Waiting on Wednesday

I'm following a mim started over at Breaking the Spine where every Wednesday I'm going to tell you about a new book that I'm excited to have. 

Here's the first one:

The Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices Book 1)

by Cassandra Clare

Releases in US: August 31, 2010

Summary (from Amazon):

Magic is dangerous---but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tess soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own. 

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by---and torn between---two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

I loved The Mortal Instruments series, so I definitely cannot wait to read The Clockwork Angel. And I'm definitely sad that so many people already have the ARC! Only three more months!

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Synopsis (from author's website):

Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong...

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri's birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir's---and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can't wait for their real lives beyond the Academy's iron gates to begin. But Rose's heart still aches for Dimitri, andhe's out there, somewhere.

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

Excerpt:

I managed to flip the switch again, once more shutting out the fact that this was Dimitri. We were predator and prety—and I was in danger of being eaten.
"Sorry," I said through gritted teeth, shoving hard—and failing—to break his grip. "My eternity doesn't involve being part of the undead mafia."
"I know," he said. I could have sworn there was sadness in his face but later convinced myself I must have imagined it. "Eternity will be lonely without you."

My Thoughts:
I love the Vampire Academy series. I think it's a well written series. I must admit that I was skeptical how this book would be after the slight disappointment of Blood Promise. However, a couple chapters in and I was hooked. The story was coming together nicely.

Richelle Mead does a fantastic job of getting you to sympathize with not only the main characters—Rose, Lissa, Christian—but also the supporting cast and the bad guys—Adrian, Dimitri, Abe, Tatianna. I want them all to be happy. Especially Rose. 

The love triangle is created superbly. I can imagine Rose with either Adrian or Dimitri. And that's saying something. Although I completely lean towards Adrian, but then again I feel like I'm choosing Team Jacob instead of Team Edward (in that Jacob=Adrian, and Dimitri=Edward, only Adrian has better hair and isn't so overbearing and immature). 

The sixth book comes out later this year and will be the final part of Rose's journey. I honestly can't wait to see what happens, who she will choose and who has caused the big disturbance in the Moroi Court as well as who has it out for Rose.

Recommendation: For the vampire/paranormal lovers: hit up a bookstore.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Darklight by Lesley Livingston

Darklight by Lesley Livingston

Synopsis (from the author's website):

In this sequel to Wondrous Strange, Kelley Winslow finds her NYC acting career blossoming as she takes the lead in Romeo and Juliet. But she also finds herself desperately missing Sonny Flannery---who was forced back to the Faerie Otherworld, charged with a dangerous mission by Kelley's father, King Auberon.

When Kelley finds herself thrown in the Otherworld following a deadly chase in Central Park, her passionate reunion with Sonny is cut short. Ancient magick is stirring and a dangerous enemy has Sonny and Kelley caught in a web of Faerie deception that could tear their love apart.

Excerpt:

"Sonny!" she cried, sprinting toward him. He held his arms open for what he meant to be a good-bye embrace. But Kelley dodged past him, scooped up a fallen tree branch that lay on the strand, and clobbered one of the redcaps. The branch shattered in two over the creature's ugly, lumpy head just before the vicious little troll would have plunged a long-bladed knife into Sonny's unprotected back. The creature slumped back into a heap onto the ground.
"Thank you," Sonny said in astonishment.
"I'm sorry I left without saying good-bye," Kelley said, the broken makeshift club gripped in her white-knuckled fist. 
"I'm sorry I let you," Sonny said, and opened his arms again.

My thoughts:

Remember when I said I hated faeries?

Well, I still hate faeries.

You might wonder why I would read yet another book about faeries. Well, I'm taking a class for grad school and I have to read 55 young adult books in 9 weeks. So, I'll read just about anything to fill the quota.

This book was not as thrilling as the first book. I'm sure it's the set up before the final book. However, I still don't really relate to Kelley. I just don't really like her. She seems to be somewhat content with being clueless and when people don't fill her in, she throws a tantrum. 

I'm not sure how I feel about Sonny. He didn't have a huge presence in this book. This book tended to show his other nature--the ruthlessness, the changed nature of Sonny because he had been a part of the Hunt in the first book. 

There are too many candidates now for conspirators against Auberon and Kelley. But I was curious about why Auberon requested to see Kelley. Didn't she give up her lineage to him in the first book? She can no longer inherit the throne. Does he now regret that choice? And who really called the Hunt?

It'll be interesting to see where the next book takes us.

Recommendation:  If you love faeries—go for it. Buy it. Otherwise, hit up your local library

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Sneak Peek at Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Obviously you don't know, but I am a HUGE fan of Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. Loved it. I desperately want to meet her to tell her that. 

One day.

Anyways, she has recently released the prologue and chapter 1 of the sequel, Crescendo. The cover was released in April, but this is the first peek at the book.

So head over to fallenangel.net to download the PDF then get back here and post a comment about what you think. 

Did I mention that they moved up the release date from November to October 15th?

YES!!!

The Edge on the Sword by Rebecca Tingle

The Edge on the Sword by Rebecca Tingle

Synopsis (from the back of the book):

When fifteen-year-old Æthelflæd is suddenly and reluctantly betrothed to an ally of her father, the king, she realizes her world will never be the same. For as a noblewoman in the late 800s, she will be expected to be meek and unlearned---and Flæd is anything but meek and unlearned. Her marriage will bring peace to her land; but while her royal blood makes her a valuable asset, she is also a vulnerable target. When enemies attack, Flæd must draw upon her skills and fight to lead her people to safety and prove her worth as a princess---and as a warrior.

Excerpt:

Flæd followed the stream to the edge of the marsh. She had stayed at the knoll for hours, and had noticed no sign of her warder in the surrounding riverland or woods. Freedom, she thought as she stopped to wash the grit from her arms, had felt sweet even for this little time.
"Lady," a voice behind her said. She whirled to see the Mercian envoy standing half concealed in a stand of young elm trees.
Misery washed over Flæd in waves as the wind dried her clothes. Her time alone had been an illusion, with no true escape from the presence she loathed.

My Thoughts:

Have you ever read Robin McKinley's The Blue Sword (one of my all-time favorite books) or The Hero and the Crown? Do you love those books about strong women who fight alongside men and earn the respect they are given?

Then this book is totally for you.

Be forewarned, it starts a little slow, and sometimes the author interjects information--whether to define an Old English term or to explain something of historical significance, but by the end, I found myself not wanting to be done. I wanted to know the end of the story and just keep going.

The descriptions are wonderful. I fell in love with the scenery.

The story is actually a re-imagining of who Æthelflæd might have been as a teenager. There are records of her and her contributions to the kingdom of Mercia. But the fact that she was real doesn't make this story any less exciting. In fact, it only adds to setting of the story.

Recommendation: Go out and buy it! It's so good!

Rating: 5/5 stars

Consequences by Penelope Lively

Consequences by Penelope Lively

Synopsis (from goodreads): 

Consequences is a love-story-times-three that opens on the eve of the Second World War, with a chance meeting in St. James's Park, London. Told in Lively's incomparable prose, it is a powerful story of growth, death, and rebirth, and a study of the previous century---its major and minor events, its shaping of public consciousness, and its changing of lives.

Quotation: 

"Wake up, Lucas. Here---the village shop's best mousetrap, and the pick of last year's apple harvest." 

Lucas opened his eyes. "I wasn't asleep. Just relishing happenstance. That I happened to get chatting to Matt that evening at the Grosvenor. That you two happened upon each other." He took a bite of sandwich. "Very decent mousetrap, if I may say so. You know, you've stepped out of a game of Consequences: you two. Matt met Lorna---on a bench in St. James's Park. He said to her: 'Let me rescue you from your ivory tower.' She said to him: 'There's a ladder in the basement, and my parents are out this evening'---The World said: 'They'll never get away with it'---and the consequences was. . . . Well, we shall have to wait till August to find out what the consequences was."

My Thoughts:

On the recommendation of a friend, I picked this book up from the library. On the whole the book was alright. It follows the story of three women--all connected. It follows Lorna who begins our story; Molly who carries the middle; and Ruth the one who finishes our story and brings us closer to Lorna.

I loved Lorna. I loved her story, her strength, her love. I felt compassion for her character, I wanted her to get a happily ever after. She and Matt deserved it. Unfortunately, life is not always as neat and organized as a novel, and this book definitely tries to portray reality. 

Molly didn't thrill me as a character. Perhaps it was her lack of upbringing, but her feminist ideas frustrated me. She complained about not being in love, but she was willing to sleep with a man and get pregnant and move into an apartment he purchased. She wasn't willing to marry him, even though he asked her before she knew she was pregnant. Molly just frustrated me with her need to be self-sufficient. It seemed to show she didn't have any room in her life for anyone else. Until Sam came along. I loved Sam. Sam was such a down-to-earth guy. I just didn't see him with Molly very well. 

Ruth was my second favorite. I felt horrible that her life wasn't as simple as she thought it would be. 

All in all, I thought Lively did a nice job trying to tell three different stories and to show the "consequences" of one choice over 3 generations. It was the characters that failed to keep me really loving the book. 

Recommendation: If you're interested in family drama and World War II, check it out from the library

Rating: 3/5 stars

Spells by Aprilynne Pike

Spells by Aprilynne Pike

Synopsis (from author's website): 

Six months have passed since Laurel saved the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Now she must spend her summer there, honing her skills as a Fall faerie. But her human family and friends are still in mortal danger--and the gateway to Avalon is more compromised than ever.
When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable?

Excerpt:

"Are you free to be anything more than a friend to me? If I ever decided to live in Avalon and wanted to be with you, would you be free enough to do that?"

"I'm not allowed to ask. You would have to ask me."

Her breath caught in her chest, and Tamani looked at her.

"Why do you think David bothers me so much?"

Laurel looked down at her lap.

"I can't just storm in and proclaim my intentions. I can't 'steal' you away. I just have to wait and hope that, someday, you'll ask."

"And if I don't?" Laurel said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Then I guess I'll be waiting forever."

My thoughts:
I loved the triangle. I think this is one of the best love triangles that I have ever read. I find that I want Laurel to be with both David and Tam. The guys are so very different and represent Laurel's own self and the two parts of her that exist--nature and nurture. I can't wait to see who, what, and where she finally decides in the end. 

That was where my love for this book came to an end. I didn't feel Laurel's connection to her parents was as strong as in this book. Her mother avoided her, but the resolution of their situation was so fast, that I blinked and they were hugging.

Chelsea, too, suddenly knew that Laurel was a faerie and that was the end. No explanation of how she knew or when she knew. She just did. 

The trolls were kind of always there, but the threat wasn't real to me, or as real as in Wings. I felt like we spent too much time in Avalon, but we really didn't learn much about Laurel. We learned about the hierarchy of faeries and what talents they all have and who hates Laurel, but that's the end of it.

I will read the third book, Enchantments, when it's released next year, but I was somewhat disappointed with the lack of anything that really happened in this book. But the middle book in trilogies is supposed to be frustrating.

Recommendation: Hit up the library

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

It's been too long.

I have had on my to-do list to post a blog. My readings had to take a pause while I finished my research paper for grad school. However, this weekend I finished two books, so expect me to be back and posting full-time again! 

Thanks for your patience. Just wanted to let you know that I haven't dropped off the face of the planet. 

Cheers!

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

Synopsis (from the author's website):

Great literary crime detectives aren't always born; they're sometimes discovered, blindfolded and tied up in a dark closet by their nasty older sisters. Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce's bitter home life and vicious sibling war inspires her solitary diversions and "strange talents" tinkering with the chemistry set in the laboratory of their inherited Victorian house, plotting sleuth-like vengeance on Ophelia (17) and Daphne (13), and delving into the forbidden past of her taciturn, widowed father, Colonel de Luce. It comes as no surprise, then, that the material for her next scientific investigation will be the mysterious corpse that she uncovers in the cucumber patch.

Fearless and darkly imaginative, Flavia hurries to solve the murder and acquit her father of suspicion. Following the lead of its clever protagonist, Sweetness is entirely inventive, fast-paced, and quick-witted, with tongue-in-cheek humour that derides the macabre seriousness of subject. 

Alan Bradley plants the story deep into the setting of 1950s England, with a portrait of an eccentric home life that is all too wickedly familiar. The story's twists are supported by the time and place as well as the unusual interests of the characters which range from stamp-collecting to making poisons all of which are highly researched and ingeniously incorporated.

Excerpt:

"Where's my lipstick, you little swine? What have you done with it?"

"It's in your drawer," I said. "I noticed it when I purloined your pearls."

In my short life, bracketed by two sisters, I had of necessity become master of the forked tongue. 

"It's not in my drawer. I've just looked, and it isn't there."

"Did you put on your specs?" I asked with a smirk.

Feely slammed down the heels of her hands on the table and stormed from the room.

Later, I wrote in my notebook.  

Friday, 2nd of June 1950, 9:42 A.M. Subject's appearance normal but grumpy.

(Isn't she always?) Onset may vary from 12 to 72 hours.

I could wait.

My Thoughts:

I decided to take a break from YA literature (especially after the last few disappointments) and went for a mystery fiction novel. However, this too could technically be classified as YA literature. It was a delightful read. Flavia de Luce is eleven years old and an aspiring chemist and apparently detective. Not only is she trying to solve the mystery of the man found dead in the cucumber patch outside their home for which her father has been accused, but she's also got two sisters who are willing to make her life a living nightmare. 

The excerpt I chose was written in the first chapter. I about died when I read that. I KNEW at that moment, I was hooked. 

There's another part in the book where Flavia is trying to get information from her sister Daphne. Daphne's in the library, perched on a ladder to get to the books high on the shelf. The ladder even has wheels on it. When Daphne ignores Flavia, Flavia decides to torture Daphne for information. She begins pushing the ladder up and down the library as quickly as she can until Daphne succumbs to terror.

Oh, man. I haven't loved a book like this in a long time. A mystery is always exciting, but when you have a delightful narrator--it makes the whole thing THAT much better.

Recommendation: Get it however you can and READ IT NOW!!

Rating: 5/5 stars

The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

The Reckoning (Book #3 of the Darkest Powers Trilogy) by Kelley Armstrong

Synopsis (from the website):

Only two weeks ago, life was all too predictable. But that was before I saw my first ghost.  

Now, along with my supernatural friends Tori, Derek, and Simon, I'm on the run from the Edison Group, which genetically altered us as part of their sinister experiment.

We're hiding in a safe house that might not be as safe as it seems. We'll be gone soon anyway, back to rescue those we'd left behind and to take out the Edison Group . . . or so we hope.

Excerpt:

When we reached the highway, Margaret finally spoke.




"Who taught you to do that, Chloe?" she said.

"What?"

Her eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. "Who taught you to raise the dead?"

"N-no one. I--I've never even met another necromancer before you." Not exactly true. I'd briefly met the ghost of one, but he hadn't been much help.

"Did the Edison Group give you books? Manuals?"

"J-just a history book that I--I skimmed through a bit. Th-there wasn't anything on rituals."

"You're telling me you can raise the dead simply by summoning?"

"Yes."

"My God," she whispered, staring at me. "What have they done?"

My Thoughts:

I've read the other two books in the series, but it was before I started this blog. And I didn't want to go back and re-review books that have already been read. I was excited to get this final books. I LOVE final books in trilogies because they bring all of the stories to a close. You know that there won't be a cliffhanger. It's a comforting feeling.

This one was awesome. Chloe learned how to hone her skills a little more and of course her relationships with Tori, Derek and Simon are strengthened. They bond together--these three. I was glad that Chloe became a little more confident in herself and she became a huge hero in this book.

It ended way too fast. The build up took far too long, and then the ending was so quick that it was hard to enjoy it. Unfortunate, I know. But the ending was so open ended, I'm sure the story is definitely not complete. I hope we get to see Chloe and the gang again soon.

Recommendation: Get to reading!!!!!

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Vacation.....

I promise I haven't meant to be away so long.

I'm just on vacation. 

But I've been reading out in the sunshine. 

And it's glorious. 

I'll have new reviews to post when i get back tomorrow.

Be jealous because I went to the Cheesecake Factory yesterday. And I had a Red Velvet Cheesecake. It was divine. 

Cheers!

Tithe by Holly Black

Tithe by Holly Black

Synopsis: 

Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms -- a struggle that could very well mean her death.

Excerpt:

"Now, pixie," he said, "go!"
"I don't know if I should believe you," she said. "Give me a kiss." If she couldn't stop thinking about his lips, maybe tasting them would get it out of her system. After all, if curiosity killed the cat, it was satisfaction that brought him back.
"There is no time for your snatched pixie pranks," he said.
"If you want me to leave quickly, you'd best be quick." She was surprised at her own words, wondering at the giddy viciousness of them.
She was more amazed when his lips brushed across hers. A sudden shock of feeling lanced through her before he pulled away.
"Go," he said, but he said it in a whisper, as though she had drained the breath from him."

My Thoughts:
Obviously, if this book was voted as one of the best books for young adults, some people liked it. 

I'm not one of them. 

I need to really just stop with all of the fairy books. Really. Every time I pick up one I think, This can't POSSIBLY be worse than the last one. And then i start reading and I realize--yes, it is.

Kaye is so oblivious to everything but herself. It felt like the only person she truly cared about was herself. She can see faeries, but apparently, that's not weird because she's seen them since she was little. But now, Kaye discovers that she is a faery. A pixie.

To complicate things, there's a hot faery named Roibin who is dangerous and Kaye is warned to stay away from. But does she? This is a YOUNG ADULT novel, remember? Of course not! 

In a side plot, Kaye befriends Corny, her friend Janet's brother. Corny is gay and makes that known to Kaye in a very awkward scene. At least for me it was. I understand the author trying to make it seem like not a big deal, but it was still awkward. I don't know how else to describe it.

The writing was great, though. The descriptions were incredible. It was just the story and the characters that frustrated me completely. I don't know how I even finished because I didn't really want to. 

Recommendation: If you really desire to read it--go to the library

Rating: 1/5 stars

What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

Synopsis:

In 1947, with her jovial stepfather Joe back from the war and family life returning to normal, teenage Evie, smitten by the handsome young ex-GI who seems to have a secret hold on Joe, finds herself caught in a complicated web of lies whose devastating outcome change her life and that of her family forever.

Excerpt:

"You don't love me, kiddo," Peter said softly. "You're a lovely little girl with a lovely little crush. You don't know me ---"
"I do know you. I know you right down to the ground," I said. "I know that whatever you did, however bad it was, that you're not that bad."
He stood there, and I saw something change for him. I saw me change for him. That dress I thought had changed me in his eyes? It had been nothing. This was it, this was finally it, when I got what I wanted.

My Thoughts:
Good news: I kept reading this book because I wanted to find out what happened.

Bad news: I was sorely disappointed when I got to the end. 

The book started off well. Blundell did a fantastic job of placing us in post-war America. I felt like I was truly there. 

I loved Evie. I thought she was the perfect representation of a fifteen year old--that in between phase when you want the respect of your elders and your independence, while not realizing your own limitations. She was perfect in every way. Her loss of innocence was obviously a major theme in the novel, and I thought the writer portrayed it all very well. 

Unfortunately, no matter how much I liked Evie, I hated almost every other character in the book. Joe was sleazy, the mother was airheaded, and Peter--the guy Evie falls for--wasn't developed. When the tragedy struck, I didn't feel sorry for anyone, but Evie. In fact, I was mad at Evie for lying to save everyone else. 

The side plot discuss the anti-Semitism that existed in post-war America. Although it was interesting and I felt like the author really had something--I felt that at one point it was just thrown back in. It was there at the start and then forgotten until halfway through the book when it was suddenly brought up again. Maybe I didn't understand or didn't read anything into the text and it was my fault for missing the cues.

All in all, I was just disappointed with this book. 

Recommendation: Not really worth your time, in my opinion. 

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog

Synopsis: 

Morgan Sparks and Cam Browne are a match made in heaven. They've been best friends since birth, they tell each other everything, and oh yeah--they're totally hot for each other. 

But a week before their joint Sweet Sixteen bash, everything changes. Cam's awkward cousin Pip comes to stay, and Morgan is stunned when her formerly perfect boyfriend seems to be drifting away.

When Morgan demands answers, she's shocked to discover the source of Cam's distance isn't another girl--it's another world. Pip claims that Cam is a fairy. No, seriously. A fairy. And now his people want Cam to return to their world and take his rightful place as Fairy King.

Determined to keep Cam with her, Morgan plots to fool the fairies. But as Cam continues to change, she has to decide once and for all if he really is her destiny, and if their "perfect" love can weather an uncertain future.

Excerpt:

"Why do you have a wand? Are you a magician? Is Dawn your assistant? And you made her invisible?"
"No, she's my guide."
"Your . . . guide? Like a tour guide? For wherever you're being taken?"
"Right."
"Okay. So where are you being taken?"
"I'm not sure. To wherever it is that fairies go."
"You mean, like, Middle Earth or something?"

My Thoughts:

I probably shouldn't have read two books about fairies so soon after one another. However, I do have to say that the writing in this book was so witty. I found myself laughing at the one-liners that were ever present. Even with the fairy stuff.

I thought this book was going to have a sequel, because the ending didn't feel like an ending. I have so many questions still. Is Morgan really a psychic? Or was that some power she gained from being in close proximity to Cam all her life? Is Cam okay as a fairy? Was what they had REALLY true love? Or is what Morgan and Pip have true love? Or does she fall in love with someone else? 

Everything seemed to not make a whole lot of sense as I read through the story. Although there was the impending deadline of Cam having to return, and Dawn being a vicious little vixen, I really didn't feel a sense of urgency for the situation. Pip seemed to be handling rejection nicely. And the love triangle wasn't very strong, at all. On the one hand, Pip talked about the fairy he fell in love with, but then he also talked about seeing Morgan. So--was she just a consolation prize? He just knew that Cam had stolen what was his so he went to reclaim it?

Like I said, a lot more questions than answers.

It was a fun read, though. The jokes were hilarious and the love story was sweet. I just wanted something more.

Recommendation: Hit up the library.

Rating: 3/5 stars

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

Synopsis: 

Kelley Winslow is living her dream. Seventeen years old, she has moved to New York City and started work with a theatre company. Sure, she's an understudy for the Avalon Players, a third-tier repertory company so far off-Broadway it might as well be in Hoboken, but things are looking up---the lead has broken her ankle and Kelley's about to step into the role of Titania the Fairy Queen in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Faeries are far more real than Kelley thinks, though, and a chance encounter in Central Park with a handsome young man will plunge her into an adventure she could never have imagined. 

For Sonny Flannery, one of the Janus Guards charged by Auberon, the King of Winter, with watching over the gate into the lands of Faerie that lies within Central Park, the pretty young actress presents an enigma. Strong and willful, she sparks against his senses like a firecracker and he can't get her out of his mind. As Hallowe'en approaches and the Samhain Gate opens, Sonny and Kelley find themselves drawn to each other--and into a terrible plot that could spell disaster for both New York and Faerie alike.

Excerpt:

"What they hell are you staring at?"

Sonny climbed unsteadily to his feet. The girl had her mace out now and was aiming the sprayer squarely at the bridge of his nose.

"What is it---drugs or something? What's wrong with you?"

"Who are you?" he asked, rubbing his arm where it still tingled.

"Shouldn't you already know that?" she scoffed. "I mean, seeing as how you're stalking me."

My thoughts: 
I never really did like fairies. Menacing, manipulative little creatures. So, I was skeptical when I picked this book up from the library. Sadly, my assumptions were correct. 

I did love the description. I loved the banter back and forth between Sonny and Kelley. I just wished that they hadn't fallen in love so quickly. It felt superficial---we are the male/female leads, we must get together. The twists were kind of cool, but I wish that Emma had been able to be notified about Sonny. Maybe in the next book? Here's to hoping. 

The author wrote well. I was never bored with it, I just really hate how fairies tend to be in literature. I hate manipulation and lies and that's pretty much what we have here--people manipulating the situation for their own gain. Not really my type of story, in the end. 

Recommendation: Depends on how you feel about fairies. 

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick Cover Released!

What do you think? Do you like it? 

I have mixed feelings. I just want the text. I don't put my stock into covers, although it's always nice to have a strong cover.

Palace Beautiful by Sarah DeFord Williams

Palace Beautiful by Sarah DeFord Williams

Coming on April 15, 2010

Synopsis: 

An attic can hold a world of secrets.
Everyone dreams of finding a secret room in their house that they can escape to, and Sadie is thrilled when she finds one in her new house. It has a sign that says "Palace Beautiful," and she finds a journal written over sixty years ago by a girl her age. But Sadie never imagined her own life could get almost as dramatic as the one she reads about in the journal!

My Thoughts:
I was given this book to read by a friend at work. They had received an ARC in the mail, and they don't review books, so she passed it along to me. I'll admit that I was skeptical. It is more of a middle-grade book which are not my most favorite books. I love the romance and other silliness that comes from books for older young adults. However, I changed my mind once I got into the story.

Sadie and Zuzu move from Texas to Utah with their Dad and their stepmother. There is definitely a theme of familial relationships in this book, which was nice. The stepmother wasn't evil--in fact, she was very gracious and lovely. I liked Sherrie quite a bit. 

The story that really was compelling was the one told in the journal. It was of a girl in Salt Lake City, during the Influenza outbreak in 1918. Her story drew me in and I was just as excited as the girls EVERY time they went to open up the journal to read 6 more entries. 

There were parts that I didn't thoroughly enjoy. The side story with Bella/Kristen and her mom was kind of dramatic and felt out of place, and was rather anti-climatic. It didn't fit with the tone of the rest of the book. 

Also, sometimes it felt like what Sadie said was not fitting of a girl 13 years of age. She sounded more like she was 20 or 25. I also was frustrated because I didn't realize that the story was set in 1985. Not that it really changed much, it just would've been nice to know a little sooner than throwing that information in in the middle of the story. 

All in all, I would recommend this book to any younger girl. It's a lovely story and what little girl doesn't hope for a secret room in the attic?

Recommendation: Library or purchase (I know, I say library every time, but I'm a poor student who can't afford to purchase!)

Rating: 3/5 stars