Tag Archives: genre: young adult

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

Book Review: The Waiting Tree by Lindsay Moynihan

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the waiting treeInfo:
Title: The Waiting Tree
Author: Lindsay Moynihan
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: Amazon Children’s Publishing
Source: Amazon Vine
Series? No
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT
Page Count: 218 (paperback ARC)
Rating: [4/5 stars]

Summary:

Eighteen-year-old Simon Peters wants to stand up for the truth about who he is. His love for Stephen is unwavering, but does he have the courage to defend it when his entire church community, including his eldest brother has ostracized him? Trapped in a cashier’s job he hates, struggling to maintain peace with his brothers after their parents have died, and determined to look after his mute brother, Simon puts everyone else’s needs before his own. It takes a courageous act of self-sacrifice on Jude’s part to change both of their lives forever. Jude, who knew that when the fig tree in their yard began to bloom, it was his time to finally be heard and to set Simon free. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
When I read the summary for THE WAITING TREE, I thought the book would be about Simon’s difficulty in being gay in a community where Being Gay Is Not Acceptable. In part, that’s some of the story, but Simon also has a lot of other problems. THE WAITING TREE is his journey of self-discovery.

Simon and his three brothers were orphaned after their parents died in a car accident. Simon didn’t even get to finish high school. Instead, to help out financially, he had to get a job at a place that’s very reminiscent of a certain big blue retailer. Simon works nights because during the day he watches his twin brother, Jude. Jude has never spoken a word in his life and can’t take care of himself. On top of everything else, Simon lives in an economically dead and conservative town, so there aren’t a lot of options. And the very worst part? His boyfriend, Stephen, was sent to a “de-gay” center after Stephen’s dad found the two having sex.

THE WAITING TREE is not a cheerful book. It is realistic and gritty, but also hopeful. I think a lot of teens will empathize with all the burdens Simon has. Times are tough for teens and young adults (and everyone else), and I think readers will understand what Simon is going through. They might even feel like they’re going through the same sort of thing themselves — overwhelmed by everything, and just getting through day by day.

And that’s exactly what Simon’s doing — living day by day. His main concern is Jude. Second is his love for Stephen. As I read THE WAITING TREE, I was both sad and hopeful, and I enjoyed seeing Simon eventually realize he couldn’t just sit back and shuffle through life, that he had to take steps if he wanted to change things.

I would have liked to see what happened when Simon went to get Stephen. The ending was my least favorite part because it was open ended; I’m the type of reader who likes closure. But otherwise, I enjoyed the book, and I don’t think I put it down while reading. It’s not a very long book (the ARC is 218 pages) so it’s easy to finish it in one or two sessions.

Simon and Jude stole my heart, and when Jude made a very painful decision, I actually said, “No, don’t do it!” As for what that decision was, you’ll have to read THE WAITING TREE to find out, which I recommend you do. Although it’s a Young Adult book, I think adults would enjoy it too. As I said, it’s not a cheerful book — there’s a lot of bad stuff going on I didn’t mention — but I think the message behind the book is a good one.

Socialize with the author:
Lindsay Moynihan:
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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

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

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

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

Book Review: Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear

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innocent darknessInfo:
Title: Innocent Darkness
Author: Suzanne Lazear
Release Date: August 8, 2012
Publisher: Flux
Source: Library
Series? The Aether Chronicles #1
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
Page Count: 408
Rating: [4/5 stars]

Summary:

Wish. Love. Desire. Live.

Sixteen-year-old Noli Braddock’s hoyden ways land her in an abusive reform school far from home. On mid-summer’s eve she wishes to be anyplace but that dreadful school. A mysterious man from the Realm of Faerie rescues her and brings her to the Otherworld, only to reveal that she must be sacrificed, otherwise, the entire Otherworld civilization will perish. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
INNOCENT DARKNESS is one of the first books I found when I first started book blogging. At the time, it wasn’t yet published, and I couldn’t wait to read it. From the blurb and cover, the book seemed like a great mix of steampunk and faeries.

Fast forward to now. I don’t know why, but sometimes I keep putting off books I REALLY want to read. I did that with INNOCENT DARKNESS, but it worked out, because I don’t have to wait quite as long for book two, CHARMED VENGEANCE, coming out in August 2013.

There are a few steampunk elements in INNOCENT DARKNESS, but there’s a lot more focus on the faerie world and on romance. I didn’t mind that, because I liked the faerie world so much, but readers looking for pure steampunk might be disappointed.

Noli, or Magnolia, is the rebellious main character. She’s a rebel with a worthy cause — she doesn’t want to conform to societal standards for what a lady should be. She wants to go to college and to have a career. One of her favorite things to do is work on the flying automobile her father left her. But her mother insists that Noli make a good marriage, to restore the family name.

After an incident involving that flying car and the police, Noli is sent to a reform boarding school. I liked that the author wasn’t afraid to harm her characters — Findlay is a horrible place. It’s creepy, and I felt so bad for Noli and the other girls with the punishments they endured. There’s one scene that will make any book lover wince. Ouch.

From there, Noli is whisked into the faerie world. Kevighn Silver, the Queen’s Huntsman, is searching for a girl with plenty of “Spark,” which Noli has in abundance. Spark is creativity, joy for life, that sort of thing, and just what Findlay tried to beat out of her. But the Otherworld, while magical and something Noli didn’t believe in until she actually saw it, isn’t a place of rescue. Girls with the Spark have one purpose: to be a sacrifice.

INNOCENT DARKNESS ends with a real shocker, one that made me feel absolutely horrible for Noli. Again, I was pleased that the author wasn’t afraid to mess with her characters, because I wouldn’t have expected any less of faeries, especially in a dark fantasy.

There’s sort of a love triangle in the book, though I hesitate to label it as such because Noli doesn’t return Kevighn’s feelings. She’s in love with V, her best friend since they were kids. V is a cutely nerdy guy, one with a secret past that comes out over the course of the book.

I could tell INNOCENT DARKNESS was a first novel. There were a few phrases that were really overused, such as “loose women and opium” and “hoyden.” There was also one, “dollymop,” which Noli used a lot in reference to herself, but I had no clue what it meant.

I also liked that there’s some steamy content in the book. Authors usually shy away from anything other than kissing scenes in YA, but Noli and V share a few makeout dreams.

While in the moment, I greatly enjoyed INNOCENT DARKNESS. Looking back, I find myself being critical of some parts of it. So I’m going to stop here, before I over-analyze it. I’m looking forward to the next book to see what the author has in mind for Noli and the Otherworld.

Socialize with the author:
Suzanne Lazear:
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– leeanna

Book Review: Wasteland by Susan Kim & Laurence Klavan

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wastelandInfo:
Title: Wasteland
Author: Susan Kim & Laurence Klavan
Release Date: March 26, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Amazon Vine
Series? Wasteland Trilogy #1
Genre: YA, Post-Apocalyptic
Page Count: 352
Rating: [1/5 stars]

Summary:

Welcome to the Wasteland. Where all the adults are long gone, and now no one lives past the age of nineteen. Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan’s post-apocalyptic debut is the first of a trilogy in which everyone is forced to live under the looming threat of rampant disease and brutal attacks by the Variants —- hermaphroditic outcasts that live on the outskirts of Prin. Esther thinks there’s more to life than toiling at harvesting, gleaning, and excavating, day after day under the relentless sun, just hoping to make it to the next day. But then Caleb, a mysterious stranger, arrives in town, and Esther begins to question who she can trust. As shady pasts unravel into the present and new romances develop, Caleb and Esther realize that they must team together to fight for their lives and for the freedom of Prin. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
I don’t like to start a review out by being negative, but I just don’t have very many good things to say about WASTELAND. If I hadn’t been reading it to review, I probably would not have finished the book. Well, there is one plus — WASTELAND is a fast read.

WASTELANDis supposed to be a post-apocalyptic thrill ride. And I thought the idea was very cool and appropriately dark: A world where no one over 19 lives. A world where there are hermaphroditic “variants” who pick what sex they want to be. A world where kids scavenge for supplies amongst the wreckage of … something.

Yeah, something. There was almost no world-building in WASTELAND, which is probably my biggest complaint with the book. When an author creates a world where basic survival is a struggle, they need to explain, or at least give some clues as to what happened to create that world. I had a long list of questions by the end of the book; one other reason I kept reading was to see if any of them would be answered. Nope.

Some of my questions:
–What caused the harsh living conditions (extreme heat, no safe water sources, etc.)?
–Why does everyone die at the age of 19? A mysterious plague is mentioned, but there are no other details.
–Who taught Sarah to read? If it was her and Esther’s parents, what happened to them?
–What was the point of making the variants hermaphrodites? Their origin wasn’t explained, so it felt more like a gimmick than anything serious.
–If kids mate at 14-15, have their own kids at a year or two later, and then die at 19, who takes care of the children?

And so on.

Esther, the main character, was so-so. I finished the book a few days ago and honestly don’t remember much about her. She doesn’t fit in with the rest of the denizens of Prin. Instead of doing her assigned job, she prefers to buck the rules and play with her variant friend on the outskirts of town. She’s irresponsible and doesn’t know how to take care of herself, not even how to make the simple flatbread that people live on. I did like that she realized she couldn’t take care of herself.

She grows a little over the course of the book, most notably when Caleb comes to town. Inevitably, a romance springs up between them, one I had an impossible time believing. Days after meeting, they’re ready to mate. I do have to give the authors credit for trying to include some sex in a YA book, since so often that’s glossed over or ignored, but … the descriptions of it were so clinical, without any real passion. The descriptions of kissing were just as bad.

One more thing. WASTELAND is written in third person point of view, but has a serious case of head-jumping. Sometimes I wasn’t sure which character’s perspective I was reading, which didn’t make for an easy flowing book. There was even a scene from a character that didn’t have a name, just “the boy.”

WASTELAND is the first book in a trilogy. One last good point for the book is that it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger. The story is resolved, and I’m not sure where the authors would take it in two more books. I doubt I will be back to find out, because of how disappointed I was with my read of WASTELAND. There are much better post-apocalyptic thrillers out there.

– leeanna