Review: Hopeless Magic by Rachel Higginson

Genre: Supernatural

Hopeless Magic  is Higginson's riveting sequel to Reckless Magic. I was really impressed by the seamless transition that reads as a continuation of the main story, rather than an entirely new adventure that merely recycles characters. While I am not fond of love triangles, the rising tension between Eden and Jericho, along with Kiran being a royal pain, is both exciting and aggravating. As of right now I'm leaning towards team Jericho. I love villains, but as a love interest Kiran just doesn't cut it. I'm anxious to see how all of the pain and tragedy affects the relationships, and I'm looking forward to meeting Eden and Avalon's parents.

What I love most about Higginson's story so far is how attached I've become to the characters. Her characters are portrayed with a sensitiveness towards the struggles and perspectives of the teenage population, while emphasizing the mystery of the supernatural.



Rating: 4 out of 5 owls



Nook | Kindle | Twitter

Review: Cornerstone by Misty Provencher

Genre: Paranormal | Teen Romance

Synopsis:

CORNERSTONE is the story of Nalena Maxwell, a girl who's been dubbed The Waste at her new school, due to her mom's obsessive paper hoarding. Nalena desperately needs something to change in her life. But when she receives a sign (and it's the wrong dang one) that invites her into an ancient community, EVERYTHING changes- what she knew of her family and her life and her future. While seventeen years worth of family skeletons come crashing into Nalena's life, it is the boy...the one with eyes as clean as Jesus...that steps up to help Nalena figure out what he already knows about her...

Review:

Misty Provencher is an amazing writer with a captivating writing style. Her characters are well rounded and her plot is well developed. Cornerstone was another suggestion I received from Globug and I admit that I was immediately hooked. The story is fast-paced and has so many details that I can see myself discovering something new each time I read it. In regard to the characters, I really appreciate how Nalena and Garrett do not immediately fall in love and everything is happily ever after 30 pages into the book. Nalena struggles when she discovers her blood connection to a mysterious community of beings charged with the task of protecting and recording the history of mankind. Her low self-esteem and hesitant attitude is both painful and endearing. Despite the supernatural elements, the characters' vulnerabilities and flaws add a realness that keeps the reader engaged and provides a connection that allows the reader to bond with them. There is humor, romance, mystery, and tragedy--a perfect combination in my opinion.

Cornerstone is a must read.


Book Trailer:



Rating: 5 out of 5 owls



Nook | Kindle | Twitter

Check out my review on the sequel Keystone. 

Review: Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

Genre: Supernatural | Werewolves

Synopsis:

Having fallen for a human boy, a beautiful teenage werewolf must battle both her packmates and the fear of the townspeople to decide where she belongs and with whom.

Having fallen for a human boy, a beautiful teenage werewolf must battle both her packmates and the fear of the townspeople to decide where she belongs and with whom.

Review:

This is the book that started it all for me. I first read Blood and Chocolate when I was a sophomore in high school. I LOVED it. By the time I finished high school I had read it over ten times.  I now read it at least once a year. There has been some debate around this novel concerning its sensual content. Vivian, the main character, is a strong teenage werewolf who relishes in the beauty of her beast. That is, until she meets Aiden, a human boy who she falls madly in love with. However, according to the laws of her pack Vivien must put aside her seeming teenage infatuation with Aiden and mate with Gabriel, the pack's new leader--a sexy hunk of man-flesh. Despite their mutual attraction for each other, Vivien is determined to resist Gabriel and make Aiden hers. 

This book combines supernatural elements with typical teenage angst and has a murder mystery appeal to it. What I appreciate most is the realistic voice that Vivien has. She is a teenager struggling to learn how to balance her role as the new alpha female and gain acceptance from her human counterparts. It is a story of self-discovery, sacrifice, and love. 

Tasty Tid-bit:

"You think you're such a stud, don't you?" she said. 

"Don't you?" he asked.

She stormed out of the kitchen to the dining room.

He followed her. "I see I'm required to court you in every room of the house."

"Not likely," she replied. 

"I'm looking forward to the bedrooms," he said.

"Go to hell!"

His grin faded. "I will court you," he said. "And I won't give up. I will wait for you like I waited for you outside that cave, and I'll follow you like I followed you home that night, keeping you safe. I will wait for you because you are meant to be mine"--his voice grew husky with desire--"and because you'll be worth the wait. Goodbye, Princess Wolf. Let me know what deeds must be done to win you."

When he'd left she could still smell him in the room as if he'd claimed her whole life. 

"I'll choose my own mate," she swore, and walked to the phone.



Rating: 5 out of 5 owls



Nook | Kindle

Review: Reckless Magic by Rachel Higginson

Genre: Supernatural

Synopsis:

16 year old Eden Matthews has been in and out of private schools for the last two years. She can't seem to stop herself from closing them down. Kingsley is her last chance to finish high school and the last private school willing to accept her.

She is focused on just getting through graduation until she realizes Kingsley is not like the other private schools she's been to. The students may be different, but so is she. And after meeting Kiran Kendrick, the boy who won't leave her alone and seems to be the source of all her problems, she is suddenly in a world that feels more make-believe than reality.

To top it off, she is being hunted by men who want to kill Kiran and her best friend Lilly is taken away to a foreign prison. Eden finds herself right in the middle of an ancient war, threatening everything she loves. She alone has to find a way to save her best friend and the boy who has captivated her heart.

Review:

This one has been added to my list of favorites. I had downloaded Reckless Magic on my Nook months before my aunt suggested I read it, however I wasn't able to read anything until my student teaching was finished. I am pleased to say that I haven't read a book that forced me to stay up all night until I finished it in years. I couldn't put it down. I quickly became emotionally attached to the characters and I relished in the romantic drama. I don't even know where to begin to describe how amazing this book is. Eden is strong, loyal, determined, outspoken, and so normal she's endearing. Kiran is a complete prick until the reader realizes how thoroughly smitten he is with Eden. Avalon is the perfect over-protective brother and Amory is just gallant. 

Rachel Higginson is brilliant. She has created a world with such care and intimacy that the reader feels connected and engulfed in the story. I see myself re-reading this book every year. I'm anxious to begin the next installment of the Star-Crossed series. Check out Reckless Magic, it's golden. 

Tasty Tid-bit:

"As unlikely as our love affair might have been, loving Kiran was the only concrete path I could imagine. Consumed with a love that would probably get me killed, I would never have chosen any other way. We were truly destined for each other, fated to be together... we were star-crossed."



Rating: 4 out of 5 owls



Buy for Nook

Review: Elixir by Hilary Duff

Genre: Paranormal

Synopsis:

Clea Raymond has felt the glare of the spotlight her entire life. The daughter of a renowned surgeon and a prominent Washington DC politician, she has grown to be a talented photojournalist who takes refuge in a career that allows her to travel to the most exotic parts of the world. But after Clea’s father disappears while on a humanitarian mission, Clea’s photos begin to feature eerie, shadowy images of a strange and beautiful man—a man she has never seen before.

When fate brings Clea and this man together, she is stunned by the immediate and powerful connection she feels with him. As they grow closer, they are drawn deep into the mystery behind her father’s disappearance, and they discover the centuries old truth behind their intense bond. Torn by a dangerous love triangle and haunted by a powerful secret that holds their fates, together they race against time to unravel their pasts in order to save their lives—and their futures.

Review:

I'm not going to beat around the bush with this one. It is creepy to the extreme. I have a love hate relationship with disturbing and unsettling images. I love getting scared yet I hate the lingering hypersensitivity that seems to last for weeks. Hilary Duff's first novel is an intriguing tale combining the idea of each person having a soul mate with the belief in reincarnation. Problems: I was hoping for more character development, and the typical YA cookie-cutter format was distracting. While I absolutely love Hilary Duff, her novel could use some work. I think the chill factor is what is so appealing to me. Her ideas are great, but they need more depth. Having said that, I do think it's worth the read. Elixir is an interesting read, if nothing else. I will definitely read the next in the series.





Book Trailer:



Rating: 3out of 5 owls



Review: Black Waters by Maija Barnett

Genre: Fantasy | Mermaids

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old mermaid Abby Carson thought she had her secret under control. Who cares if after "the change" took place, she became so beautiful that all the girls at school hated her. And the boys, well, when they look at her, hate isn't exactly what's going through their minds.

But when Abby witnesses a teenage girl's murder by a preternatural creature off the coast of Cape Cod, her carefully controlled life slips into chaos. Hiding in the water until the killer's gone is a must. Getting spotted by Brian Baker, a boy from school, isn't. Neither is falling in love with him. That definitely wasn't part of the plan.

Combine all this with the mysterious mermaid box Abby receives as a postmortem birthday gift from her dad, and she's pulled even deeper into the world of shades and monsters. Once the full force of Abby's deadly siren powers are revealed, the only one she can hurt more than herself is the boy she loves.

Review:

Maija Barnett's Black Waters is a very interesting spin on the classic siren mythology. From the beginning I was intrigued by the darker aspects that surround Abby's existence. Sure, she's the stereotypical gorgeous girl that all the boys lust after and the girls hate; however, the twist that Abby is actually a siren instead of a mermaid was delightful and added more complexity to her character. Though her character is completely gullible and often annoying, Abby is endearing in the sense that she is so desperate for her mother's attention that the reader forgives her flaws. The story's transition from a disturbing murder mystery to scenes full of woeful teenage angst keeps the audience engaged and appeals to a variety of readers. Overall, what I enjoyed most from Barnett's novel were the intense and suspenseful plot devices that kept me on my toes and second guessing my instincts. 

Book Trailer:





Rating: 4 out of 5 owls





For your Nook