Megan's Book Reviews

I'm Alive!

2010-03-18T10:08:00.002-04:00

Hello all! School is still a bloodsucking beast that takes up all of my time. My hard work is paying off though. Now two months later I finally found a new background. I found it at Dotty dot dot's page.

I'm excited because I do have a book to review on it's way. I'm so excited to get it! I'm thinking about revamping the blog a little more. I want to review more than books now. I don't read like I use to, but I watch movies a lot.

I'll be back soon!

~ Megan

Help?

2010-02-12T20:35:00.000-05:00

I can’t believe I haven’t been active on this site in several months. School has added so much stress. I really need some advice you guys. I think I’ve messed up my entire high school career.
I went to public school for a year in a half. I completed my ninth grade and half of the tenth grade. I then dropped out of public school to be home schooled. I was homeschooled for a few months until I heard about my current high school. I had to drop ALL my virtual school classes to enter my high school which is a charter high school.
My school was amazing at first. Free college classes while working on my diploma on the college campus is amazing. This past month my friend went to look at her transcripts since she wanted to transfer back to public school. Well, turns out the administration has screwed up pretty much everyone who is credit recovery’s transcripts. They refuse to fix them. Now my friend has to get her GED. Now my friend and I may be in the same boat.
This has added so much stress to my life. I’m constantly worried about this now. Can anyone help me out?

Also does anyone know a good site for blog templates?

Thanks,
Megan

Under Constuction

2010-01-14T15:50:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the long delay, but Megan's Book Reviews is undergoing a MASSIVE facelift. Check back soon ;)

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

2009-11-26T09:40:00.005-05:00

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

Series: Dexter
Publisher: Doubleday
Category: Adult Mystery/Suspense
288 pages

Meet Dexter Morgan, a polite wolf in sheep's clothing... a monster who cringes at the sight of blood... a serial killer whose one golden rule makes him immensely likable: HE ONLY KILLS BAD PEOPLE.

Dexter Morgan isn't exactly the kind of man you'd bring home to Mom. Though he's playful and has a wonderfully ironic sense of humor, Dexter's one character flaw (his proclivity for murder) can be off-putting. But at heart Dexter is the perfect gentleman, supportive of his sister, Deb, a Miami cop, and interested only in doing away with people who really deserve his special visit. Dex is quite good-looking but totally indifferent to (and, frankly, a bit puzzled by) the attention paid to him by women. Despite the fact that he cant' stand the sight of blood, he works as a blood-splatter analyst for the Mmiami police department, a job that allows him to keep tabs on the latest crimes and keep an eye open for his next quarry.

Dexter's well-organized life is suddenly disrupted when a second, much more visible serial killer appears in Miami. Dex is intrigued, even delighted, by the fact that the other killer appears to have a style reminiscent of his own. Yet he can't help but feel that the mysterious new arrival is not merely invading his turf but reaching out to him as well. This new killer seems to be doing more tha copying Dexter—he seems to be saying, "Come out and play." Dexter's secret life makes for a lonely existence... even a lovable monster can be intrigued by the prospect of finding a friend.

When my mom and I changed satellite companies we got Showtime and HBO for three months free of charge. Since then I've became hooked on Dexter and TrueBlood (more on that addiction later). Much to my delight both series are based on books. So I picked up Darkly Dreaming Dexter. This book was delicious.

The book is told through Dexter's point of view. That makes it insanely interesting to read since he is a serial killer. His voice is so earnest and truthful. He kept me interested and even I after finishing the book I want more. I won't even touch on the other characters since they weren't important to me.

Man, I'm out of practice writing reviews. Although, I really don't know how much more I can say about how amazing this book is.

B+

I'm so proud

2009-10-27T10:27:00.002-04:00

I'm sorry for the impromto leave of absence from here. I've read quite a few books, but I haven't had any time to reveiw them. It paid off though - I'm an A-B honor roll student for the first time since I've been in high school! So I'm back now - with a very lazy "wrap-up" post that is a sum-up of what I've read so I'll start with a clean slate =)

Be back soon
~ Megan

The Hollow by Jessica Verday

2009-10-05T19:19:00.003-04:00

The Hollow by Jessica Verday

Series: The Hollow (book two due out next fall)
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Category: Young Adult - Paranormal
pages

When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.

Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her -- one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

The cover for this book is gorgeous. Absolutely stunning. It also depicts apart of the story itself. Jessica is an amazing writer. You can feel the characters emotions. She also chose a unique hobby for Abbey that I really liked.

Abbey was a very believable character. Her grief is honest. She was a unique character. Caspian irritated me. I wanted to smack him throughout some parts of the story and kiss him at others. I loved the elderly couple though. They reminded of my own grandparents.

That is where my like of this story ends. The plot was so slow. Painfully slow. And whenever the twist happened it was very anti-climatic.Then the book ends maybe ten pages later. I couldn't stand that nothing was revealed about Kristen. It drove me insane reading it. Oh well. Maybe she'll delve into it next book.

This is a library book honestly. Don't spend $18.00 on it unless you like. I will be picking up something else by her - her writing style really is that good. Also, check out her website. It's gorgeous!

C-

Milestones by Samira Armin Hodges

2009-09-30T17:56:00.003-04:00

Milestones by Samira Armin Hodges

Series: Milestones

Publisher: Hungry Goat Press

Category: Young Adult

251 Pages

One day. Just one day. That's how long it took for fourteen year-old Faye Martin's ordinary life to take a dramatic and completely unexpected turn. First, she gets struck by lightning a strange and awful experience in itself, but then made worse because Benjamin Parker, the object of her obsession, witnessed her near-death experience. Then she comes home to find her parents are forcing her to leave her friends and hometown of Seattle to attend a summer camp, aptly named Camp Milestone. After several failed attempts to change her parents mind Faye finds herself on a plane headed across the country to a camp she has never heard of.

Only, Camp Milestone is no ordinary camp. There are no phones allowed, shabby cabins and only a handful of campers. The only good turn of events is Benji her longtime crush is among the sparsely populated camp. This highlight of her summer is overshadowed by the camps strange and harsh rules given out by the head of the camp Galiana Moore, who seems crazy most of the time, and who unfortunately has taken a liking to Faye. As if things were not bad enough she notices an odd rash that has consumed most of her back from the lighting strike that seems to not only be growing larger but glowing slightly. Before she knows it, Faye finds herself caught in a whirlwind of uncertainty, torture, calamine lotion and romance....All in the name of summer camp. But as the summer unfolds, she realizes there is much more to Camp Milestone than meets the eye. Will she be able to unravel the mystery that surrounds this unusual camp? And more importantly, will she be able to survive the madness long enough to put the pieces together?

Milestones took me a while to get into. For the first few pages I just wasn’t really drawn in. Then suddenly –BAM- I couldn’t get out of Camp Milestone. It was insanely catchy to the point where I couldn’t concentrate in school.

The plot was amazing. I definitely never could have guessed the plot twist. Ever. Most books you can guess at l least kind of what’s going on. Not this book. Once it hit me it slapped me in the face just like it did for Faye. I did however, catch onto Faye's "secret" before it was announced.

Speaking of Faye, I loved her character. Heck, I loved ALL the characters. I loved how Faye grew subtly over the course of the book. Benji seemed so dreamy. All the characters were intriguing honestly.

Go pick up this book as soon as you can. It's written amazingly and I can not wait for the sequel!

A

365 Days Later

2009-09-29T00:01:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! Today is my seventeenth birthday! As my boyfriend's dad has been reminding me (and him) recently - "One year until she's legal, Caleb!" Yeah, he's witty. Almost all I've asked for has been books so I'm super excited. I have no plans sadly, but that's my fault. I've recently decided to temporarily be a bit harder to get a hold of. I've decided to look for better quality of friends. So what did you guys think of my interview with Samira Armin Hodges? That and critiques as well as advice for my blog would make an excellent birthday present.

Now isn't that top cake the prettiest thing ever? (Note: I wish my cake was that pretty. It's not pretty, but it's ice cream cake so it wins by default) I didn't think I would be able to eat a cake like that. Then I found this cake.

Now that, my friends, is a kick tail cake. I would devour the first cake to avoid eating the Corpse Bride cake. I'd frame that cake. Just wow.

------

I've decided to force myself to actually write a novel this year. I've wanted to be an author for years, but I've never actually officially tried to sit down and finish anything. Well, that ends this year. I want to be able to say I tried to at least and to have something to show for it.Even if it's fanfiction (though I'll to have something original).

Well, I'll be seeing you guys soon since I smell a review coming soon<3

Author Interview: Samira Armin Hodges

2009-09-28T00:01:00.001-04:00

I was supposed to interview this very talented debut author on the 20th, but I missed the date. >.> Anywho, I think that might have worked out for the better since I'm reading Milestones now and I think it's an excellent book thus far. Samira Armin Hodges debut novel Milestones was released on August 1st.

First, tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Samira and I’m a 29 year old Pediatrician by day and Young Adult author by night. I was raised in Canada but I met and married a Texan in the Caribbean, so I recently moved to Texas and will likely stay here for the long haul. I have two crazy rescue dogs named Carrie Bean (guess where we found her) and Cocoa Bean. Milestones is my debut novel and it is book one of a trilogy.

What makes Milestones different from other books at the bookstore?

What a wonderful question and one that I don’t think I’ve ever been asked before. The reason I wanted to even write Milestones is because I felt that it was a story unlike ANY that’s been told before. Not a single person who has read it has predicted the outcome or the ending yet. Milestones take common themes of regular every-day life and turns it into something unrecognizable by the reader. All I can say is: give it a chance. You may be very pleasantly surprised. It is NOT your average camp story. That is a promise.

When you write, do you plan or just let the ideas come to you?

A little bit of both, I think. Normally, I plan out the whole story in advance. For instance, I always knew what would happen with the Milestones story. I came up with the entire tale at one time. But when I write, I just let the ideas come to me. Does that make sense?

Since you’re both a Pediatrician and an author now, is managing your time harder now?

*sigh* You. Have. No. Idea. That is the theme of my life right now and you’re very perceptive for picking up on that. I don’t want to bore you with the details of my job but right now, I work 80 hours a week. It’s very tiring especially considering that many of those hours are piled up consecutively (like 30 at a time, without sleep!). If you factor in sleep and well, regular every day tasks like showering, grocery shopping and paying bills, that doesn’t leave me time for much else. But this is where multi-tasking comes into play….as well as having a wonderful support system that helps take some of the load off.

Now for a completely irrelevant question. Swine flu is sweeping the nation and driving medical personnel (like my mom) insane. Is swine flu making your work harder?

Absolutely. I feel like everyone has the swine flu these days. Even people who don’t have any of the symptoms! The hospital ward and clinics are much busier than usual and well, people are very worried about the possibility of getting the swine flu so they are seeking medical attention a lot quicker than they normally would. We medical personnel have to be very careful when treating patients, otherwise, we could get very sick....over and over again. I’m waiting for it to blow over or for people to become a little more comfortable with the concept of the swine flu and realize that it is no more dangerous than the regular flu.

What are you reading now?

Another fantastic question. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about Hunger Games that I decided to give it a read. I just started but so far, it’s very intriguing!

When can we expect the next book of the Milestones Trilogy?

At this time, it is expected to be released in the Fall of 2010.

Thank you for having me on your blog Megan and for your very unique questions!

Thank you, Samira, for having the patience to wait on me! I like how we're on the same train of thought over Swine Flu. Thanks for the wonderful review. You guys can check out her personal website and make sure to pick up a copy of Milestones as soon as possible!

Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin

2009-09-24T22:42:00.001-04:00

Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin

Publisher: Delacorte (January 2010)
Category: Historic Fiction
351 Pages

But oh my dear, I am tired of being Alice in Wonderland. Does it sound ungrateful?

Alice Liddell Hargreaves's life has been a richly woven tapestry: As a young woman, wife, mother, and widow, she's experienced intense passion, great privilege, and greater tragedy. But as she nears her eighty-first birthday, she knows that, to the world around her, she is and will always be only "Alice."

That story, a wild tale of rabbits, queens, and a precocious young child, becomes a sensation the world over. Its author, a shy, stuttering Oxford professor, does more than immortalize Alice—he changes her life forever. But even he cannot stop time, as much as he might like to. And as Alice's childhood slips away, a peacetime of glittering balls and royal romances gives way to the urgent tide of war.

For Alice, the stakes could not be higher, for she is the mother of three grown sons, soldiers all. Yet even as she stands to lose everything she treasures, one part of her will always be the determined, undaunted Alice of the story, who discovered that life beyond the rabbit hole was an astonishing journey.

A love story and a literary mystery, Alice I Have Been brilliantly blends fact and fiction to capture the passionate spirit of a woman who was truly worthy of her fictional alter ego, in a world as captivating as the Wonderland only she could inspire.
Oh wow. Just.... Wow. I loved this book. I could barely put it down - it was that good. It's almost rendered me speechless.

Alice I Have Been is a novel version of the Finding Neverland movie - except with Alice in Wonderland.

Alice was a very spunky character. She was the most tomboyish of her sisters which made me immediately like her. She does turn into a spunky woman, but you still do see bits and pieces of her childhood self throughout the story. The other characters are great, but Alice I Have Been is more of a character study so I won't go into the others to much.

The story jumps suddenly about three times. There's four Alices in the story: child Alice, young woman Alice, middle age Alice, and elderly Alice. This story really does teach how something so simple as asking a childhood crush to write down a story can change the course of your life. She constantly fights with the version of Alice that was immortalized in Lewis Carroll's book.

I really don't know what to say about this book now. The writing was excellent. The plot was unique. I love how Alice meets Peter later on in the book. That was fun. The best part of this book? Everything about it was based on Alice's real life.

A+

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

2009-09-23T09:08:00.001-04:00

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Series: Study
Publisher: Luna
Category: Young Adult
440 Pages

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered a reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace, and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia. And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust, and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison. As Yelena tries to escape her dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and she develops magical powers she can't control. Her life’s at stake again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren’t so clear!

This book completely sucked me in. I stayed up until midnight on a school night reading this. I never do that. I simply was drawn until the world she created.

The setting is great on it’s own. Snyder’s created an amazing and interesting world. She gives us enough of a backstory so that we feel comfortable in Yelana’s world without giving us every single detail. I love the fact that the order had only been flipped for about a decade. It added to the story.

The characters were amazing. I loved the leading lady, Yelena. People should have role models like her. She stayed strong and played the hand she was dealt with little complaint. Valek was …. Oh wow. I loved him. There are no words to describe how cool he is. Every other character was very indepth and thought out. In this book, nothing is just there. Everything is tied together.

This book is amazing. I strongly recommend this book. It almost reads like a historic fiction so fans of that genre should pick this up along with fans of mystery, romance,and adventure. I’ll be reading the other two books in the series soon!

A

In My Mailbox (9.13)

2009-09-14T08:00:00.001-04:00

This week is a perfect example of why it never hurts to ask! In My Mailbox is hosted by the lovely Story Siren!

Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin

But oh my dear, I am tired of being Alice in Wonderland. Does it sound ungrateful?

Alice Liddell Hargreaves's life has been a richly woven tapestry: As a young woman, wife, mother, and widow, she's experienced intense passion, great privilege, and greater tragedy. But as she nears her eighty-first birthday, she knows that, to the world around her, she is and will always be only "Alice."

That story, a wild tale of rabbits, queens, and a precocious young child, becomes a sensation the world over. Its author, a shy, stuttering Oxford professor, does more than immortalize Alice—he changes her life forever. But even he cannot stop time, as much as he might like to. And as Alice's childhood slips away, a peacetime of glittering balls and royal romances gives way to the urgent tide of war.

For Alice, the stakes could not be higher, for she is the mother of three grown sons, soldiers all. Yet even as she stands to lose everything she treasures, one part of her will always be the determined, undaunted Alice of the story, who discovered that life beyond the rabbit hole was an astonishing journey.

A love story and a literary mystery, Alice I Have Been brilliantly blends fact and fiction to capture the passionate spirit of a woman who was truly worthy of her fictional alter ego, in a world as captivating as the Wonderland only she could inspire.

The Ex Games by Jennifer Echols
RACE YOURSELF FOR THE BATTLE OF THE EXES...
Hayden and Nick used to be a hot item, but their brief affair ended with a highly publicized break-up. Now the two are "just friends," excluding the occasional flirtation.
When Hayden wins the girls' division of a local snowboarding competition, Nick is unimpressed, claiming that Hayden wouldn't have a chance against a guy. Hayden calls Nick's bluff and challenges him to a head-to-head boarding contest. Their mutual friends quickly take sides, the girls on Hayden's and the boys on Nick's, making for an all-out battle of the sexes. This friendly competition is bound to get heated--and if they're not careful, they might end up igniting some old flames.

Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley

2009-09-09T14:53:00.003-04:00

Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley

Publisher: Razorbill
Category: Young Adult
321 Pages

Four Little Words Written in Lipstick...
mean Emily must say goodbye to everything she knows. Emily Carson has always been a good girl. So when she throws a party the night her parents leave for vacation, she's sure she'll get busted. What Emily doesn't know is that her parents will never return. That their plane will go down. And the only thing left amidst the wreckage will be a tray table with the words: Emily please forgive me scrawled in lipstick—her mother's last words.

Now it's fall in New York City and Emily's trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Her public tragedy captures the attention of more than just the media—and soon two very different boys at her new school are pursuing her: the cute, popular Owen and the quirky chemistry partner slash pastry-baker-by-night, Anthony. But even with such delicious distractions, Emily can't let go of her mother's mysterious apology. Does she have the courage to face the truth?

With help of a whole new kind of family—one that includes a make-up artist to the stars, a teen model, and a wacky hairdresser—Emily must choose between the boy who makes her forget it all, and the one who encourages her to remember, and ultimately, heal.

Sometimes goodbye is just the beginning.

I think this cover is beautiful. I love the color scheme. Alas, if only all books were as good as their covers.

I couldn't get into this book. At times I could get into Emily's world, most most of the time she came off as one of the girls off of The Hills(Note:I've never watched this show). She was so dramatic. The scene toward the end where Emily finds a certain someone was so unbelievable it was insane. Most of the other characters weren't that memorable.

The writing is very nice though. I would pick up another book by her, but one with a better plot and better characters.

C

20 Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

2009-09-04T16:50:00.004-04:00

20 Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Publisher: Little
Category: Young Adult
304 Pages

“Don’t worry, Anna. I’ll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it.”
“Okay.”
“Promise me? Promise you won’t say anything?”
“Don’t worry.” I laughed. “It’s our secret, right?”

For Anna Reiley and Frankie Perino, the ingredients for the Absolute Best Summer Ever are simple: Two girls. Two bikinis. And twenty days in Zanzibar Bay, California. The best part? According to Frankie, if they meet one boy every day, there’s a good chance Anna will find her first summer romance.

Anna lightheartedly agrees to the fun, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie… she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death last year.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer.

Yet another new(ish) book! I think this one was Amanda's actually... Huh. This book was good. It dealt with loss so believably. Most books will overdo the tragedy or underdo it. Ockler made it just right!

I loved Anna's character. She made me smile throughout most of the book. I loved how sensible she was. Frankie didn't deserve a friend like her. I kept wanting to shake Frankie. I wanted to scream at her whenever the big reveal happened.

The writing was just...wow. It flowed beautifully. By the fifth page I was completely sucked into this book. This book is worth being picked up. It's not a traditional happy-ever after, but it's close enough.

B

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

2009-09-03T12:00:00.000-04:00

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Publisher: Scholastic
Category: Young Adult
400 Pages

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human... until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

This is a flat out gorgeous book. Not only is the cover breathtaking, but the pages have a nice texture and the font is blue instead of your average black. This book has been ranted and raved about recently. I have to say that I agree.

Sam and Grace are two very cute and believable characters. I loved how the point of view switched at least every two chapters. It was just lyrical and fun! My biggest problem with the story is how long it takes for anything to happen. It's mostly fluff for the first half which isn't a problem for me, but some of you might not like that.

The take on werewolves is unique- triggered by temperature instead of the moon or anger. I like how the wolves communicated as well - it was very unique. I do wish that Stiefvater (Which I learned is pronounced Steve-otter by the way) had explored a little more into their mythology.

In short, Shiver made me,well, shiver.I really did like Shiver and the sequel Linger will be out next fall!

B

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

2009-09-02T17:25:00.006-04:00

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Series: The Vampire Academy
Publisher: Razorbill
Category: Young Adult
512 Pages

Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same.

The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters . . . Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa—her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess—or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved?

Now, with everything at stake—and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend—can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

Oh. My. God. This book was just...wow. It blew my mind away. You know how some series's have a book that is just a filler book? Blood Promise is nothing like that. It does have it's down moments but everything comes together in the end.

The novel starts shortly after Shadow Kiss ended. Rose is in Russia hunting down the newly "enlightened" Demetri. She's really toned down in this book. Since she's on her own now you can see the more sensitive side of her. She's lost a lot of her spark since she lost Demetri and left Lissa. Lissa fans - don't worry. She shows up plenty of times during the book. She seems to have been channeling Rose since most of the times you see her she's pissed off or depressed.

The pace was perfect! The ending was brilliant. I don't want to ruin it, but it makes the next book seem like it's going to be even better. Spirit Bound is set to hit the shelves on May 18th, 2010!

A+

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

2009-08-31T16:39:00.004-04:00

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Publisher: Delacorte
Category: Young Adult
320 Pages

In Mary's world, there are simple truths.

The Sisterhood always knows best.

The Guardians will protect and serve.

The Unconsecrated will never relent.

And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village. The fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power. And, when the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness.

Now she must choose between her village and her future, between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded by so much death?

I don't like zombies at all. As in they scare the heck out of me. I saw the first Resident Evil movie and by the end I was shaking and I had nightmares for weeks. By the way, that was only a little over a year ago. >.>

I was going to read this book at first. I wasn't going to even touch it. I went to my local library and -volia!- it was there. So I picked it up. It was amazing. It was creepy, but also hauntingly beautiful.

I loved Marie. I wanted to shake her sometimes for being so flighty, but it was who she is so it's forgivable. All she wants is to see the mysterious ocean - something that is a reminder of the zombie-less times. I understood her desperation to the core.

The plot is amazing. The pace is nice - it falters occasionally, but overall it remains consistant. I can't wait to pick up The Dead-Tossed Waves due out in 2010!

B+

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

2009-08-21T14:31:00.003-04:00

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantechev

Series: The Théâtre Illuminata
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Category: Young Adult
356 Pages

All her world's a stage.

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater.
She's not an orphan, but she has no parents.
She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own.
Until now.

Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book--an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family--and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.

I've been waiting to read this for a while. I've heard great things about this debut novel as well. It was pretty good for the most part. My biggest issue was that it was a little hard to follow at times.

The characters are strong. Bertie was a very, er, quirky character. I loved the fairies. They were so funny. I didn't get very attached to Nathan or Ariel really.

I also wish that the when of the story was a little more explained. I have no idea what era the story takes place in or if it was timeless. I just have no clue. Overall it was a good read and should be checked out.

I'm sorry this review's so short, it's been a while since I've read it.

B

The Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

2009-08-21T09:57:00.003-04:00

The Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company
Category: Young Adult
343 Pages

Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents’ deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets.

Lia and Alice don’t know whom they can trust.

They just know they can’t trust each other.

I've heard nothing but good things about this book. I'm sure it's the same for most of you too. So I went to my library yesterday for a few minutes and low and behold that had this book. Plus a few other new ones. I about went into shock. The Prophecy of the Sisters lives up to the hype and then some.

The plot is perfect. Two sisters who were birthed differently then any of the others before them. The Guardian became the Gate and vice versa. Due to this Lia and Alice become the sisters that will end the eternal struggle that has been occurring since the beginning of time itself - for better or for worse. After reading Zombie Queen it was amazing to find a completely original plot.

The characters were great. Lia is now in the running for my favorite heroine. She's very believable. She chooses her own destiny knowing it's going to be hard. Alice is simply pure evil, but you have to admire her confidence. Even the more minor characters are full of life.

I think Zink may be a liar though. There is simply no way this is her debut novel. The writing style is amazing. I have one simple complaint - why is this book only 343 pages? I'm already awaiting the next installment when the first just came out!

I do think my library might kill me over this book. I might have to buy them a new copy since I took this out to dinner last night and it was in my purse. I was holding a baby when he ...err...decided to spill my sweet tea everywhere. Including on the brand new book. ;-;

This book is perfect. Go buy it. Now. What are you waiting for?

A+

Wake by Lisa McMann

2009-08-20T21:48:00.003-04:00

Wake by Lisa McMann

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant....

The description of this book makes it sound tons creepier then Wake really is. This sounds like she is sucked into a murder's or a rapist's dream. In reality - well I can't ruin the plot. It's just a little bit on the anti-climatic side.

The plot is excellent. The pace is excellent. I got completely sucked in. I wanted to know more about Janie - How'd she get this gift? What's going to happen to her? I can't wait to pick up Fade in the hope that more will be shared with us. The two leads are strong. Janie is an interesting character whose story is pleading to be told. Cabel defines the Transformers motto - "There's more than meets the eye".

I had one huge problem with the entire book. The writing style. It's extremely jumpy and blotchy. She writes. Her sentences. Like this. After a while I was able to stop caring about the way she wrote since the plot was so good. If either Fade or Gone is bad then reading them is going to be painful.

I also had a problem with how much drinking Janie did. My dad is an alcoholic so I have problems reading books where the leads knocks down booze without any consequence. I know a lot of teenagers drink (I myself have a fondness for margaritas and daiquiris, but I only have sips of my moms) but don't make it seem so easy or so simple. I know I just sounded like a hypocrite, but I don't know how to put my feelings on the subject into words.

Now back to the review.

Overall, pick this up from the library. I wouldn't want anyone to buy a book that they can't stomach reading. If you can tolerate the style, it's worth picking up.

B

Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby

2009-08-20T11:39:00.005-04:00

Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby

Publisher: Speak
Category: Young Adult
208 Pages

Quiet, unpopular, non-cheerleading Mia is blissfully happy. Rob-super hot football god-has asked her to prom! Life couldn’t get any better. Enter Samantha -cheerleader queen and Miss Popularity-who has made it quite clear that Rob should be her prom date. Mia is desperate to make sure she doesn’t end up dumped in front of the whole school. So with prom in just a few days, she turns to Candice-her holistic, hypochondriac best friend-and decides to try a love spell to make Rob stay with her. Unfortunately, she ends up inflicting a zombie virus on her whole class instead, and she is their zombie leader! At first she loves all the attention. But when she learns from zombie hunter hottie Chase that her classmates will actually try to eat her in a few days, she’s not too thrilled. She’s sure she and Chase can figure something out, but in the meantime, she’s suggesting that no one wear white to prom, because things could get very messy.

I'm not going to lie to you: the basic plot has been done and rehashed countless times. Unpopular girl gets popular guy and is determined to keep him. When zombies are added to the mix it goes from overdone into something semi-new.

The three main characters make the book. Mia is the average girl. Actually if you've read The Princess Diaries series you'll find that this Mia really resembles Meg Cabot's Mia. Candice was a real piece of work. I wish that more could have been done with her hypochondria. Chase was a flat character for me though. I liked him, but if he would have gotten eaten by the zombies I can't say I would have cared.

Overall this was a fun quick read. It got the bad taste of Wicked Lovely out of my mouth. It won't ever make it to a classic status, but it's worth picking up.

B-

Tuesday Ideas and a Contest You Have To Enter!

2009-08-18T08:56:00.002-04:00

Before I begin the Bloody Bookaholic is having a contest. A mega-poolza contest that's not to be missed. What’s up for grabs? Well…

- Signed copy of Dreaming Anastasia + Goodies
- Hardback Another Faust
- Hardback Prophecy of the Sisters
- ARC The Dark Divine
- ARC Hush Hush
- ARC Give Up The Ghost
- ARC Ash
- ARC Behind Every Illusion
- ARC Shiver
- ARC Eyes Like Stars
- ARC The Demon's Lexicon
- ARC Betraying Season
- ARC Any Given Doomsday
- Dead Until Dark
- Gossip Girl 1st Book
- The Black Tattoo + poster
- Vampire Academy
- Frost Bite, a Vampire Academy Novel.
- Shadow Kiss, a Vampire Academy Novel.
- Blood Promise, a Vampire Academy Novel.

It screams to be entered. Make sure to tell them that I sent you so we both get extra entries =)

I was up kinda late last night and ended up pondering on what I could do weekly. There’s always In My Mailbox (but I mostly get junk mail =P ) and Waiting on Wednesday. But I’ve decided to start featuring book bloggers! Just send me an email at any of my three addresses and I’ll be happy to bounce over to your blog and interview you (or you can even answer some of your own questions). It’ll probably be on a first come first serve basis since I don’t play favorites. I hope to do one on Thursday though. =) I’ve decided to at the end of the month pick out my top five favorite books I’ve read during that month. I’m to lazy to sum things up every week.

I’ve also made an amazon store which can be found here. Buy from me – fight the man! =P Wow, I need more sleep.

What do you guys think?

Review Policy

2009-08-18T08:47:00.005-04:00

To Authors and Publishers:

This blog was started because of my love to read. I’m the girl you went to high school with that walked around with her nose in a book constantly. It’s an off day when I don’t have a book on me. This blog is something I enjoy taking time out to play with. It makes me happy.

If you want me to review a book I will happily do so. I will accept almost any Young Adult book, as well as some adult and tween books. I’m a fast reader so I can promise it will be done as quick as possible or whenever you want it up. I’d prefer a regular book – not an audio-book or an e-book. I’m too ADD to listen to the books being read and my vision already is terrible. So please, save both my vision and my sanity.

I’ll accept almost any offer to review a book regardless of the size of the publishing firm - even from self publishers. I lean toward fantasy and romance books, but I will read anything. I’m only picky about horror books – if it’s worse then any of the Hannibal series please don't send it to me. I don’t feel I’d review it fairly. I always want to review a book fairly. I’m not going to lie about my thoughts of it. I’ll always say what I liked about the book and what I didn’t like. I’m all about honesty.

For a relatively new book blogger I get decent traffic. I’ve been blogging for just over a month and I’m approaching 500 blog views.I do have a better site meter now, but of course it starts from scratch. It's at the very bottom of my blog. I want to help you get your book into the public eye. I’d love to help you host contests and to interview an author to help get the hype up.

Questions, comments, or concerns? Email me at any of these three addresses. They’re all checked daily.
thebooknerdette(at)yahoo(dot)com
howell_m(at)live(dot)com
megandreamer(at)gmail(dot)com

Goings on!

2009-08-17T11:54:00.003-04:00

Let my start by saying that there are some amazing contests going on in the book blog world right now. And I mean some amazing ones. There are two very extravagant ones going on with Princess Bookie and Lost in a Book. You would have to be crazy not to attempt to win these. I also have some other good ones in my sidebar.

Amazon is my Achilles heel. I had money then I blew it. But I'm getting the Prophecy of the Sisters, Eyes Like Stars, and Shiver in the mail soon. I'm also getting excited because my birthday is coming up which means more books, money, and cake!

I'm thinking for my first contest I'll have a bit of a book giveaway. I have a few titles picked out already. I have almost no new books to giveaway, but who says good books have to be new?

And now here's a picture of a gator with an L on his/her forehead for your amusement =)

~ Megan

The Midnight Charter by David Whitley

2009-08-17T08:11:00.005-04:00

The Midnight Charter by David Whitley

Publisher: Roaring Book Press (September 1st 2009)
Category: Children (9-12)
336 Pages

In a society based on trade, where everything can be bought and sold, the future rests on the secrets of a single document-and the lives of two children whose destiny it is to discover its secrets. In this spellbinding novel, newcomer David Whitley has imagined a nation at a crossroads: misshaped by materialism and facing a choice about its future. He has brought to life two children who will test the nation's values-and crafted a spellbinding adventure story that will keep readers turning the pages until the very end.

I just couldn't get into this book whatsoever. I tried to. From the reviews I've read so far I'm apparently the only person with this book that didn't like it.

The characters were interesting, but I couldn't make myself really care for any of them. Lily and doctor Theo were my favorite characters. I managed to halfway care for. I didn't care for Mark very much at all.

My main issue with this book is that it dances around the plot until about the last hundred or so pages. Then you finally find out what the Midnight Charter is. I did like how the story showed how the smallest things we do can affect everyone. It was interesting to think about. I think I'd recommend this one from the library.

C-

Hello all!

2009-08-16T21:50:00.003-04:00

I feel like I've been slacking for the past week. I made the mistake of buying House season three last weekend... So that's what I've been doing for the week. Then my mom kidnaps me to St. Augustine for a mother/daughter weekend. It was so much fun. I took a tour of Flagler College and I'm completely sold on it. It's only forty-five minutes or so from home too.

I have been reading. I actually got my first ARC in the mail a week ago. I cannot get into it whatsoever. I'm so glad that I've almost finished it. So I'll probably be having a contest in another week so that everyone can fight to get a copy of The Midnight Charter with a sample audio CD. I'm apparently the only one that doesn't like this book right now so there might be something wrong with me.

Well, I've gotta run. School starts back up in a week so I need to get my sleep schedule back on track =)
Peace <3

Saving Juliet by Suzanne Selfors

2009-08-13T08:40:00.004-04:00

Saving Juliet by Suzanne Selfors

Publisher: Walker
Category: Young Adult
272 pages

Two Juliets,
both alike in desperation. . .

Seventeen-year-old Mimi Wallingford, of the Broadway Wallingfords, has a life most girls can only dream of—complete with the starring role in her family’s production of Romeo and Juliet. But acting is not her dream, and she’s fighting for the right to trade her script for a scalpel and become a doctor.

Fourteen-year-old Juliet Capulet, of the Verona Capulets, has lived a lonely life—imprisoned by the feud that consumes her family and by her iron-fisted mother’s forcing her into an unwanted marriage. She will do anything to avoid her betrothed, even if it requires faking a boil on her bottom—or something more dangerous.

During the play’s final performance, Mimi’s wish to get away actually comes true when she and her heartthrob costar, Troy Summer, are magically transported into Shakespeare’s Verona. Now that she knows the real Juliet, Mimi doesn’t want to stand by and allow the play to reach its tragic end. But if saving her new friend means changing the ending of the greatest love story of all time, will she and Troy ever make it back to Broadway?

I love this cover! It alone is amazing. At first I couldn't get into this book (which might have had something to do with the fact my mom's boyfriend was over but whatever). Then as soon as I Verona I was sucked in completely.

Mimi had an amazing voice. Being in her head was a pleasure. I love how she grew throughout the story. Troy really grew on me. Hell, I loved Juliet this time around. I wanted to smack her in the play.

The plot is awesome. It flowed beautifully. My only complaint was at the end how fast everything tied together. It bugs me. I seriously have no idea what to say about this book besides go pick it up! I'll definetly be reading Coffeehouse Angel as soon as possible now.

B+

The September Sisters by Jillian Cantor

2009-08-08T12:20:00.004-04:00

The September Sisters by Jillian Cantor

Publisher: HarperTeen
Category: Young Adult
361 Pages

Abigail Reed and her younger sister, Becky, are always at each other's throats. Their mother calls them the September Sisters, because their birthdays are only a day apart, and pretends that they're best friends. But really, they delight in making each other miserable. Then Becky disappears in the middle of the night, and a torn gold chain with a sapphire heart charm is the only clue to the mystery of her kidnapping. Abby struggles to cope with her own feelings of guilt and loss as she tries to keep her family together. When her world is at its bleakest, Abby meets a new neighbor, Tommy, who is dealing with his own loss, and the two of them discover that love can bloom, even when it's surrounded by thorns.

This book was an awesome debut. I really enjoyed it. The pages are pretty in this book. There's some swirly design on the bottom of every page.

If you've read The Lovely Bones, then you'll feel like this book had the potential to be the account of the living sister (I can't remember her name at the moment). The story droned at times, but over all it was a very emotional read.

I adored Abby's character. She really did grow over time. I loved how she thought back on Becky. The flash backs are seamlessly put into the story. You can get a perfect sense of who Becky was even when she disappeared so early in the story. Tommy was a good character as well. I didn't always like him, but I could see why Abby needed him. Abby's dad really grew on me as the story went on as well.

This is an awesome book that I completely recommend picking up.

A-

Questions!

2009-08-07T21:05:00.003-04:00

Question time! I seriously want some input. Please?

What can I do to make my blog more user friendly?

What needs to be changed? Added?

Should I do a shout box so I can actually talk to you guys? (Blogger seriously needs a comment back feature or something)

And does anyone mind if I email them in response to their comments?

I'm just trying to fix up my blog a little bit. I hate how to talk to someone I have to email them. It irks me for some reason, but meh. I also want to be lame and let peoples know I made a MySpace for the site. Click here to access it!

Sorry everyone - I'm just a little bit giddy tonight. Well I'm going to head off to the shower since I smell funky now.

Peace <3

I Know It's Over by C.K. Kelly Martin

2009-08-07T10:01:00.003-04:00

I Know It's Over by C.K. Kelly Martin

Publisher: Random House
Category: Young Adult
244 Pages

Pure. Unplanned. Perfect. Those were Nick's summer plans before Sasha stepped into the picture. With the collateral damage from his parent's divorce still settling and Dani (his girl of the moment) up for nearly anything, complications are the last thing he needs.

All that changes, though, when Nick runs into Sasha at the beach in July. Suddenly he's neck-deep in a relationship and surprised to find he doesn't mind in the least. But Nick's world shifts again when Sasha breaks up with him. Then weeks later, while Nick's still reeling from the breakup, she turns up at his doorstep and tells him she's pregnant, and with his emotions and hopes crashing in around him, Nick finds himself struggling once more to understand the girl he can't stop caring for, the girl who insists that it's still over.

This book was really interesting. The cover doesn't do the story justice at all. I hadn't head much about this book when I picked it up. I knew it was a romance story. Nick was a triple threat - good looking, athletic, and actually used his brain. Sasha was the smart and sassy girl that could put him on his butt so fast he couldn't see straight. One day, Sasha leaves him. Then three weeks later she shows up and tells him that she's pregnant. Oh boy.

Nick was amazing. This is one of the first teen books I've read for a while from a guy's point of view. He made me smile throughout the book. Sasha on the other hand - I wanted to smack her so hard throughout the book. She's book smart, but outside school I just couldn't see it.

This is going to be real nit-picky, but I'll try not to spoil anything. Why were the only two options keeping the baby or aborting it? Where's the choice for adoption? I just thought Martin should have made that a choice too.

The story can be long and drawn out at times. It gets dull sometimes. This story will pull at your heart strings constantly.

B

I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert

2009-08-05T17:11:00.006-04:00

I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stehanie Kuehnert

Publisher: MTV
Category: Adult (fiction)
340 Pages

Punk rock is in Emily Black's blood. Her mother, Louisa, hit the road to follow the incendiary music scene when Emily was four months old and never came back.

Now Emily's all grown up with a punk band of her own, determined to find the tune that will bring her mother home. Because if Louisa really is following the music, shouldn't it lead her right back to Emily?

I'd heard nothing but good things about this book. Even then I was impressed by this book. The way Stephanie writes is mind blowing. Just wow.

This is a very unique story about a daughter and her mother -eventually- finding each other through music. There are ups and downs throughout the book. Things you won't see coming at all. I didn't cry while reading this book, but it's exceedingly touching.

Emily was such a heartfelt character. I loved how passionate she was about everything. If she wanted it - she went for it. I loved that she wasn't perfect - she had her flaws and as the reader I knew exactly what they were. I won't say anything on Lousia to avoid spoiling anything.

Go pick up this book. NOW. It's a must read. Well, if you're over fourteen since this book has sex (nothing graphic), drug usage,alcohol usage, and loads of cursing. If you don't mind those things...well, what are you waiting for? Go buy it!

A

Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story by Carolyn Turgeon

2009-08-05T09:36:00.006-04:00

Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story by Carolyn Turgeon

Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Category: Adult
276 Pages

Lil is an old woman who spends her days shelving rare books in a tiny Manhattan bookstore and lonely nights at home in her apartment. But Lil has an intriguing secret. Tucked and bound behind her back are white feathery wings–the only key to who she once was: the fairy godmother responsible for getting Cinderella to the ball to unite with her Prince Charming.

But on that fateful night, something went terribly and beautifully wrong. Lil allowed herself the unthinkable: to feel the emotions of human beings and fall in love with the prince herself, going to the ball in place of Cinderella in her exquisitely gorgeous human guise. For her unforgivable mistake, she was banished to live among humans, far from her fairy sisters and their magical underwater world. But then one day she meets Veronica–a young, fair-skinned, flame-haired East Village beauty with a love of all things vintage and a penchant for falling in love with the wrong men–and suddenly it becomes clear to Lil that she’s been given a chance at redemption. If she can find a soul mate for Veronica, she may right her wrong and return to the fairy world she so deeply longs for. . . .

I want to start by saying that this book is currently being optioned for a film! I would definitely go see it if it gets that far. Godmother is a very cute story about redemption. Lil was THE fairy godmother. However, the night of the ball didn't go as planned... So, three hundred years later the fallen fairy is in modern New York and is about to stop accepting her fate.

This story had an interesting concept 'What if we didn't know the real story?', but something kept this book from being amazing. Turgeon has a fantastic writing style. It just didn't click right with me. At times while I was reading Godmother it felt like almost all I was reading were description.

The three main characters were really refreshing. Lil, George, and Victoria were very neat and quirky characters, but they didn't pull at my heart strings. I liked the take on the prince and Cinderella's story. It was depressing at times yet very interesting.

Overall, this book is a nice rainy day read. It's worth picking up from the library, but I'm note sure about buying it.

B-

Beastly by Alex Flinn

2009-08-03T20:05:00.006-04:00

Beastly by Alex Flinn

Publisher: HarperTeen
Category: Young Adult
336 Pages

I am a beast. A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog, but a horrible new creature who walks upright – a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.

You think I’m talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It’s no deformity, no disease. And I’ll stay this way forever – ruined – unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and a perfect life. And then, I’ll tell you how I became perfectly beastly.

I picked this up from the library for two reasons: I've heard great reviews and it's going to be a movie. It's going to be an awesome movie. Flinn is an amazing story teller, taking a classic tale and putting her own spin on it. I plan on picking up other books by her soon!

The characters are awesome. Kyle begins as the guy we all love to hate. He's an arrogant sob that was raised to be just that. It was awesome watching him grow up and into Adrian. I want to meet a girl like Lindy. She seems like she'd be an amazing friend. Kendra was awesome as well - I wish there was a little bit more of her in the book.

The plot is flawless. Flinn succeeded with making the story more modern and from The Beast's point-of-view. She could have butchered the idea of the classic story, but she pulled it off! I totally recommend picking this up!

A

In My Mailbox// Home!

2009-08-03T00:43:00.005-04:00

Okay, so this shouldn't be called In My Mailbox (which brought to you by Kristen) at all. It should be "From My Library", but eh. I picked up six books that I've had on my list to read for a while now. The September Sisters, I Know It's Over, Godmother: A Secret Cinderella Story, I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone, Beastly, and Saving Juliet.

I'm home at last! Camp was amazing - I'm so glad I went. I think everyone needs to get involved in a church now - or something religious. It was a real eye-opener. Yesterday was my mom's birthday too. It's been a busy week already! I'm hanging out with Amanda today so I'll pick up a book later on =)

For the next week

2009-07-24T17:41:00.002-04:00

I'm going on 'vacation' next week. Well, it's really Church Camp. I wish I wouldn't have signed up to go since I hate things like this... I couldn't totally do ALA or BEA since I can probably discuss books for ages, but camp? I'm a very relaxed Christian so I doubt I'll get along with everyone. I hope I manage *le sigh*

I leave Sunday and I should be back late Friday/Saturday morning. I will have my cell on me, but I have no idea if I'll have signal or not. If you want to reach me while I'm gone it can be done by emailing me at thebooknerdette@yahoo.com or howell_m@live.com

Also I made a MySpace for this blog (don't shoot me!) which can be found here. I also just got a copy of Suite Scarlett that I won from What Bri Reads <3

Eh, I gotta run. My boyfriend is rushing me. =)

Peace

Stargazer by Claudia Gray

2009-07-24T10:19:00.005-04:00

Stargazer by Claudia Gray

Series: Evernight
Publisher: Harper Teen
Category: Young Adult
336 Pages

Stargazer (March 2009) returns to Bianca's story a few months later. Both she and Lucas will stop at nothing to see each other again—even if it means living a life of secrets and lies. But even as Bianca finds herself torn between two worlds, she soon discovers they aren't the only ones keeping secrets. Will powerful forces within Evernight Academy keep her from deciding her own fate, or claim her forever?

I loved Evernight. Stargazer didn't quiet live up to Evernight for me. The story line just didn't pull me in as much. Also I have some issues with the cover.

The plot is fantastic. In this book Evernight Academy gets new 'guests' - wraiths (ghosts). These ghosts hold the key of Bianca's existence. Also in Stargazer Bianca begins to decide her own fate. More people need to take charge like Bianca does.

Bianca is still a real likable. I can't say much about her this time since it'd spoil the plot. Lucas is a real jerk this time. He seems to be letting other people make his choices for him. Balthazar was awesome this time around. He's such a complex character (and I love me some complex characters!).

While this book was only decent it lets me believe that Hourglass will be amazing. I'm real excited for Hourglass. Look at that cover - gorgeous! If you liked Evernight, make sure you pick up Stargazer.

B-

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

2009-07-22T12:30:00.004-04:00

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

Series: The Vampire Academy
Publisher: Razor Bill
Category: Young Adult
448 Pages

It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since making her first Strigoi kills, Rose hasn't been feeling quite right. She's having dark thoughts, behaving erratically, and worst of all...might be seeing ghosts.

As Rose questions her sanity, new complications arise. Lissa has begun experimenting with her magic once more, their enemy Victor Dashkov might be set free, and Rose's forbidden relationship with Dimitri is starting to heat up again. But when a deadly threat no one saw coming changes their entire world, Rose must put her own life on the line--and choose between the two people she loves most.

It's only a little over a month until Blood Promise. Shadow Kiss may be the most impressive book in this series so far - and that says something. This book has the perfect pace and plot.

Rose is still growing up in this book. She's grown from hot-headed girl into a woman with a -normally- controlled temper. Dimitri becomes more-developed character in this book. Lissa... Lissa is either really selfish or really stupid.
"It had to be one of the weirdest things in the universe that Lissa had never come close to suspecting my feelings for Dimitri but that Adrian had figured it out." page 36
Keep in mind that by know it'd almost been an entire school year since Rose got a crush on Dimitri. -.-

The plot has several different twists and turns. Everything ties together in the end- something Mead excels at. I plan on picking up other books by her while waiting for Blood Promise.

A+

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

2009-07-22T12:22:00.004-04:00

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Series: The Vampire Adademy
Publisher: Razor Bill
Category: Young Adult
327 Pages

Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose…
It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians—including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if handto- hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks….This year, St. Vlad’s annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.
But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price…

So it takes a book months to be written, months to be published, and it takes me all of two hours to read. Am I the only person who sees the injustice of this? Eh, I’m just kidding. Kinda.

This is an amazing sequal to the Vampire Academy. In this book, Rose struggles to put her love for Dimitri on hold while trying to become a grade-A strigoi killer – which may or may not be all she thinks it is.

The original characters are still awesome in the book. They’re growing and evolving as time progresses, which is what every character in a story should do. There’s three new solid additions this time around: Christian’s aunt Tasha, Adrian, and Rose’s mom Janine (dun dun dun!) Tasha is an awesomely sweet character that wants to add progress into moroi ways. Adrian is awesome. I love his character and how he always goes “Hey little dhampir”. Janine is a piece of work – as well she should be. Rose and her’s relationship both made me happy and sad all at once by making me think of my father…

Anyway, this book lives up to its expectations. It’s got a sad ending that will break your heart, but it will leave you hungry for more. The plot is deeper then before since every answer Vampire Academy came up with just leads to more questions. This books has more action, more romance, and more heartbreak. So do yourself a favor and pick up this book.

A

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

2009-07-20T13:48:00.005-04:00

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Series: The Vampire Academy
Publisher: Razor Bill (Penguin)
Category: Young Adult
332 Pages

From Razor Bill:
St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

Somewhere down the line, I became addicted to vampire books. Only the good ones of course! ;) The Vampire Academy is definitely one of the good ones. I'm sure the idea of a vampire school was used before this book (which was published in 2007) and I'm sure it'll be redone. But no one will be able to do it with the twist that Mead has given it.

The vampire mythology in this book is stunning. Most vampires are Moroi - vampires tied to one specific element that are also mortal. The Strigoi are the vampires of our nightmares - ruthless creatures that can't stand sunlight and are hard to kill. Then there are Dhampirs - half human and half vampire that can only breed with Moroi, so often become guardians of the Moroi. The best of both worlds, for the most part.

The pace of this story is perfect. You'll never guess who the villain is. Since this was my second time reading it I caught some of the hints, but if you've never read it I doubt you'll pick up on it. It's a delicious read, it really is. While there is a lot of important choices in this book there's also a lot of normal high school stuff like, let's say, destroying reputations, flirting, and gossiping.

Rose was a badass character. I wanted to be her throughout this entire book. She has a sharp tongue and plans on being one of the only Dhampir women to become a guardian. What's not to like? Lissa, who is the last of her royal line, was really likable. Her story is interesting. I don't want to ruin anything, but it's not just hormones making her go crazy. I loved the three main men too: Dimitri, Christian, and Mason. Mason is such a great character. So is Christian (who might just be a male version of Rose). These two really add to the story. And Dimitri? Dear God, can I have a Dimitri? Please?

I hope that in the fourth book (I've already read the three that are out before) to learn even more about shadow-kissed Anna. Does this cover make anyone else think of Anna?

This book is worth a read. Completely. If you don't own it and want to or if you want to pre-order the fourth installment Blood Promise order it from the University Bookstore in Seattle and you can have it signed by Richelle Mead! This site explains how.

A+

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

2009-07-19T14:02:00.006-04:00

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

Publisher: MTV
Category: Young Adult
256 Pages

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO?

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn’t make it back.

John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won’t soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won’t be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge—and over...

This book deserves awards - and a lot of them. It's an amazingly crafted story. Echols has created a masterpiece! This is one of those stories where every lose end is tied up and where everything is connected.

She created a strong cast of characters. Meg has an amazing mind with a unique voice. Her thoughts sent me into a fit of giggles a few times. Also, as the story goes on you learn why she acts the way she does. Johnafter irritated me to no end and made me really care for him (much like my own boyfriend actually). I really cared about what happened to every character. Well, except for Eric and Angie. Heck, I want to know what happens to the characters in the future.

I loved how Echols made Johnafter's and Meg's personal growth believable. It wasn't something the all of a sudden changed overnight - it was subtle at first then became obvious at the end of the book. The end of the book was perfect. It wasn't a Happily Ever After, but
it was the very beginning of one for sure.

This is a book I completely recommend buying. I'm borrowing a friend's copy, but my own is waiting for me in my shopping cart on Amazon. I'll be reading this again.

A

Swoon by Nina Malkin

2009-07-17T18:35:00.003-04:00

Swoon by Nina Malkin

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Category: Young Adult (leans toward adult!)
421 Pages

Sin is Coming...Prepare to Swoon!

Torn from her native New York City and dumped in the land of cookie-cutter preps, Candice is resigned to accept her posh, dull fate. Nothing ever happens in Swoon, Connecticut...until Dice's perfect, privileged cousin Penelope nearly dies in a fall from an old tree, and her spirit intertwines with that of a ghost. His name? Sinclair Youngblood Powers. His mission? Revenge. And while Pen is oblivious to the possession, Dice is all too aware of Sin. She's intensely drawn to him—but not at all crazy about the havoc he's wreaking. Determined to exorcise the demon, Dice accidentally sets Sin loose, gives him flesh, makes him formidable. Now she must destroy an even more potent—and irresistible—adversary, before the whole town succumbs to Sin's will.

Only trouble is, she's in love with him.

I wish I could say Swoon blew my mind. That I loved it. Truthly, I didn't. Malkin had an amazing plot bunny which dropped acid and hopped all over the place. Some of her chapters were really jumpy. I ended up lost a couple of times and went "WTF?" a couple of times too. I'm still scratching my head over about three chapters.

Malkin did have an amazing idea. The story itself is good. Dice was a fun leading lady. I didn't like her at first, but she grew on me. I hated Sin. I understand his reason for wanting vengeance, but waiting two-hundred years to do it? Really now. Why Dice loves him is beyond me (and if anyone knows why she loves him please tell me why). I didn't like Pen either - but that's probably just because of Sin's influence.

There is a LOT of sex, drugs, and a little bit of alcohol. I know Swoon's a small town, but surely these kids had better things to do besides getting high and screwing. There is an orgy in this book - which made me wonder why this was in the teen section of my library. I'm no prude, but it was a little to much sex. Although I have to give Malkin applause for not shying away from the drugs and the sex and doing so in a non-judgmental point of view.

I'll probably read another one of her books, but I won't be picking this one up again. I just didn't enjoy this book.

C-

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

2009-07-16T21:23:00.002-04:00

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Publisher: Speak
Category: Young Adult
400 Pages

When Annabel, the youngest of three beautiful sisters, has a bitter falling out with her best friend-the popular and exciting Sophie-she suddenly finds herself isolated and friendless. But then she meets Owen-a loner, passionate about music and his weekly radio show, and always determined to tell the truth. And when they develop a friendship, Annabel is not only introduced to new music but is encouraged to listen to her own inner voice. With Owen's help, can Annabel find the courage to speak out about what exactly happened the night her friendship with Sophie came to a screeching halt?

This book is breath taking. It has amazing themes throughout the book like listen to yourself and self-healing. It's about a young woman, Annabel, learning to find her own voice against everything she's been feed her entire life.

Annabel is a very touching character. I'm sure we've all felt her doubt and her insecurity. I can really relate to her since I also for a long time had to learn to stand up for myself and for my opinions. Owen was probably my favorite character - he had an inhuman amount of honesty.

The reoccurring theme of music throughout the book is a nice touch. Dessen's right when she says through Owen that music has the possibility to bring anyone together. This book will pull you in.

I'm sorry if this review sucks but I'm really bored and tired all at once so that's made me a bit ADD...
B

Stray by Rachel Vincent

2009-07-14T21:26:00.004-04:00

Stray by Rachel Vincent

Series: The Shifters
Publisher: MIRA
Category: Adult
624 Pages

From Vincent's Site:
I look like an all-American grad student. But I am a werecat, a shape-shifter, and I live in two worlds.

Despite reservations from my family and my Pride, I escaped the pressure to continue my species and carved out a normal life for myself. Until the night a Stray attacked.

This brush with danger was all my Pride needed to summon me back... for my own protection. Yeah, right. But I'm no meek kitty. I'll take on whatever and whoever--I have to in order to find my friends. Watch out, Strays--'cause I got claws, and I'm not afraid to use them...

This was a fast paced and fun read. Vincent creates a very interesting world of people who transfer into cats - panthers, technically. I hope she continues to build on this world and add in more mythology to give her feline race more background.

Faythe was a fun, but predictable, character. She was hormonal, quick-tempered, and had a lot of rebellion in her. Think Rachel from the Animorphs series plus a nastier vocabulary. Marc was quite,um, angry. His jealousy about drove me nuts. I just felt bad for Jace.

I couldn't completely get into this book. It was a fun read, but something kept me from falling into the plot like I normally do. Even so, this book is worth a chance. I hope that whenever I read the three more books that Vincent has released I'll find a more mature Faythe and a plot that I can really get into. My last note is that this should only be picked up by kids in high school. There is violence, bad language, and sex throughout the book. It also deals with rape for a few chapters.

B-

Twisted by Laura Halse Anderson

2009-07-13T08:57:00.005-04:00

Twisted by Laura Halse Anderson

Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Category: Young Adult
272 Pages

From Amazon:

Socially inept Tyler Miller thinks his senior year of high school is going to be a year like no other. After being sentenced to a summer of character building physical labor following a graffiti prank, his reputation at school receives a boost, as do his muscles. Enter super-popular Bethany Milbury, sister of his tormentor, Chip, and daughter of his father's boss. Tyler's newfound physique has attracted her interest and infuriated Chip, leading to ongoing conflicts at school. Likewise, Tyler's inability to meet his volatile father's demands to be an asset, not a liability adds increasing tension. All too quickly, Tyler's life spirals out of control. In the wake of an incident at a wild party that Bethany has invited him to attend, he is left feeling completely isolated at school and alienated at home, a victim of twisted perception. Tyler must tackle the complex issues of integrity, personal responsibility, and identity on his own as he struggles to understand what it means to be a man.

Anderson is a genius author. Every single book I've read by her I've loved. Twisted is a step out of her normal zone. This is written from a guy's point-of-view. Tyler was your average geeky teenage boy - but once he decides to spray paint the school his life crumbles around him. His dad is emotionally abusive, his mom is falling apart at the seems, and his sister is starting high school.

Tyler was a good character. Since this plot is character driven, he had to be. He starts out as depressed, thinking on and off about ending his life. After his life starts spiraling out of control, he slowly begins to take control of his life and becomes a man.

Honestly, I don't know what to say about this book. This book is definitely not for anyone who hasn't entered high school. Sex is mentioned a lot. This a really short review, but I totally recommend this book. You need to form your own opinions on this book.

Plot: 8
Characters: 9
Romance: 7
Writing style: 8
Originality/Memorable: 9
Total: 41/50 (B)

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

2009-07-11T09:53:00.005-04:00

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Publisher: HarperTeen
Category: Young Adult
294 Pages

From Pike's website:
Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful--too beautiful for words.

Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

Wings wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting just a romance, not the action that took place at the end. I loved how Pike took a mythological creature and put her spin on it. Her faeries aren't like most mainstream ones. They are plants, basically. This could upset some fairy lovers, but I thought it was a very unique.

Pike's descriptions were so vivid in this story. My biggest hope is that in the sequel the characters become less cut-and-dry. Laurel is a very well developed character - but the others aren't as developed. David just seems to nice at this point. I wanted some jealously, not him turning a blind eye toward Tamani. Speaking of Tamani, I can't wait to learn more about him. I kept picturing him as a taller Pip from Fern Gully- minus the wings.

Overall, this is a stunning debut novel. Even if the subject isn't your favorite, you will love Pike's writing style. I have a feeling that this novel will push Pike towards becoming a huge name in the business.

Ratings (Out of 10):
Plot: 7
Characters: 7
Romance: 6
Writing style: 8
Originality/Memorable: 10
Total: 38/50 (C)

Blue Moon by Alyson Noel

2009-07-10T19:19:00.005-04:00

Blue Moon by Alyson Noel

Series: The Immortals
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Category: Young Adult
284 pages

From Amazon:
Just as Ever is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an immortal, initiated into the dark, seductive world by her beloved Damen, something terrible is happening to him. As Ever’s powers are increasing, Damen’s are fading—stricken by a mysterious illness that threatens his memory, his identity, his life.

Desperate to save him, Ever travels to the mystical dimension of Summerland, uncovering not only the secrets of Damen’s past—the brutal, tortured history he hoped to keep hidden—but also an ancient text revealing the workings of time. With the approaching blue moon heralding her only window for travel, Ever is forced to decide between turning back the clock and saving her family from the accident that claimed them—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows weaker each day...

Note: Yes, this is my third review in a day. I'm on a bit of a reading kick today. Plus, I'm going to have family in town this weekend so I'll be to busy to read much.

Blue Moon was tons better then Evermore. Blue Moon showed me much stronger characters and plot. I'm real excited for Shadowland which won't come out until February of 2010.

When I finished Evermore I wasn't even sure if I wanted to read this. I'm glad I sucked it up and read it. Blue Moon is so much stronger then Evermore. This time, there's a plot throughout the book. Ever is left wondering who -or what- is turning Damen from the man she loves into a boy ruled by his hormones. During this search, Ever learns she could, instead of saving and being with Damen, be with her family again.

Ever is a much stronger heroine this time. I really admire her for following her intuition. Even when everyone else is making fun of her, she stays true to herself. I also like how, unlike other heroines, she asserts herself during this book. I didn't really get a feel for Damen in the last book, but when reading about him thinking of Stacia I had to put the book down for an hour or so. Without giving away to much, Roman is interesting to say the least. I hope in the next book Ever drops Haven as a friend.

The pace is really good in this book. It seems to drag a little bit at times, but I got the sense that it was important for it to drag. Although I really think that Noel should tune-down Damen and Ever's PDA. If I saw two of my friends acting like that (constantly!) I think I'd be sick. Now I'm stuck here wondering - what's next for Ever and Damen? Even if you hated the first novel, the second installment of The Immortals is worth another look.

Ratings (Out of 10):
Plot: 9
Characters: 8
Romance: 4
Writing style: 8
Originality/Memorable: 10
Total: 39/50 (C+)

Evermore by Alyson Noel

2009-07-10T15:15:00.003-04:00

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Series: The Immortals
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Category: Young Adult
301 Pages

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, Ever can see auras, hear people's thoughts, and know a person's entire life story by touch. Going out of her way to avoid human contact and suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen.
Damen Auguste is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her head—wielding a magic so intense, it's as though he can see straight into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she's left with more questions than answers. She has no idea just who he really is—or what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with him.

I want to start by saying this is one of my favorite book covers ever. It's gorgeous!

I thought this was a good book that has a ton of potential. Only three things keep this from being a fantastic book. The first being the Immortals themselves. I think Noel should have fleshed them out a little bit more and given us more of an idea about what they are. The second being how jumpy the writing is at times. There's one scene toward the end that really bugs me, but I don't want to spoil anything. The final thing that bugs me is how, before you really get to know Ever, she seems mary-sue like with how she ended up able to read minds, see auras, and talk to the dead.

With those three things aside, I did really like this book. While it took a while for the climax of the story to finally show up, it was worth the wait to see who was messing with everyone. Most of the characters are interesting.

I had a love/hate relationship with Ever. She made a good narrator for most of the book, but at other times I felt like I wanted to strangle her. I didn't like Noel's choice to make her a mild alcoholic at all. My dad's an alcoholic himself so the way Ever was able to push past it with barely blinking an eye bugged me. I mean, I've seen what it does to people. I loved Ever's little ghost sister Riley. She was probably my favorite character with how much she had to deal with. What about Ever's love interest,Damen? I have nothing to say on him since he was so guarded I couldn't really get a sense of who he was.

This book was pretty good. It seemed a little Twilight-esqe in a way. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy or just wants to try something a little different. I can easily see how some people could love this book, but it didn't quite appeal to me in the right way. In a few minutes I'll start Blue Moon to see what happens next.

Ratings (Out of 10):
Plot: 6
Characters: 7
Writing style: 6
Romance: 6
Originality/Memorable: 7
Total: 32/50 (C)

Rumors by Anna Godberson

2009-07-10T10:26:00.005-04:00

Rumors: A Luxe Novel by Anna Godberson

Publisher: HarperCollins
Category: Young Adult
423 Pages

Summary from Amazon:
True love. False friends. Scandalous gossip. Welcome back to Manhattan, 1899.

As rumors fly about the untimely demise of New York's brightest star, Elizabeth Holland, all eyes are on those closest to the dearly departed: her sister, Diana, the family's only hope for redemption; Henry Schoonmaker, the flame Elizabeth never extinguished; Penelope Hayes, poised to claim all that her best friend left behind; even Elizabeth's former maid, Lina Broud, who discovers that while money matters and breeding counts, gossip is the new currency. In this delicious sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Luxe, nothing is more dangerous than a scandal . . . or more precious than a secret.

This one was a lot better then it's predecessor. The characters were far better developed this time around. The plot seemed to move faster this time around. It still dragged on at times, but at least the entire novel didn't drag

This time, I liked all the characters save for a few. Diana was probably my favorite character this time around. I even liked Henry this time since he was so torn. Elizabeth is also easier like this time around as she's happy with Will. Penelope is just as evil and conniving in this novel, if not more so. With Lina, I don't know if I'm hoping she falls hard of if she succeeds with becoming like all the famous ladies.

I hated the ending of this book. It just seemed way to rushed. While I liked this one way more then I liked The Luxe, I'm not sure if I can stand to read another one. I wish I could like this series more, but for some reason I just can't get into them. I might read the last two just to see how the mess these girls are making of their lives sorts out.

Three out of five stars

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

2009-07-09T09:09:00.004-04:00

Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Publisher: HarperTeen
Category: Young Adult
248 Pages
Summary from book:

Tristran Thorn promised to bring back a fallen star. So he sets out on a journey to fulfill the request of his beloved, the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester - and stumbles into the enchanted realm the lies beyond the wall of his English country town. Rich with adventure and magic, Stardust is of of master storyteller Neil Gaiman's most beloved tales, and the inspiration for the hit movie.

I didn't like this book at all. If you've seen the movie,like I have, don't buy the book at first. Check it out from your library to make sure you like it. Most of the parts of the movie that made me love the story are completely gone.

The ending of this book left a bad taste in my mouth. The 'romance' between Yvaine and Tristran in this book seems like it was to sudden since I didn't see how they fell in love. The witches? I won't even go into how anti-climatic it was.

I will say that while I didn't like the story, I did like Gaiman's writing style. He went into the perfect amount of detail in Stardust.

I'm not really going to recommend this book. Even if I hadn't have seen the movie first I don't think I would have liked it. I do recommend the movie though!

Two out of five stars

2009-07-07T15:42:00.004-04:00

Evernight by Claudia Gray (Amy Vincent)

Category: Young Adult
Publisher: HarperTeen
327 Pages

I picked up Evernight out of sheer curiosity. When I first opened it, the format reminded me of Twilight which made me groan. I hoped that it wasn’t a Twilight clone. It wasn't - and it's now one of my all time favorite books.
I loved Bianca. I'd love to meet a girl like her - she had inner strength but also had that doubting voice in her head that most people do. Lucas was also a strong character – I loved how all the tiny seemingly unimportant stuff you learn about him turns out to be important at the end.

The writing is amazing. Gray wrote a nicely paced book that really held my attention. The romance between Bianca and Lucas was realistically written. Instant attraction that turned into love over time. I was, excuse the pun, sucked in by every aspect of this book. I even read in the car which is something that makes me feel really nauseous.

My only problem with the story is how that when Bianca bit Lucas, it turns out that she’s known she was a vampire the entire story.If the reader is anything like me at this point, their glaring at the book wondering how in the world this wasn’t mentioned before. I think Gray was implying that since Bianca had heard it all her life she didn’t really think about it anymore. Other then that, I can’t make a single complaint about this book.

Overall, I’d recommend this to anyone and everyone. Even if you don’t want to even touch a vampire story, this book has something in it for you. Gray manages to capture every emotion perfectly, even the sexual tension, without going overboard with it. I wish I would have bought the sequel,Stargazer, when I bought this.

Five out of five stars or A+

Pocahontas by Susan Donnell

2009-07-06T20:45:00.006-04:00

Pocahontas by Susan Donnell

465 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Category: Adult

Summary (from the book):
"The Princess from Virgina
To her father, the great chief Powhatan, she was Pocahontas, "Little Mischief" - the cherished daughter destined to marry a mighty warrior from another tribe.
To the English colonists at Jamestown, she was all that stood between them and starvation - and constant warfare with Powhatan's armies.
To the aristocrats of London, she was Princess Rebecca, toast of the town, confidante of lords and playwrights, and a fierce defender of her people.
To John Smith of the Virginia Company, she was the greatest love of his life..."

I got this book from my grandma's house about two years ago and can not part with it. I don't think it's being printed anymore actually. My copy was printed in March of 1991 so it's a well loved book of mine (translation: It's falling apart).

From the few reviews I've found on this book, it seems people either love or hate it. Some hate how Donnell didn't stick to historic fact and assumed the John Smith was Pocahontas's soul mate. I fall into the category of people that love this book.

Donnell weaves a captivating story about the young Powhatan Princess's life. She tells a more realistic story then Disney did. The story starts when Pocahontas is 12, which strikes me as a little gross, but it's a fact. The details are amazing. Donnell really made me feel like I was in Virginia.

The characters are almost all well developed. I really like how Pocahontas's character progressed. John Smith was a nice solid character and it was easy to tell why he took certain courses. Since the book switches point-of-view every chapter or so, almost nothing remains a mystery - which isn't always a good thing. Even though I knew how the story would end, I would have liked a few more surprises.

The book was a little long-winded at times. It's no where near as bad as The Lord of the Rings, but it tends to drone. Occasionally I'd wonder why the ending wasn't getting any closer. I think her publisher's should have put their foot down and omitted the 2.5 chapters with the Spaniards which did nothing but make the book thicker.

There is a few sex scenes in this book so I don't think anyone under the age of fourteen should read this. There aren't that graphic, but I don't think tween need to be reading this book and giggling out "Hehehe she wrote that "He spilled his seed in her womb hehehe!" There is little to no profanity in this book which is a good thing.

Overall, Donnell did her research with this book. You will learn about so many different aspects of how people lived during that time. I think that everyone should read this book at least once for whatever the reason. You could like or not. It's worth the risk. Hunt it down at your local library or pick it up at Amazon for cheap.

4/5 or B

For the week of 7/5

2009-07-05T20:57:00.000-04:00

This is going to be a fun week for me. First things first: I changed the name of my blog. Eclectic Reviews had already been used several times and I would have used dawn somewhere but I didn't want to seem like I was mimicking my good friend Amanda to much. I also got a new background and I like the template a lot more then what I was using before. It seems a lot neater and more organized to me now.

Now for what's coming up. I went to Books-A-Million earlier today, which is like my heaven on earth (that as well as several other large book chains and the library) which turned out to being having a sale. I now have five brand new books (one of which I've read before, but for $4 I just couldn't say no to).

I went a head and bit the bullet and bought Rumors by Anna Godbersen.

I finally found Stardust by Neil Gaiman. Ever since I saw the movie, I've been hunting for this book.

Evernight by Claudia Gray

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Here's a little question for you book-buffs: Where did this quote come from?

"Not all who wander are lost."

Most people will know this =)

Have a good week!

Pure by Terra Elan McVoy

2009-07-05T08:33:00.001-04:00

Pure by Terra Elan McVoy

329 Pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Categorey: Young Adult

I recently joined a site called PulseIt
which is where Simon & Schuster allows readers ages 14-18 read free books as long as they review it. This book had about thirty days left before they took it off so I decided to read Pure.

At first I regretted picking this up going ‘Oh great, a Christian book that’s going to shove morals down my throat‘. At first, that’s what it was. The first thirty pages seem like they should have been condensed a bit. Or maybe it’s because I was reading it online.

Once the plot picked up, the story got a lot better. A couple of friendships are destroyed when one member of the Christian group decides to have sex. To Tabitha, the main character, it’s more complicated then that. It shakes her very faith a little bit. It’s better then it sounds really. Also, the ending was fantastic.

I loved Tabitha as a character. I understood her doubts and struggles with her faith. She’s a real charming character really - I loved being in her head. Her parents and Cara are also real interesting characters. Morgan…. Ugh. I hated Morgan’s character. You’re made to dislike her in the story but I began to hate her. I kept hoping Tab would punch her. She’s the kind of character that throws a fit if she doesn’t get her way.

Overall this was a really adorable story. It’s not my normal kind of thing, but I liked it. I’m going to buy a copy of it as soon as I get the money.

4 out of 5 stars

The Luxe

2009-07-04T22:03:00.000-04:00

The Luxe by Anna Godberson
The Official Luxe Site

433 Pages
Publisher: Harper&Collins (through Harper Teen)
Category: Young Adult

This isn’t really my kind of story so I went into it having no clue what to expect. I mean, I’ve never even touched a Gossip Girl book -gasp!-. So getting into was really hard for me.

Although let me say the cover art is gorgeous.

That being said, I thought it was an ok book. It’s got its flaws, but it was definitely a step out of my comfort zone which is a good thing. I didn’t really like Elizabeth honestly. I don’t understand how she could be having sex with one former friend and being a complete jerk to another. I didn’t like Henry either. Penelope was a totally piece of work, but at least she was interesting. My favorite character has to Diana. She has the spirit of someone from today’s world stuck in 1899.

The plot moves slowly, but towards the end of the book I was hooked and wanted to know what happened. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who gets bored easily. I’m still debating on whether or not to read Rumors, but I probably will. It might be more interesting with the Penelope verses Diana angle.

There is not a single doubt in my mind that if this became a movie it’d be right up my alley since I liked the movies Vanity Fair and Marie Antoinette.

Three out of five stars

Happy Fourth of July!

2009-07-04T16:57:00.001-04:00

Just stopping in to wish everyone in the United States a happy fourth of July! It's also my grandpa's 79th birthday today. I pray that he has a bunch more in him as well. With it being his birthday that means there's going to be ice cream cake in about two or three hours - yes!
Yummy.

So how are you celebrating today - if you are?
Or, what's your favorite holiday?
Mine's a tie between Christmas and New Years - the most festive time of the year.

~ Megan

Mini-Post

2009-07-03T17:14:00.000-04:00

I have family in town and they’re playing cards right now. So I decided to write a mini-review. Well, it’s more of an author feature really.
About two months ago, my friend Amanda (the owner of Nocturnal Reviews ) went to the library. She handed me two books by Julie Anne Peters - Luna and Keeping You A Secret. I’d tried to read Luna a few years ago and couldn’t get into but I had read Define Normal.
No one, and I mean no one, can write about real-world problems like she can. Keeping You A Secret was a very good book that deals with a young woman discovering that she’s a lesbian and how the people around her deal with it. To me, it was hard to find a single bad thing about the novel - other then I want to know what happened down the line with the lead character and her girlfriend.
As good as Keeping You A Secret was, Luna touched my soul. I cried a couple times in this book. This book deals with a real touchy subject - Transexuality (according to my computer, I just made up a new word). While Liam aka Luna irritated me to no end with how self centered he was at times, it was just a part of his insecurity. Reading this story through his sisters eyes was a really touching experience adding to the realness.
I’ll definitely be going after the other books by her. I love her writing style and think that everyone should read at least one of her books.

~ Megan

Perfect Chemistry

2009-07-01T22:43:00.000-04:00

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

361 Pages
Publisher:Walker & Company
Category:Young Adult

A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers.

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more. In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

I went into the book having no idea what to expect. It had a gorgeous cover and I wasn't quite into The Luxe, so I switched to this.

Oh My Goodness, I'm glad I did. This book was amazing. Alex and Brittany were amazingly well developed characters. Most of the characters are as well. I think a lot of young adults can relate to this book. No matter where you are, there is undoubtedly racism around. It's considered weird if you're with someone outside of your ethnic group. By breaking this barrier, this book truly becomes close to a modern Romeo and Juliet.

All the characters reactions are real, which is always a real plus. The book also shows the 'ugly' side of being perfect in a new light which is totally unexpected. Most books follow the "my-perfect-life-really-isn't-perfect-because-my-dad's-a-drunk-plan" or something similar. Also Elkeles handles a delicate subject -gang life- in a realistic light that's not over played.

One of my only true issues with this entire book is Brittany's parents. While the reason Brittany's life isn't perfect is a hard thing to live with, it shouldn't destroy a family like it did.

Four out of Five Stars or B+

If I Stay

2009-06-30T22:35:00.000-04:00

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

196 Pages
Published by Dutton Books (Penguin)
Category: Young Adult

Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love— music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind? Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it’s the only one that matters.

If I stay is a heartwrenching novel. It made me think about my own life and my choices as I read - so much that I had to go back and re-read several paragraphs because I'd only been scanning as I thought.
Mia is an amazingly real character, considering you only really hear her memories and inner struggles for almost the entire book. I think we can all understand being torn between two loves.
I admit, I thought the love she had for her boyfriend was amazing. But it was her best friend that I fell in love with Kim. She's the bright side in this entire book. I'd also love to have parents like Mia's.
This isn't a book I'll re-read anytime soon. Not because it was a bad story, because it wasn't, but because I think this is one of the stories that profoundly affects you after just one reading.

Three out of five stars

Jessica's Guide for Dating on the Dark Side

2009-06-30T14:08:00.000-04:00

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

354 pages
Publisher: Harcourt
Category: Young Adult

The undead can really screw up your senior year . . .
Marrying a vampire definitely doesn't fit into Jessica Packwood's senior year "get-a-life" plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth--and he's her long-lost fiance. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire's Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war--and save Lucius's soul from eternal destruction.

When I first finished this book I was not impressed - at first. This was a book I had to think back on. After a few days, I found I really did like the book. Fantaskey created an original vampire story. Every single character in this story was amazingly developed.

Jessica is a unique character for me. Normally you don't find girls in vampire stories like her. Which is something I love. Yet again, she's such a detailed character that you feel like she's a real person by the end of the book. Her parents are hilarious.

This book took me on an emotional roller coaster ride. Thanks to Lucius, I had to keep reminding myself that it wasn't my book so I wouldn't throw it across my room. This book will make you mad. So if you just like the books that are simply read for enjoyment with almost no emotional involvement... don't pick this up. You will get tied up into it.

Four out of five stars.

Because I Am Furniture

2009-06-30T13:12:00.000-04:00

Because I am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas

Publisher: Viking
365 pages
Age group: Young Adult

Anke's father is abusive. But not to her. He attacks her brother and sister, but she is ignored, forced to be an invisible witness in a house of horrors. Believing she isn't worthy of even the worst kind of attention, Anke feels about as significant as the living room sofa. Until she makes the volleyball team at school. In a sport where you have to yell "Mine!" to play the ball, Anke learns for the first time how to make herself heard. As her confidence on the court builds, she finds a voice she didn't know existed. And it's not long before she realizes that if she can make people hear her while she's playing volleyball, then maybe she can be heard at home, too.

When Amanda handed me her copy of this book I remember going "I am not reading this. I've read Crank and am not reading anymore books like it." I'm really glad I changed my mind. I fell in love with the story. Even for those of us who have never felt as Anke has, Chaltas helps you to understand how she feels. You'll get drawn in.

For those of you who don't like poems, give it a chance. By the time I was halfway through the book I forgot I was even reading poems. I recommend reading this at least once, although I know I'll be reading it again.

Four out of five stars.