan is a down-to-earth bookstore owner. But by night, she's a world reknowned psychic investigator dedicated to helping lost spirits find peace. Dead people won't leave her alone and Abraham Lincoln thinks he's in charge of her lovelife.


Larue can handle ghosts and undead presidents. Its the living that drive her crazy. When Callahan Weiss moves to town, the handsome newcomer opens a coffee shop right next door. She's smitten right from the start, but she's not the only one -- The boutique owner across the street has her eye on Callahan too, and uses witchcraft to fight dirty. When Callahan gets hit by a love spell, Larue will need more than a little help from her ghoulfriends to save the day...


Review:
Me and My Ghoulfriends was a wonderfully entertaining read! Main character, Larue, runs a bookstore, but she can also see ghosts and assist them in crossing over. This creates a hilarious backdrop as dead President Abraham Lincoln, amongst others emerges as one of her matchmakers for her currently non-existent love life.

Soon things pick up when a new coffee shop opens up next to her store and as Larue (and her
tag-along "ghoulfriends") begin dating the coffee chop owner, Callahan. Larue encounters several adventures on her dates and picks up many more undead friends that kept me laughing the whole way. The numerous ghosts each had such a unique personalitiy that I found myself looking forward to the introduction to each new spirit!

The novel is extremely cute and funny but Rose Pressey leaves something brewing with o ne supporting character that just leaves a bad taste in your mouth and I couldn't read fast enough to figure out what was going on with this scenario. It was just enough mystery to keep the story interesting and keep me on the edge of my seat, but not so much that it lost its humor or cuteness.

All of the characters, main and supporting, are very well developed, the plot is excellent, and the ending, while well done, left me wanting a sequel because it was so good! Bravo to Rose Pressey for a fabulous novel!

Rate: 5/5

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