Book Review: Blood Feud

Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey 

Released: June 22, 2010
Publisher: Walker Books
Pages: 272
Series: The Drake Chronicles #2
Rating: 4 stars

The action and romance continue as the Drakes face a new vampire with a 200-year-old grudge. It’s been centuries since Isabeau St. Croix barely survived the French Revolution. Now she’s made her way back to the living and she must face the ultimate test by confronting the evil British lord who left her for dead the day she turned into a vampire. That’s if she can control her affection for Logan Drake, a vampire whose bite is as sweet as the revenge she seeks. The clans are gathering for Helena’s royal coronation as the next vampire queen, and new alliances are beginning to form now that the old rifts of Lady Natasha’s reign have started to heal. But with a new common enemy, Leander Montmarte—a vicious leader who hopes to force Solange to marry him and usurp the power of the throne for himself—the clans must stand together to preserve the peace he threatens to destroy.

This is the second installment of the Drake Chronicles, picking up two weeks later where Hearts at Stake left off. The plot was a little bit predictable, but overall this is an addicting and satisfying series.

The writing was enjoyable. Blood Feud is much like its predecessor, but narrated by Logan and Isabeau instead. I loved Logan’s voice and personality. He was funny, sarcastic, and at times insane. Isabeau was an interesting character, but she had a weak voice and I found it difficult to fully connect with her. I did enjoy the glimpses of Isabeau’s life before she was turned when she had to survive the French Revolution.

Blood Feud carried some of the action, humor, and drama from Hearts at Stake, but I felt that it lacked the romance, which seemed a bit rushed and unrealistic to me, and the crazy Lucy, who didn’t have a huge part this time around. I did enjoy this novel, but I wasn’t as enthralled by it as I was with Hearts at Stake. If you’re a vampire fan and is looking for something fun and entertaining to read, then this is a series for you.

Book Review: Firelight

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Released: September 7, 2010
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 323
Series: Firelight #1
Rating: 5 stars

A hidden truth.

Mortal enemies.

Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form. Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

One of the main reasons I picked this book up was because of the cover. I just love the scales on the corner of her forehead. Very creative. But aside from the cover, Firelight was a great read. There was plenty of action, teenage drama, and forbidden romance.

The mythology of the Draki was interesting and completely original. Draki are descendants of dragons who have the ability of turn into humans in order to protect themselves and their secrets. Each Draki has a specific power; some are strong in water, some can confuse humans by producing fog, but Jacinda can breathe fire, which is a rare and special power.

Jacinda is rebellious, of course I would be too if I was being forced to marry a man I didn’t love and have children for the sake of the pride. She was also a bit indecisive with her going back and forth of whether to stay with her family, who doesn’t have any Draki powers or return back to her pride. I didn’t care much for Jacinda’s mother, who kept things from her, or her twin sister, who wasn’t very supportive. I did enjoy the forbidden romance between Jacinda and the mysterious Draki hunter, Will.

Firelight was an enchanting fantasy novel with a very original and unique concept.

From the Back of My Shelf (3): Dark of the Moon

From the Back of My Shelf is hosted by Erica (The Book Cellar) and Katie (Katie's Book Blog).

Dark of the Moon by Rachel Hawthorne

Released: August 25, 2009
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 261
Series: Dark Guardians #3
Rating: 5

I've loved him forever, but he can never be mine.

Brittany is determined to prove herself to the Dark Guardians. And yet she's been keeping a devastating secret: She hasn't experienced any of the intense, early signs of change that mark a Dark Guardian's transformation. The only intense feelings she has are for Connor—and she's kept that a secret, too. But she knows she'll never truly have Connor's love if she's not a Shifter like him.

At the first full moon after her birthday, her greatest fear is realized: She doesn't transform. Brittany is so desperate to become a wolf that she'll go to extremes she never thought possible . . . and put all the Dark Guardians in incredible danger.


This is such a great series. Light, fun, and just plain awesome. The writing was exceptional and the characters had just enough depth to them.

I didn’t like Brittany at all until this novel when I was able to get inside her head and learn more about her. She’s the only girl to face the transformation - the first shift on the first full moon after her birthday - without a mate in centuries. The Elder’s don’t believe she will survive, but that doesn’t stop Brittany’s determination to do it alone. The good news is she survives, but the bad news is she doesn’t transform. In shock and wondering how to explain to the rest of the shifter community, she ends up captured by scientists wanting to expose the werewolves to the world. Captured along with her is Conner, the one she loves.

With romance, a bit of danger, and strong bonds of friendship make this a perfect series for a quick and enjoyable read.

Book Review: Nightshade

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Released: October 19, 2010
Publisher: Philomel
Pages: 452
Series: Nightshade #1
Rating: 5 stars

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers.

But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?


Completely addictive!

I still can’t understand why I didn’t read Nightshade sooner. The entire novel was just plain awesome. The plot was captivating and I had my eyes glued to the pages from start to finish. There was never a dull moment. I found myself having to force myself to put this one down more than once. All around, this was a beautifully written novel with exceptional characters.

Each character had plenty of depth to them. Calla was strong and was willing to do anything in order to protect her pack. Ren, alpha of the Banes, had a cocky attitude, but he also had a sensitive side, especially when it came to protecting his pack. Shay, the new guy in town, isn’t afraid to question the packs and voice what he believed was right. I liked Shay from the beginning. Even the secondary characters were enjoyable to read.

Cremer has created a fascinating paranormal romance. With action, mystery, loyalty, forbidden romance and of course a gorgeous cover, Nightshade is a great start to what could be an unique and satisfying series. This is not to be missed. So if you haven’t read this yet, I suggest you go get yourself a copy today!

Book Review: Spirit Bound

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Released: May 18, 2010
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 489
Series: Vampire Academy #5
Rating: 5 stars

Salvation has its price.

The words stunned Adrian for a moment, but he kept going. "You're lying. What you're describing is impossible. There's no way to save a Strigoi. When they're gone, they're gone. They're dead. Undead. Forever."

Robert's next words weren't directed at Adrian. They were spoken to me. "That which is dead doesn't always stay dead...."

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa Dragomir. It's graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives outside of the Academy’s cold iron gates to finally begin. But even with the intrigue and excitement of court life looming, Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri. He's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance, and now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her...forever.

But Rose can't forget what she learned on her journey—whispers of a magic too impossible and terrifying to comprehend. A magic inextricably tied to Lissa that could hold the answer to all of Rose's prayers, but not without devastating consequences. Now Rose will have to decide what—and who—matters most to her. In the end, is true love really worth the price?

This has been a favorite series of mine since page one of Vampire Academy! Fantastically written and completely enchanting! And each book only gets better and better.

Spirit Bound just blew me away. Mead sure does know how to keep a reader on the edge of their seat. I got an idea of what I thought might happen, but before I fully finished processing my thought, something else had already happened. The plot kept me guessing until everything was literally spelled out for me. I love books where I can’t figure anything out. Makes everything more exciting.

All the characters were well-developed. There is no other way to describe Rose Hathaway except that she’s one kick-ass heroine. She’s got a strong voice, loyal to those she cares for, but best of all she makes mistakes other teens can relate to and sympathize with. I just love Adrian. He’s as cocky as ever, but we also get to experience his sweet side. Go Team Adrian!!

This series has everything a paranormal reader would want…action, surprises around every corner, magic, and romance. This is one series that should not be missed! Even if you aren’t a big paranormal fan, I guarantee you will still enjoy it.

Book Review: Slice of Cherry

Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves

Released: January 4, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 512
Rating: 5 stars

Kit and Fancy Cordelle are sisters of the best kind: best friends, best confidantes, and best accomplices. The daughters of the infamous Bonesaw Killer, Kit and Fancy are used to feeling like outsiders, and that’s just the way they like it. But in Portero, where the weird and wild run rampant, the Cordelle sisters are hardly the oddest or most dangerous creatures around.

It’s no surprise when Kit and Fancy start to give in to their deepest desire—the desire to kill. What starts as a fascination with slicing open and stitching up quickly spirals into a gratifying murder spree. Of course, the sisters aren’t killing just anyone, only the people who truly deserve it. But the girls have learned from the mistakes of their father, and know that a shred of evidence could get them caught. So when Fancy stumbles upon a mysterious and invisible doorway to another world, she opens a door to endless possibilities….

Slice of Cherry was so fantastically creepy! From the first sentence, I was completely immersed in this gruesome tale.

Fancy and Kit Cordelle are the daughters of the Bonesaw Killer and live day to day shunned by their town because of it. The girls have inherited their fathers love of murder, but decide to only murder those that deserve it. And to jazz things up, the girls end up in relationships with the boys of their father’s last victim. I love how the book focused on the sisters’ relationship - one ready to grow and the other satisfied with staying the same - and kept the romance in the background. Definitely nice for a change.

Reeve’s has such a unique writing style that is unlike any other. It’s never dull. The murder scenes are vividly descriptive. Starting and ending in action. I also enjoyed Reeve’s descriptions of the weird town Portero, which is the perfect place for the girls to give in to their desire. It’s a magical and eerie place.

Fantasy, horror, and action blended perfectly together creating one twisted novel. I’m looking forward to reading more from Dia Reeves.

Book Review: Drought

Drought by Pam Bachorz

Released: Jan 25, 2011
Publisher: Egmont USA
Pages: 400
Rating: 5 stars

Ruby Prosser dreams of escaping the Congregation and the early-nineteenth century lifestyle that’s been practiced since the community was first enslaved.

She plots to escape the vicious Darwin West, his cruel Overseers, and the daily struggle to gather the life prolonging Water that keeps the Congregants alive and gives Darwin his wealth and power. But if Ruby leaves, the Congregation will die without the secret ingredient that makes the Water special: her blood.

So she stays.

But when Ruby meets Ford, the new Overseer who seems barely older than herself, her desire for freedom is too strong. He’s sympathetic, irresistible, forbidden—and her only access to the modern world. Escape with Ford would be so simple, but can Ruby risk the terrible price, dooming the only world she’s ever known?

This is one unique novel. Drought was far from what I was expecting but I enjoyed reading every page of it. It was so gripping and produce a lot of emotions to stir within me. Drought is definitely one novel that will get some strong opinionated topics going. I know I got some questions that I would love to see answered in either a sequel or prequel - I won’t go into any detail for fear of spoiling the book for yall.

Drought is well-written and has great characterization, although some of the character’s way of thinking drove be bananas. The plot reminds me a lot of the movie, The Village, with a community isolated from the world worshipping something strange. Ruby was a strong character, struggling over loyalty to herself, the congregation, and love. While the congregation worships a man named Otto and believe he will save them, Ruby is fed up with the conditions they must live everyday and longs for freedom. Only problem, not everyone wants to change things. Darwin West is pure evil, yet the perfect villain. If the congregation doesn’t meet his daily expectations, then he punishes them by starvation, violence, or extra hard labor. The Elder’s and Ruby’s mother infuriated me throughout the entire novel. Why have such devotion for a man that left them around 200 years ago?? It just doesn’t make sense to me.

This is one horrifyingly twisted, yet riveting read. I can’t wait to see what Bachorz comes up with next.

From the Back of My Shelf (2): Full Moon

From the Back of My Shelf is hosted by Erica (The Book Cellar) and Katie (Katie's Book Blog).

Full Moon by Rachel Hawthorne

Released: July 1, 2009
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 320
Series: Dark Guardians #2
Rating: 5 stars

I may be promised to another…but thoughts of Rafe consume me. I don’t know how much longer I can resist.


Lindsey is wild and reckless, a natural rebel - maybe because her entire life was laid out for her even before she was born. Her parents are among the most powerful members of the Dark Guardians, an ancient tribe of werewolves, and they arranged Lindsey’s betrothal to Conner long ago. The next full moon is coming all too soon, and then her commitment to Conner will be final - no turning back. She should be happy…so why can’t she stop thinking about gorgeous, brooding Rafe?


When a dangerous threat on the pack escalates, so do tensions between Conner and Rafe. A fight over Lindsey is imminent, but will it be to the death.

This is the second book of the Dark Guardians series. I just love these books…they’re a light, fun read with romance and a little bit of danger thrown in that’s just perfect for a lazy or rainy day because I can read them in one sitting.

Each book is narrated by a different character and Full Moon is focused solely on Lindsey. Lindsey is a few weeks away from experiencing her first shift on the first full moon after her 17th birthday, which is a special time in the shifter community. This time is meant to be shared with one’s mate, but Lindsey isn’t so sure that her mate is Conner - a man she’s been with for like ever and a man her parents envisioned her with. Lately she has had her eye on Rafe, which I was definitely rooting for…no offense Conner.

While Lindsey is trying to figure out who her true mate is, there’s still danger lingering from Moonlight with the scientists who are looking to capture and run tests on the werewolves in order to expose their secrets to the world.

I found that I enjoyed Full Moon much more than I did Moonlight. But overall this is a simple, yet very satisfying, series. If you want something quick and fun to read, I recommend this series.

Book Review: The Dead-Tossed Waves

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Released: March 9, 2010
Publisher: Delacorte Books
Pages: 407
Series: The Forest of Hands and Teeth #2
Rating: 5 stars

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

The Dead-Tossed Waves is a companion novel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Its set in the same world only a few years later and is narrated by Gabry, which is the daughter of Mary (the main character from The Forest of Hands and Teeth). Many questions I had from Ryan’s first novel were answered in The Dead-Tossed Waves, which I was ever so happy about.

Ryan doesn’t disappoint and has definitely outdone herself with this novel. It was suspenseful and utterly breathtaking…literally. I love how Ryan combined the two novels, how all the characters where somehow connected. I didn’t see that coming. The writing was phenomenal. Her ability to take one’s emotions on a roller coaster with just a simple sentence completely amazes me.

Everything about this novel, from the plot to the characters, was exciting from start to finish and even afterwards. Plain and simple, this was a spectacular novel. I can’t wait to see where Ryan will take us next. I can’t recommend this series enough!!

From the Back of My Shelf (1): The Iron King

From the Back of My Shelf is hosted by Erica (The Book Cellar) and Katie (Katie's Book Blog).

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Released: February 1, 2010
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 363
Series: The Iron Fey #1
Rating: 5 stars

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Freaking Awesome! And that’s putting it mildly.

I’ve always been a huge fan of the fae and when you add in some twists, you get the unforgettable world of The Iron King. You have the basic faerie story elements - Oberon, Titania, Puck, the Seelie and Unseelie Courts - but that’s where The Iron King’s similarities to other faerie stories end. There was a twist to the tale that I didn’t expect nor have I seen done before. I wouldn’t have thought it was possible, yet Kagawa did it…and she did it well too!

There aren’t many times, especially with debuts, that I find myself thoroughly enjoying every single character. There are usually a couple that really stand out while the rest seem to fade into the background…that definitely wasn’t the case here. The characters are so well-developed and diverse! Megan is a unique heroine that won’t be dissuaded from her goal. She’s strong, independent, stubborn, and selfless…just what I like to see. Even the supporting characters were memorable…Robbie the kooky best friend with an edge of mystery, Ash the dangerous and deadly winter Prince you can’t help but love (I know I sure do), and Grimalkin the arrogant cat that will keep you on your toes!

I just loved reading about Nevermore. Kagawa’s vivid and imaginative descriptions allowed me to feel as though I was experiencing all the wonderful, and not so wonderful things right alongside Megan. Kagawa created such an enchanting and riveting novel…I was completely immersed in the magical story. Every scene just flowed so smoothly and beautifully from one to another.

The Iron King is one extraordinary debut filled with action, romance, humor, and oh so much more. I strongly recommend it!!

Book Review: Blood Promise

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Released: August 25, 2009
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 503
Series: Vampire Academy #4
Rating: 5 stars

How far will Rose go to keep her promise?

The recent Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir’s Academy was the deadliest ever in the school’s history, claiming the lives of Moroi students, teachers, and guardians alike. Even worse, the Strigoi took some of their victims with them. . . including Dimitri.

He’d rather die than be one of them, and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa—the one she has sworn to protect no matter what—and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make long ago. But with everything at stake, how can she possibly destroy the person she loves most?

Let me just say I've been a huge fan of this series since the beginning and each book just gets better and better! If you haven't read these books yet...what are you waiting for?! I promise you won't be disappointed.

Mead had done it once again. Blood Promise was an addicting read as we follow Rose on her journey to fulfill the promise she and Dimitri made to each other. Throughout her journey, Rose discovers things she never would have dreamed of, and of course, finding herself in some interesting situations.

Blood Promise is much different from the first three installments. There's still plenty of action and twists that will leave you mind-boggled but we get to see each character develop into something more. My favorite character is Adrian (which I'm totally rooting for!) and I was so excited we got to see more of him in this installment. Also, this is the first book that doesn't take place at that Academy, which I loved.

Mead has caught me off guard...like always, especially with the ending. I have no idea what is going to happen next for Rose and I can't wait to find out!

Book Review: Personal Demons

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

Released: September 14, 2010
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 364
Series: Personal Demons #1
Rating: 5 stars

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance—even her closest friends—and it seems her senior year will be more of the same...until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't seem to stay away from him. What she doesn't know is that Luc works in Acquisitions—for Hell—and she possesses a unique skill set that has the King of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he’s as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance.

Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn’t get what he came for. And it isn't long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul.

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay…for all of them.

This was an excellent start to a new and exciting series about the battle between good and evil and how one girl can change the fate for both Heaven and Hell. Personal Demons is nothing like the typical angel/demon cliche. Sure it still has some of the same features, but with more originality and twists.

After reading the summary, I admit I had some high expectations for this book and overall, I wasn't disappointed. The only thing I had a problem with was Gabe. I know he's an angel and the "good guy" but personally, I think he was a little too "good" and he didn't have much interaction throughout the novel, making him a little mysterious and hard for me to get a good feel of who is character is. Hopefully with the next book, we will get to learn more about him. What made the book so good for me was Luc! I just absolutely fell in love with his character (course I always seem to like the bad boy type characters anyways). Personal Demons is narrated by both Frannie and Luc and I think that was the perfect idea. How often do we see novels narrated by demons...it was definitely a nice change. And I really enjoyed reading Luc describe Hell...what a creepy place!

Packed with action, humor, mystery, and of course hot otherworldly guys, Personal Demons is one novel paranormal fans shouldn't miss. Desrochers has written one steaming hot debut and I can't wait to read more! The second novel, Original Sin, is scheduled to release July 2011.

Book Review: Shadow Hills

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Released: July 13, 2010
Publisher: Egmont USA
Pages: 400
Rating: 5 stars

His love captivated her... his secrets might kill her.

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.

After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.

But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life.

Shadow Hills has been highly talked about and one of the most anticipated reads of 2010 and I think its safe to say, it didn't disappoint. Shadow Hills was an incredible debut.

The back story is so deep and well-developed that I couldn't help but suspect everyone right off the bat...even though I'm not exactly sure what I was suspecting them of. This was one gripping read that kept me intrigued from page one until the very end. I just couldn't seem to put it down.

Not only was the plot interesting enough, the characters were also enjoying to learn about. Phe is ballsy and headstrong; she isn't afraid to speak her mind. Adriana had me laughing to tears with her quirky comments and snark remarks. Although Phe and Adriana's personalities are completely the opposite, Hopcus made their friendship seem so natural.

The writing was refreshing. Every scene I could really imagine what was taking place. And let me just tell you, Anastasia can write one heck of a horror scene. I was on the edge of my seat and screaming, "Stop", "Don't go in there", and "Turn around"! And when the secret was reveled, I was just completely shocked. It was nothing I could have ever thought of. I have to give Hopcus two thumbs up for her originality and very unique ideas.

Filled with a fabulous mix of suspense, horror, mythology, action, and comedy, Shadow Hills is a terrific read for fans of any and every genre.

Book Review: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Released: October 1, 2008
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Pages: 374
Series: The Hunger Games #1
Rating: 5 stars

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with every one out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Loved It!!

I'm not exactly sure why I didn't read this sooner. Maybe the idea of kids being placed in an arena to fight for their lives caused me to be a little weary of it, but hands down, this definitely earns a spot on my favorite shelf.

A century after environmental catastrophes have changed the face of North America. The former US, now known as Panem, is divided into 12 districts and a capitol. At one point in time, the districts rebelled against The Capitol but lost. As a result, The Capital now holds The Hunger Games every year. The Hunger Games is a reality show where two children - a boy and a girl - from each district are put into an arena to fight each other and the last one left alive wins.

Not many books have caused me to have such strong emotions, not only for the characters but for the setting as well. Collins created such a believable world and characters that it was easy for me to get lost in their lives and experience the intense situations they were forced to face.

I love Katniss. Her determination to take her sister's place in the games made her a great heroine in my eyes. I couldn't help but root for her every step of the way. She's strong, stubborn, and by far, one of the best female characters in the YA world. Other players had just enough backstory to help me decide whether to love or hate them. There was no unnecessary info, nor was there any details left out.

I completely devoured this book and can't wait to read more of Katniss...and Peta. All I got to say is if you haven't already read this yet, then you're missing out on possible the most exciting book ever!!

Book Review: Cracked Up to Be

Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers

Released: December 23, 2008
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 214
Rating: 5 stars

What's the worst thing you've ever done?

When "Perfect" Parker Fadley starts drinking at school and failing her classes, all of St. Peter's High goes on alert. How has the cheerleading captain, girlfriend of the most popular guy in school, consummate teacher's pet, and future valedictorian fallen so far from grace?

Parker doesn't want to talk about it. She'd just like to be left alone, to disappear, to be ignored. But her parents have placed her on suicide watch and her counselors are demanding the truth. Worse, there's a nice guy falling in love with her and he's making her feel things again when she'd really rather not be feeling anything at all.

Nobody would have guessed she'd turn out like this. But nobody knows the truth.

Something horrible has happened, and it just might be her fault.

Courtney Summers is a genius!! Her writing style is brilliant and addicting, especially her talent to create realistic dialog and characterization. Parker is perhaps one of the best narrators in the YA world. Her voice is unforgettable! She's witty and sarcastic, I couldn't help but love all the snarky comments she came up with.

Parker used to be an obsessive perfectionist - popular, captain of the cheerleading team, straight-A student, winter ball queen, and had the perfect boyfriend - but all she wants is to alienate herself from society. But what happened to cause her attitude and lifestyle to do a complete 180? The mystery aspect was great. Piece by piece, the mystery unravels by little snippets here and there throughout the novel.

This was a different type of read compared to what I normally read. But I enjoyed every minute of it! Summers created a very straight forward novel with a powerful message about what it means to be perfect and the struggles with choices in life. This is definitely an author I will be looking out for in the future.

Book Review: The Last Thing I Remember

The Last Thing I Remember by Andrew Klavan

Released: April 28, 2009

Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pages: 352
Series: The Homelanders #1
Rating: 5 stars

Charlie West is a good kid. He studies hard, trains in martial arts, has just gotten the number of the prettiest girl in his class, and wants to join the air force after graduation. At least, that's the last thing he can remember.

But he has woken up in a nightmare. He's strapped to a chair, and someone outside the door just ordered his death. By calling on his deepest reserves of strength and focus, Charlie manages a desperate escape . . . only to find out that this nightmare isn't ending. There's a whole year of his life that he can't remember--a year in which he was convicted of murdering his best friend and working with terrorists.

Now, with the police hunting him and a band of killers on his trail, he's got to find the answers to some of the deepest questions there are: Who am I? What do I stand for? And how am I going to stay alive?

Ever since I read the summary for this book, I was automatically intrigued. It would be scary to wake up one morning and have no idea what's going on or where you are and how you got there. The Last Thing I Remember was a fantastic thriller!

Waking up one morning beaten and tied to a chair, Charlie has no idea who he is or what's happening. The last thing he remembers is going to sleep when he was 16, which was years ago. Charlie's character is quite believable and realistic. He's determined to figure out who he is and who the people chasing him are. He's also very persistent on finding his way home to his parents, even if they are on the other side of the country. Charlie can't trust anyone but himself, which just makes his situation even more dire because how's he going to figure things out when he can't remember anything?

The Last Thing I Remember kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire novel. I loved it and can't wait to read the sequel, A Long Way Home. I definitely recommend this if you are looking for a good thriller.

Book Review: Oblivion Road

Oblivion Road by Alex McAulay

Released: November 13, 2007

Publisher: MTV Books
Pages: 304
Rating: 5 stars

Five stranded teenagers must battle for their lives against a group of escaped convicts, and each other, in this shocking survival thriller from the author of Bad Girls and Lost Summer.

Courtney Stanton thinks she's on just another ski trip with her friends -- until a horrific car accident strands them all on an isolated Colorado road during a blizzard. Frightened but alive, Courtney and her companions discover an abandoned vehicle nearby, and seek help. But the vehicle turns out to be a prison van, with the inmates missing, and the guard's dead body in the front seat.

Soon after, a stumbling figure emerges from the snow, a handcuffed refugee from the van. He says he's been in prison for selling meth, but that he once served in the army. Dare they trust him? He pleads innocence about the guard's murder, warns them about the other fugitives, and promises he will help guide them out of the wilderness. But as the group begins a nightmare trek across the frozen landscape, they start to get the feeling he hasn't told them the entire truth, and someone -- or something -- is secretly watching their every move.

I have been wanting to read this for awhile now and was excited when I finally got the chance to. I Loved it! This is one book that won't disappoint it's readers. There are surprises from beginning to end.

It was extremely hard for me to put down. It seemed as though every time I turned the page, another unexpected twist would occur. I couldn't figure out what would happen to the teens, so I was on the edge the whole time. Honestly, it would totally suck to be caught in a situation like that, especially when you add some escape convicts on top of that...Yikes!!

Courtney and Reyna are two very brave and courageous girls. They never gave up, even after everything they had to endure. Their will to survive was unbreakable.

Packed with action, mystery, and suspence, this is a must read novel!

Book Review: The Dark Divine

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Released: December 22, 2009

Publisher: EgmontUSA
Pages: 372
Series: The Dark Divine #1
Rating: 5 stars

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.

Grace just wanted to find out what happened between her brother, Jude, and Daniel that night. But she got so much more than just the answers she was looking for. And so did I!

With twists and turns each flip of a page, I was on my toes the entire time. It was hard for me to put down and it seemed as though I couldn't read it fast enough. I love stories where you can't quite figure things out until its flat-out told to you at the end of a novel. Then once you know, every little detail that was thrown around in the book just clicks and you can't believe you didn't put two and two together sooner. The Dark Divine was one of those stories!

What an intriguing and captivating debut, filled with fantasy, mystery, and action - it will leave you begging for more. I truly hope there will be a sequel to follow because I still have a few unanswered questions and there are even a couple of events (if you've already read this, then you ought to know what I'm talking about) that I would love to see explored.

Book Review: Hate List

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Released: September 1, 2009

Publisher: Little Brown
Pages: 405
Rating: 5 stars

Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

Wow! This was one very powerful and very riveting story!

The actual shooting occured in May, but the story begins the following September as Valerie is preparing to head back to school for her senior year. Focusing more on Valerie and the after affects of the shooting, makes Hate List more of a character driven novel and it worked really well for this particular situation. I loved how Brown also incorperated clippings of the newpaper articles from the shooting into the first half of the story as well. Definitely making this a memorable novel, even long after finishing it.

It was quite heartbreaking to read about Valerie's very emotional roller coaster - her struggle with her guilt and trying to understand her true feelings for Nick.

This was a brilliantly written, fantastic debut. A must read!!

Book Review: Three Days to Dead

Three Days to Dead by Kelly Meding

Released: November 24, 2009

Publisher: Dell
Pages: 405
Series: Dreg City #1
Series: 5 stars

They’ll never see her coming. . . .

When Evangeline Stone wakes up naked and bruised on a cold slab at the morgue—in a stranger’s body, with no memory of who she is and how she got there—her troubles are only just beginning. Before that night she and the two other members of her Triad were the city’s star bounty hunters, mercilessly cleansing the city of the murderous creatures living in the shadows, from vampires to shape-shifters to trolls. Then something terrible happened that not only cost all three of them their lives but also convinced the city’s other Hunters that Evy was a traitor—and she can’t even remember what it was.

Now she’s a fugitive, piecing together her memory, trying to deal some serious justice—and discovering that she has only three days to solve her own murder before the reincarnation spell wears off. Because in three days Evy will die again—but this time there’s no second chance. . . .

I’m a big fan of paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels. Sometimes I find myself wondering if a new author can create a fantasy world with characters that grab my attention and leave an unforgettable impression even after I have long since finished the book.

Three Days to Dead was such a fantastic debut. Kelly Meding created such a complex and gripping world – it was extremely hard for me to even put it down. Evangeline (Evy) Stone is a bounty hunter of all things paranormal who wakes one day in a morgue. Not only is in a morgue, but she wakes in the body of someone else. She has no recollection of how she died or the events leading up to her death. Accused of killing her Triad – her group of bounty hunters – she has been marked as a traitor and is being hunted by those she once trusted. She has only three days to regain her memory, solve her murder, and reveal the secrets that could help save the world.

I must say that Evy is one kick-ass character who keeps her eye on the target and lets nothing stand in her way. She immediately caught my attention with her fierceness and determination to figure out what is going on.

Three Days to Dead is the reason why I love urban fantasy. There’s so much fresh and unique elements involved, creating a memorable world. This debut is full of unexpected twists and should not be missed! I can’t wait until I can get my hands on the second installment, As Lie the Dead.