Tag Archives: genre: mystery

Book Review: Pretty Girl-13 by Liz Coley

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pretty girl-13Info:
Title: Pretty Girl-13
Author: Liz Coley
Release Date: March 19, 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Source: Amazon Vine
Series? No
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Psychological, Mystery
Page Count: 352
Rating: [5/5 stars]

Summary:

Reminiscent of the Elizabeth Smart case, Pretty Girl-13 is a disturbing and powerful psychological mystery about a girl who must piece together the story of her kidnapping and captivity.

Angie Chapman was thirteen years old when she ventured into the woods alone on a Girl Scouts camping trip. Now she’s returned home…only to find that it’s three years later and she’s sixteen-or at least that’s what everyone tells her.

What happened to the past three years of her life?

Angie doesn’t know.

But there are people who do — people who could tell Angie every detail of her forgotten time, if only they weren’t locked inside her mind. With a tremendous amount of courage, Angie embarks on a journey to discover the fragments of her personality, otherwise known as her “alters.” As she unearths more and more about her past, she discovers a terrifying secret and must decide: When you remember things you wish you could forget, do you destroy the parts of yourself that are responsible?

Liz Coley’s alarming and fascinating psychological mystery is a disturbing – and ultimately empowering page-turner about accepting our whole selves, and the healing power of courage, hope, and love. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
PRETTY GIRL-13 is a book that flew under my radar. I don’t usually read contemporary fiction, because I like something supernatural or magical to spice up a world. But once I read the first few pages of the book, I couldn’t finish it fast enough. I devoured PRETTY GIRL-13 in one sitting, blocking out everything around me and getting annoyed every time I needed to take a break.

The book starts with Angie returning home from a camping trip. Or so she thinks. When she greets her parents, she’s shocked by their reaction. They claim she has been missing for the last three years, and that she’s now 16. But the last thing Angie remembers is her Girl Scouts camping trip; she thinks she is 13.

From there, PRETTY GIRL-13 takes off. I usually try not to spoil the plot when I review a book, but in this case, I REALLY don’t want to say anything more. I went into the book blind, which I think is the best way to read it. If you’re debating reading this book, try to avoid spoiling yourself.

I can say that this is a dark psychological mystery. The author goes into some dark topics that you usually don’t see in a young adult novel. Angie’s story is chilling, terrifying, and emotional. At the same time, it’s inspirational and hopeful, because Angie is not a victim. She is a survivor. And let me tell you, she survives a lot.

Looking back, there are some aspects I could critique, but I’m not going there. I was fully immersed in the book while reading. When I finished, I felt empty, because there weren’t any more pages to turn. I read upwards of 100 books a year, and very few leave me with a physical reaction. I already know PRETTY GIRL-13 is going to be one of my favorite books of 2013, and it’s only April.

It is a fast read, so if you’re in doubt, give it a try. And while I read it in the space of a few hours, it’s a book that has stayed with me in the two weeks it’s taken me to write this review. Oh, lastly I do have to say that the prologue threw me for a loop, since it’s written in second-person POV, but almost all of the book in third-person. You’ll see why the prologue is different when you learn Angie’s story.

Socialize with the author:
Liz Coley:
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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: The Last Academy by Anne Applegate (and giveaway!)

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Today I am one of the stops on the blog tour for THE LAST ACADEMY by Anne Applegate. The tour is hosted by Itching For Books and you can check out the rest of the stops here.

the last academyInfo:
Title: The Last Academy
Author: Anne Applegate
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: Point
Source: Point/NetGalley
Series? No
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Mystery
Page Count: 320
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

What is this prep school preparing them for?

Camden Fisher arrives at boarding school haunted by a falling-out with her best friend back home. But the manicured grounds of Lethe Academy are like nothing Cam has ever known. There are gorgeous, preppy boys wielding tennis rackets, and circles of girls with secrets to spare. Only . . . something is not quite right. One of Cam’s new friends mysteriously disappears, but the teachers don’t seem too concerned. Cam wakes up to strangers in her room, who then melt into the night. She is suddenly plagued by odd memories, and senses there might be something dark and terrible brewing. But what? The answer will leave Cam—and readers—stunned and breathless, in this thrilling debut novel. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
THE LAST ACADEMY is a book that is very difficult to describe without spoiling its gigantic twist. The summary somehow gave me the idea that it would be about a paranormal boarding school, which is why I originally wanted to read it. It is — sort of — but first there’s a lot of contemporary-style story going on.

After a huge, embarrassing fight with her best friend, Camden is happy she’s heading off to boarding school instead of going to high school with everyone else. Although she’s fourteen, Camden’s voice read to me like that of an older character … except where boys were concerned. After getting to Lethe (quirky name for a school, right?), Camden gets the hots for upperclassman Mark Elliot. It wasn’t quite insta-love, but it reminded me a lot of a first crush.

At first, THE LAST ACADEMY is about life at normal high school. Camden doesn’t get along with her mean roommate, but she does find a few friends, including Jessie, Nora, and Brynn. But when Jessie mysteriously disappears in the middle of the night, Camden starts to realize something’s wrong. The staff claim Jessie decided to go home, but Brynn says Jessie left with a guy. Add in Barnaby Charon, a guy who gives Camden the creeps, and you’ve got the beginning of a big mystery.

I’ll admit, I almost gave up by the first half of THE LAST ACADEMY. I wasn’t really getting into the happenings at Lethe, and was confused by the actions of some of the supporting characters. But then, then came the gigantic twist, and everything clicked into place. Suddenly all the things that didn’t make sense were clear, and I had an entirely new appreciation for the book.

There are a liberal amount of hints and foreshadowing pointing to the big twist, but even so, I didn’t predict how it would all come together. So in the end, I liked the way THE LAST ACADEMY turned out. The idea behind it was pretty creative, and though I would have liked more from the book overall, it was a good read.

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*giveaway is tour-wide

About the author:
Anne Applegate was born in Chico, California. Most of her childhood was spent moving across America with her family, nomad style.

When Anne was fourteen, her parents sent her to boarding school so she could spend four years in a single educational system. As it turned out, her family then promptly settled into a small mid-western town and lived there for the next sixteen years. Anne still hasn’t figured out if this means something.

After graduation, she went on to Tufts University in Medford, MA, where she had a wicked good time. Eventually, she wound up back on the west coast, where she married a fantastic Californian guy. Together, they have three children.

For the last twelve years, Anne has lived in San Luis Obispo County. This is by far the longest time she has stayed in any one place her whole life. She immensely enjoys living where 1) the sun always shines and 2) she isn’t the weirdest person in town.

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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher (and giveaway!)

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Today I am one of the stops for THE S-WORD blog tour. The tour is hosted by Shane at Itching For Books. You can check out the rest of the stops here.

the s-wordInfo:
Title: The S-Word
Author: Chelsea Pitcher
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books
Source: Edelweiss/Blog Tour
Series? No
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Mystery
Page Count: 304
Rating: [4/5 stars]

Summary:

First it was SLUT scribbled all over Lizzie Hart’s locker.

But one week after Lizzie kills herself, SUICIDE SLUT replaces it—in Lizzie’s looping scrawl.

Lizzie’s reputation is destroyed when she’s caught in bed with her best friend’s boyfriend on prom night. With the whole school turned against her, and Angie not speaking to her, Lizzie takes her own life. But someone isn’t letting her go quietly. As graffiti and photocopies of Lizzie’s diary plaster the school, Angie begins a relentless investigation into who, exactly, made Lizzie feel she didn’t deserve to keep living. And while she claims she simply wants to punish Lizzie’s tormentors, Angie’s own anguish over abandoning her best friend will drive her deep into the dark, twisted side of Verity High—and she might not be able to pull herself back out. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
I almost passed over THE S-WORD. As a rule, I don’t read a lot of contemporary fiction. It’s just not my favorite genre. But so far in 2013, I’ve read a couple of great contemporary books, so after reading the summary for THE S-WORD, I decided to give it a try.

I am happy I did. I like when YA books go deep into issues, and THE S-WORD explores quite a few, like bullying. I also like when YA books are realistic, and THE S-WORD is. There’s sex, drinking, and all the stuff teens do that adults don’t like to think they do. I think it’s important that teens have these realistic books, so that they have examples of how life can really be, instead of the sanitized and unrealistic relationships that populate many YA books.

Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox.

THE S-WORD is a powerful book that explores what the word “slut” really means. As Lizzie herself says, in a diary entry, “Ask a hundred people the meaning of that word and you’ll hear a hundred answers (p. 89, ARC).” The author leaves it to the reader to come up with their own meaning.

At the start of the book, Lizzie is already dead. But, as Angie says, Lizzie didn’t go quietly. A few days after Lizzie’s funeral, “Suicide Slut” shows up on lockers, the words written in Lizzie’s handwriting. Determined to find out who is making fun of her best friend’s suicide, Angie delves into the reasons why Lizzie took her own life. It’s not a pretty look, and Angie’s not always a character I liked. That was a plus for me, because usually, I am a character-driven reader, but the story the author created was compelling enough for me to overlook the fact that Angie was somewhat psychotic at times.

THE S-WORD is also a mystery, with layers of story surrounding the truth about Angie and Lizzie. It was a book I didn’t want to stop reading, because I had to find out what was going to happen next, or what truth would be revealed.

Excerpt:

Miss Popularity is found on the bleachers of the football field, positioned perfectly so the boys below can see all the way up her long, long legs, past the hem of her skirt, and then . . . nothing. her legs cross at the thigh, cutting off the view just when it gets interesting. We girls learn early what to show and what to hide, to walk that tightrope between useless prude and usable slut. p. 7, ARC)

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*giveaway is tour wide

About the author:
Chelsea Pitcher is a native of Portland, OR where she received her BA in English Literature. Fascinated by all things literary, she began gobbling up stories as soon as she could read, and especially enjoys delving into the darker places to see if she can draw out some light.

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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: Nefertiti’s Heart by A. W. Exley

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Today I am one of the stops on the blog tour for NEFERTITI’S HEART by A. W. Exley. The tour is hosted by Bewitching Book Tours and you can check out the rest of the stops here.

nefertiti's heartInfo:
Title: Nefertiti’s Heart
Author: A. W. Exley
Release Date: February 2, 2013
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Source: Blog tour/NetGalley
Series? Unknown
Genre: New Adult, Steampunk, Mystery, Romance
Page Count: 280
Rating: [4/5 stars]

Summary:

Cara Devon has always suffered curiosity and impetuousness, but tangling with a serial killer might cure that. Permanently.

London, 1861. Impoverished noble Cara has a simple mission after the strange death of her father – sell off his damned collection of priceless artifacts. Her plan goes awry when aristocratic beauties start dying of broken hearts, an eight inch long brass key hammered through their chests. A killer hunts amongst the nobility, searching for a regal beauty and an ancient Egyptian relic rumored to hold the key to immortality.

Her Majesty’s Enforcers are in pursuit of the murderer and they see a connection between the gruesome deaths and Cara. So does she, somewhere in London her father hid Nefertiti’s Heart, a fist sized diamond with strange mechanical workings. Adding further complication to her life, notorious crime lord, Viscount Nathaniel Lyons is relentless in his desire to lay his hands on Cara and the priceless artifact. If only she could figure out his motive.

Self-preservation fuels Cara’s search for the gem. In a society where everyone wears a mask to hide their true intent, she needs to figure out who to trust, before she makes a fatal mistake.

My Review:
I have to start this review by saying I had a serious case of cover lust for NEFERTITI’S HEART. It’s simple yet eye-catching, a perfect combination of the steampunk heart with the ankh in the title. The best part? The heart on the cover plays a big part in the book. It makes me a happy reader when the cover and story match.

And whew, what a story! Like the cover, NEFERTITI’S HEART is a blend of steampunk and Egyptian mythology, along with a healthy dash of mystery, romance, and memorable characters. If you’ve read any of my reviews, you’ll know that I like me some kick-butt female characters, and Cara Devon is definitely a kick-butt character. Within the first few pages, she shoots two thugs who come to steal something from her. I think I adored her from this quote: “She [Cara] popped the metal dome and drew her pistol. Her arm was straight and unwavering as she aimed directly at the thug. ‘My friend here, Mr Smith, also wants you to leave (p. 8, ARC).’”

In a world where most noble-born women are simpering, pretty playthings waiting for marriage, Cara is an anomaly. When she was fourteen, Cara’s reputation was sullied, but through no fault of her own. Traded by her own father to cover his gambling debts, she was horribly abused, which left her with a hatred of being touched and a fear of intimacy. Seven years later, after exploring the world and hiding behind a feisty, shoot first and ask questions later personality, Cara’s drawn back into a world she’d rather forget when her father is murdered.

But when Cara starts tracking down her father’s precious artifacts — famous historical objects he loved more than her — she gets tangled up with a murder investigation. The question of who is murdering the daughters of noblemen is one big mystery, and I have to say, I was totally surprised by the culprit. The clues dropped throughout the book, as well as the sections from the killer’s personality, had me thinking it was one person, but I was wrong. I love when that happens! I hate when a book is too predictable.

Cara was my favorite part of NEFERTITI’S HEART. I enjoyed seeing her growth, becoming stronger by confronting the demons of her past. She’s helped along in that process by Nathaniel Trent, the Viscount Lyons. Nathaniel is the ruthless head of London’s underworld, but he’s also the biggest gentleman in the book. I had a little trouble believing the relationship between him and Cara at first, but the author took time to develop it, and didn’t rush them into bed. NEFERTITI’S HEART is an adult book — there are some steamy scenes — but those scenes contribute to Cara’s development. Nathaniel’s character also represents the divide that exists in a society where a rich man can get away with almost anything. Unlike the man who raped Cara and faced no consequences, Nathaniel is a rogue who both attracts and repulses society. He’s like the big, bad, protective wolf. I adored him, and I usually don’t have more than a passing thought for the male romantic lead.

I also have to mention Cara’s grandmother, Nan, and her friend, Nessy. They were only in a few scenes, but they stole those scenes! I have to quote: “‘You’re young, you’re beautiful, and he sounds ridiculously handsome. Enjoy what you have. If you don’t jump him, someone else will.’ Nessy summed the situation up succinctly, to earthy laughter all round (p. 203, ARC).” I can’t imagine the typical, sixty-year-old Victorian woman saying such things. Nan and Nessy were a hoot.

The only thing about NEFERTITI’S HEART that might turn off some readers is the overly descriptive writing. Every setting is detailed, clothing is described down to the color, and so on. Some readers like that level of detail — I do — and some don’t. I thought the writing helped set the tone and established the world in the book. The beginning of the book was a little slow, but when it gets going, it zooms like an airship.

NEFERTITI’S HEART is a quirky, unique book. I’d recommend it if you’re looking for something different than the usual romance or adventure, and I know I can’t wait to see what else the author has up her wordsmithing holster.

About the author:
Books and writing have always been an enormous part of my life. I survived school by hiding out in the library, with several thousand fictional characters for company. At university, I overcame the boredom of studying accountancy by squeezing in Egyptology papers and learning to read hieroglyphics.

Today, I write steampunk novels with a sexy edge and an Egyptian twist. I live in rural New Zealand surrounded by an assortment of weird and wonderful equines, felines, canine and homicidal chickens.

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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: Strangelets by Michelle Gagnon (and giveaway!)

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Today I am one of the stops on the blog tour for STRANGELETS by Michelle Gagnon. The tour is hosted by Shane @ Itching for Books and you can check out the rest of the stops here.

strangeletsInfo:
Title: Strangelets
Author: Michelle Gagnon
Release Date: April 9, 2013
Publisher: Soho Teen
Source: Publisher for review/blog tour
Series? No
Genre: YA, Thriller, Mystery, Supernatural
Page Count: 272
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

17-year-old Sophie lies on her deathbed in California, awaiting the inevitable loss of her battle with cancer…
17-year-old Declan stares down two armed thugs in a back alley in Galway, Ireland…
17-year-old Anat attempts to traverse a booby-trapped tunnel between Israel and Egypt…

All three strangers should have died at the exact same moment, thousands of miles apart. Instead, they awaken together in an abandoned hospital—only to discover that they’re not alone. Three other teens from different places on the globe are trapped with them. Somebody or something seems to be pulling the strings. With their individual clocks ticking, they must band together if they’re to have any hope of surviving.

Soon they discover that they’ve been trapped in a future that isn’t of their making: a deadly, desolate world at once entirely familiar and utterly strange. Each teen harbors a secret, but only one holds the key that could get them home. As the truth comes to light through the eyes of Sophie, Declan, and Anat, the reader is taken on a dark and unforgettable journey into the hearts of teens who must decide what to do with a second chance at life. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
STRANGELETS is one of those books that’s incredibly hard to describe or summarize. If I say too much about the story, it will spoil the whole thing for you, and this is one I don’t want to spoil. I think it’s best if you go in without any knowledge of what will happen.

Sophie, Declan, and Anat, three teens on the edge of death, get sucked into mysterious vortexes. They wake up trapped in a hospital-like building, with three other teens, Nico, Zain, and Yosh. All of the teens have different cultural backgrounds: Irish, Japanese, American, etc. Sophie describes them: “They were a random group of kids, that was for sure. Kind of like a post- apocalyptic model UN (p. 67, ARC).” It’s an eclectic bunch, with Declan probably being my favorite. I liked his sarcasm and wise-cracking in the face of danger.

STRANGELETS is told from the viewpoints of Sophie, Declan, and Anat. I would have liked to read it from the viewpoints of all six, but it became clear later why Nico, Zain, and Yosh didn’t get to share in the narrating spotlight.

As I said, the plot of STRANGELETS is hard to describe without spoiling, so I’m not going to try. What I will say is that it’s a crazy ride, and I read most of the book in one sitting so I could find out how everything would come together. I did have a couple of “Really, guys?” moments when the characters ignored obvious clues staring them in the face, but for the most part, I was swept up in the story.

Aside from the action and suspense, there’s a romance in this book. Usually I don’t like insta-love, but I actually didn’t mind it in this case. I liked that Sophie, who thought she would never have a relationship with a guy, or even kiss one, because she was dying of lymphoma, took a chance and went for it with Declan.

What let me down with STRANGELETS was the ending. After putting her characters through some truly horrible experiences and lots of twists and turns, the author rushed from the climax to the ending in a couple of pages. I thought the ending was too happy, too upbeat, and it took the book down a notch for me. I would have liked to see the climax have more of an impact on the characters’ lives.

Overall, I did enjoy STRANGELETS, and reading the book made me curious about Michelle Gagnon’s other YA novel, DON’T TURN AROUND. I’d recommend it if you like thrillers and suspense.

Favorite Quote:

“Honestly, I haven’t a clue,” Declan said. “But when we leave tomorrow, I’d like to be holding something more lethal than a can of beans (p. 81, ARC).”

Gviveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*This giveaway is not hosted by me.

Socialize with the author:
Michelle Gagnon:
Website
Facebook
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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: Rogue Oracle (Delphic Oracle #2) by Alayna Williams

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Today I have two posts for you as part of the blog tour for the Delphic Oracle Series. by Alayna Williams. This is the second, a review of ROGUE ORACLE and a guest post by the author. The first post, a review of DARK ORACLE, is here. This tour is hosted by Bewitching Book Tours. You can check out the rest of the stops here.

rogue oracleInfo:
Title: Rogue Oracle
Author: Alayna Williams
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Publisher: Pocket Books
Source: Blog Tour
Series? Delphic Oracle #2
Series Reviews:
Delphic Oracle #1: Dark Oracle
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Thriller, Mystery
Page Count: 360
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT THE FUTURE, THE MORE THERE MAY BE TO FEAR.

Tara Sheridan is the best criminal profiler around—and the most unconventional. Trained as a forensic psychologist, Tara also specializes in Tarot card reading. But she doesn’t need her divination skills to realize that the new assignment from her friend and sometime lover, Agent Harry Li, is a dangerous proposition in every way.

Former Cold War operatives, all linked to a top-secret operation tracking the disposal of nuclear weapons in Russia, are disappearing. There are no bodies, and no clues to their whereabouts. Harry suspects a conspiracy to sell arms to the highest bidder. The cards—and Tara’s increasingly ominous dreams—suggest something darker. Even as Tara sorts through her feelings for Harry and her fractured relationship with the mysterious order known as Delphi’s Daughters, a killer is growing more ruthless by the day. And a nightmare that began decades ago in Chernobyl will reach a terrifying endgame that not even Tara could have foreseen. . . (summary from goodreads)

My Review:

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR BOOK ONE, DARK ORACLE.

ROGUE ORACLE is the second book in the Delphic Oracle Series by Alayna Williams. It picks up a couple of months after the conclusion of DARK ORACLE. Mostly healed from the emotional wounds she suffered before the first book, Tara has returned to work as a profiler. She and Harry haven’t made much progress on their burgeoning relationship, and Tara’s main priority these days is protecting Cassie from the Pythia.

Tara is plunged right back into working for the government when Harry asks for help with a case. Tara’s not thrilled about being part of “The Little Shop of Horrors” again, but she is happy that she can try to do something for Harry. The case itself is intriguing — several ex Cold War intelligence operatives have gone missing. Their knowledge of uranium stockpiles is being sold, and there’s enough to lead to another Chernobyl.

There’s an interesting fusion of science and urban fantasy in ROGUE ORACLE. After reading it, I feel like I learned a lot about Chernobyl, and I liked that the author didn’t rely just on magic to flesh out her story. The bad guy in ROGUE ORACLE is a result of that blend of science and urban fantasy, and elements from both are used to catch him.

ROGUE ORACLE smooths out some of the rough spots I had with DARK ORACLE. The writing has matured. There’s not as many extraneous descriptions, and there’s less of a focus on the tarot card readings. As Tara relies on tarot cards to interpret events, they are a vital part. However, in the first book of the series, I felt like there was a lot of space devoted to describing each card and its significance. There isn’t as much of that in ROGUE ORACLE, yet the tarot cards remain just as important.

There are some scenes from Cassie’s viewpoint, which I really enjoyed. The scenes with Cassie and the Pythia expose more of the secret world of Delphi’s Daughters, and it’s a world I’d like to see even more of. There’s a moment near the end where I went, “Ohhh. That would be a big burden to handle.” Having characters that can see the future lets the reader consider if that future is set in stone, or if it can be changed. And if it can, should it be changed.

Yet again, there are some great characters in ROGUE ORACLE. My favorites this book were the Steves, a pair of federal marshals. They are quite the colorful duo, nicknamed the Kahuna and the Cowboy by Tara. They provide some comic relief, but they also shine in serious moments, and they help Cassie recover from a traumatic experience.

The main story of ROGUE ORACLE is tied up neatly at the end of the book. Currently, there isn’t a third book in the series, but I would like to read another.

Guest Post:
Writing Destiny and Free Will
By Alayna Williams

There’s something odd about writing about free will and destiny. When I’m building a story, I’m conscious that my characters really shouldn’t have much free will. After all, I’m the gal behind the curtain, directing a story and pulling the strings of my characters. They do what I want them to do…most of the time.

Sometimes, they surprise me. I think I know where I want to take them, and they rebel. They deliberately ignore the destiny I’ve scribbled down for them in my outline and decide to go on a road trip without me. Sometimes those scenes work, and sometimes they don’t. Trying to keep my characters harnessed to complete their mission is somewhat like herding cats. If I can get them from point A in chapter one to point Z in the final chapter, I feel like I’ve got things under control.

Weird things happen when I’m writing about characters who are grappling with destiny and free will in the plot line. It’s as if my internal processes become part of the external product. I have the sense that my characters are critters on an ant farm who have just become aware of a human tapping on the glass, and they’re not happy about being trapped and manipulated.

Tara Sheridan is the heroine of my ORACLE books. She’s a criminal profiler who uses Tarot cards to solve crimes, and also a former member of a secret society of mystics, Delphi’s Daughters. Delphi’s Daughters work behind the scenes to nudge world events, for good or ill, and Tara wants out of the game. When she’s teamed with her skeptical partner, federal agent Harry Li, Tara is forced to figure out where destiny ends in her world and free will begins.

It was an exciting concept to play with. Do Tara’s cards tell of possibilities, or a fixed destiny that can’t be changed? Is free will an illusion, and Tara and Harry are simply pawns in a larger pattern? Can they break free and restore order to their world?

These are questions my characters ask each other. Some of the answers are not what they want to hear. But they are questions the characters have muttered to me as I’m shoving them along their adventures with pen and paper…and it was a lot of fun to show the readers that process.

Socialize with the author:
Alayna Williams:
Website
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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: Dark Oracle (Delphic Oracle #1) by Alayna Williams

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Today I have two posts for you as part of the blog tour for the Delphic Oracle Series. by Alayna Williams. This, the first, is a review of DARK ORACLE. The second will be a review of ROGUE ORACLE and a guest post by the author. This tour is hosted by Bewitching Book Tours. You can check out the rest of the stops here.

dark oracleInfo:
Title: Dark Oracle
Author: Alayna Williams
Release Date: May 25, 2010
Publisher: Pocket Books
Source: Blog tour
Series? Delphic Oracle #1
Series Reviews:
Delphic Oracle #2: Rogue Oracle
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Thriller, Mystery
Page Count: 336
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

TARA SHERIDAN HAS A GIFT . . . AND IT ALMOST KILLED HER.

As a criminal profiler, Tara used science and her intuitive skill at Tarot card divination to track down the dangerous and depraved, including the serial killer who left her scarred from head to toe. Since that savage attack, Tara has been a recluse. But now an ancient secret society known as Delphi’s Daughters has asked for her help in locating missing scientist Lowell Magnusson. And Tara, armed with her Tarot deck, her .38, and a stack of misgivings, agrees to try.

Tara immediately senses there is far more at stake than one man’s life. At his government lab in the New Mexico desert, Magnusson had developed groundbreaking technology with terrifying potential. Working alongside the brusque but charismatic agent Harry Li, Tara discovers that Magnusson’s daughter, Cassie, has knowledge that makes her a target too. The more Tara sees into the future, the more there is to fear. She knows she has to protect Cassie. But there may be no way to protect herself—from the enemies circling around her, or from the long-buried powers stirring to life within. . . . (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
DARK ORACLE is the start to an intriguing urban fantasy series. Instead of the usual vampires, werewolves, or fae, author Alayna Williams brings in a new inspiration: the oracles of Delphi. In modern day, they are known as Delphi’s Daughters and led by the Pythia. They’re a secret society of women who can read the future, but they’re not all powerful. They’re soccer moms and bikers.

Tara is the only woman to leave Delphi’s Daughters. Skilled in the art of cartomancy (using tarot cards to read the future), she used to work for the government as a profiler. After she got chewed up and spit out by a bad case, she left the Feds and the Daughters behind, wanting solitude and to live her own life. But when a scientist working on a deadly project disappears, Tara gets dragged back into the worlds she left.

Clues to Tara’s past are sprinkled throughout the book, and build her character. She’s not the usual up-in-your-face, brash, kick-butt type of urban fantasy heroine. Tara is cautious. Well, more cautious than most, but she does charge headfirst into some situations. I liked Tara’s cautiousness and hesitance to get involved. The clues of her past hint at something dark and horrible, so I found it believable that it took her time to get over that. She goes from almost having a claustrophobia-induced panic attack at a crime scene to charging into danger to save her man.

DARK ORACLE doesn’t read like your typical urban fantasy. It has more of a mystery or detective story feel. The everyday crime story combined with some hints of magic. I liked that the paranormal world in this series isn’t always upfront. You know it’s there, and that the oracles have some influence over the events of the world, but there’s still the possibility that choice and free will can change the forecasted future. There’s also quite a bit of focus on science, which isn’t usually something you find in urban fantasy.

The writing in DARK ORACLE does get bogged down at times by the extensive descriptions of tarot reading. I both liked and disliked the use of tarot cards. I thought it was a neat way to foreshadow, but I could have done without the extended descriptions of each card and its significance. I’ll admit, I ended up skimming some of those passages. But if tarot reading is something you have an interest in, you’ll probably find those parts more interesting than I did.

Aside from Tara, the rest of the characters are pretty well done. The author makes an effort to give even the animals personality. Maggie the dog and Oscar the cat were actually some of my favorite characters, along with Cassie, the daughter of the missing scientist. The one rub for me was Harry, Tara’s love interest. I would have liked to see more development of their relationship.

The main story of this novel concludes at the end of DARK ORACLE, which is nice. No frustrating cliffhanger, but there is room for more, and I’ll be reading the sequel, ROGUE ORACLE, to see what happens to Tara, Harry, and Cassie. And the animals!

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Alayna Williams:
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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: The Murmurings by Carly Anne West

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Today I am one of the stops for Carly Anne West’s new book, THE MURMURINGS, hosted by Shane @ Itching for Books. Check out the other stops here. Also, check below my review for a dream cast and giveaway!

the murmuringsInfo:
Title: The Murmurings
Author: Carly Anne West
Release Date: March 5, 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: Publisher for blog tour
Series? No
Genre: YA, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Page Count: 384
Rating:

Summary:

Everyone thinks Sophie’s sister, Nell, went crazy. After all, she heard strange voices that drove her to commit suicide. But Sophie doesn’t believe that Nell would take her own life, and she’s convinced that Nell’s doctor knows more than he’s letting on.

As Sophie starts to piece together Nell’s last days, every lead ends in a web of lies. And the deeper Sophie digs, the more danger she’s in—because now she’s hearing the same haunting whispers. Sophie’s starting to think she’s going crazy too. Or worse, that maybe she’s not…. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
I don’t usually read horror — I don’t like being scared! — but the summary for THE MURMURINGS caught my attention. Immediately I wanted to know why Nell committed suicide, what the voices said, and why Sophie was hearing them too. I also think the cover’s intense, with the girl staring right into my eyes.

The book starts out creepy, with Sophie seeing something in the mirror. I think everyone’s seen things, then really looked and nothing’s there, so it’s an easy way for the reader to relate to what’s happening to Sophie. THE MURMURINGS is also sad, a look into a family broken by grief. I really felt for Sophie, trying to cope with Nell’s death without the help of her mother.

Nell’s death has also made Sophie an outcast at school, and I liked that she wasn’t the popular girl. I did have a bit of trouble believing the relationship that sprang up between Sophie and Evan, but Evan is one of the few male characters I’ve liked lately. He’s awkward, and unsure of himself in an endearing sort of way. Refreshingly, he’s not one of the bad boys that are so trendy in YA. Ethan reads like a real guy.

The basic story of THE MURMURINGS, without giving too much away, is that Sophie is trying to find out why Nell died, and why she heard voices. The scariness for me wasn’t actually in the voices or the things in mirrors, but in the mental institution. Now, Oakside put the eep in creepy. Dr. Keller and the rest of the staff made my skin crawl.

Spread throughout the book are passages from Nell’s diary and blog posts from Adam, an orderly at the institution. Adam’s blog posts were some of my favorite parts. They were of the “crazy dude in a tinfoil hat” variety, and I didn’t know if I could trust him or not, which added to the twists in the book. But in the end, THE MURMURINGS wasn’t as full of horror as the summary implied. It’s hard to explain why without spoiling too much, but I felt like there was a lot of focus on a supernatural element that wasn’t very scary.

I’d recommend THE MURMURINGS to other readers like me, who may not like horror stories. It would be a good way to get into the genre.

Socialize with the author:
Carly Anne West:
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Dream Cast!

Sophie played by Sophie Turner. I wasn’t sure who to pick for Sophie, but when I went looking for faces, I stumbled over this picture. The hair is a bit light, but I like the combination of vulnerability and “leave me alone” on her face. Plus, the actress’s name is Sophie, so it’s like it was meant to be.


Evan played by Michael Trevino. Again, I wasn’t sure who to pick, but I found this picture and I knew it was Evan. He’s got a perfect geeky, sort of awkward expression.


Dr. Keller by Cillian Murphy. I knew immediately who I wanted to pick for Dr. Keller. Cillian Murphy does a good “I’m creepy, but you can trust me” expression.


Adam played by Colin O’Donoghue. This is inspiration from my recent infatuation with Once Upon a Time.

Giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway is not hosted by me. I am not responsible for prizes.

– leeanna

Book Review: City of a Thousand Dolls by Miriam Forster

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cityofathousanddolls-rInfo:
Title: City of a Thousand Dolls
Author: Miriam Forster
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Amazon Vine
Series? Not sure
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Mystery
Page Count: 361
Rating:

Summary:

An exotic treat set in an entirely original, fantastical world brimming with deadly mystery, forbidden romance, and heart-stopping adventure.

Nisha was abandoned at the gates of the City of a Thousand Dolls when she was just a child. Now sixteen, she lives on the grounds of the isolated estate, where orphan girls apprentice as musicians, healers, courtesans, and, if the rumors are true, assassins. Nisha makes her way as Matron’s assistant, her closest companions the mysterious cats that trail her shadow. Only when she begins a forbidden flirtation with the city’s handsome young courier does she let herself imagine a life outside the walls. Until one by one, girls around her start to die.

Before she becomes the next victim, Nisha decides to uncover the secrets that surround the girls’ deaths. But by getting involved, Nisha jeopardizes not only her own future in the City of a Thousand Dolls—but her own life. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
Ever since I stumbled over the summary for CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS, I wanted to read it. So I was literally jumping up and down when I saw it in my Amazon Vine picks.

Lately, books that I’ve been excited about haven’t lived up to the hype for me, so I was a bit nervous to start CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS. Happily for me, once I started, I couldn’t stop reading. I had to keep myself from reading ahead — every time I turned the page, my eyes would be looking at the right page before I’d started the left.

I think the worldbuilding was my favorite part of CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS. The basic concept is that the city houses unwanted daughters and gives them value. The girls are trained in various arts, such as dance or music, or intended to be wives or concubines. In a world that only allows families to have two children, it’s a much better solution than those girls being killed after birth.

Nisha is the only girl not part of a house. Instead, she’s the Matron’s messenger and informant. When girls start dying within the city, Nisha investigates at the Matron’s request, and also to save herself from being sold as a slave. CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS is a combination of mystery and fantasy, and I really liked that most of the book focused on Nisha solving the mysterious deaths rather than moping about a boy. Not that there isn’t romance within the book, but it’s not the entire story.

The romance with Devan was actually one of the weak points for me. Although I appreciated that the relationship wasn’t of the instant, love at first sight variety, it still didn’t click for me. That said, the relationship did give Nisha a chance to grow at the end of the book, as well as to show just how strict the caste system and world Forster has created is. CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS has a mix of Asian and Indian influences.

Another plus for me was the talking cats who live in the city. Nisha is the only person that can talk to them, and they are her guardians and friends. Each cat has their own personality, and I have to say, I’d love a Jerrit in my own life, even though I’m not a cat person.

CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS has some flaws, but overall, I was enchanted with it. I didn’t want to put it down until I’d read the entire book. I would love to read another book set in the same world, perhaps picking up where CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS ends. I hope that Nisha’s story isn’t over.

Give CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS a look if you like Asian or Indian inspired stories, fantasy and/or mystery.

Socialize with the author:
Miriam Forster:
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– leeanna

Book Review: Mind Games by Kiersten White

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mind gamesInfo:
Title: Mind Games
Author: Kiersten White
Release Date: February 19, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Amazon Vine
Series? Mind Games #1
Genre: YA, Thriller, Fantasy, Mystery
Page Count: 256
Rating:

Summary:

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways… or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
I wish I did gif reviews, because I’m having a hard time describing the experience of reading Mind Games, and how I feel about it. I think it’s a book most people are either going to love or hate. Me, I loved it.

Here was my reaction the minute I finished reading (copied from my Twitter): I just finished MIND GAMES. I have to say … WOW. In the best, craziest way possible. I’m feeling all the things!

Mind Games is exactly that — one gigantic mind game. I’d also call it a mind frack, or perhaps a mind puzzle. The characters play mental gymnastics with each other, and the reader gets to figure out how everything fits together, or doesn’t.

It’s told from the alternating viewpoints of two sisters, Fia and Annie. The sisters have distinctive voices, so it’s easy to tell them apart, as well see the story unfolding from both sides. Fia’s narration got a little annoying at times, but I understand what the author was trying to do. Because many of the women at the school Fia and Annie attend can read minds, one of the tricks Fia uses to keep them out is repeating the same words over and over again. For the most part, the author was successful with using repetition, but it still got on my nerves every so often.

The story isn’t told in chronological order either, but it’s easy to keep track of what’s going on, and when it’s happening. I rarely had to flip back to the beginning of a chapter to see if I was in the present or the past.

Mind Games is fast, short, and action-packed. There’s not a word (even repeated words) wasted. Lately I’ve been complaining about books that are stretched out and need editing, but that’s not the case here. Quite the opposite. I wanted to find out more about Fia and Annie, about the school for “gifted” students (I’m a sucker for a boarding school setting), and more about the mysterious Keane and what his motives were.

The reason I’m giving Mind Games 4 stars instead of 5 is because the ending let me down. All the action and build-up had me expecting more … oomph. However, the ending wasn’t enough to take away from my overall enjoyment of Mind Games, and I can’t wait for book two.

Socialize with the author:
Kiersten White:
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– leeanna