Review: Blade Song by J.C. Daniels

Book: Blade Song by J.C. Daniels
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Buy A Copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Available Formats: Ebook

Publication Date: August 1st, 2012

Where Did I Get This Book: For Review, From Netgalley
First Sentence: "My sword arm is mighty. I will not falter. I will not fail. My aim is true. My heart is strong."
Description: Kit Colbana—half breed, assassin, thief, jack of all trades—has a new job: track down the missing ward of one of the local alpha shapeshifters. It should be a piece of cake.

So why is she so nervous? It probably has something to do with the insanity that happens when you deal with shifters—especially sexy ones who come bearing promises of easy jobs and easier money.

Or maybe it’s all the other missing kids that Kit discovers while working the case, or the way her gut keeps screaming she’s gotten in over her head. Or maybe it’s because if she fails—she’s dead.

If she can stay just one step ahead, she should be okay. Maybe she’ll even live long to collect her fee…

So, Blade Song. I honestly don't even know where to begin. I have so many thoughts flying around in my head that I am struggling with putting it into words. But for you, I will do my best. First of all let me say, that  I literally could not put this down. I declined an invitation to go to my favorite Chinese restaurant to finish Blade Song. If that doesn't tell you how awesome it was, then I don't know what will.

It has a lot of elements that Urban Fantasy readers are familiar with; werewolves, witches, vampires and a strong heroine who welds a sword. Sure, it's been done before. I'll bet you can name 10 books right now that contain these elements. But for some reason, this did not bother me. Guys, Blade Song was just that good.

Let's begin with Kit. Kit is our resident badass. She is half-aneira, which is an ancient race of assassins. Kit has had a extremely difficult life and it has made her into beautifully flawed character... which makes her easy to rally behind. You care about her and want to see her succeed. She's a determined little thing that simply refuses to fail. I love that quality in a heroine. But what I really love about our dearest Kit is that she is smart. She is well aware of her shortcomings and thinks before she acts. She knows that she isn't as strong as some of the creatures she goes up against and she keeps her head.

With that being said, I felt like Kit's personality faltered at times; she would sort of go in and out of character. The main occurrence that stood out in my mind is when she was considering a future with Damon. Daniels built Kit up as this woman who needed to be independent. She had been badly damaged in the past and she drew strength from being on her own. That's why it really surprised me when she was fully willing to dive headfirst into a commitment. It just did not seem to fit with her character. I'm not saying that I did not want her to, it just felt off to me.

Speaking of Damon, lord have mercy, do I ever have a fangirl crush on this werecat. I'll be honest, when he was first introduced, I was not a fan. He comes of as, well let's face it, an asshole. He's pushy, demanding and even gets a bit physical with Kit. However, as his story unfolds and things progress, his character does a complete 180. You begin to understand Damon and he becomes much more appealing. 

But, there was one thing that really rubbed me the wrong way. It may seem silly and I certainly didn't hold it against his character, but his pet name for Kit irritated me immensely. Every time called Kit "baby girl" I felt like rolling my eyes. Why on earth did he call her that? Nothing about her is babyish. "Kitten" I get - he's a cat shifter, her name is Kit... I can roll with that. But baby girl? No.

Okay, moving on. The story centers around the job that the werecats have hired Kit to do - find the Alpha's missing nephew. I do not want to divulge too much information regarding the mystery, but I will let you this - it was AWESOME. It's a story full of adventure, magic, mystery and of course.. violence. What is an Urban Fantasy without a little ass-kicking, right? The pacing is perfect - it's not rushed, but it doesn't drag either. All things considered, I adored Blade Song. It's dark, gritty and all out exciting. I has a few minor hiccups with the story, but nothing serious. I will be eagerly anticipating a sequel!

It was a seductive thing, full of promise. Full of warmth and wonder and lies.

I'll be damned if I act like a mouse, you overgrown tomcat.

"I'm part of the package, kitten. Your bodyguard, babysitter and tattle-tale, all rolled into one." Flashing his teeth at me, he added, "Aren't you pleased?"

In the back of my mind, some part of me thought: Pretty... And I immediately wanted to punch myself.

Keeping my voice level, I shook my  head. Mustn't enrage the antisocial monster standing five feet away.

But of course, instead of saying something honest like Yes, bitch, it hurts, Damon just shrugged.

I wasn't human enough to die easily.

I didn't move for probably ten more minutes. I wasn't sure if I could. If I moved, I just might shatter.

"Child, you suffer from an excess of great stupidity or great bravery. I'm not sure which."

"I just sliced and diced a Burmese python while you were busy growling at the universe, fuzz bucket."

 

Review: Dark Seeker by Taryn Browning

Book: Dark Seeker by Taryn Browning
Genre: Urban Fantasy  / Young Adult
Buy A Copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Available Formats: Ebook / Paperback
Publication Date: October 4th, 2011
First Sentence: "Lesson three of Seeker Training - always be prepared."
How Did I Get This Book: From Author, For Review
Description: For 17-year-old Seeker, Janie Grey, ridding the Baltimore streets of the undead is an inherited duty passed down from her Cherokee ancestors. Seeker Training Lesson #1: Never trust the undead. After her father’s tragic death, Janie creates her own life lesson: Love isn’t worth the risk. Both lessons are easy to follow until she encounters the flawed Kai Sterdam. At first, she believes he is the hybrid she is trained to hunt. But, when he has human traits, she determines she doesn’t know what he is. As Janie’s intrigue over who Kai is pushes her deeper into his mysterious past, she discovers a shocking truth that is even more harrowing than the evil they are up against. It’s a secret Kai wants to keep hidden, especially from Janie.

Dark Seeker by Taryn Browning is an exciting, suspenseful and utterly addicting story. Folks, I simply could not put this one down.

I was just discussing with my friend how much I adore strong females. And Janie is practically the poster girl for the term. She’s determined, intelligent, feisty and all-around fierce. Janie doesn’t take crap from anyone and she doesn’t let people push her around; she makes up her own mind and follows her own heart.

Browning had me completely on edge in regards to Kai.  His storyline is full of mystery and I constantly found myself wondering about his heritage. I’ll tell you this – it certainly isn’t an answer you would suspect. I kept throwing around ideas in my head, but I never even got close. I just simply never suspected the true answer. She also keeps you guessing about the skeletons in his closet. I don’t want to spoil anything for you guys, but I will tell you this – I LOVED Kai. I have found myself a new book boyfriend. He’s endearing and sweet, yet tough at the same time. He’s got a backbone, but he has a conscience too. And Janie and Kai together? Magic, my dears. Pure magic.  The two are easily one of my favorite new young adult duos. 

I thought the plotline was absolutely inspired. I love when authors show some creativity in the paranormal/urban fantasy storylines; especially ones that involve vampires. Sometimes I feel like the vampire horse has been beaten to death. Browning is somehow able to inject excitement, mystery and intrigue into YA’s favorite species. Not only are the vampires in Dark Seeker unique, but the heroine, Janie is as well.

You see Janie is a seeker. She is sort of a Buffy type – it is her responsibility to kill the undead for good. What really caught my interest about Janie is her particular brand of morality. You see, she is technically mortal, but while she is acting as a seeker, she cannot age past 17. When her 18^th birthday roles around she reverts back to 14; the age in which she began her duties as a seeker. 

This presents a boat load of questions and storylines that I cannot wait to see Browning tackle. I have never run across something like this before. When we meet Janie, she has already gone through the cycle once and she is now 17 for the second time.  Isn’t that an interesting concept? It certainly adds an interesting dynamic to her character.

So, long story short, I adored Dark Seeker. Great storyline? check. Awesome heroine? Check. Swoon worthy love interest? Double check. Add a dose of excitement and intrigue and you’ve got yourself Dark Seeker. I cannot wait to get my mitts on the next book. There is going to be a next book right? Oh  goodness. There had better be or Taryn Browning might be getting some persuasive emails. 

Favorite Quotes

It kind of sucked when she had to take a break from fighting evil to use her inhaler.

You were like a tiny Bruce Lee.

She didn't get along with people, and she definitely did not get along with the undead.

Can we kick some vampire ass already?

He hoped Janie's mother would be more focused on helping Janie than killing him.

It wasn't like being face to face with a human. He didn't need air to breathe. She noticed sometimes he did, an instinct left over from his human years. Janie paused to feel his heartbeat under her chest. It sped quickly, in equal rhythm with hers. She counted the beats to make certain his heart really beat. It did.

There was something different about the way he regarded her. She wasn't the most intuitive when it came to the opposite sex, let alone the opposite species, but something had changed.

Janie - with you, life is always interesting.

He smiled, immediately making Janie forgive him for lurking like a stalker in her bedroom.

She wondered how long it had been since someone had really cared about him, and showed it.

His green eyes blazed with an impassioned craving to want and to be wanted.

It couldn't be true. She'd finally put her guard down, tried to trust in someone other than her mother and Abram. She'd finally found someone to love. It couldn't be. God couldn't be so cruel.

She radiated pure hatred; a hatred that could only develop when you love someone - the fine line between love and hate had been crossed.

Unfortunately for her, he was her weakness.

Going from love to loneliness was worse than not knowing love at all.

Review: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Book: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Series: Anna Dressed in Blood #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Young Adult
Buy A Copy: Amazon / Book Depository
Available Formats: Hardcover / Ebook 
Edition I Reviewed: Advanced Reading Copy
Publication Date: September 1st, 2011 (Tor Teen)
How Did I Get This Book: From Publisher, For Review.
First Sentence: "The grease-slicked hair is a dead giveaway - no pun intended."
Description: Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead. So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.
When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.
But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

Alright guys. I am going to be completely straight with you – I loved, loved, LOVED Anna Dressed in Blood.  I don’t know if you are all familiar with Kendare Blake (she is also the author of Sleepwalk Society), but let me tell you a little something about her; she has an undeniable way with words. I am not kidding, she absolutely stops you in your tracks. I have a feeling that she could write about sweeping the floor and I would be fully entertained. 

Blake manages to blend her writing style, subject matter, characters and dialogue perfectly to produce an eerie, exciting and dynamic story. The overall tone of Anna is reminiscent of Supernatural (where are my Winchester fans?). it’s dark, gorgeous, brutal, haunting, gripping and just downright entertaining.   Blake doesn’t color inside the lines, she takes the characters and storyline places you wouldn’t expect. As I was reading, I had absolutely no idea how the book would end. Well, I take that back. I thought I knew where we were going, but then I would be completely wrong.  

Cas, the main character, is such a wonderful character who is both easy to connect with and charismatic. He travels around the world hunting down and ridding the world of ghosts who have gone bad. it’s a family business – he’s father was actually killed on a job. That leaves our hero in an interesting position; he’s now both the head of the family and the numero uno hunter. Those are some big shoes to fill and he has a difficult time really facing his feelings. You root for Cas, you want things to work out for him. He’s incredibly likable and just all in all, a cool dude. He has a sadness to him that makes him vulnerable, which is the perfect contrast to his ghost-killing side. In short, it allows him to be both dynamic and relatable. Nobody is strong all the time, everyone has a weakness. 

And let’s not forget about Anna. She is after all, the real star of the show. Anna, my friends is a ghost. A ghost that Cas sets out to kill. When I was first introduced to Anna, I am not going to lie, she totally freaked me out. In a good way, of course. I mean ,who doesn’t love a good villain. But what makes Anna such a wonderful character, is that she isn’t simply black-and-white. You see, she has layers my friends.  I am not going to dive into her storyline, because I want you all to be as shocked and surprised by the rollercoaster ride as I was. 

When looking back through my notes and reactions, I now see that there isn’t really an eloquent way to phrase how much I enjoyed Anna. I remember saying a lot of shut the front door’s and no freaking way’s. In all honesty, I could not put this book down. You could not have pried it out of my hands for anything – it was that good. So guys, do yourself a solid and go get a copy of Anna pronto. P.S., that quote list below is the narrowed down version.

Favorite Quotes

Girls on the other hand, have always come easy. I don’t know why that is, exactly. Maybe it’s the outsider vibe and a well-placed brooding look.

I watch him with amusement. There’s a blue light special on territorial jocks in aisle four.

She’s standing above me the goddess of death, black lips and cold hands.

I’m staring at Anna’s house again. The logical part of my brain tells me that it’s just a house. That it’s what’s inside that makes it horrifying, that makes it dangerous, that it can’t possibly be tilting toward me like it’s hunting me through the overgrowth of weeds. It can’t possibly be trying to jerk free of its foundation and swallow me whole. But that’s what it looks like it’s doing.

 I can feel that photo of Anna staring at me from sixty years ago, and I can’t help myself from wanting to protect her, wanting to save her from becoming what she already is. 

The thought makes me reach back for my knife, my sharp, throat-cutting security blanket, as I look around.

I peek over the back of the couch and there she is, my goddess of death, her hair snaking out in a great black cloud, her teeth grinding hard enough to make living gums bleed.

She’s like Bruce Lee, the Hulk and Neo from The Matrix all rolled in to one.

Yes. Smashing. You’ll be just like those four chaps in the movie. You know the one, with the oversized marshmallow.

It feels so separate, like I’ve touched something that’s taken the color out of me. Or maybe I’m in color now and they’re in black and white.

Four small flames ignite and illuminate our faces and chests, revealing expressions that are part wonder, part fear, and part feeling stupid.

But hey, at least we’ll have this strange story to tell, love and death and blood and daddy-issues. And holy crap, I’m a psychiatrist’s wet dream.

Stand my ground, is what I think. After this is over, I might puke. Assuming, of course, that I’m still alive.

Review: Witch Song by Amber Argyle

Book: Witch Song by Amber Argyle
Series:  Witch Song #1
Genre: Fantasy / Young Adult
Buy A Copy: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
Available Formats: Ebook / Paperback
Publication Date: September 1st, 2011
How Did I Get This Book: From Publisher, For Review.
First Sentence: "Brusenna's straw-colored hair felt as hot as a sun-baked rock."
Description: The world is changing. Once, Witch Song controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons--but not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by a traitor. All but Brusenna. As the echo of their songs fade, the traitor grows stronger. Now she is coming for Brusenna. Her guardian has sworn to protect her, but even he can't stop the Dark Witch. Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the traitor. Fight her. Defeat her. Because if Brusenna doesn't, there won't be anything left to save.

Witch Song is part coming-of-age, part fantasy and part adventure. The idea behind it is rather unique to me – these witches don’t chant and they don’t use wands; they sing. 

I had a real hard time liking Brusenna as a character – especially in the beginning. She just was very difficult to connect with and sometimes her actions did not make sense to me. Mainly, I could not understand why she pushed help away. I would think that a young girl who is practically all alone in the world would jump at the chance of having some help and having a friend. Then, the reader is never really given much insight on her. I feel like the only things we really learn about her are that she was picked on by the idiot villagers and she missed her mother sometimes. Brusenna felt like a character, when as readers, we want her to feel like a friend.  As the story progressed, she grew on me a bit, but I still wish I could have liked her more.

I thought Brusenna’s companion Joshen was much more likable. The scenes they shared made me warm up to her a bit. There is one in particular in which they are making sleeping arrangements that I thought was adorable.  

Unfortunately, the action just did not pull me in. in fact, I found the big ending to be rather anti-climatic. I do not want to give anything away, but the way in which they battle just does not do it for me. I kept thinking that the fight would continue and they would somehow switch tactics.  

For me, Witch Song did not have the “it” factor. On paper it sounds like a great idea, but I never was able to get wrapped up in the story. Not once, did I find myself wondering about the characters or wishing I could read more of the story. I certainly did not dislike it, but it did not “wow” me either.  I enjoyed it enough, but you won’t find me eagerly anticipating the follow up.

Favorite Quotes:

"She shivered as the wind's fingers painted her skin silver with moonlight."

"As though pulled by some unnatural force, she rolled over and her gaze met Joshen's. She swam in the sea of his gray-blue eyes."

"They stared at each other a long time. He wanted to pull her into his arms. He wanted to push her overboard. But like a fool, he stood frozen with indecision."

"Reaching down, he clasped her hand in his. Senna studied their intertwined fingers - his flesh melding with hers."

"He loves you. As much or more than any man has ever loved a woman."

Review: The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Book: The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
Genre: Fantasy / Young Adult
Buy A Copy: Amazon / Book Depository
Available Formats: Hardcover / Ebook
Publication Date: August 2nd, 2011

How Did I Get This Book: ARC from publisher, For Review
First Sentence:  "It starts with a crack, a sputter, and a spark."

Description: The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.
The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget. 

 

With The Near Witch, Victoria Schwab hits one out of the park her first time up to bat. This outstanding young adult debut is full of mystery, magic and charm.

The main character, Lexi is incredibly easy to like. I instantly felt a sort of camaraderie with her; she pushes at the boundaries placed on her and will not take no for an answer. She is feisty in a quiet way, she does not always speak up, but she doesn’t obey blindly either.  I just really appreciated the fact that she makes her own decisions about how she lives her life, who she trusts and how she behaves. 

I also have to talk about Lexi’s love interest, Cole. Oh, Cole, I love you so. He’s mysterious and captivating and just so, magnetic. You want to know all you can about him; you are right there with Lexi as she tries to unravel the mystery of him. I don’t want to get into too much detail surrounding this character, because it would spoil things, but believe me; you are going to love him. He and Lexi together are pure magic. 

Now, I don’t want to short change the storyline, because believe me, it was fabulous, but the real magic lies within the writing itself. Honestly, nothing I say will come close to explaining how much I enjoyed it. It was captivating, lyrical, eloquent, sweeping and just vivid. I think I would like practically anything Schwab writes, it could be a story about a garbage can and I would be utterly entertained.  She has such a unique way of depicting things that enables the reader to envision the complete story;  from head to toe. Schwab gives the reader many different layers of description, not just the surface. She doesn’t simply rely on what you would expect – she comes up with ways of putting things that creates an image that is absolutely unique to her story. Her character and settings simply could not be found in different stories – everything down to the candles Lexi holds throughout the story become exclusive to The Near Witch.  I am not sure if I am explaining this properly or not, basically what I am trying to get at is Schwab has an uncanny ability to put her distinctive stamp on everything. 

I am going to be completely straight with you, The Near With was awesome. With its vivid and rolling descriptions, heart pumping storyline and delightful, enchanting characters, readers of all ages are sure to enjoy it. I am going to be on the lookout for other works by Shwab, because I have an inkling that she is one to watch.

Favorite Quotes 

"She was very old and very young, depending on which way she turned her head, for no one knows the age of witches."

"I feel like there should be a mark in the air where he was wiped away."

"If the moor wind ever sings, you mustn't listen,not with all of your ears. Use only the edges. Listen the way you'd look out the corners of your eyes. The wind is lonely, love, and always looking for company."

"I just want to talk," I add, my voice softer, lower, the kind of voice for sharing secrets."

"And I do not like the way my chest tightens when my eyes snag on him, as it does for wild things."

"With his pale face, dark eyes, and sad mouth, he seems made of black and white, just like the world at night."

"I don't want just any story; I want his."

"Stories are always born from something."

"Gravity pulls me back to him, pulls my feet over a path they know, have always known, with a new urgency."

"He cast one last glance up at the night. His eyes slip down again, and by the time they reach mine,  there's a kind of abandon in them."

"Dead things are bound to their beds until dark."

"Funny how when we start to tell a secret, we can't stop. Something falls open in us, and the sheer momentum of letting go pushes us on."

"Maybe one day the words will pour out like so many others, easy and smooth and on their own. Right now they take pieces of me with them."

"If by 'fine' you mean 'bleeding', then yes, you are."

"Despite his injuries, he seems to feel what I feel: We are both anxious that the other will blow away. And he shares the same desperate need to remind his skin of my own, to prove that he is still here and I am still here."

Review: Blood of the Maple by Dana Marie Bell

Book: Blood of the Maple by Dana Marie Bell
Series:  Maggie's Grove Book #1
Pages:  218

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Buy A Copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Available Formats: Ebook 
Publication Date: April 11th, 2011

Publisher: Carina Press

How Did I Get This Book: For Review From Netgalley

First Line: “You know, my friend told me you were a witch, but I didn't know he meant it literally."

Preview Book: On Google Books

Description: A seduction-gone-wrong leaves vampire Parker Hollis with a new vegetarian lifestyle and on the run from a vengeful witch. Moving to small-town Maggie's Grove, Parker meets a redheaded dryad with green, leafy blood that draws him in a way he hasn't experienced in decades. His new neighbor smells divine, and it isn't long before craving gives in to need.
In a unique community of supernaturals, tree-loving outcast Amara Schwedler has never quite fit in. She's scarred by a traumatic incident and feared by the local townsfolk. She's convinced Parker will look elsewhere for a mate once he discovers she's not one of the O-positive set, and can't believe it when Parker finds her irresistible.

When the witch who's been plaguing Parker's life discovers the newfound attraction between Parker and Amara, she takes out her anger on the town. Can the supernaturals of Maggie's Grove accept Amara and band together in time to withstand the assaults of the enraged witch?

Blood of the Maple by Dana Marie Bell is a rather unique paranormal romance. I don't believe I have ever read a book centered around a dryad character before. The closest supernatural character that I can relate it to, would be a tree nymph. I have to give Bell kudos for creativity, especially with the two main characters. Not only is Amara unique, but Bell manages to creative an unconventional vampire with Parker.

Parker Hollis is a vegetarian vampire; in the true sense of the word. He does not feed off of animal blood, he lives off of the “blood” of plants. This is initially what attracts him to Amara – her blood is literally plant blood.

The book was a fun, quick read that had some interesting plot points. That being said, I did have a few problems with the execution. I thought the idea of the book was top –notch, but the characters really weren’t fleshed out enough for my tastes. This made it difficult to care about the storyline, even though it was entertaining.

The pacing of the relationship between Amara and Parker practically moved at warp-speed. They skipping right over the entire courting process – they dive right into the "madly-in-love" stage. I like my paranormal romances to have a little build-up, instead of the characters tumbling straight into bed. I know it's ultimately a romance book, but there are other ways of showing romance than sex. I am certainly not a prude, I don't mind sex in books, but I would have liked to see the two characters form a personal connection as well as a physical one.

I thought that the idea of a supernatural community was quite interesting, but again, I did have an issue with it. It really bothered me how the community refused to accept Amara. I mean, come on, are you really telling me a town full of vampires, witches, ghosts, dryads and werewolves are going to point the “freak” finger? That doesn't fly well with me.

All in all, Blood of the Maple had a lot of things going for it, but it wasn't executed as well as it could have been. This book is incredibly unique and the storyline is interesting, but it did not live up to my expectations. That being said, it was enjoyable and I will read the rest of the series, it just isn't one of my favorites.

Favorite Quotes:

"He might be a vampire, hunter of the night and all-around badass, but a woman scorned was fucking scary."

"She fell into his lap, curling around him like a vine. His lap was full of jiggling, naked dryad. If it hadn't been for the agony radiating from his arm, he would have been one hell of a happy vampire."

"What the hell was wrong with these people? He hadn't met such hostility since he'd walked into a speakeasy nearly a century ago and flashed a fake badge."

"Next time I have a deathbed vision, ignore me. We'd get a warmer reception at the Vatican."

Review: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Book:  Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Alone: Series, Hex Hall #2
Pages: 359

Genre: Young Adult
Purchase A Copy: Amazon | Book Depository
Publication Date: March 1st, 2011

Description: Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.
That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

So, basically, Demonglass is freaking awesome. After reading Hex Hall, I was terrified that the sequel would not, could not, live up to my expectations – but thankfully, Demonglass exceeded them!

 

In Demonglass we are introduced to a new setting, but are given the same old Sophie that we all love.  Sophie, Jenna and Cal all jet off to merry England to spend the summer with Sophie’s dad. They stay at Thorne Abbey, a gigantic mansion that is serving as the current home of the council. I was skeptical at first about this change in scenery, but it really worked out for the best. By sending Sophie and the gang to a new location, Hawkins was able to keep things fresh, but still familiar. We are treated to all of our old favorite characters, but they are given new opportunities create some mischief.  

This time around we get a better feel for Cal – he becomes more of a central character. He is quickly reintroduced as a possible love interest for Sophie; which gives us more of a defined love triangle (Cal/Sophie/Archer). I usually despise love triangles, but Hawkins manages to provide two wonderful options for Sophie – I really feel like in the long run, it could go either way. Archer is an early favorite of readers, but Cal is a genuinely great guy who would be good for Sophie. That being said, I am rooting for Archer (sorry, Jenna!). I will be expecting my team Archer shirt in the mail :)

 

Once again Hawkins injects her writing with a healthy dose of humor. I honestly had about 30 quotes marked when I finished the book. The overall, light, sarcastic and exciting feel to the story keeps the story flowing beautifully. The story is jam packed with twists and turns – there are surprises around every corner.  You may think you have everything figured out, but then Hawkins throws a curve ball your way. All of these elements kept the pacing at a good pace - not one did I find myself restless, I devoured every word willingly. 

Now, obviously I am crazy in love with this book, but man, is Rachel Hawkins just plain mean. How could she end it like that? She doesn’t just leave you on a cliffhanger; she leaves you dangling off the ledge by a pinky. I might just have to start stalking her so I can find out what happens next.

 Favorite Quotes

"As I stomped across the school grounds, all I could see was Cal sitting with my dad in some manly room with leather chairs and dead animals on the wall, chomping on cigars as my dad formally signed me away to him. They probably even high-fived." (pg. 19)

"So did I. Hence my puking face." ( (pg. 57)

"I wondered if there were ever times when Dad didn't sound like he escaped from a Jane Austen novel." (pg. 65)

"We could try to go together, "I said. "I think we'd both fit, and that way, if we end up transported to another dimension or morphed into a wall, at least we'd have company." (pg. 109)

"I wasn't sure if it was an Eye or a Prodigium, or just your run-of-the-mill rapist/scumbag type, but it was definitely a guy." (pg. 130)

"I decided not to wear makeup, figuring the more innocent I looked, the harder it might be for him to ground me, or shoot hellfire from his eyes, or whatever it was that angry demon dads did." (pg. 146)

"She was my assignment (From the Eye?) No, from the Boy Scouts. That Witch Dating badge just kept eluding me." (pg.  255)

"Why had my life suddenly become a Nancy Drew mystery from hell?" (pg. 268)

"I clutched at his shoulders, raising up on my tiptoes, and kissed him with everything I had in me. As the kiss deepened, we held each other tighter, so I didn't know if the pounding heartbeat I felt was mine or his." (pg. 282)

"I wish we weren't like this. You know, demon, demon-hunter. I wish I'd met you in a normal high school, and taken you on normal dates, and like, carried your books or something." (pg. 338)

Review: Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

 

Book:  Born At Midnight by C.C. Hunter

Alone: Series, Shadow Falls #1
Pages:  416

Genre: Young Adult
Purchase A Copy: Amazon | Book Depository
Publication Date: March 29th, 2011

Description: Don’t miss this spectacular new series that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams,  Welcome to Shadow Falls camp, nestled deep in the woods of a town called Fallen…One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever.  Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.”  Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.
Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either.  Or does she?  They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason.  As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas.  Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past.  Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart. 
Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

Born at Midnight was an entertaining read for me, but it did not bring anything new to the table. Paranormal Young Adult Romances are absolutely everywhere and unfortunately, this one did not stand out. I enjoyed it while I was reading it, but I cannot say that it made a lasting impression on me.

I found the story overall to be a bit, shall we say, theatrical. The characters themselves are all a bit over the top and extremely dramatic. Kylie tends to wallow and whine for the majority of the book – which got under my skin. In the rare instances that she put her big girl panties on, she was a smart, snarky character. I can only hope that she will grow up a bit during the next book and learn to stop complaining all of the time.

However, I am completely in love with the secondary characters; especially Kylie’s two roommates, Miranda and Della (a witch and a vampire) and the perverted shapeshifter, Perry. All three of them have a great dynamic and I would have loved to see more of them. They liven up the story and often draw Kylie away from her poor me pity party.

Now, let’s talk love interests. Oh my, there are just so many. Are you tired of the dreaded love triangle? Yeah, me too. Unfortunately, Hunter’s solution for this is to create a love square. Here we have traditional good boy vs. the “misunderstood” bad boy, but now we’ve added exactly one apologizing ex-boyfriend into the mix. Tell me, how many suitors does one girl need? Because there are so many different options, we don’t spend a great deal of time with any of them in particular. Therefore, I did not get a good handle on them and they just end up seeming a bit stereotypical. The additional boy also doesn’t solve the problem of predictability – it is still obvious where the story is going with this one. Simply follow the angst kiddies. 

Like I said before, I did enjoy Born at Midnight while I was reading it. The story is easy to follow and the characters are certainly entertaining, but do not expect anything out of the box. Hunter sticks with the tried and true Young Adult + Paranormal Romance formula and produces a light, entertaining read. If you are looking for something to keep you occupied for a few hours that does not exactly bog your brain down, then give Born at Midnight a try.