Review: The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

 

Series: The Raven Cycle (Book 2)

Hardcover: 416 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Genre: Paranormal

Date of Publication: September 17, 2013

 

My Rating: 3 out of 4

Synopsis:

If you could steal things from dreams, what would you take?

Ronan Lynch has secrets. Some he keeps from others. Some he keeps from himself.

One secret: Ronan can bring things out of his dreams.

And sometimes he's not the only one who wants those things.

Ronan is one of the raven boys - a group of friends, practically brothers, searching for a dead king named Glendower, who they think is hidden somewhere in the hills by their elite private school, Aglionby Academy. The path to Glendower has long lived as an undercurrent beneath town. But now, like Ronan's secrets, it is beginning to rise to the surface - changing everything in its wake.

Review:

I hate to say it, but the second book in The Raven Boys series fell flat for me. I am so disappointed, because I really wanted to love this book. It took me two months to read it--which is really saying something because I read the first book in about three days.

I would argue that more than half of this book could be removed and the reader would still know what's going on. The unnecessary filler and "character building" didn't serve it's purpose. For the majority of the novel it felt as though the plot were at a stand-still. It was such a struggle for me to finish it. If I had not already bought the third book, I would have put it down and been done with it.

My love for the characters and the story is the only thing that really kept me going. There were moments that I enjoyed and moments I didn't, but I can't rate this one higher due to the drop in momentum.

Oh, and there were so many F-bombs I lost count. That is something else that annoys me. I know we are talking about high school boys here, but it took away from the beauty of the work.

I hope the third book redeems the series.


Check out my review of The Raven Boys

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Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Series: Raven Cycle (Book 1)

Hardcover: 416 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Genre: Paranormal

Date of Publication: September 18, 2012 

Synopsis:

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them--until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her.

His name is Gansey, a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can't entirely explain. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She doesn't believe in true love, and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.

Review:

Brilliant.

I could not put The Raven Boys down. The concept of the novel is so intriguing. There are multiple points of view, but they are presented through Third Person, which I greatly appreciated. It created a smooth transition between the characters.

I have not read Stiefvater's Shiver series, but I will have to pick it up because I am blown away by her writing style. Stiefvater is an amazing story teller. The Raven Boys is a complex, multi-level story that combines mythology with the supernatural and adds a dash of teenage angst.

The characters are amazing. I can hear the accents in the text and the linguistic nuances that are unique to each individual voice. Each character has a back story that adds such depth and meaning to the events that push the story forward. Ronan and Adam tugged my heartstrings in a serious way. I was fully prepared to hate Gansey just like Blue, but I loved him. I opened the book fully expecting Gansey and Blue to fall into an infatuation that quickly led to his death. Well, I'm still waiting on it because who would have thought that she would get the butterflies for Adam. And realistically, their personalities match. It was perfection!

I haven't read reviews for the next two books, so I don't know whether Gansey and Blue will get together, but I have to admit that if they do I'll feel a little hurt. Betrayed. Because Blue and Adam are so stinking cute that I can't even handle it.

Other than that, I just really enjoyed everything about this book. It is hard to surprise me, but there were a few good ones in there. I have to put the warning out there, there is some bad language. The F-bomb is used about 4 or 5 times that I noticed. Just a disclaimer. Can't say that I didn't warn you.

The Raven Boys is an absolute must-read. Go buy it and read it. NOW!



Rating: 5 out of 5 Owls



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Trailer:



Review: Kiss of Fire by Rebecca Ethington

Series: The Imdalind Series (Book 1)

Electronic: 374 pages

Publisher: Imdalind Press

Genre: Supernatural

Date of Publication: October 31, 2012

Synopsis: 

Joclyn Despain has been marred by a brand on her skin. She doesn't know why the mark appeared on her neck, but she doesn't want anyone to see it, including her best friend Ryland, who knows everything else about her. The scar is the reason she hides herself behind baggy clothes, and won't let the idea of kissing Ryland enter her mind, no matter how much she wants to.

The scar is the reason she is being hunted.

If only she knew that she was.

If only she had known that the cursed stone her estranged father sent for her 16th birthday would trigger a change in her. Now, she is being stalked by a tall blonde man, and is miraculously throwing her high school bully ten feet in the air.

Joclyn attempts to find some answers and the courage to follow her heart. When Ryland finds her scar; only he knows what it means, and who will kill her because of it.

Review:

I love this book!

I felt the complete range of emotions with Kiss of Fire. I became invested in the characters. I wanted them to succeed. Usually I'm a sucker for the villain, but I wanted this one to just burn and die. There were some great twists and plot devices that I enjoyed. 

The entire time I kept wondering what race the characters belonged to--vampires, witches, ancient gods. I liked how they weren't what I expected. 

This novel is a page turner and will kept me enthralled until the end. I highly recommend it.

Rating: 5 out of 5 owls

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Trailer:

Review: Entangled by Nikki Jefford

Series: Spellbound Trilogy (Book 1)

Electronic: 281 pages

Genre: Paranormal

Synopsis:

Two months after dying, seventeen-year-old witch Graylee Perez wakes up in her twin sister Charlene's body. 

Until Gray finds a way back inside her own body, she's stuck being Charlene every twenty-four hours. Her sister has left precise instructions on how Gray should dress and behave. Looking like a prep isn't half as bad as hanging out with Charlene's snotty friends and gropey boyfriend. 

The "normals" of McKinley High might be quick to write her behavior off as post-traumatic stress, but warlock Raj McKenna is the only person who suspects Gray has returned from the dead. 

Now Gray has to solve the mystery of her death and resurrection and disentangle herself from Charlene's body before she disappears for good.

Review:

First off look at that cover. Gorgeous! 

I love this book. It is equal parts chilling, funny, and romantic. One minute you're laughing at the not-so-pleasant surprises the sisters leave each other and the next you're on the edge of your seat with suspense. At first I thought this novel would be full of trite teen drama (and there is a lot of it), but I was proved wrong. 

Raj is by far my favorite character. He is the determined suitor friend who wants to help Gray regain her body. He is definitely the typical charming bad-boy. 

Gray was annoyingly passive-aggressive at first, but she started to grow on me as she made more and more trial thrust at her. She makes some big decisions that takes a great deal of responsibility. 

Charlene is a brat. Make that a psycho brat. 

I enjoyed Jefford's magic lore. These aren't your typical witches and warlocks. I found myself surprised at every turn. There were so many twists that worked to create a seamless story that I felt thoroughly satisfied by the end. Entangled is a fast read--I read it in one sitting. I highly recommend it. 



Rating: 5 out of 5 owls

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Trailer:

Review: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Genre: Paranormal | Witches

Synopsis:

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generation. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever. 

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautifiul girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them. 

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything. 

Review:

My first review of the year happens to be of the last book I read last year. It is coming a month after I finished it, but here it is. I just saw the trailer for the movie again and decided it was time to stop being lazy and get this review finished. 

This novel is a delight. The majority of the novel is written in Ethan's perspective, which is a refreshing change. Lena and her family retain a level of mystery up until the very end. There is a TON of angst between the teens and pretty much everyone else. There isn't an overload of information in one single spot, but because Ethan has no idea what Casters are or what they can do, there is a lot of explaining. Still, there is enough plot movement to keep it interesting. 

One thing I absolutely loved about the setting of Beautiful Creatures (Gatlin, SC) is that it shows both the good and bad aspects of Southern culture. I'm a born and bred Southern girl who loves the South. While the people in the small town of Gatlin turn against the Ravenwoods, there is still a strong degree of loyalty and familial love that resonates throughout. I loved the descriptions of the scenery and the dreams that take place during the Civil War. 

All in all Beautiful Creatures jumped to my favorites list by the third chapter. I can see myself reading it again and again and catching something new each time. I am anxiously waiting to see the movie.

Rating: 5 out of  5 owls

Movie Trailer:

The Spanish moss is just gorgeous!

Book Release: Flutter By Melissa Andrea

I know they say you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but my goodness this one is pretty. I recently caught wind of Flutter through a couple of friends online, and I have to say I am definitely looking forward to reading it. Flutter  is scheduled for release on October 30--tomorrow. Apart from the lovely cover, I'm intrigued by the mystery of the synopsis. It alludes to a fantasy/paranormal world, but maintains a nice level of mystery. Which fantasy world is it? I'm hoping faeries. The leaf/wing imprint in the model's makeup on the front would make it seem so. Whatever the case, I can't wait to pick this one up. Look for the review soon. 

Synopsis:

Sara

Sara's life is forever changed-

Waking up, buried & hidden deeply in the last place anyone would want to be, will do that. She is determined to find out how she ended up there and why, but when the only person who can help her continuously lies to her, she finds herself forced to suffer alone. She can't ignore the strange things that begin to happen to her, nor can she hide from the nightmares that haunt her sleep. And when her world collides with Adan--the mysterious boy whom she can't seem to stay away from, literally--she is consumed bu the familiar flutter that sparks whenever he is around, and she is desperate to discover the reason why. But the biggest discovery will come from the secret of what she is...

Adan

Adan's mission to find Sara has finally approached. 

It seemed simple to bring her back to the enchanted world that lives, breathes, and survives because of her, but he quickly finds himself faced with an entirely new challenge. Immediately, Adan realizes that staying unknown to Sara is a task he will fail before even attempting. The pull to her is far too strong to refuse, and being with her will defy the very reason he existed. he was the key to her survival and loving her was not part of the plan that he had been born to follow. Can he find it in himself to resist the urge to be with her and follow through with their destiny or will he destroy everything that had been left to Sara to protect and defend. 

And the kingdom she is unaware she rules...

Flutter

Sara and Adan struggle to overcome their own separate battles, there is a far more determined evil that is stalking the shadows and waiting to annihilate them both. Sara will figure out that not everything is what it seems and knowing what she can and cannot trust will be the key to finding out the truth to what happened to her, the reason why she had been buried alive and who she really is...

Sara and Adan will discover the hidden meaning to why she was the reason he existed and why he would be the reason she survived, and together they will fight to change the rules and rewrite their fate. 

Nook | Kindle

Review: Keystone by Misty Provencher

Genre: Paranormal | Teen Romance

Synopsis

Book Two in the Cornerstone Series.

There's a man-made storm coming, like a rip in the world, and it's called the Cusp.

Struggling to fit into the destiny she's accepted, Nalena Maxwell has been left with one objective: she must find her murdered grandfather's Memory. Stolen and hidden away by her own father over seventeen years ago, the Memory could be the key to ending the Cusp and destroying the Ianua's rival community, The Fury.

Driven by each individual's selfish desires, The Fury has always lacked the loyalty and organization it needs to be an actual force of power.

Until now.

Someone masterminded the Fury's massive attack on the Ianua, slaughtering twelve of their thirteen community leaders, the Addos. Now there are rumors that the 13th Cura, to which Nali belongs, has gone to the Fury, manipulating the last Addo in order to control the other 12 Curas.

As the Cusp brings the Fury and their own communities against them, Nalena's Cura must preserve the Ianua, but finding the key to the Cusp isn't as simple as it seems.

Review:

It takes a lot to make me cry when reading a book. I had legit tears streaming down my face when Nali had to say goodbye to her mother. Misty has a real talent at making her readers feel every emotion that the characters experience.

Keystone is everything I had hoped for and much more. It is everything a sequel should be. At one point I was afraid Misty was bringing Zaneen and Milo in as new love interests, but I was so pleased when Garrett and Nali stayed true to each other. I love the inner strength of these characters, and I appreciate that Misty left room for them to grow. Zane was a wonderful comic addition and I love him almost as much as Garrett.

The action scenes were intense, and Misty maintained a level of mystery that prevented me from figuring everything out right away. I honestly have no complaints and suggestions of things to change. Everything was written with such care and thoughtfulness.

Great job, Misty! 

Random Quote:
I wince. "Yeah, sorry I stink."
"Oh honey," she laughs. "I have four boys. You don't even know what stink is."

Rating: 5 out of 5 owls

Nook | Kindle | Twitter |  Author

My review of Cornerstone, the first book in this series.

Book Trailer: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ranson Riggs

I saw this trailer on youtube and I am very intrigued by it. Ranson Riggs definitely knows how to entice his audience. I've read a plethora of reviews and, as typical to this genre, many hate it while others love it. From what I've gathered there is very little correlation between the cover art, the trailer, and the actual content of the book. My reply to such criticism is "we shall see." I'm seriously thinking of giving this one a try. 

Summary: 

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs. Fiction is based on real black and white photographs. The death of grandfather Abe sends sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, and explores abandoned bedrooms and hallways. The children may still live. 

Review: Inescapable by Amy A. Bartol

Genre: Paranormal | Angels

Synopsis:

I'm Evie and this was to be the making of me-my first year of college. I'd hoped that once I'd arrived at Crestwood, the nightmare that I've been having would go away. It hasn't. At 17, I may be inexperienced, but I'm sane. When Reed is near, however, nothing makes any sense. He's not what he seems to be...and neither am I. I'm afraid that the nightmare my dream is foretelling is...inescapable.

Review:

My aunt, Globug, let me borrow her copy of Inescapable and I absolutely LOVED it. I read it over the course of two days because I just couldn't put it down. 

As a born and bred Southerner, who actually lives in the Upstate of South Carolina and has many friends from Asheville, I have to say that the linguistic interpretation of the accents from the area are completely off in terms of the timing in which vowels are stressed and when the consonants are shortened. This mistake is an easy fix and is probably only recognizable to Southerners from the area. In regard to the story itself, much of the plot was predictable because of expectations in the genre. Though I was definitely surprised with the ending, in all honesty I'm not too sure about the direction that Bartol took with the ending. However, I'm sure the extra complexity that was shoved in at the end with little explanation will be explored in the next novel. Maybe I just hate cliffhangers, but I still loved the story so much that I will definitely start the second book ASAP. 

So, the parts I absolutely love about Bartol's creation include the characters, the touch of mythology, and the attachment I developed for the characters. While the struggles that the characters face are not completely original--I've read dozens of books where the lead character discovers he or she is a half-breed and must confront the physical changes that occur due to this discovery while simultaneously battling an evil force that just so happens to be rising in the close area and conquering the trials of true love--Bartol has a special way of writing that draws the reader in and makes the characters lovable. While I adore Russell and feel badly for him, I was pulling for Reed all along. Call it pessimism or realism if you like, but even if everyone on earth actually has a soul mate the likely hood of finding one's soul mate before loneliness causes one to "settle" is highly improbable. However, to actually find one's soul mate and deliberately choose to be with another is simply brilliant. I was hooked. Bartol reevaluates the concept of a soul mate and the ideal of true love with a unique interpretation and great writing. 

The touch of mythology, both direct and subtle parallels to the Greek myth of the goddess Persephone, made me sigh a breath of sheer contentment. While I normally don't enjoy books featuring angels, Bartol blew this genre out of the park. She moves from simplicity to complexity all in the same paragraph and leaves  the reader begging for more. The references to some of my favorite literary classics were seamlessly incorporated, yet added so much depth for those familiar with those works. Add on to that the catchy and clever chapter titles and you have a winner. 

I was on the edge of my seat from the beginning. I was falling in love with all of the male characters and I experienced the emotional roller coaster vicariously through Evie. I was proud of Evie for never wavering on her love for Reed, and I appreciated her genuine reactions to the changes her body experiences. I will purchase this for myself to read over and over. I can't wait to start Intuition. This is a definite MUST read.

Rating: 5 out of 5 owls

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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



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Check out my review on the sequel Keystone. 

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: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Genre: Paranormal

Laini Taylor's novel Daughter of Smoke and Bone, begins the story of 17-year-old Karou, the foster child of a mysterious creature named Brimstone. The world of her family is a far cry from the "normal" world in which she lives. Karou is sent, for the most part unwillingly, on errands around the globe for a reason she does not yet understand. Karou must learn to balance the two worlds she loves while she struggles to discover who is she and her place in life. It gives new meaning to the phrase 'ignorance is bliss.' 

There were several aspects of Taylor's creation that captivated and drew me into her world. The first, and arguably the most important, are the characters. Simply put--I love Karou. I connected to her on an artistic level, and appreciated her humor. She is strong and independent, yet craves for a person she can confide in, a person she can be vulnerable with, someone she can love. In this sense, Karou is very relatable to the independent women in our modern society. Her maturity speaks to both young and older audiences. 

In regard to the other-worldly characters, I was impressed with her chimaera. They held all the animalistic qualities of their physical counterparts, as well as the humanesque feelings typical to families and sentient beings. I enjoyed the combination of Greek mythology with Christian tradition. Taylor made a point to illustrate that both sides contained good and evil. One cannot exist without the other. I found myself wishing that the past came more in glimpses rather than several consecutive chapters devoted to flashbacks, but Taylor's writing is still engaging. I look forward to the next installment with enthusiasm. 

Tasty Tid-bit:

"Yearning for love made her feel like a cat that was always twining around ankles, meowing Pet me, pet me, look at me, love me. Better to be the cat gazing coolly down from a high wall, its expression inscrutable. The cat that shunned petting, that needed no one. Why couldn't she be that cat?"--p. 71

Here is the book trailer for your viewing pleasure:

Rating: 4 out of 5 owls

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