Book Review: Everneath by Brodie Ashton

Book: EVERNEATH
Author: BRODIE ASHTON
Genre: YA FANTASY
Published: January 2012, BALZER + BRAY (HARPER COLLINS)

Series: Everneath #1 (upcoming series)
Source: Around The World Tours, no other compensation given for an honest review

From Good Reads:
Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

My Review:
I was really impressed initially by the cover art for EVERNEATH. As I can be swayed by a pretty cover, and I tend to only superficially read the blurb or synopsis to a book before hand, there are plenty of times that I will be chapters into a book before I even fully "get" what the plot is. This was one of the things that happened here. Other people had raved to me about EVERNEATH and I started reading without any preconceptions.

The first thing that really hit me was that I liked Ashton's writing and her writing style. I don't always subscribe to the idea that there has to action in the very first pages, but I do subscribe to the idea that the first few pages have to hook me. They did. The first few pages hooked me. The first few chapters hooked me. Despite the heftiness of the ARC that I read, it didn't take me that long to reach the last page. I was always wanting more.

EVERNEATH involves one of the most ultimate kinds of triangles. Nikki has to choose between returning to the Everneath and Cole, the boy who took her life for six months or staying in her former life with Jack, for the little bit of time that she can possess this former life. But, Ashton goes beyond the bad boy versus good guy. She goes beyond the reign-in-hell or eternally-exist-in-agony choice that Nikki is faced with. Nikki's psyche and choices are laid bare for the reader. The chapters often alternate to her life before she initially chose Cole and the Everneath, where we can see the other girl that she was.

While the plot and the characters were nice, as I said above, what really captivated me while I was reading was the actual language and writing. Often the inner dialog of Nikki, and the dialog that she engaged in with other characters was spot-on in displaying her discombobulation at being back on the surface. The relatively lyrical quality and thoughtfulness of the exposition is perfectly matched and I am looking forward to picking up future novels by Ashton.

4/5 for plot
4/5 for characters
4.5/5 for language

My Rating: 12.5/15 (3.5 stars) Highly Recommend

Find the author at:
Blog | Twitter | GoodReads

Purchase book at:
Barnes and Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | Books-A-Million | Amazon

Book Review: Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey

Book: STOLEN AWAY
Author: ALYXANDRA HARVEY
Genre: YA FANTASY
Published: January 2012, WALKER CHILDRENS (BLOOMSBURY)

Series: none
Source: Around The World Tours, no other compensation given for an honest review

From Good Reads:
For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric - who may or may not betray them.

My Review:
Faery books can be hit or miss with me. Perhaps because I've always been interested in Celtic myth and history, I have less of a tolerance for "getting it wrong". In all honesty, I've also been imprinted by Melissa Marr's faery books that wowed me totally. I have a deep hunger for the books that don't portray faeries as sweet, winged, miniature creatures. With all that said, Alyxandra Harvey's STOLEN AWAY was exactly what I wanted out of a faery book.

STOLEN AWAY was the first novel in a very long time that I have read which had so many alternating POVs. For a reader who has a hard time keeping track of who is telling the story, when each POV is told in first person, this book might be too disorienting or confusing. Especially when considering the relatively short chapters, I could see that there would definitely be some readers who would be taken too far out of the story by this device. It didn't bother me once I got into the book. What also helps is that Harvey gives each of her characters distinctive personalities.

Eloise was a pretty good female character, but I found myself fascinated more by Harvey's male characters, Lucas and Eldric. I felt they possessed more mystery, dual-naturedness and interesting characteristics than Eloise. That's not to say that her chapters weren't interesting, just that my heart would race a little faster when Lucas and Eldric made an appearance.

Basically, I enjoyed reading STOLEN AWAY. The pace is perfect for the story. the plot kept me interested, and anyone who enjoys the darker side of the fey will have a good time reading this novel. Recently, I have found an appreciation for the shorter novel because, as long as the plot never seems rushed or too compacted, it can be great to find a book that can be read in a short amount of time.

3.5/5 for plot
4/5 for characters
3.5/5 for language

My Rating: 11/15 (3 stars)

Highly Recommend, if you enjoyed
Wicked Lovely (series) by Melissa Marr
Need (series) by Carrie Jones


Find the author at:
Website | Twitter | GoodReads

Advance Review: Enclave (Razorland #1) by Ann Aguirre

Book: ENCLAVE
Author: ANN AGUIRRE
Genre: DYSTOPIAN/POST-APOCALYPTIC FANTASY
Published: April 2011, FEIWEL AND FRIENDS

Series: RAZORLAND #1
Outpost (Razorland #2) (Published: 2012, FEIWEL AND FRIENDS)
Source: Publisher via Good Golly Miss Holly Book Tours, no compensation for an honest review

From Good Reads:
In Deuce's world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed 'brat' has trained into one of three groups-Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms.

Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember. As a Huntress, her purpose is clear--to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She's worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing's going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade.

When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce's troubles are just beginning. Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn't like following orders. At first she thinks he's crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don't always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth.

Her partner confuses her; she's never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as to using his knives with feral grace. As Deuce's perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival...

My Review:
I'm not sure that I can point out why ENCLAVE resonated so much with me, but I'm going to give it a good try. Because this book wowed me from the very first page, to the very last, and it left me anxiously awaiting the next installment, which won't be out for more than a year. *Weeps for a moment, at that realization*.

Anyway, the book introduces the heroine, Deuce, to the reader at her naming ceremony. If you didn't already know that this book was going to be a dystopian, here's the first big clue. In a somewhat barbaric ritual, Deuce is indoctrinated into her society, taking the scars of a Huntress. This is a job that she wants, though it seems much more dangerous than any other that is "allowed" by the ruling members of her enclave.

Deuce is an amazingly strong character, not in stature, but in spirit. I actually kind of pictured her as a somewhat small, wiry girl that would probably be mistaken for a teen or early 20-something well into her thirties, if she had the opportunity to live that long. Alas, her world is one that doesn't even name their children until the teens, because a high percentage of "brats" don't make it to adolescence.

Though Deuce and her partner, Fade, who has to follow her into exile, do encounter their share of danger, the novel is fairly sparse in high action. It moves along at an average pace, certainly not quite as quickly as I've come to expect from many YA novels, but the story is solid, very solid. It also comes with its fair share of excellent writing.

Ann Aguirre entranced and entrenched me so well into her plot that I read it in one go in the very late night hours, when I should have perhaps, been getting some well-needed sleep. And, when I emerged from the pages at the end, it left me kind of dizzy and disoriented. ENCLAVE is the first book of 2011, where I wasn't sure what to do when it ended. I wanted to go back immediately for a re-read, just to make sure that I had really gotten the whole story. This is one of those books that I will have to have for my bookshelves, and for myself.

4.5/5 for plot
5/5 for characters
4.5/5 for language

My Rating: 14/15 (5 stars)

Must Read, if you liked:
The Hunger Games (series) by Suzanne Collins
Feed by Mira Grant
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Links for the author and books:
* Website
* Twitter
* GoodReads
* Facebook

Purchase at:
* Barnes and Noble
* Book Depository
* Amazon


Available formats: Print (Hardcover)

Challenge Participation:

Advance Review: Wilder's Mate by Moira Rogers

Book: WILDER'S MATE
Author: MOIRA ROGERS
Genre: PARANORMAL ROMANCE/STEAMPUNK/EROTIC ROMANCE
Published: March 2011, SAMHAIN PUBLISHING

Series: Bloodhounds #1 (planned series)
Source: Author, no other compensation given for an honest review

From Good Reads:
Wilder Harding is a bloodhound, created by the Guild to hunt down and kill vampires on America’s frontier. His enhanced abilities come with a high price: on the full moon, he becomes capable of savagery beyond telling, while the new moon brings a sexual hunger that borders on madness.

Rescuing a weapons inventor from undead kidnappers is just another assignment, though one with an added complication—keeping his hands off the man’s pretty young apprentice, who insists on tagging along...

As the search stretches far longer than Wilder planned, he finds himself fighting against time. If Satira is still at his side when the new moon comes, nothing will stop him from claiming her. Worse, she seems all too willing. If their passion unlocks the beast inside, no one will be safe. Not even the man they’re fighting to save.

My Review:
So, here's the thing. When I open a Moira Rogers book, I totally expect to see flames every single time, because this author knows how to write books that are on FIRE. I found that WILDER'S MATE was no exception to the Rogers' powerhouse book collection. Rogers knows how to write good paranormal shapeshifter romance. The RED ROCK PASS series focuses on wolves, while the SOUTHERN ARCANA series has cat shifters, wolves and magic, oh my! But, WILDER'S MATE is the first book in a new series, BLOODHOUNDS, and I can't wait for more.

In WILDER'S MATE, the titular character is a dangerous hunter. As a bloodhound, he has better than human instincts. And when the moon is high, he has a hotter than fire sexual appetite that must be appeased. Somehow, Wilder struck me as less civilized than any of the authors' previous characters. He's dark, on a mission, and it seems like his human face is the mask, while the animal-the bloodhound-is his true form.

As with all of the characters that Rogers brings to life, both Wilder and Satira are both complex characters with fleshed-out back stories that are slowly revealed throughout the book. While their attraction to each other overwhelms many of the pages, and spills into HOT HOT HOT encounters, make no mistake, there is a fabulous story being told otherwise. And, there's steampunk! It's like Rogers can bring together many different themes, and create the perfect storm of romance, action, and adventure every single time they write a story.


5/5 for plot
4.5/5 for characters
4.5/5 for language

My Rating: 14/15 (4.5 stars)

Must Read, if you liked:
Never Have I Ever by Alisha Rai
On the Edge by Ilona Andrews
Blood Lust by Zoe Winters

Links for the author and books:
* Website
* Twitter (Bree)
* Twitter (Donna)
* GoodReads
* Facebook

Purchase at:
* Barnes and Noble
* Samhain Publishing
* Amazon

Available formats: E-Book

Advance Review: Tempt Me by Shiloh Walker

Book: TEMPT ME
Author: SHILOH WALKER
Genre: CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE/EROTIC ROMANCE
Published: February 2011

Series: none
Source: Author, no other compensation given for honest review

From Good Reads:
She’s a temptation he can’t resist…

Roxanne ‘Rocki’ Monroe’s life is full of secrets and hidden heartaches. Cole Stanton would love to heal her pain and chase away the ghosts of her past, but she’s just a complication he doesn’t have room for in his life.

Or so he thinks.

It doesn’t take Cole long to realize he’s more than willing to let temptation get the best of him, more than happy to deal with complications if that’s what it takes to get her.

What he has and what he needs are two different things…and what he needs is Rocki.

My Review:
I absolutely loved Shiloh Walker's character, Rocki. She is an independent business owner, a confident and sexy woman, she knows her own mind, and she knows what she wants. She is the kind of heroine that I always want to see in the novels that I read, be they contemporary, paranormal, or historical. And, here's the thing: she is an average woman. She has curves where a woman should, and Walker does a fantastic job of showcasing Rocki's lushness, while not making the fact that another woman considers her "fat" into a plot device where Rocki feels insecure when it comes to naked sexytimes with Cole. Rocki even slaps down the woman who insults her, with an acute sense of her own power, and a minimum of trash-talk. Seriously, I think I have a girl crush.

Cole and Rocki are both complex characters, no less than what I would expect from a Shiloh Walker book, but every time I read something from her, I am amazed at the depth that goes into her writing. I've read some of her print novels, as well as some of her e-book novels, and she is one of the few authors that I find the same emotional intensity is involved in novella and full-length novel. The instant attraction that Cole feels for Rocki (even though he is engaged at the time, to another woman) feels right. Sure, it reads as lust, but I like how Cole is not one to indulge in that lust before he is a free man, and even then, he's not looking for just a mindless sexual encounter.

I think I could go on for a while about why I enjoyed reading TEMPT ME, but I will cut myself short, in the interest of my readers. I'll say that I connected immediately with this book. TEMPT ME is the second independent project that Shiloh Walker has done. Her first, BEG ME, tackled an issue that many others might consider taboo, and she did a really good job with it. When I had the opportunity to request an advance copy of TEMPT ME, I jumped on it. It's a sensual read, that's not without serious undertones. So, if you are the type wanting to dip into a contemporary romance, with erotic scenes, this is the book for you. And those who are already Shiloh Walker fans, will find TEMPT ME a great read.

4/5 for plot
5/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 13/15 (4 stars)

Highly Recommend, if you liked:
Wrapped Around Your Finger by Fallon Blake
Simple Need by Lissa Matthews

Links for the author and books:
* Website
* Twitter
* GoodReads
* Facebook

Purchase at:
* Smashwords
* Amazon


Available formats: E-Book

Advance Review: The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Book: THE IRON QUEEN
Author: JULIE KAGAWA
Genre: YA FANTASY

Published: February 2011, HARLEQUIN TEEN

Series: THE IRON FEY #3 (Good Reads links)
THE IRON KING (#1)
THE IRON DAUGHTER (#2)

I received a print copy through Just Another Book Blog ARC tours, and also an e-ARC version from Harlequin Teen via NetGalley for free, in exchange for an honest review.


From Good Reads:
My name is Meghan Chase.

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back.


My Review:
I make no secret that I really like THE IRON FEY series. Sure, there's action, and a love triangle, and a teen heroine that has to overcome massive obstacles, after learning that her heritage is so much more than any human could begin to imagine. But, at the heart of the series, there is really good characterization and world-building. In THE IRON KING and THE IRON DAUGHTER, I found myself focusing more on the fantastic world-building. However, because much of THE IRON QUEEN was war preparation and less epic quest, I needed to see how the journey of the characters had brought them to this moment.

Meghan is a character that I enjoyed immensely, this time around. She wasn't the same girl that she was in THE IRON KING, when she naively set out to save her brother from the "evil fey". That girl blundered in a bit. Her inhibitions and inexperience allowed the fey to take advantage of her. Though her intentions were good, she was clearly overwhelmed in this other world.

Now, she is stronger. Now, she has no illusions about the fey. Now, she takes the offensive, and stands tall against the encroachment of the iron fey. I wanted to see a Meghan that didn't just let Ash protect her. I wanted to see a Meghan that could navigate the topsy-turvy communication with Grimalkin. I wanted to see a Meghan that could truly make her own destiny happen, not just go along with the one that came about with the choosing of Ash or Puck. And, for the most part, I was not disappointed in the least.

I love this world of THE IRON FEY series. Kagawa's creation immersed me in a dangerous place, with dangerous beings; a place with faithful companions and dubious allies. It's a place that I will want to visit often, and will not soon forget.


4.5/5 for plot
4.5/5 for characters
3.5/5 for language

My Rating: 12.5/15 (4 stars)

Highly Recommend, if you liked:

The Mortal Instruments (series) by Cassandra Clare
Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater


Links for the author and books:
Julie Kagawa Website
Blog
Twitter
Good Reads

Iron Fey Facebook Page

Advance Review: Subway Girl by P.J. Converse

Book: SUBWAY GIRL
Author: P.J. CONVERSE
Genre: YA CONTEMPORARY

Published: March 2011, HARPERTEEN


I received this book through Good Golly Miss Holly Book Tours for free, in exchange for an honest review


From Good Reads:
From the moment he sees Amy on a Hong Kong subway, Simon wants to talk to her. But when he finally works up the courage, he finds out he can’t. Because Amy doesn’t speak Chinese, and Simon is failing English. But despite their language barrier, Amy and Simon connect, and they discover they understand each other.


My Review:
SUBWAY GIRL is one of the most unique books that I have read this year, and it is coming in at the very end. I like the concept of Simon and Amy, and how their relationship evolves from a shaky first meeting, to a tentative friendship, then to something much more intimate, that approaches love.

Though they are both Asian, Simon is a native of Hong Kong, while Amy moved there from America with her family. He speaks almost no English, while she speaks very little Chinese. However, mostly through Simon's persistence, they manage to transcend the language barrier.

Simon's character undergoes much development, and the reader spends much of the time seeing things from his perspective. There are times that the prose and dialog seems disjointed, but it never put me off of the story. In fact, I think it contributed to the underlying plotline of Simon learning to speak English.

Converse has written an engaging novel of cultural differences, overcoming language barriers, friendship, love, and acceptance. SUBWAY GIRL is a quick read; this ARC edition is just over 200 pages. I especially like that this is a great addition to books that expand diversity in publishing, while not being exclusive. It's easily a book that many people can relate to, no matter their ethnicity.


4/5 for plot
4/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 12/15 Highly Recommend (3.5 stars)


Links for the book:
HarperTeen Book Page

Advance Review: Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr

Book: DARKEST MERCY
Author: MELISSA MARR
Genre: YA FANTASY

Published: March 2011, HARPERCOLLINS

I received this advance copy for free, as part of Just Another Book Blog ARC tours, in exchange for an honest review


From Good Reads:
The Summer King is missing; the Dark Court is bleeding; and a stranger walks the streets of Huntsdale, his presence signifying the deaths of powerful fey.

Aislinn tends to the Summer Court, searching for her absent king and yearning for Seth. Torn between his new queen and his old love, Keenan works from afar to strengthen his court against the coming war. Donia longs for fiery passion even as she coolly readies the Winter Court for battle. And Seth, sworn brother of the Dark King and heir to the High Queen, is about to make a mistake that could cost his life.

Love, despair, and betrayal ignite the Faery Courts, and in the final conflict, some will win . . . and some will lose everything.


My Review:
DARKEST MERCY is a can't miss book for fans of Melissa Marr's WICKED LOVELY series, and for fans of faerie novels in general. All of the plotlines from the previous books came together in an amazingly detailed and entrancing finale that had me gasping in disbelief and pleasure. Truthfully, I don't know that I could review this book in depth, without giving away major spoilers, so this will probably be somewhat brief.

I will say that the talent that Marr brings to the table is fantastic. The world that she has created draws me in, with every successive novel that is added to the series. Every character has wants, needs, flaws, and hopes. Even the people that are clearly villians are so multi-dimensional. Once I started reading DARKEST MERCY, it was very hard to put the book down.

Marr doesn't coddle her readers. Even though most of her characters are quite young, they have all lived dangerous and seductive lives. No one is an innocent, and every one has to make decisions that affect many many people, faerie and human alike. It took all of my energy to absorb the action that was thrown at me, that when I did manage to pause in reading, I felt like I was sapped.

I can't say enough good things about Marr's writing, her world-building, and the complex characters that she brings to the page. Though DARKEST MERCY means saying goodbye to this amazing series, I felt that Marr gave them one of the best send-offs that I have read in a series ender.


4.5/5 for plot
4.5/5 for characters
5/5 for language

My Rating: 14/15 (5 stars)

Must Read, if you liked:
Shifters series by Rachel Vincent
The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa

Entice Blog Tour: Carrie Jones Writes Good Pixie

Book: ENTICE
Author: CARRIE JONES
Genre: YA PARANORMAL


Published: December 2010, BLOOMSBURY TEENS

I received this book, from the publisher, as a blog tour participant for free, in exchange for an honest review


From Good Reads:
Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that's not quite how things have worked out.

For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he's been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it's taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla?

And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there's that other small problem: Zara's been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn't just turned. She's Astley's queen.


My Review
Oh my pixies! Carrie Jones has added another sensational novel to the NEED series with ENTICE. It starts off just after her transformation into a pixie by king, Astley, and snowballs into an action-packed drama that keeps rolling on to the last page. There were times that I didn't dare take my eyes off the page, or put the book down. I'll spare the sentence that incorporates the previous two series titles (NEED and CAPTIVATE), but yeah, I had to keep reading, and I was riveted to the page for the entire novel.

The problem that most novels in a series have, is that they have to do a capsule recap of the previous novels and the events that happened there. I understand the necessity, but usually it will pull me out of the current events from this book. Sometimes I have trouble re-connecting after that happens. But, Jones does a very good job of keeping the reader firmly in the present. Yes, there is some re-cap, but its not just dumped all in the beginning. Mostly it comes out naturally. I didn't feel like I needed to skip pages of explanation to stay connected to ENTICE. I didn't have any trouble at all staying connected to ENTICE!

One of the things that struck me about the book, was how fleshed out each character was. Perhaps, it could be said that, since this is the third novel in the series, characterization would certainly be strong, now that the author has had a chance to spread each person's wings. It's true, I expect more from the characters each outing, and there was never a doubt that Jones had mastered the skill, in this case.

Zara's goal in ENTICE is to find out if Nick is truly still alive, and somewhere in Valhalla. The journey that her and her friends, including Astley, go on to accomplish this, reveal so much about their interpersonal relationships. Of course, Zara has to struggle with her new self, and whether she will be accepted by those that she loves. But, the book also explores the relationship that Astley has with his mother, as well as with his pixies. Even with all of the action, there is still a deep emotional feel to the book. That's what pulled me in. The action was certainly exciting, but the emotional aspect kept me involved.

There is no question that ENTICE is not only a worthy addition to the NEED series, but also a worthy addition to the books that I loved in 2010.


4.5/5 for plot
4/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 12.5/15 (4 stars)

Highly Recommend, if you liked:
Wicked Lovely (series) by Melissa Marr
Modern Faerie Tale series by Holly Black



Links for Carrie Jones and the NEED series:
Bloomsbury Teens Facebook Page
NEED series Facebook Page

Also, Carrie will be participating in a live chat on the Need Facebook page on December 14th where she will be happy to answer any and all of your questions.


Bloomsbury Teens has kindly agreed to give one lucky Read My Mind reader a copy of Entice.
Rules:
1. Must be a blog or Twitter (@AliseOnLife) follower. I don't do this for all contests, but for this one I want to reward my followers.

2. Must live in the U.S. or have access to a U.S. shipping address. Bloomsbury Teens cannot ship overseas, and the prize will be mailed through the publisher.

3. Please fill out the form completely ONCE. I reserve the right to discard all entries that seem like cheating.

4. The contest ends at 6pm on December 27th. Any entries received after will NOT be counted.


Good Luck! CLICK HERE to enter.

Book Review: StarCrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Book: STARCROSSED
Author: ELIZABETH C. BUNCE
Genre: YA FANTASY

Published: October 2010, ARTHUR A. LEVINE BOOKS


I received this book for review, through STAR BOOK TOURS

From Good Reads:
Digger thrives as a spy and sneak-thief among the feuding religious factions of Gerse, dodging the Greenmen who have banned all magic. But when a routine job goes horribly wrong and her partner and lover Tegen is killed, she has to get out of the city, fast, and hides herself in a merry group of nobles to do so. Accepted as a lady's maid to shy young Merista Nemair, Digger finds new peace and friendship at the Nemair stronghold--as well as plenty of jewels for the taking. But after the devious Lord Daul catches her in the act of thievery, he blackmails her into becoming his personal spy in the castle, and Digger soon realizes that her noble hosts aren't as apolitical as she thought... that indeed, she may be at the heart of a magical rebellion.


My Review:
I know that I have never used this phrase in a book review before, but it is so apt for STARCROSSED: a web of intrigue. This book really got under my skin. It wasn't a paranormal romance, and it wasn't an urban fantasy. It's wasn't even a fantasy that I've come to read in YA. It was a book all on its own, and it was amazing.

There's no coddling in this novel for the main character, Digger. I was introduced into her world as she ran for her life from the people who had killed her friend, and sometimes lover. Digger is street-smart, sly, not easily duped, and a master thief. But, when she falls in with a group of upperclass youngsters, and finds herself mixing in among their families, all of her "worldliness" seems poor training for the wealthy intrigue, court secrets, and hidden dangers that await her new life.

The reader does get bombarded by the places, the spiritual aspects that play out into the political world that Digger lives in, and the people that have their part in a "revolt" that took place long ago. I can understand how it might be too much information, but I didn't have any problem settling into STARCROSSED. Digger, AKA Celyn is a terrific character that shows the world around her in vivid detail.

Elizabeth C. Bunce has crafted a novel that includes sweeping world-building, multi-faceted characters, and an ominous mystery. Digger must try to balance her own curiousity with the demands of a man who wishes to use her as a spy, without losing the moral code that she holds dear, even though she is a self-confessed thief. STARCROSSED delivers an awesome story that kept me riveted. This is a book that every YA fantasy lover should go read, now.


4/5 for plot
4.5/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 12.5/15 Highly Recommend


Visit the links below to find out more on the author and books:
Elizabeth C. Bunce website

Advance Review: Cloaked by Alex Flinn

Book: CLOAKED
Author: ALEX FLINN
Genre: YA FANTASY

Published: February 2011, HARPER


I received this book for review through STAR BOOK TOURS (ARC edition)


From Good Reads:
Johnny works after school in a shoe repair shop in a swanky hotel in Miami. He loves shoes and is talented; he even aspires to be the next Manolo Blahnik. But the real reason that he is working so hard is because his dad left when he was a baby and he needs to help his mom pay the bills. At least he has his friend, Meg, who works at the hotel coffee shop, to keep him company.
When beautiful Princess Victoriana comes to stay at the hotel, Johnny is thrilled when Victoriana invites him to her suite. There she tells him that her brother has been turned into a frog, and that she needs his help finding him in the Florida Keys. Johnny thinks she is crazy and does not believe her,
until she gives him a magical cloak that immediately transports him to another location. Armed with the cloak and a magical earpiece that can help him talk to other transformed humans Johnny sets out to save the Prince ...


My Review:
I've heard so much praise about Alex Flinn, as an author, and her fresh take on classic fairy tales. Also, her previous release, BEASTLY, is on my wishlist, but I haven't actually had a chance to read any of her work. So, when I had the opportunity to get an early look at CLOAKED, I was pretty excited.

Right from the beginning, I liked the premise of the novel. Johnny is the type of character that I would like to read in books more often. One that isn't super-wealthy, doesn't drive an expensive car, or doesn't have an ambiguiously large (impossible) NY (or other large city) apartment. A character that, in fact, I might truly be able to connect with.

The dialogue was snappy, and at times -the right ones- even a bit snarky. I loved the encounters that Johnny had with the talking animals, especially the swans in the hotel. And, all of this is a more technical review of the book than I usually do. Because, I thought the book was good...

BUT. I didn't engage with CLOAKED the way that I expected to. Don't get me wrong, I liked the book. But, I didn't fall in love with it. I wanted to. The story kept me reading, because I did want to see how Flinn was going to take the book to its conclusion. And, I wasn't disappointed in her "fresh" take on the fairy tale. I'm not sure what I was disappointed in. Myself, a little, because I suspect that I was in a reading slump, and nothing might have satisfied me at the time.

3/5 for plot
3/5 for characters
3/5 for language

My Rating: 9/15 Worth Trying


Find out more about the author, Alex Flinn, and her work from the following links:

Alex Flinn's website
Bio
Blog
Speaking Engagements

Advance Review: The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Book: THE REPLACEMENT
Author: BRENNA YOVANOFF
Genre: YA FANTASY

I received this book for review through Star Book Tours


Review
Mackie Doyle is not like most of the other teens in Gentry. He's a replacement, left in the crib to take the place of a human child. Everyone knows that these things happen. No one tries to stop it. The people under the hill are grotesque creatures in a parody of human form, and the town of Gentry can only sit by and watch as their children are taken.

Until Tate's sister becomes one of those children. Mackie feels a connection to Tate, and he feels moved to help her. Standing up against his own people may seem like the worst thing he could do, but he's the only one willing to put a stop to the monsters... despite maybe being one himself.

I had to take a breath when I finished THE REPLACEMENT. It was spooky and eerie, and though I wouldn't classify it as horror, there were elements in the novel that left me with a shiver of fear and revulsion. The people under the hill were shrouded in mystery until Mackie rips the lid off of their society. It wasn't just the act of stealing the human children that they committed. It was that they felt it was their due, and were unrepentant.

Though his involvement in the story was negligible (up until the end), I really liked the character, Roswell. As Mackie's best friend, it was clear that he knew Mackie was different. But, he was a true friend. When Mackie needed him, he was there. As was Emma, Mackie's sister. One of the greatest moments in the book for me, was when the realization dawned on Mackie why he hadn't perished in the human world yet, as so many of the replacement children do.

While the story line meandered a bit, I was really captured by Brenna Yovanoff's language. At first, I wanted to be horrified by the kind of town that would let their children be taken to an unknown fate- one that probably involved a painful death- but then I realized that their willful blindness and acceptance of what was happening made the monsters stronger. And by the monsters being strong, they robbed the Gentry residents of their will. It was totally circular, and perhaps the perfect example of how bad things happen.

3/5 for plot
3.5/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 10.5/15 Recommend
Bonus Cover Points: 4/5 (ARC copy)

Advance Review: Healer's Choice by Jory Strong

Book: HEALER'S CHOICE
Author: JORY STRONG
Genre: URBAN FANTASY/PARANORMAL ROMANCE


I received this ARC from the author, Jory Strong
Picture courtesy of Good Reads


Review
Rebekka is born into violence, where outcast Weres, who have only a mixed human-animal form, are used for depraved and torturous purposes. Human herself, she can move among the two worlds, as a healer. Her talent allowing for even more atrocities to be perpetrated, she is used to keep the outcast in line for their masters. But, a prophesy looms over Rebekka, and now her own life in in danger.

She must enter the world of the Jaguar weres. Those who have dangerous views on the outcasts, and whose leader has a dangerous need for Rebekka. She will have to face the dead ancestors that have power over the living and the dead. She will have to reconcile her feelings for Aryck, the next leader of the Jaguars. But, most of all, she will have to stop a plague that threatens the lives of all Weres, and is masterminded by one of the most evil humans to walk in her world.

HEALER'S CHOICE is the third installment in Jory Strong's GHOSTLAND WORLD series. Though, the world is the same throughout the novels, each one focuses on a different aspect, and has different main characters that take the helm. HEALER'S CHOICE focuses on Rebekka and Aryck. There is a chance to see both of them in their own native environment, before their paths end up joining. And, I think it helped me to get inside the heads of both characters and understand their motivations more, instead of only seeing them as part of a couple or a team.

I was blown away by how involved I got in the story line, while I was reading. Even when bringing to the forefront the really brutal realities of living in Rebekka's world, I never wanted to put the book down. Strong took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. In just the first few chapters, my heart beat faster with anxiety for the outcasts that were trying to escape their horrific lives, the outrage at how Weres were treated, and the pride at how Rebekka risks her own life to help them.

The changing point of view between Rebekka, Aryck, and even the villians of the novel ratcheted up the suspense and sense of danger really well, and kept me turning the pages until the very last page. HEALER'S CHOICE can be read as a stand-alone novel, but when I finished, I wanted to immediately go out and find the two previous installments, GHOSTLAND and SPIDER-TOUCHED. Strong delivers a tense novel that is sure to be a hit with fans of darker fantasy or urban fantasy.

5/5 for plot
4.5/5 for characters
4.5/5 for language

My Rating: 14/15 Must Read
Bonus Cover Points: 3.5/5 (finished cover)

Advance Review: Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Book: FIRELIGHT
Author: SOPHIE JORDAN
Genre: YA FANTASY


I received this ARC at BEA, from the author, Sophie Jordan

Review
Jacinda is a Draki; a dragon. She has the ability to breathe fire, which makes her a hot commodity in her community. But, her disobedience for the rules lands her in an untenable situation, and Jacinda is forced to leave the only home she's ever known, and the only place where she can be herself.

Trying to fit into the human world is hard for Jacinda, and her mother and sister can't understand her need to hold onto her Draki side, no matter how dangerous it might be for the three of them. The only person that Jacinda feels a connection to is Will. A hunter of her kind. And, the time is coming when she won't be able to hide from him any longer.

FIRELIGHT is the first book in Sophie Jordan's new paranormal YA series. It's an emotional tale about a girl who wants to preserve the one part of herself that could destroy her. It's not just that the other Draki in her community want to use her, but Will, the boy she has such strong feelings for is part of a family of Draki hunters. He becomes the dangerous addiction because he brings out the Draki side of Jacinda that she desperately needs.

The struggle between Jacinda and her family was one of the plot points that really stuck in my head. Her sister doesn't transform, and her mother had voluntarily let her Draki die years earlier. So, Jacinda is on her own trying to reconcile her need to keep her Draki alive, against the inherent danger this decision would bring. And, though her mother is seen as an adversary, it's clear that she cares for her daughter. I very much enjoyed reading about a parent who was not neglectful, and felt the need to hold some importance in her children's lives.

The relationship that Jacinda has with Will does seem to develop very quickly. Though, I don't feel that it developed too quickly, I'm also curious as to how it will progress over the next books in the series. I finished FIRELIGHT with a sense of anticipation for the second novel, and an appreciation for how well Jordan's writing drew me into this story.

4/5 for plot
4/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 12/15 Highly Recommend
Bonus Cover Points 4.5/5 (ARC cover)

Advance Review: Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin

Book: LOW RED MOON
Author: IVY DEVLIN
Genre: YA FANTASY/ PARANORMAL ROMANCE


I received this ARC from the author, Ivy Devlin
Picture courtesy of Good Reads

Review
Avery Hood is alive, while her parents are dead. What haunts her the most about the night of their death is that she can't remember a thing. As Avery tries to adjust to living without her beloved parents, she feels compelled to explain the deadly flash of silver that she saw that night. As Avery tries to adjust to living with her estranged grandmother, she must stop the town that she calls her home, from destroying the house that holds her heart.

Then, Ben enters her life. She is drawn to him, and he to her. But, Ben is not wholly human. His secret could destroy the tentative trust that Avery has given to him. His secret could explain the horrible death that her parents suffered. The woods whisper to Avery that a killer is close, in more ways than one.

LOW RED MOON is a great paranormal debut for Ivy Devlin. She writes about the relationship and connection that Avery has to the woods, though it is ultimately there, just outside of her house -her home- that her parents perish. This appealed to me. Even though, she could have become bitter and vengeful at the turn of events, Avery is even more drawn to the mysteries of the forest. She fights to keep the town from destroying everything that her parents built.

At its heart, LOW RED MOON is a paranormal romance. On the back cover, Ben is outed as a werewolf, so I felt that the mystery surrounding who and what he is was drawn out a little longer than necessary. At the same time, I really enjoyed the spooky and captivating writing that kept the novel seeming almost more murder mystery than fantasy.

3.5/5 for plot
4/5 for characters
4/5 for language
My Rating: 11.5/15 Highly Recommend
Bonus Cover Points: 3/5 (Finished cover displayed)

Advance Review: Dangerous Neighbors by Beth Kephart

Book: DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS
Author: BETH KEPHART
Genre: HISTORICAL FICTION


I received this book from the author at BEA
Picture courtesy of Good Reads


Overview
Katherine and Anna are twin sisters that are so intertwined, heart and soul, as to almost be one. But, love and freedom and adulthood seek to pull the two further and further apart. And then one day, Anna is gone. Now, Katherine is left alone, feeling that her life should be at an end too.

Among the marvels of the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Fair, Katherine will have to come to terms with her crushing grief. Finding salvation is neither easy or painless, but Katherine must face her memories of Anna, and set her sister, and herself, free.

DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS begins at the end. Katherine has lost her sister, Anna. She finds herself cast adrift during a time when the city of her birth is celebrating the centennial of the nation's birth. It's very clear that Katherine deeply mourns her sister. The first few pages unfold so beautifully that I found myself caught up in Kephart's words instantly. I turned the pages, one after the other, completely engaged. It wasn't just that Kephart had such rich characterization for Katherine. Anna is there too, in the memories that take the reader back to when she was alive.

Even though the novel is told somewhat in reverse, I almost felt like the end was the beginning. Katherine is a whole being when I began reading. As I fell more and more into the story, I was able to see how she unraveled, with each encounter that she had with Anna, where Anna seemed to need her sister less and less. The more that the name Bennet was mentioned, the more Katherine moved toward the crisis point. And, while that point happened at the ice pond when Anna died, it is clear that a parting of the sisters would have been inevitable, even without the accident.

I actually have so many emotions about this novel, because I had such a connection while reading it. I'm just not sure that I could do justice to those feelings with my words. And, I almost feel like I don't want to share them. For me, DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS is like that first secret crush, or the meeting of hands, when you know that you've met your soulmate. I think this book is going to stay in my head, and in my heart for a very long time.

4/5 for plot
4.5/5 for characters
5/5 for language

My Rating: 13.5/15 Highly Recommend
Bonus Cover Points: 3.5/5

Advance Review: The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

Book: THE DUFF
Author: KODY KEPLINGER
Genre: CONTEMPORARY YA

I received this book through Star Book Tours
Picture courtesy of Good Reads

Advance Review
Bianca Piper is snarky and cynical, and knows just how to navigate her way through high school. Though she would never consider herself beautiful, Bianca is smart. It's better than being the female counterpoint to Wesley Rush. There's no girl he won't date, and no girl that won't date him. Except for the DUFF.

When Bianca finds out that Wesley considers her the DUFF (designated ugly fat friend), she throws soda on him, and shrugs off his statement. But, the name sticks, and suddenly, Wesley and her have to partner for a school project. How do they go from hating each other to kissing? Bianca puts it down to needing a distraction.

Her home life is in the gutter. Her dad drinks. Her mother is never around. An enemies-with-benefits affair seems just the thing to take Bianca's mind off everything that's going wrong in her life.

First, I have to say, I am really glad that I had a chance to read this book, in advance of its September release. There's been buzz surrounding the book itself, but also the author, who is only 18. I'm not the kind of person that thinks a teen can't write a good book (whether it is a commercial success or not). But yeah, experience, and practice, and a mature attitude can contribute to how well-written a novel is.

In the case of THE DUFF, I had to throw all of those preconceptions out of the window. This book is GOOD.

Let me get this out of the way right now: THERE IS SEXUAL CONTENT IN THIS BOOK. Some might say that the content is excessive. I don't. The sex is not included for vicarious thrills. It is key to the plot. I've read YA fantasy and urban fantasy that has much more creative sexual content in it. I can't say that I believe that sexual content doesn't belong in YA, anyway. If the characters are conducting some kind of porno-in-writing, I might object slightly.

I really enjoyed how Kody Keplinger fleshed out the characters of Bianca and Wesley. Each one had a school life that was fairly opposite of their personal life. Bianca didn't try to hide her wit and cleverness. It was like a shield for her, because of the uncertainty that she felt living with an alcoholic father. At the same time, Wesley was outgoing, popular, and always had people wanting to be with him. It's not hard to figure out that his school life directly contrasted with his home life.

Kody Keplinger has penned an extremely well-written novel. Sure, it's about self-image. But, it's also about the need to escape. No one wants to be the DUFF. Or the lonely kid. Or the one caught in the middle. Bianca finds something that will distract her from these feelings. She has sex with the one person that may be making her feel worse about herself. But, if any reader closes this book, and only remembers the sexual content, I'm going to say that they missed out. ON WAY TOO MUCH.

4.5/5 for plot
5/5 for characters
4.5/5 for language

My Rating: 14/15 Must Read
Bonus Cover Points: 4/5 (ARC cover; picture is finished cover)

Advance Review: The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

Book: THE IRON DAUGHTER
Author: JULIE KAGAWA
Genre: YA FANTASY


I received this ARC from the publisher via Net Galley (ebook format)
Picture courtesy of Good Reads

Advance Review
Meghan Chase makes a return to faery in this follow-up to THE IRON KING. She has to honor the vow that she made to Winter Prince, Ash. Though she, the daughter of the Summer King, and Ash, may not be together by faery law, she is now the unwilling guest of the Winter Queen. Imprisoned in the lands ruled by Winter, Meghan finds herself the pawn of Queen Mab, the other Winter Princes, and even Ash himself.

Then, tragedy comes to the Winter Court. Mab believes that the Summer King has retaliated for Meghan's presence, but Meghan knows the truth. The Iron Fey are alive, and they have a new ruler. She knows that they will be the death of faery, if they continue to thrive. And, she's the only one that has seen them since she killed the previous Iron King. No amount of pleading will change Queen Mab's mind.

Even though, she doesn't fully understand the fae world, Meghan will once more, have to navigate the terrifying creatures that inhabit the Winter Court. Making her way to the Iron Fey's stronghold in the human world, she encounters the stuff of nightmares. All to save Summer and Winter from a catastrophic war.

After reading THE IRON KING, Meghan's first exposure to the fae world, I was truly impressed. Julie Kagawa knows how to tell a story. She is able to pull the reader in, and give them a fabulous experience in her fantastical world. THE IRON DAUGHTER is no exception. Meghan, Ash, Queen Mab, King Oberon, the Iron Fey... and yes, Puck, all make a return in this novel.

The characters are real and flawed. This is one of the best parts of reading the Iron Fey series. There are no perfect people in Kagawa's books. And, I wouldn't want it any other way. Meghan's confusion over Ash's treatment of her, and the blind trust that she still holds is part of who she is. Ash doesn't suddenly become a different person, either. Though he may have feelings for Meghan, he accepts their fate, and knows how to navigate the Winter Court, without exposing those feelings to those who would exploit them.

Every part of THE IRON DAUGHTER is significant to the plot, and moves the story forward to its finish. And, Kagawa is able to explore every part of the plot (the search for the Iron Fey, Ash and Meghan's relationship, Puck's place in Meghan's heart, the war between Summer and Winter, and Meghan's understanding of faery) without neglecting something important, or over-stating a piece of information. THE IRON DAUGHTER is one of the best follow-ups that I have ever read, and one of the best YA fantasy novels that I have read this year.

4.5 for plot
4.5 for characters
4.5 for language

My Rating: 13.5/15 Must Read
Bonus Cover Points: 5/5