Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.
 
Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.
~~

I know we're only two books in but I think I'm about ready for this quartet to be over. The books are not bad by any means, but I kind of have that feeling where ok - enough stalling - time for big bad confrontation and fairtytale ending. Scarlet picks up right where Cinder left off, with Cinder in the dungeon trying to escape surrounded by people who hate and fear her. In addition to that though we've got Scarlet (a take on "Little Red Riding Hood") who's trying to find her grandmother and the allies she picks up along the way are suspect to say the least.

I don't love how the book reads, flip flopping between story lines as the characters converge on each other just makes me impatient for both individuals to find their conclusions, but I think this will be corrected in the next book as the whole troop moves to save the Empire. We'll see since Meyer has an affinity for the kinda sorta cliffhanger ending and there are two more books in this series - I've been spoiled by the way I read young adult series as an actual young adult, where all the books were out and I just had to convince my mom to buy them all for me :).

Overall Feeling - B

Series - 1) Cinder 2) Scarlet 3) Cress (2014)
 

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. 
~~

This has been on my TBR list for a while and let me share with you my first reactions at finishing Cinder - 

1) ARRGH STUPID SEMI CLIFF HANGERY ENDINGS!!!

2) Not bad, not bad at all.

I knew going in it was a Cinderella re-do but everything turned out better than I expected (though I guess my expectations were low because every review I read praised it). The world building Meyer puts in is extensive but not boring, and definitely necessary. I want to understand the relationship between the Empire and the Lunars, why Kai would find Queen Levana so abhorrent. Through Cinder we're able to navigate this whole other echelon of society and it's very interesting.

My heart broke a few times for Cinder while reading, even when I was expecting bad things to happen. Heroines in young adult tales, especially those with world changing journey's to go on, suffer a lot and have significant emotional baggage (see Tamora Pierce or Robin McKinley). Near the end I couldn't help but compare Cinder to the movie Ever After, specifically the scene when Drew Barrymore is revealed as the peasant and the prince turns his back on her. I can't wait to pick up the next book (though I'm a little concerned that new characters are introduced while continuing Cinder's journey) and luckily I don't have to wait very long - Scarlett came out last month!

Overall Feeling - B+

Series - 1) Cinder 2) Scarlet 3) Cress (2014)

Land of the Blindfolded by Sakura Tsukuba

Get ready for Tsukuba Sakura's symbolic tale LAND OF THE BLINDFOLDED, in which one character can only see the past, and another can only see the future! Originally presented in LaLa DX magazine from Hakusensha between 1998 to 2004, the 9-volume LAND OF THE BLINDFOLDED is the story of high school student Outsuka Kanade who can sometimes see a person's future with a touch, and transfer student Naitou Arou, whose ESP is limited to past events. When Kanade glimpses an unfortunate incident coming, can she change it? She soon befriends Arou, who's no novice - he can turn his ability on or off at will, even using it to see an object's "memories." Are these teenaged seers of the past and future made for each other? And who's right: Arou with his "hands off" policy about meddling in people's lives, or Kanade whose more proactive stance has already had unhappy consequences?

~~

I consider manga's one of those things you have to REALLY love to buy all of. Most of the time you can never quite tell how long the series is going to go on and at least $9.99 a pop it can be an expensive habit to stick to.

Which I know sounds ridiculous as someone who buys mass markets all the time, but it's still true ok?! I like to have an end in sight if I'm going to be veering away from my usual.

But to get back to the point, Land of the Blindfolded is a cute, enjoyable, visually appealing story in an easy to consume 9 volumes.  I stumbled upon it when I was unpacking in the new place and rereading it just reminded me how much fun a Sunday afternoon on my couch can be. Kanade and Arou are both ridiculously cute and drawn to match, and the slow evolution of their relationship is appropriate for all ages. It's hard to be different and I think Tsukuba does a job of showing what you as an individual can and can't do to mitigate fallout.

There's a little bit of paranormal as the main characters do have the ability to see the past and future, but all in all this is a cute romance story and I highly recommend it.

Overall Feeling - B

Series - Land of the Blindfolded, books 1-9

November in Review

I don't know how anybody moves ever. My entire life is still in boxes for the most part - though those boxes are in my new apartment - and I dread the idea of unpacking.  Does anybody else experience this? My books are especially the most intimidating, mostly due to how I'm the most anal about how those get put out on shelves. As in, I'm one of those strange people who likes to have things alphabetically by author's last name - and then in order by series. I don't know how other people do this, but whenever I try to complete this project it turns into a huge line of dominoes, with books piled spine up so I can keep making room without having to shift shelves of titles.

I also decided somewhere along the lines that it would be a good idea to go to NY for Thanksgiving right before my move, so you know, I'd take this list of read books with a grain of salt. The beginning's pretty accurate but as the month went on it just got worse and worse. So yeah - my bad. I'll try to do better this month so that 2011 can go out with a bang ;)

Making Chase by Lauren Dane

Bad Moon Rising by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce

Mastiff by Tamora Pierce

Pack Challenge by Shelly Laurenston

Go Fetch by Shelly Laurenston

Here Kitty, Kitty by Shelly Laurenston

Run For Your Life by Andrea Kane

The Next Always by Nora Roberts

Tied With a Bow by Lora Leigh, Virginia Kantra, Eileen Wilks and Kimberly Frost

Lure of Song and Magic by Patricia Rice

Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh

Pulled Long by Christine d'Abo

Once and Again by Lauren Dane

No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Hot as Hades by Alisha Rai

A Pride Christmas in Brooklyn by Shelly Laurenston

Books Read/Reviewed:

17/11

Mastiff by Tamora Pierce

Three years have passed since Beka Cooper almost died in the sewers of Port Caynn, and she is now a respected member of the Provost’s Guard. But her life takes for the unexpected when her fiancé is killed on a slave raid. Beka is faced with a mixture of emotions as, unbeknownst to many, she was about to call the engagement off.

It is as Beka is facing these feelings that Lord Gershom himself appears at her door. In the span of hours Beka, her partner Tunstall, her scent-dog Achoo, and a unusual but powerful mage are plunged into a case under an extreme veil of secrecy. It is a case that threatens the future of the Tortallan royal family, and therefore the Tortallan government itself. As Beka delves deeper into the motivations of the criminals she now hunts, she learns of deep-seated political dissatisfaction, betrayal, and corruption. These are people with power, money, and influence. They are able to hire the most skilled of mages, well versed in the darkest forms of magic. And they are nearly impossible to identify.

This case—a Hunt that will take her to places she’s never been—will challenge Beka’s tracking skills beyond city walls, as well as her ability to judge exactly who she can trust with her life and her country’s future.

~~

With Mastiff I think Tamora Pierce has wrapped up a series that really stands out in my mind as being just as good as Alanna's. I read the first Alanna story, god, what feels like a million years ago now, and just fell in love. I loved her, the story, the characters - all of it, and the series just got better with every addition. The connection that Beka Cooper has to those tales and her adventures in her own right make her another remarkable heroine.

In Mastiff it's Beka and Tunstall on their own, out to save the entire kingdom on the most important hunt of their lives. I've already had to reread parts of the book because the first time through I kept getting distracted by the hunt - when are they going to find him? What's going to happen? I was the little child bouncing in the back seat asking 'are we there yet?'. Pierce has crafted an arc where over these three books we've been able to watch Beka grow and mature - to come into her own as a Dog and a protector of the realm. And as an adult she has to face the fact that things don't always end up as you'd hope. Bad things happen to good people and even when you try your best it doesn't guarantee the outcome - it's a hard story to read in that aspect, as you watch Beka accept the reality of what even good people can do. 

If I had to come up with something that was a little less than stellar, I'd have to say that the romance in this one wasn't my favorite. Even if the couple didn't work out quite the way I was rooting for in the first book, I'd have to say that things were a bit too fast overall. I'm being purposefully vague here so please excuse me, but while I understand a pressure situation can influence the speed at which feelings are revealed, I still felt a little cheated. Romance might not be the focus of Mastiff, it's not a romance book after-all, but seeing more of the buildup to the final HEA would have been great. 

I highly, highly recommend this book - and pretty much everything written by Tamora Pierce.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up.

Series - 1) Terrier 2) Bloodhound 3) Terrier

The Last Dragon by Jane Yolen

Master storyteller Jane Yolen (Owl Moon, Sword of the Rightful King) and celebrated fantasy artist Rebecca Guay (Swamp Thing, Magic: The Gathering) weave a textured and lyrical tale of adventure, homelands, and heroism the hard way.

Two hundred years ago, humans drove the dragons from the islands of May. Now, the last of the dragons rises to wreak havoc anew-with only a healer's daughter and a kite-flying would-be hero standing in its way.

A compelling coming-of-age fantasy with exquisite fully painted art!

~~

I don't know if I'd completely commit to calling this a 'compelling coming-of-age fantasy' (I'd go to Tamora Pierce for that) but Yolen and Guay have come together to create a very visually beautiful and engaging tale. 

Long after the dragons are thought dead by the people of May, one is born beneath the branches of a fallen tree. Quickly growing in size it becomes the same type of deadly monster that moved the ancestors of these people to hunt them down. Unprepared for such a beast the townspeople must band together, along with an outsider who's not quite what he seems, to try and defeat it. 

I like my summary better.

The art is beautiful and I think it does to so much to further the story- it works hand in hand with Yolen's descriptions. Guay also does a fantastic job depicting personality and moment, two of the biggest problems I usually have with graphic novels. 

Ultimately while the story might be a bit too predictable, Yolen and Guay coming together has resulted in a comic that will be great to read on your own or aloud with others.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up.

Series - None, title to be released on 9/21/2011

**I requested this title for review from NetGalley.**

Ruby Red Winner!

It's that time again -  time to pick a winner! The Random.org gods have spoken and the winner of a copy of Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier is...

jldean729!

Congratulations! Please check your email and send me your shipping address as soon as possible so that your book can be on its way!

If you didn't win this time don't despair readers, more giveaways are already in the works ;)

Young Adult Giveaway! **CLOSED**

I'm so happy to bring you guys another giveaway! Earlier this week a representative from  Zeitghost Media contacted me to let me know about a new young adult release, Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier:

~~

Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

~~

Doesn't it sound great?! Totally up my alley young adult-wise, with what sounds like a spunky heroine, a windy plot, AND maybe a touch of romance! Unfortunately I'm totally swamped and my TBR pile cannot in any way handle another book. It can't I tell you! Complete catastrophic meltdown would be on the horizon if I tried to tweak and nudge my shelves to add another book.

I know - I should just go cry in a corner, right?

Still what this means for you my dear readers is that there's a copy Zeitghost Media can send to you instead! The rules are exceedingly simple, mostly because there's only one -

Leave me a comment (on this post) that says 'Enter Me' with your email address

Giveaway is open until Tuesday June 14th, and the winner will be announced the following Wednesday. Sorry but this giveaway is only open to my US and Canadian readers.

It's as simple as that and like usual I'll be using Random.org to choose a winner. Yay giveaway! They're so fun for you AND me!

Oh and if you're in the mood to wet your whistle with a little book trailer goodness, check out the one for Ruby Red here.

Savannah Grey by Cliff McNish

A monster's out there... Only one girl can stop it. But will love get in the way?

It's a difficult time for fifteen-year-old Savannah Grey - she's settled into her latest foster placement, but her body is acting oddly. Then other strange things begin to happen. Birds behave erratically; gusts of wind blow leaves so fiercely they seem to lure people away. And Savannah discovers she has supernatural powers.

Only new boy Reece Gandolfo thinks Savannah's powers are a special gift. No wonder she's attracted to him. But there's another force that wants to lure Savannah from safety into danger...

From the multiple-award winning author of Breathe: a ghost story and Angel, comes Cliff McNish's third stand-alone novel, a chilling story of love and horror.

~~

**I requested this title for review from NetGalley**

I don't think I was prepared for this book. The cover, the back summary - it doesn't sound like a quiet walk on the beach, but still once I was absorbed in this story I had no idea how it was going to end or how creepily engrossing the path was going to be to get there. Because that's what McNish has created: a trail of bread crumbs for the reader to follow, but one that's so well crafted that that the horror is just amazing. You are not ready for the monster to jump out of the closet and then to begin to sympathize with it? Incredible.

I probably sound ridiculous talking about McNish and Savannah Grey like this, but the novel is really off the charts fantastic. The way he moves the point of view so it's never just about Savannah but also about what she has to fight. There might be only one heroine but there are quite a few stand out characters and the novel could not have been as powerful without them.

And of course there's the pinnacle of this book - the ending. Unexpected, heartbreaking, and frightening, it's one of the best horror pieces I've ever read. The fact that it's being written for the young adult audience almost makes me more excited for it. That genre needs great examples of this kind of crossover into adult literature, the type of stuff to continually inspire young minds to keep up picking up that next book.

I'm so happy that I got the chance to read this and I highly recommend it to everyone.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up

Series - None

Circle of Magic: Sandry's Book by Tamora Pierce

Four elements of power, four mages-in-training learning to control them. In Book 1 of the Circle of Magic Quartet, gifted young weaver Sandry is brought to the Winding Circle community. There she meets Briar, a former thief with a way with plants; Daja, an outcase gifted at metalcraft; and Tris, whose connection with the weather unsettles everyone, including herself. The four misfits are taught how to use their magic, but when disaster strikes, it's up to Sandry to weave together four different kinds of power to save herself, her friends, and Winding Circle.

~~

I mentioned Tamora Pierce on my post 'What to Read After Mockingjay' and this particular series is just one more reason why. I can't say that it holds the same place in my heart that the Alana Quartet does but it's another great example of what young adult literature can be. Tamora Pierce never talks down to her audience, never assumes that the reader would want anything different than an adult would. Thus her stories have the pacing and character development that you would find in an adult fantasy story but with the emotions and heart of a younger generation. I know I sound crazy but I swear it all makes sense when you read it!

Also, as I said before, this is again a series where female and male leads are of equal importance. Each character has a part to play, has a reason for being there - and male or female, flashy power or quiet, each characters gets the chance to save the day. I think it's a wonderful message and a big part of why these are books I read when I was younger, that I read now, and I'm sure I will continue to read in the future.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up.

Series - 1) Sandry's Book 2) Tris's Book 3) Daja's Book 4) Briar's Book

Books to Read After Mockingjay

A couple weeks ago I read an article written by Peter Steinberg called "6 'Flashlight Worthy' Children's Books to Read After You Finish Mockingjay". I love articles like these because I feel that children and young adult books don't get highlighted enough to the public. I can't say that I would have been the same voracious reader if my mother hadn't taken me to the library and let me pick whatever I want. I still remember sitting at the park near my apartment and reading some random kids book that I think had a camel as a police officer (all the characters were animals). I couldn't tell you what the name of it was but I still remember reading it.

But back to the article - Steinberg does a great job of picking books that are oldies but goodies: things that you may have read as kids (or your parents may have read) that aren't really talked about much today. The standouts from his list for me are A Wrinkle in Time and Amelia Bedelia. Those are both incredible books that while targeted to different age groups have the kind of charm that lasts forever. I still read A Wrinkle in Time almost every year and the Amelia Bedelia series are great to flip over when I'm wandering around the library.

I had so much fun reminiscing about what I loved as child that I've composed my own 6 children's books to read, and I hope that if you haven't read them yourself you give them a try and remind yourself of the depth and diversity that children's literature provides.

1) Berenstain Bears by Stan and Jan Berenstain
I can't comment on any 'Christian overtones' but I can say that I loved the family in these books and I'm pretty positive I read through most of them without complaint, with no more junk food, too much tv, and strangers being the topics I remember most clearly.


2) Magic School Bus by Joanna Cole
I don't know how anyone learned anything without Ms. Frizzle. She had the bestest craziest class and bus EVER and she is totally unforgettable. If you (or your child) hasn't learned about the solar system, the human body, erosion, or any other cool science-y subject through these books well go read them now!


3) Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J. Sobol
Encyclopedia Brown holds my heart as that great combination of brains, brawn, and small town charm. Selling his services for $0.25 a mystery, Enyclopedia Brown is a 5th grade wonder, helping the town's police force solve big and little crimes. The best part of these book is that they allow readers to try and find the answers on their own, as each mystery is connected to a 'How and Who Dunnit' section at the back of the book.


4) Bronze King by Suzy McKee Charnas
One of my favorite fantasies - and I think one of the best urban fantasies out there in the juvenile section. There's action and suspense, romance and sadness - it's all here and culminates in a great final battle (though I must admit I hate this cover


5) Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
No one does a female heroine like Tamora Pierce. With Alanna she's crafted a young girl that defies society to do what she knows her heart demands, and Pierce goes above and beyond to show the ups and downs of that decision. Still what's best about this series (and all her books) is that the male characters aren't relegated to the back stage or blithering idiots. They're still there as main supporting characters, equals to Alanna, which I think does the best job possible of showing both young boys and girls why they're both deserving of praise and the chance to do what they love.


6) Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
I've not made it hidden that I love Robin McKinley. Her books are great juvenile/young adult/adult crossovers and demonstrate some pretty unbeatable fantasy. This book makes the list for having both a great female lead and an irresistible fantasy world. You always want to know more, you're always as the reader ready to keep going and see what the next battle's going to be. I own this and the sequel and couldn't recommend them enough to any and everyone.


Honorable Mentions:

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper <---- SO GOOD! Just putting it out there.

The Last Vampire by Christopher Pike

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

Whatever Happened to Janie? by Caroline B. Cooney

Teaser Tuesdays (8/31)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

'Happily ever after? Cimorene wasn't sure about that, though she was certainly hoping to enjoy herself.

--pg 211, Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

Teaser Tuesdays (7/6)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


"Then came a moment of blazing truth. "No!" she cried triumphantly. "Like and equal are not the same thing at all!""

--pg 150, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton (ARC Review)

Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming.

*I requested a copy of this title to review through netGalley*

I had no idea when I requested this title just how much I would enjoy it. Young adult series have been near and dear to my heart since I was a young adult, but lately I haven't been as enthused by all the Twilight-esque books that are being published at breakneck speed. Hamilton's book stood out to me because it was a fantasy novel with depth, and it sounded like an intriguing addition to the urban fantasy genre.

From start to finish this book had my attention. Each character is this book has an explicit place and purpose to the story; each time something new was introduced you knew you should pay attention or be confused later. It's also surprisingly dark for a young adult novel. Bad things happen, sometimes at a speed that leaves you gasping, and I as a reader had to make sure I was paying attention to the words, to the story, to guarantee that I really understood what was going on.

Hamilton's skillful hand at weaving Celtic history and legend with the world of today is just one more reason to recommend this series. I've always loved a good back story, and Hamilton's commitment to having reasons behind all of her characters and their actions make the whole book that much more believable. Things feel very deliberate and it's resulted in a novel that really catches you and doesn't let you go until she's done. The only thing that makes me crazy is the slightly cliff-hanger ending, but I guess I should have known what I was getting into reading the ARC of a series.

I highly recommend that anyone who enjoys young adult OR urban fantasy pick this book up when its released in November - this series is definitely one to watch!

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up! This is a riveting start to a new young adult series. Hamilton has written a dark fast-paced romp through Celtic history and lore that would be enjoyed by anyone.

Series - 1) Tyger Tyger (November 2010)

The Month of Love.......or was it?

This was an interesting month bookwise, just because I hit a couple of snags that through off my reading rhythm. Twice during February I either started to get bored with the book I was reading, or started to dread an upcoming book I wanted to finish. Neither of those are good places to be, so unsurprisingly I didn't read quite as many books as I did in February. I must also admit that these last couple weeks I wasn't as consistent in tracking my reading, so while I don't think I left anything out, there's no way to be exactly sure.

Still, even with these problems, there were a few standouts that I want to make sure that people take some time to read: Nauti Deception by Leigh, Pleasure of a Dark Prince by Cole, and Coming Undone by Dane. All of them featured great main characters and the kind of plot, romance, and sex combination that make a book truly memorable for me. Life As We Knew It by Pfeffer is a very well written novel, but also a emotionally taxing read - take that opinion like you take anything else I say, but only read it if you're prepared to shed a few tears.

Oh! I almost forgot - I also loved Back in Black by Foster. It's a fun light-hearted story, which I was glad to pick back up and reread after I finished Pfeffer's book.

Obsidian Prey by Jayne Castle
Flirt by Laurell K Hamilton
Back in Black by Lori Foster
Tea for Two by Shelley Munro
Ladies Prefer Rogues by Chapman and More
Nauti Deceptions by Lora Leigh
The Mane Squeeze by Shelley Laurenston
The Mane Attraction by Shelley Laurenston
The Beast in Him by Shelley Laurenston
The Elusive Bride by Stephanie Laurens
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Enchanted, Inc. by Shanna Swendson
Mine to Possess by Nalini Singh
Pleasure of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole
Blaze of Memory by Nalini Singh
Coming Undone by Lauren Dane

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

When a meteor hits the moon and knocks in closer in orbit to the earth, nothing will ever be the same. World wide tidal waves. Earthquakes. Volcanic eruptions. And that's just the beginning.

I think maybe part of the reason I was taking so long to finish the latest Stephanie Laurens was because I knew I had this book waiting for me. I picked it up kind of randomly in a Borders and started reading it just to waste some time - I got through about one chapter and realized that I was going to have to buy it. The writing was that compelling. The problem I had with this book is due to the fact that I've read post-apocalyptic accounts before and they're always depressing (ask me about Octavia Butler sometime). I guess that's unsurprising since most of them depict whole societal collapse, but still - very depressing, very hard on my soul to read.

This books stars Miranda, a 16yr placed in the most extraordinary of circumstances, in which her and her family have to somehow survive the moon's move closer to earth. Pfeffer creates an incredibly believable and sympathetic characters; as I was reading this I really felt like I knew Miranda and hurt when she hurt. There will definitely be tears if you decide to pick this up, but at least I can say that it ends on a somewhat hopeful note.

I can tell you right now I'm going to be a total character and not read the second novel, though I might pick up the 3rd to see how things are going with Miranda. The second novel, The Dead and the Gone focuses on a boy named Alex who lived in NY when the meteor hit and since this first book talks about huge tsunamis hitting every continent's coast and how the Statue of Liberty got washed out to sea, I just can't do it right now - or probably ever. I'm sure it's still written very well though, so if you could get up the courage I'd say go for it.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. The book is heartbreaking to read and often had me in tears, but no one can deny Miranda's powerful voice and Pfeffer's ability to create an unforgettable novel.

Series - 1) Life As We Knew It 2) The Dead and the Gone 3) This World We Live In (April 1, 2010)

Got Fangs? and Circus of the Darned by Katie Maxwell

I'm not sure if I talked about these books in a previous post, if I did it was years ago, but I just finished rereading them and I want to talk about the type of quality young adult paranormal romance that is out there. Katie Maxwell's GothFaire books are an excellent example of how an adult series can be toned down and made appropriate for a younger audience without losing any of its charm or uniqueness. These books focus on Fran, a 16 year girl dragged along on a European carnival tour, where all the people in it are oddities of some kind or another. When her close friend Imogen's brother shows up, she's not quite prepared for what happens - the revelation that not only is he a Moravian Dark One (aka vampire) but she's his Beloved destined to save his soul! Da da daaaa! Can't you just hear the dramatic music?

Well I'm happy to report that the drama is not all that dramatic and there's tons of humor to keep readers entertained. With Fran trying to find herself amidst her own powers and also trying to understand her feelings for Benedikt I think Maxwell does a tremendous job of creating characters in her already established world that have their own adventures so individual to them that you get completely caught up in what's happening. And I think what put's it above some of the other more well known vampire series (*cough* Twilight *cough*) is Fran's sense of self and her relationship to her mother and those around her. Benedikt might be cool as a vampire, oh sorry - Dark One, but if he thinks he's just going to sweep her away to unite them for all eternity he has another thing coming! Less of the heavy breathing 'make me yours' type of book, Fran and Ben's feelings for each other work themselves out gradually over the series and while it's alluded to that Fran will save him at some point in the future, right now she's not ready for anything more than being his girlfriend.

The only sad thing I have to report about this series is that Maxwell doesn't plan to release any more young adult additions. Under her more well known name, Katie MacAlister, she does have plans to publish books where Fran and Ben make appearances as adults, but their initial romance will end for readers with Circus of the Darned. I can only hope that maybe there will be a few flashbacks or something to let everyone know how things turned out.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up! A great example of humorous paranormal romance for a younger audience.

Series - 1) Got Fangs 2) Circus of the Darned

Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce

Beka Cooper is finally a Dog - a full-fledged member of the Provost's Guard, dedicated to keeping peace in Corus's streets. But there's unrest in Tortall's capital. Counterfeit coins are turning up in shops all over the city, and merchants are raising prices to cover their losses. The Dogs discover that gamblers are bringing the counterfeit money from Port Caynn. In Port Caynn, Beka delves deep into the gambling world, where she meets a charming banking clerk named Dale Rowan. Beka thinks she may be falling for Rowan, but she won't let anything - or anyone - jeopardize her mission. As she heads north to an abandoned silver mine, it won't be enough for Beka be her usual 'terrier' self. She'll have to learn from Achoo to sniff out the criminals - to be a Bloodhound...

For some reason I'm always reluctant to pick up the latest book in this series. Maybe I'm afraid that Tamora will have a sudden fit of ennui and ruin a perfectly good story so far or that all of sudden some important character will die and it'll be too much for me. Who knows? Though I have decided at this point that I blame some of my hesitance on the jacket descriptions. For some reason they give me this feeling of doom for the series - I should probably just stop reading those entirely, huh? Well either way I was happily surprised and this was a great book for the Beka Cooper series. Beka has a grown up a bit and she's a full-fledged Dog, one who gets drawn into big to-dos at home and in Port Caynn. I highly recommend that you take some time and grab this book to ad to your shelves - because whether it's for you, your children, or any neighboring relative that crosses your path, it's a fun book. And a fun book with the appropriate amount of action and romance for all ages is almost impossible to come by.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up! I great Young Adult book, but it's adult enough for all of us!

Series - 1) Terrier 2) Bloodhound 3)Mastiff (2010)

After you're done being disappointed by Twilight....

try reading some actually good (great!) examples of young adult paranormal romance. It's an interesting genre, one that has been at least pseudo popular for years. It has just been sadly neglected until Twilight came around. What is my problem with Twilight you might ask? It is essentially a HORRIBLY WRITTEN LOW BUDGET SOAP OPERA. Bella is whiny, annoying, and so full of angst it makes me want to kill myself. Edward is wimpy and the most unattractive example of a vampire hero that I've ever seen. I mean, can we all the say the word Emo? For God's sake, after telling her for the entire book how crappy it is to be a vampire and how he doesn't want that for her, he lets Bella go and ask his family to VOTE on whether she should become a vampire. Oh come on! Let's be real here.

Thus I've been inspired to try and redeem the entire genre, by listing her by author some of the best young adult vampire/werewolf novels out there. Because there are some great ones, with inspiring characters and wonderfully written emotional journeys. Here's my list -

Top 5 Young Adult Paranomal Romance Writers (no particular order)-

1. Robin McKinley - Sunshine
-While this is usually cataloged as an adult novel, I think it's pretty cross generational. In this book McKinley does probably the best job I've ever seen of illuminating the relationship between humans and what is essentially their predators - vampires.
2. L.J. Smith - Night World Series
-Smith's Night World series covers everything from vampires to werewolves, witches to reincarnated souls, all while showing the kind of eternal love that most are looking for. Want to see what Bella and Edward's relationship could have been? Read her first novel Secret Vampire. Enough said.
3. Amelia Atwater-Rhodes - In The Forest of the Night
-Atwater-Rhodes doesn't primarily write romance, but all of her books contain an element of the paranomal. This novel along with Demon In My View have central vampire characters and I higly recommend her work.
4. Rachel Caine - Morganville Vampires Series
-Caine is more noted for her Weather Warden series at the moment, but these Morganville Vampire series are very interesting and appropriate for a younger audience. There's still trials and tribulations in these books, but I actually found myself empathizing with the characters and caring when the 'big bad' mad an appearance on the scene. Also the connection between vampires and main stream society is done much better in these books.
5. Annette Klause - Silver Kiss + Blood and Chocolate
-Hands down, these two novels are the best young adult paranormal romance books in existence. The Silver Kiss deals with vampires, and no one has done a better job at showing the emotional connection between two diametrically opposed creatures, alongside the reality of what it would mean to try and live forever. Plus A+ for a really creepy villian. Vampire children, anyone? Blood and Chocolate made a horrible debut on the silver screen, but the novel maintains as a great werewolf story. Not just a typical tale of a werewolf girl in love with a human boy, Klause again brings in outside factors, like the pack and loyalty to oneself to craft and amazing story of love and redemption.

Honorable Mention: Katie Maxwell - Circus of the Darned
-An amusing story, it follows a psychic girl named Francesca who lives with her mother as members of a GothFaire and her adventures with a young (looking) vampire guy named Benedikt. There are two books in the series as of now, and I recommend them if you're looking for something quick and funny.