Tag Archives: genre: paranormal

Blog Tour Book Review: Comes the Night by Norah Wilson and Heather Doherty

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Today I am one of the stops on the blog tour for COMES THE NIGHT by Norah Wilson and Heather Doherty. The tour is hosted by ATOMR Book Blog Tours and you can view the rest of the stops here.

comes the nightInfo:
Title: Comes the Night
Authors: Norah Wilson and Heather Doherty
Release Date: December 9, 2012
Publisher: Something Shiny Press
Source: Authors for blog tour
Series? Casters Series #1
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Page Count: 330
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

How far would you go to escape your own personal teenage hell? Would you run away, break away from everything you know—even your own body?

Alex Robbins, Brooke Saunders and Maryanne Hemlock could not be more different, yet they all have something in common — deep and soul-searing pain. They are also all students at Streep Academy, a boarding school just one step away from juvie, where they’ve come to complete high school. The three have been relegated to Harvell House, the residence reserved for the hardest cases, the so-called Rejects from Reject Row. In the forbidden attic of the old Victorian house-turned-residence, the girls discover the diary of Connie Harvell, a young woman who was confined and abused there some 50 years ago. In the end, Connie’s attic prison couldn’t hold her—not completely. She found a way out. At least a dark part of her did. And after reading her diary, the girls discover they can escape at will too. A terrifying, thrilling flight from their bodies and their troubles.

But God help them, their pain isn’t all they leave behind when they join with the night. And God help anyone who’s wronged them… (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
COMES THE NIGHT is the story of three living girls, Alex, Maryanne, and Brooke, and one dead girl, Connie. The four are connected when Alex finds Connie’s old diary in the attic of their school dormitory. Shocked by the tales of abuse with the diary’s pages, the girls learn about Connie’s method of coping, and eventually they try out her method, too.

Alex, Maryanne, and Brooke attend Streep Academy, best described as a boarding school for troubled and out of control teens. They live in Harvell House, aka the house of the worst of the worst. As it turns out, Harvell was also Connie’s prison — she was locked in the attic by her stepfather.

COMES THE NIGHT is definitely a dark book for mature teens. There are some things that may be triggers for readers, such as rape, incest, and child neglect. The book starts with Alex waking up after being raped, and her struggles to remember what happened that night are a big part of the story, even though she keeps it a secret. Maryanne and Brooke have their own issues they’re working through; I’ll let you discover them on your own.

Connie’s method of coping turns out to be a type of astral projection, something she and the other girls call “casting.” It leads to the three girls haunting the town, almost as if they are living ghosts. I was really curious about casting, and would have liked to learn more about it. Why it’s possible, how Connie discovered it, etc. I do understand the girls didn’t have those answers, so hopefully more shows up in the next book. COMES THE NIGHT is the first in a trilogy, the Casters Series.

I enjoyed reading COMES THE NIGHT, although the book didn’t grab me. It was well-written, with an intriguing hook — the casting — and also, I liked that the authors weren’t afraid to harm their characters. There was a part where I wasn’t sure if one of the main characters would wake up from a serious injury — I like having worry moments like that. But I figured out most of the story early on; there was perhaps a bit much foreshadowing. The way the girls acted while out casting bugged me sometimes — they were kind of juvenile and petty — but I also am sure that’s how lots of teens would act with such a power in their hands.

The main stories within COMES THE NIGHT are wrapped up by the end of the book, and I am curious to see where the authors will take the characters in the next book.

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*giveaway is tour-wide

The authors:
NORAH WILSON is a Kindle best-selling author of romantic suspense and paranormal romance. She lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, with her husband, two adult children, dog Chloe, and kitty, Ruckus.

HEATHER DOHERTY fell in love with writing while taking creative writing courses with Athabasca University. Motivated by her university success, and a life-long dream of becoming a novelist, she later enrolled in the Humber School for Writers under the mentorship of David Adams Richards. Her first literary novel was published in 2006. While still writing dark literary (as well as not-so-dark children’s lit), she is beyond thrilled to be writing paranormal/horror with Norah. Heather lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick with her family. (No pets, but I swear Norah’s dog, Chloe, calls me Aunt Heather).

Together, Heather and Norah write dark, edgy, frightening young adult paranormal/horror.

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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: Deer in Headlights by Staci Hart (and giveaways!)

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Today I am the stop on the blog tour for DEER IN HEADLIGHTS by Staci Hart. The tour is hosted by Parajunkee Blog Tours.

deer in headlightsInfo:
Title: Deer in Headlights
Author: Staci Hart
Release Date: February 13, 2013
Publisher: Promise Socks Publishing
Source: Author/blog tour
Series? Good Gods #1
Genre: Adult, Romance, Paranormal, Mythology
Page Count: 166
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

What do the Greek gods do when they’re bored? Because they’re always bored, so humans are the perfect players in their games.

Aphrodite owns love; she hasn’t lost a competition on her turf in over three millennia. Apollo is on a mission to win. He’s counting on it to finally get the one woman he’s never been able to have. The two gods will choose their human players, and if Aphrodite can’t get them together before the clock runs out, Apollo will get his way. And Aphrodite couldn’t have that.

Lex and Dean are perfect for each other, they just don’t know it yet. Dean is a perpetual bachelor, and a brooding, beautiful rock star. Lex is always with a man, but she’ll never fully give herself up. Aphrodite has her work cut out for her, but if she can’t make it work, no one can.

The gods have their own drama. Apollo killed Aprhodite’s mortal love – they’ve got beef that’s been dragging on for thousands of years. Ares, the douchebag, is forever trying to pick a fight, and trying to get Aphrodite into bed. And Persephone, Aphrodite’s best friend, is the one person who Aphrodite shares everything with.

Follow the gods as they fight, laugh, cry, lose love, gain power, and make a mess with humans. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
If you’re immortal, what do you do when you’re bored? That’s the question DEER IN HEADLIGHTS attempts to answer, showing the modern day lives of the Greek gods.

The first in a series, this book is really two stories in one. The first is the competition between Aphrodite and Apollo, the latest in thousands of years of such challenges. Each has a mortal hero — Aphrodite’s goal is to get the two humans to fall in love in two weeks, and Apollo’s is to keep them apart. Aphrodite and Apollo have a long, long history, and neither wants the other to win.

The second story in DEER IN HEADLIGHTS is the story of the gods’ humans. Lex, Dita’s human, is a girl afraid to get truly attached to any man, and Dean, Apollo’s champion, is the epitome of bad boy. Seriously. Dean’s the lead singer of a band, believes in one night stands, and is a magnet for chicks.

I was originally drawn to DEER IN HEADLIGHTS because of the cover, which is quite different from what you usually see, but the stories and characters inside kept me reading. The narrative bounces back and forth between the gods and the humans, and between the gods’ past and present lives. Sometimes I had to reread a page or two to figure out what was going on, but on the whole, the author did a good job of keeping all the different plotlines easy to follow. I always like to see new twists on Greek mythology.

I wanted to root for both Aphrodite and Apollo. They both have excellent reasons for wanting to win, which you learn from the flashbacks. Their part of the book was the most interesting to me, and I would have liked to see more of them and the other gods in modern day. The romance between Dean and Lex was okay, but I just had more interest in the Greek gods.

DEER IN HEADLIGHTS is definitely not a book for younger readers. There are some explicit scenes, all of which were nicely descriptive without going overboard or being too flowery. One little thing that bugged me about the book was the use of nicknames — almost every character has one. There’s Dita for Aphrodite, Perry for Persephone, Heff for Hephaestus. The writing was pretty easy to read, with the exception of dialogue that sometimes felt over the top.

The two stories in DEER IN HEADLIGHTS are both resolved at the end, yet there’s an opening for the next book in the series, Good Gods. It sounds like the next book will feature Persephone and Ares, presumably with a competition between them. I’m curious to see what else the author has in mind.

Giveaways:

Tour Wide Giveaway:
US ONLY
5 signed copies of Deer in Headlights
2 $25 Amazon Gift cards

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Socialize with the author:
Staci Hart:
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– leeanna

Book Review: School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins

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school spiritsInfo:
Title: School Spirits
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Source: NetGalley/Disney-Hyperion
Series? School Spirits #1
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Page Count: 304
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy’s mom decides they need to take a break.

Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who’s always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.

Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt? (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
SCHOOL SPIRITS is a spin off of the Hex Hall series by Rachel Hawkins. I was totally surprised by how much I liked Hex Hall, so when I found out about SCHOOL SPIRITS, I had to read it.

SCHOOL SPIRITS stars Isolde “Izzy” Brannick, of the Brannick clan of fighter women. Instead of fighting against the Prodigium Council, Izzy and her mother are now working for it. They’re also searching for Izzy’s sister Finley, who disappeared during a mission.

After a fight with a vampire goes wrong, Izzy’s mother finds her an easier mission: infiltrating a high school to investigate the ghost haunting it. But Izzy’s not so taken with the idea — she’s never been to school, or around kids her own age. So how do you learn about high school if it’s completely foreign? You watch DVDs of high school dramas with the warlock your family trapped in a mirror hundreds of years ago. Said warlock, Torin, is the closest thing to a friend Izzy’s ever had. I hope more of his story comes out in future books, because I really want to find out how he got trapped in the mirror, and what secrets he’s hiding.

When Izzy starts school, she falls in with a group of geeks who have a ghost hunting club. Sure that they’re the ones responsible for the ghost haunting the school, Izzy gets close to them as part of the job. But when she realizes she actually cares about them — and has real friends for the first time ever, she’s torn between duty and friendship.

SCHOOL SPIRITS is a good book, full of great characters and witty writing. I like that Izzy was scared about high school even though she’s a butt-kicking monster slayer. I also liked that Izzy hung out with the “uncool” kids. Yeah, her friendships with Romy and Dex started out as part of the job, but once she saw that they cared about her (and were cool in their own way), she started to question her mother’s teachings that Brannicks don’t have unnecessary interactions with humans.

The relationship between Izzy and Dex was adorable. Izzy has no clue on dating, and that was another aspect I liked. She kept comparing their interactions to moments from the high school drama she and Torin watched, and I think that’s a good reminder for teens that real life isn’t like what you see on TV.

However, SCHOOL SPIRITS didn’t have quite the same magic that the Hex Hall series did. There was just something missing, something I can’t quite put my finger on. Although I did enjoy reading, I was just … underwhelmed. The climax was a bit weak, the ending a bit too neat. After all the buildup about the violent ghost, I expected more oomph in the final showdown.

I probably would have enjoyed it more if I hadn’t thought of it as a spin off of Hex Hall, even though it is. SCHOOL SPIRITS is basically a ghost story; other than a vampire the beginning, there aren’t really any other supernatural creatures.

It’s a good book, and I’ll continue Izzy’s story, but I just wasn’t grabbed by Izzy like I was by Sophie in Hex Hall. I’m sorry for all the comparisons, but was inevitable, since the books are related.

Socialize with the author:
Rachel Hawkins:
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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

Book Review: The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

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the eternity cureInfo:
Title: The Eternity Cure
Author: Julie Kagawa
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: NetGalley/Harlequin Teen
Series? Blood of Eden #2
Series Reviews:
Blood of Eden #1: The Immortal Rules
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Dystopian
Page Count: 446
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
After reading THE IMMORTAL RULES twice in less than a year, and loving the experience each time, I couldn’t wait to get my paws on THE ETERNITY CURE. I couldn’t wait to find out what was next in Allie’s story, and also to find out more about the vampire world Julie Kagawa created.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t blown away by THE ETERNITY CURE. Though it is a worthy sequel, for me, it had middle book syndrome. The first 150 – 200 pages took me a long time to read, because there just wasn’t a lot going on. After that, the book did pick up, with lots of action and some interesting developments. I did predict several of the plot twists, but I’m not going to name them because I don’t want to spoil anyone. All I can say is: REALLY Salazar?

The best part of the first half or so is Jackal, Allie’s blood-brother. Allie spends a lot of the book bemoaning her vampiric nature. At first I thought she had accepted that she’s a vampire and humans are now lower on the food chain, but no, she thinks about it. A lot. I can understand some soul searching, especially after she spent her first lifetime in misery because she didn’t want to become a slave to the vampires. But there comes a point when too much angst is too much.

That’s why I liked Jackal. Compared to Allie, he’s a breath of fresh air. He’s a vampire through and through, and has no apologies or hesitation about killing or hurting humans to get what he needs. I got sick of Allie judging him for being a vampire. Message to Allie: vampires EAT people. Vampires NEED blood to survive.

The main story in THE ETERNITY CURE is the search for Kanin. The sire of Allie and Jackal, Kanin was kidnapped by the extremely psychotic vampire Sarren. Mix together every crazy serial killer and you’ll get an idea of Sarren’s personality. While searching, Allie and Jackal sort of bond, and I had more than a few laughs at Jackal’s dark, sarcastic sense of humor. In THE IMMORTAL RULES, Allie was my favorite character, but Jackal stole the show for me in book two.

At almost 450 pages, THE ETERNITY CURE is quite long for a young adult book. Length doesn’t bother me, and I like sinking my teeth (fangs?) into a long book, but I think it could have been slimmed down and lost some of the slow, slow beginning. There were also quite a few instances of being reminded of the same thing over and over again, which could have been cut down. For example, I lost count of how many times Allie told the reader she would be cold, if only winter weather still bothered her.

But when Allie and Jackal return to New Covington in pursuit of Kanin and information on the Red Lung virus, the book does pick up. The last half is why I’m giving it a good rating, and why I want to find out what will happen in the third book of the series.

Zeke makes a return, too. I wasn’t convinced of their relationship in THE IMMORTAL RULES, and I wasn’t here, either. I just wanted … more. I had a hard time believing Zeke would go against a lifetime of indoctrination to hate vampires by falling in love with Allie.

The ending of THE ETERNITY CURE was great. In the last half, there’s tons of action, double-crossing, and violence. Although I was underwhelmed by the first half and by several other things, the ending of the book redeemed the series for me.

Socialize with the author:
Julie Kagawa:
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– leeanna

Book Review: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

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the immortal rulesTitle: The Immortal Rules
Author: Julie Kagawa
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: Library
Series? Blood of Eden #1
Series Reviews:
Blood of Eden #2: The Eternity Cure
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Dystopian
Page Count: 485
Rating: [5/5 stars]

Summary:

To survive in a ruined world, she must embrace the darkness…

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them—the vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself dies and becomes one of the monsters.

Forced to flee her city, Allie must pass for human as she joins a ragged group of pilgrims seeking a legend—a place that might have a cure for the disease that killed off most of civilization and created the rabids, the bloodthirsty creatures who threaten human and vampire alike. And soon Allie will have to decide what and who is worth dying for…again. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
THE IMMORTAL RULES has some of my favorite things: vampires, a dystopian society, and a kick-butt main character. It was one of THE books of 2012, and I’ve actually read the book twice in less than a year, first in June 2012 and now in April 2013. Both times I loved it, and didn’t want it to end.

As a human, Allison Sekemoto struggles to survive in a world where most humans are nothing more than sacks of walking blood. Vampires rule what’s left of America, doling out supplies in exchange for required blood “donations.” Allie, fiercely independent and unwilling to Register with the vampires, ekes out a miserable existence. Unregistered humans don’t officially exist, so they don’t get food tickets or housing. Searching for food and protecting her gang are her only priorities, although she does know how to do one thing most humans don’t: read.

The world Julie Kagawa has created is a harsh one, and I loved it. The world-building is well-done, with enough details to immerse me in the story without overloading me on backstory. At the beginning of THE IMMORTAL RULES, Allie is a prickly character. But she’s that way because of her life, which is a day-to-day struggle. Besides the vampire overlords, Allie faces danger from rival gangs, rabids, and starvation.

When Allie’s offered a second chance at life after being attacked by rabids, you almost wonder why she would even take it. This quote is one of my favorites from the book: “But in reality, when faced with death and the great unknown that came after, my survival instinct snatched wildly at whatever lifeline was offered. I didn’t want to die. Even if it meant becoming something I loathed, my nature was, first and always, to survive (Chapter 4).”

I think all readers can identify with the desire to survive. And once Allie becomes a vampire, the very thing she hates the most, she ironically becomes more human. When she isn’t concerned with survival, her humanity returns, which I thought was an interesting dichotomy.

After being separated from her vampire mentor, Kanin (who is a very interesting character, and I can’t wait to see more of him), Allie encounters a group of humans searching for Eden. Pretending to be a human, Allie travels with the group, inevitably falling for Zeke. Though I’m not usually a fan of romance, I didn’t mind their relationship. It wasn’t quite of the dreaded insta-love variety. Zeke is a pretty good guy, but he hates vampires, which leads to some difficult situations.

THE IMMORTAL RULES is a long book; there’s a lot I’m not mentioning in this review. But I never felt like I was slogging through the pages to finish. The author’s writing is easy to read and flows nicely. I can’t believe I haven’t read her Iron Fey series yet, but it’s definitely moved up the list after reading THE IMMORTAL RULES.

I definitely recommend it if you like vampires or dystopias, because it’s a great combination of both. I reread it in preparation for book two of the series, THE ETERNITY CURE, and I’m glad I did.

Socialize with the author:
Julie Kagawa:
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– leeanna

Book Review: Fang Girl by Helen Keeble

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fang girlInfo:
Title: Fang Girl
Author: Helen Keeble
Release Date: September 11, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library
Series? No
Genre: YA, Humor, Paranormal
Page Count: 342
Rating: [2/5 stars]

Summary:

Things That Are Destroying Jane Greene’s Undead Social Life Before It Can Even Begin:

1) A twelve-year-old brother who’s convinced she’s a zombie.
2) Parents who are begging her to turn them into vampires.
3) The pet goldfish she accidentally turns instead.
4) Weird superpowers that let her rip the heads off of every other vampire she meets.(Sounds cool, but it doesn’t win you many friends.)
5) A psychotic vampire creator who’s using her to carry out a plan for world domination.

And finally:
6) A seriously ripped vampire hunter who either wants to stake her or make out with her. Not sure which.

Being an undead, eternally pasty fifteen-year-old isn’t quite the sexy, brooding, angst-fest Jane always imagined…. (summary from goodreads)

My Thoughts:
I wanted to like FANG GIRL. It’s supposed to be a parody and mishmash of vampire books and trends, but an overly complicated story bogs down the humor. Although the book is a fast read, I kept having to flip back to try and figure out what was going on.

Some of the pluses:
♥ Jane’s family is actually in the book and plays an important role. A nice change from the trend of neglectful/absent parents that’s common in YA.
♥ Jane’s mom makes a vampire goldfish, which was good for a few laughs.
♥ The author gave her vampires OCD traits. Need to get a vampire off your butt in a fight? Throw a handful of paper clips at them. The vampire won’t fight until they’ve picked up every single paper clip. The OCDness gets worse the older the vampire is.

Some of the minuses:
– Lily. I never figured out what was up with her, and I wanted to. As Jane’s sire, she was one of the most interesting characters to me.
– Ebon. This boy lied so many times that I have no idea what the truth is.
– The story was just too fast, with too much packed into it. A few days after finishing FANG GIRL, I vaguely remember it.

Socialize with the author:
Helen Keeble:
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– leeanna

Book Review: Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black

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dance of shadowsInfo:
Title: Dance of Shadows
Author: Yelena Black
Release Date: February 12, 2013
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books
Source: Bloomsbury/NetGalley
Series? Dance of Shadows #1
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Page Count: 447
Rating: [2/5 stars]

Summary:

Dancing with someone is an act of trust. Elegant and intimate; you’re close enough to kiss, close enough to feel your partner’s heartbeat. But for Vanessa, dance is deadly – and she must be very careful who she trusts . . .

Vanessa Adler attends an elite ballet school – the same one her older sister, Margaret, attended before she disappeared. Vanessa feels she can never live up to her sister’s shining reputation. But Vanessa, with her glorious red hair and fair skin, has a kind of power when she dances – she loses herself in the music, breathes different air, and the world around her turns to flames . . .

Soon she attracts the attention of three men: gorgeous Zep, mysterious Justin, and the great, enigmatic choreographer Josef Zhalkovsky. When Josef asks Vanessa to dance the lead in the Firebird, she has little idea of the danger that lies ahead – and the burning forces about to be unleashed . . . (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
I had high hopes for DANCE OF SHADOWS. First, let’s talk about the cover. It’s eye-catching. It’s amazing. I could stare at it for minutes. And I thought the story sounded cool: ballet with paranormal elements? Count me in!

Unfortunately, DANCE OF SHADOWS wasn’t as good as I hoped it would be. I hoped it would take everything that was good about the movies Black Swan and Center Stage, and the book BUNHEADS by Sophie Flack, and make new magic. But even if I had gone into the book with ZERO expectations, I still would have been disappointed.

I had a difficult time writing this review. It’s taken me a few weeks, and even though I jotted down notes while reading, I’m still struggling to figure out what to say about DANCE OF SHADOWS.

To start off, the prologue confused me. Who the heck is Chloe, when the main character is Vanessa? And it practically gave away the story. Between the prologue and the last few chapters, the paranormal element was barely touched on. I wish that some of the unnecessary parts of the book had been edited down, so that the occult plotline could have been expanded upon.

The book started out okay. I think I read the first hundred or so pages without any huge issues, but then it started going downhill. Vanessa originally went to the New York Ballet Academy to find her sister, Margaret, who disappeared from the school three years ago. Yet, once she’s there, Vanessa barely thinks about finding Margaret. Instead, she falls head-over-heels in love with Zeppelin.

The relationship between Vanessa and Zep had me rolling my eyes a lot. It was insta-love of the worst variety, with barely any substance for their relationship. Vanessa thinks there’s no chance for them, because she’s a freshman and Zep is a senior, but all it takes is some staring at each other, and wham, Zep dumps his girlfriend for Vanessa. Sort of. They go on a date or two, and Vanessa cuts him so much slack it’s ridiculous. As a reader, you’re hit over the head with the SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE stick so many times, but Vanessa can’t see a damn thing.

There were so many glaring holes in this book. I can’t see how any school wouldn’t investigate dozens of disappearances. Or how the media wouldn’t make a big deal out of it, because the New York Ballet Academy is such a famous school. Or, when one of Vanessa’s new friends disappears, she doesn’t think to do one very simple thing to find her.

The premise of DANCE OF SHADOWS was fantastic. It’s what had me so excited to read and review the book. But the execution was just horrible. I almost hoped I could excuse the flaws, because the book would turn out to be a fun read, but it became tedious. The pacing in the middle was so slow and repetitive. I didn’t need to know what every character was wearing, or to read descriptions of Vanessa and Zep practicing over and over again. All of the repetition kept there from being enough book time to expand the paranormal element, as I said above. Vanessa’s mysterious ability of having the world fall away when she dances perfectly was one of the more interesting parts of the book, and that was the sort of thing I wanted to see more of, not Vanessa obsessing over a boy she barely knows.

There were some good elements in DANCE OF SHADOWS, but overall, this book was a miss.

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Yelena Black:
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– leeanna

Book Review: Incarnation by Emma Cornwall

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incarnationInfo:
Title: Incarnation
Author: Emma Cornwall
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Gallery Books
Source: Gallery Books via Edelweiss
Series? No
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Alternate History, Steampunk, Adult
Page Count: 352
Rating:

Summary:

In the steampunk world of Victorian London, a beautiful vampire seeks out the author of Dracula–to set the record straight . . . If one is to believe Bram Stoker’s legendary vampire tale, Lucy Weston is Dracula’s most wanton creation, a sexual creature of the night who preys on innocent boys. But the real-life Lucy is nothing like her fictional counterpart—and she demands to know why the Victorian author deliberately lied. With Stoker’s reluctant help, she’s determined to track down the very fiend who transformed her—from the sensual underworld where humans vie to become vampires, to a hidden cell beneath a temple to madness, and finally into the glittering Crystal Palace where death reigns supreme.

Haunted by fragmentary memories of her lost life and love, Lucy must battle her thirst for blood as she struggles to stop a catastrophic war that will doom vampires and humans alike. Ultimately, she must make a choice that illuminates for her—and for us—what it means to be human. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
What if Dracula, Bram Stoker’s famous book, was a gigantic cover up? What if vampires, werewolves, and other fantastical beasts roamed the world? What if the British monarchy knew about it, and was in on it?

Incarnation is wildly inventive, and a great read. It took me a while to get to it, and now that I’ve finished it, I wish I would have read it sooner. It’s not your typical vampire book, so even if you’re sick of those, I’d still encourage you to give it a try. It’s also not young adult, though the cover gives the impression it might be. I’d recommend Incarnation for readers of any age, teen and up. It’s a mix of alternate history, steampunk, paranormal, urban fantasy, and even some romance — there should be something for everyone.

I really liked Lucy Weston, the main character. Does the name sound familiar? It should, although in Dracula, she was known as Lucy Westenra. Lucy is spunky, sensitive, and real. There’s even a hint of Lucy Westenra’s sensuality in her, yet they are two very different characters. I loved that Lucy wanted to do more with her life than marry and have children, especially in a time when that’s all women were supposed to do. Lucy grew over the course of the book, and I really hope her story isn’t finished yet. I would be excited to read a sequel to Incarnation.

Incarnation has a pretty cool twist on vampires. I don’t think I’ve read anything combining Arthurian legends and vampires before! Lady Blanche was an interesting villain, and I would have liked to know more about her. Actually — I wanted to know more about every character, even Cornwall’s Queen Victoria. Each character is richly imagined, and distinct. I have to give special mention to Mordred, who managed to steal most of the scenes he was in, as well as Marco, who was sort of Lucy’s love interest. Happily for me, the romance doesn’t overpower what is a brilliant story.

The writing in Incarnation is very atmospheric. If I had a complaint, it’s that I wish the book moved along a bit faster. The rich descriptions and scene settings slowed the pace down, but I tend to like that sort of thing, so I wasn’t too bothered. It’s just not the kind of writing you can gobble up in one night.

All in all, Incarnation is a great book, and I hope there’s a sequel in the future.

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– leeanna

Book Review: God Save the Queen by Kate Locke

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god save the queenInfo:
Title: God Save the Queen
Author: Kate Locke
Release Date: July 3, 2012
Publisher: Orbit
Source: NetGalley
Series? The Immortal Empire #1
Genre: Steampunk, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Alternate History
Page Count: 354

Summary:

Queen Victoria rules with an immortal fist.

The undead matriarch of a Britain where the Aristocracy is made up of werewolves and vampires, where goblins live underground and mothers know better than to let their children out after dark. A world where being nobility means being infected with the Plague (side-effects include undeath), Hysteria is the popular affliction of the day, and leeches are considered a delicacy. And a world where technology lives side by side with magic. The year is 2012 and Pax Britannia still reigns.

Xandra Vardan is a member of the elite Royal Guard, and it is her duty to protect the Aristocracy. But when her sister goes missing, Xandra will set out on a path that undermines everything she believed in and uncover a conspiracy that threatens to topple the empire. And she is the key-the prize in a very dangerous struggle. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
God Save the Queen was marketed as steampunk, but it’s not. I’d call it urban fantasy. There are a few steampunkish touches, but mostly, the author gives modern technology old names and a few twists. There’s even a glossary so you can figure out what’s what, and the author explains the world she’s created before the book starts.

The author has some great ideas; I envy her creativity. Taking a popular historical period — Victorian England — and tossing in supernatural creatures, alternate history, and a ton of other stuff should have been a recipe for greatness. It almost was, with some hiccups. The book was packed full of information dumps, because there was so much stuff. I almost felt as though the book should have been split into two, because there was so much going on. The writing came across as juvenile at times, with reminding the reader of things we already knew. Example: the intense focus on food. Yeah, halvies are hungry, I get that. But I don’t want to read countless scenes of them having meals.

Xandra is a great character. She’s a kick butt, take no names kind of girl — my favorite. I liked her loyalty to her sister, and her determination to find out the truth of what really happened. Plus, I just liked her personality — let’s call it colorful.

The relationship between Xandra and Ven, leader of the werewolves, happens super fast. It’s almost insta-love of the YA variety. That’s something that usually bugs me, but for once, I was okay with it. Ven is a great guy, protective of Xandra, and he can cook. I was happy to have one person looking out for Xandra with the world-shattering events she went through.

God Save the Queen had its flaws, but overall, I enjoyed reading it. I’ll be back for more. Who could resist Queen Victoria as a vampire? Not me!

I do have to comment on the cover — it’s fantastic! It’s not often that the girl on the cover matches the main character, and kudos to the publisher for making that happen.

Rating: 3 owls

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Kate Locke:
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– leeanna