Splintered by A.G. Howard

Splintered by A.G. Howard
My rating: 2 of 5 genies
Published: January 1, 2013
Genre: Fantasy, YA, Romance
Pages: 371
Publisher: Amulet Books
Format: Hardback
Source: Purchased

Goodreads Summary

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.
When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

My Review

Cover: 4/5
Characters: 1/5
Plot: 1/5
Setting: 4/5
Overall: 2/5

** Technically, or according to my botched-up rating system, this book should be more around 3.25 rating-wise, but because it is a totally inaccurate representation of how I feel right now, I am going over its head.**



You mad bro? Ha.

Long story short, I could not finish this book. Regard this as a DNF Review and take my word with the customary grain of salt, but Splintered did not work for me. I think I went in expecting my mind to be blown, you know rainbow unicorn kisses and all that shiz.

*Sigh* If only life were magical...



Where's my unicorn?

I'm sorry to say, but it wasn't there for me. The magic, I mean. Ally isn't the protagonist I thought she would be, not kick-ass at all, and the love interest is compared to her FATHER so kill me now. Maybe it's because characters and romance in any book are such HUGE factors for me; if the romance is some limp dead thing the author is constantly trying to resuscitate throughout the novel, I will not finish the book. If the characters just trudge around being unspectacular, I will not finish the book. If I think that there are other books I could be enjoying instead of the book in question...well, I think you guessed where this is going.

I still feel confused, though, that I didn't like it. Most people love the book and I'm like that one weird person in all the world who doesn't like chocolate. Somebody hold me?



Damnit! This is too depressing.

What I liked

The world-building is beautiful, and A.G. Howard is absolutely brilliant in the way she twists one of my all-time favourite children's books into a place more frightening and mystical than I could have ever imagined. I think my mouth gaped WIDE at what she was doing to the already insane environment of Wonderland, its Rabid White, Octobenus...everything. This author can write, and I certainly will look at other books by her in the future. She has a gift, and I can't wait to see her write more.

The book itself is also really pretty! With a splendid cover and great typography, there isn't much not to love by way of presentation. This isn't a purchase I regret either because Splintered was a reasonable buy and makes my bookshelf look good. Although, I would recommend you lend it from a library/friend if you're short on cash and aren't 100% sold that it's for you.

All in all, Splintered gives a refreshing spin on the whole Alice in Wonderland story. The "curse" is a great touch, and Howard making Alice too young at the time to fully understand/cope with the gruesome reality of the land really adds a to my perception of Alice as a whole. This book offered a great escape, even though it didn't work for me.

But then Again...

The Jeb crap - his imposition in Ally's life, interfering with her dreams due to selfish motives - and the "skater girl" crap, which grew patronizing after a while, all annoyed me. Like I said, him being compared to her dad - and having lunch with him to discuss her future - did not help things.

Unfortunately, I couldn't connect with the main characters. I like Ally's mom, she sacrifices so much for her family, and her dad is like the best YA dad of 2013 so far, but those two and Morpheus were the only characters I saw myself warming up to. In my mind, Jeb looks like a very shaggy St. Bernard with all his overgrown hair, and I wasn't feeling his "bad-boy" vibe. I've seen better.

Overall

Splintered is a creative re-imagining of a beloved classic with fresh, gruesome twists that will enthral many readers; I'm just disappointed it didn't entertain me.

2 genies: I could have, and SHOULD have, liked this book. Unfortunately, because of reasons already covered above, I didn't.

Review: Howl by Annalise Grey

Howl by Annalise Grey
My rating: 1 of 5 genies
Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance, Shapeshifters
Published: January 4, 2012
Pages: 217
Publisher: Self-Published
Source: Requested Review
Format: eRead
Purchase At: Amazon.com

**A copy of this book was provided to me through Godreads's 'Authors Requesting Reviews Program' and by the author in exchange for an honest opinion/review. Thank-you!**

Goodreads Summary

Nineteen year old Sophie Matthews is a line-walker between two worlds - human and werewolf. She lives around humans but is never truly part of their world. That is, until she is spotted by a hiker.

What should have been a passing glance becomes so much more as Sophie falls for the one thing she is forbidden from ever having: a human mate.

Adding to her stress is newcomer Daniel, the arrogant wolf on Sophie's tail.

Then several humans are killed by a mysterious and dangerous beast within the pack's hunting grounds. The humans begin whispering of wolf-men roaming the forest and the threat of discovery looms heavy around the pack.

Everything is falling apart and Sophie realizes just how little control she has over her future.

Will she risk everything - her heart, her family, and her safety - for a chance to control her own fate?

Firstly

Gosh, this book hurt. I think I'll start with the positives - I will try because, unfortunately, the negatives outweigh the good. But first, we need to understand something: This book definitely did not do anything for me, but that doesn't mean I'm saying the same will be true for you.



Go ahead and read the book for yourself if you disagree with my thoughts on the matter. In no way do I delude myself into believing that people take my reviews as the final word in the regards to whether they choose to read a book or not. People will undoubtedly make their opinions up themselves. But firstly, a book is not expected to work for everyone, period. Please, do not take on the defensive just because you happened to think Howl blew magical glitter everywhere and could possibly save the world, curing cancer on the side. NO. Let's just not, okay? No trolling. Capiche?

My Thoughts

Bah!! I think I'm frustrated. In this case I really don' know what to do other than maybe find a rock, sit atop it, and scratch my head awhile until something in regards to this book finally makes sense. I guess I just don't see why any of it was worth it. Granted, this is a DNF (Did-Not-Finish) review and everything I say should be taken with this in consideration, the book didn't make sense. It's characters made even less sense, and the writing made the story very hard to progress let alone enjoy.

But the blurb promises something original. From the summary above, it can be gathered that Sophie is a shape-shifter. Truthfully, nothing really strikes me as new with the premise, and I have read a fair amount of shape-shifter novels in my day. Usually I can tell if a book will be some serious awesomeness by the blurb, in this case, I was wrong. Sophie isn't the kind of protagonist I was expecting at all, and she exists within a book absent of any real story. Not only was there a problem with continuity, but, Sophie didn't really strike me as a girl with anything new to offer. Some aspects of her life were really odd at best:

- Like how her family insists on cleaning so much. I don't get it, not one bit, and why are all the wolves limited in terms of appearance? I've read of shapeshifters with multiple eye colouring, and to limit them to just one shade - grey - takes a lot more from the genre than should be allowed. It adds nothing.

- Her distaste for humans in general really struck me as condescending, and when you consider that she eventually falls in love lust with one, it really doesn't make sense. I kept reading and asking myself, why?! Why is this girl willing to risk so much, the family she is apparently so close to, for a human she considers beneath her at best? I recoiled at the author's attempts to jazz it up with lines like, 'he was comfortable to be around' when their conversations suffered from massive info-dumps and stilted grammar.

- Her relationship with Jaime is laughable because it consists of the typical instalove and the literally 'electrifying' chemistry pandemic currently sweeping the YA genre. Even if I wasn't reading this to review, it would still be clear how little sense their relationship makes, how lacking it is in substance. The reader is treated to witnessing one short date between the couple, as well as a summary of some supposed others that happened somewhere along the line, but basically these take place all before a really weird consummation. Quite frankly, this scene creeped me the fuq out. When this happened, I had to pull back a little and be like, dafuq?!.

Just recapping, but she meets him - and naturally he's attractive as a Greek god - and because of his dashing looks, this girl concludes that he might be worth throwing everything away for. Her sister just gave birth And she looked better than a Botticelli painting doing it. I'm not going to get into that. but who cares really? God forbid Jaime decides to tattle her family out to the authorities, those young'uns are gonna learn fast how to run on their little wolfie paws away from impending SWAT teams! Kidding. Wait, no, I'm serious! This could eventually be one really big problem. And I think that something is terribly wrong when I am the one considering things which never cross the protagonist's mind.



You know what? Looking back I still do not get it; Sophie alienated me with her great attitude of superiority, confusing me when she chose spontaneously to risk the existence of everyone she cared about on a whim. I can stomach instant attraction, heck I get it, but at least let there be a valid reason! There were too many contradictions going on for my liking; Sophie loves her family but doesn't really think too hard on betraying them, and Jamie states a couple times at the beginning that he respects her brother. And yet, he sneaks behind the man he respects back with his little sister. Jamie has no problem keeping their relationship quiet, not really, he's fine with meeting clandestine even at her brother's workplace. Some respect! I didn't buy it.

They were just two people thrown together, nothing more. Could something else have happened? Possibly. But you have to understand, a lot of things occurred before I decided to let this book go, and yet all of them were pretty inconsequential in the end because I still couldn't finish. Sadly, Howl is the kind of YA novel which could go 200+ pages without anything really going on. Sure, I only got 30-31% far, but there is a reason for that, the story never progressed significantly enough for me to care. And eventually I just gave up. I'd had it, with the plot that didn't cut it and the characters and writing that begged no indulgence. I was done, the end.



So, like I said, this review is a DNF and you should take it lightly at best, but those are my thoughts and you're free to consider them. I couldn't read anymore of this. Just, no...

1 genie: it wasn't that great, obviously, and I would 

NOT recommend the read. 

Review: That Certain Spark by Cathy Marie Hake

That Certain Spark by Cathy Marie Hake
My rating: 2 of 5 genies
Genre: Inspirational/Christian, Historical, Fiction, Romance
Published: August 1, 2009
Pages: 348
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Source: Library Loan
Format: Paperback
Purchase At: TheBookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

Gooding, Texas, is about to gain a double blessing--a veterinarian and a doctor. But when siblings Enoch and Taylor Bestman arrive, the discovery that Taylor is a lady doctor has the town up in arms. Especially Karl Van der Vort, the town blacksmith, who becomes the first patient...against his will.
Though hesitant to believe in Taylor's doctoring skills, Karl finds himself oddly protective of this surprising woman who dares to drive about town on her own, wearing the color red, for heaven's sake Taylor, on the other hand, wants only to prove that doctoring is her life's calling, despite the town's opposition. The result? Pride meets attraction head-on, and sparks begin to fly.

My Thoughts

'That Certain Spark' was interesting and NOT in a good way. Interesting like cafeteria meat that you pick with a fork wondering what exactly it is or supposed to be. It was weird for me and you have no idea how it burns me to say that! I love a lot of books by Hake, like 'Fancy Pants' and 'Bittersweet' to name a few, and while I am being honest let me say that not all her books have been easy to get into. Fudge! They have been even impossible at times, but I found that perseverance in those cases proved worth it at the end. Eventually something would happen.

I felt that way about this book too, but that didn't happen. I liked the cover, a picture of Taylor, it was quirky and looked to have everything to do with the story. And yet even though Taylor was a protagonist I never did feel like she was the MAIN focus. It felt like a crowd had been forced into this book, there were just too many people! I can see why Hake did it, and on many occasions I grumble at not being properly entertained, just not on this one.

Sometimes things didn't even check out. Realistically speaking Enoch's courtship with Mercy bordered on lust and was just that, unrealistic. If we are going to have a Lust-relationship be clear about it! Do not mask it as love because barely two weeks together does not a happy marriage make. Who seriously marries a vet who just moved into town 2 weeks ago! Who in their right mind!? He could be a killer who stuffs children into pig carcasses! Didn't think about that, huh Mercy? And Taylor's brother wasn't a guy, he was a pansy. Their relationship was very forced to me, Hake tried too hard to make them seem like twins, insisting that they had a 'connection'. Well the proof is in the pudding and I tasted water.

They were too unrelated for my liking. Sure Enoch stuck up for his sister, but it didn't feel authentic, it felt like someone was going 'Oh, you have to go do something. People are staring and you ARE her twin,' every time someone was rude or tried to get her to leave. Their being related did nothing for me.

Furthermore the love interest for Taylor sucked as well! At the beginning he seemed flipping American then all of a sudden he's... Dutch? What now! At least his brother was spouting German or Danish from the start, not halfway through like Karl. It was as if he up and decided to be German, and throwing random phrases around does not make him that! Why is it that most authors think ignoring a person's heritage is okay? They come from unique backgrounds, all of them do and lumping them into a mold of job, occupation or type based on romantic interest does not tell me about that person! Does that character miss where he came from? Believe it or not but that guy has history in whatever country you're botching to make him look worldly, authors.

I absolutely hated that. Also Karl reminded me of Frankenstein's monster: hulking, bumbling and unaware. He was fine going around defending Taylor, not completely on her side yet but thinking she was hot and doing it just because. Yeah, thanks pal. I didn't think Hake devoted enough time to those two at all because there were no butterflies when I gave up halfway through the book and checked out the ending, I was just like 'Not worth it!' and dropped the book altogether. It was all split between Enoch and his family troubles (which by the way were just ridiculous) and 10 other town people including Karl and his brother. They all had opinions and I'm sure I didn't need to be exposed to all of them. I get that they are important to the town and somewhat to the story, but these people have HAD their stories, why force them into this one? Detain them!

How Hake expected me to devote attention to Taylor when Enoch had so much drama going on is beyond me, it was just too much! I am very disappointed and despite the 2 genie rating I give this novel I will keep reading Hake's work, because she isn't a bad author, this is just a bad book.

2 genies: I wanted to like this, I really did, but too much was left under-developed.

There was far more worse than good.

Review: Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr
My rating: 2 of 5 genies
Genre: YA, Romance, Contemporary
Published: February 1, 2008
Pages: 224
Publisher: Little, Brown Books For Young Readers
Source: Library Loan
Format: Hardcover
Purchase At: TheBookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

As children, Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick were both social outcasts. They were also one another's only friend. So when Cameron disappears without warning, Jennifer thinks she's lost the only person who will ever understand her. Now in high school, Jennifer has been transformed. Known as Jenna, she's popular, happy, and dating, everything "Jennifer" couldn't be---but she still can't shake the memory of her long-lost friend.

When Cameron suddenly reappears, they are both confronted with memories of their shared past and the drastically different paths their lives have taken.

From the National Book Award nominated author of Story of a Girl, Sweethearts is a story about the power of memory, the bond of friendship, and the quiet resilience of our childhood hearts.

My Thoughts

This book had me peeved even though I wanted badly to give this rating a three, I wanted to love 'Sweethearts' but I was disappointed because of 3 things that I will get to later.

The book at the start was simple, or as simple as a man being a total jerk to his kid and creeping on his child's friend can be. But really I kind of liked how clear-cut, (writing wise), it was for the first 60 pages, although eventually I got frustrated and what I thought about Sara's writing didn't matter anymore. I didn't choose this book because of the hype, but the summary and story line - and for lack of a better word, I thought it would be neat! I mean childhood friends separating for years and then coming together again after all that time, still sharing that bond and gravity to each other is my idea of sweet mush: a book I'd want to sneak and devour for long, long hours! (And btw, if anyone has reads like those don't hesitate to recommend them...It would make my day.) The idea in my head was this would be romantic and classic, my type-A read. But the thing here is, that didn't happen.

Reason one for my anger at 'Sweethearts' stems from the fact that I didn't feel as though the book delivered. I followed the emotional roller coster of relationships and self-reflection for what - 217 pages - for that kind of ending?! I won't give anything away but the worst part is that it isn't a series, people, so the lines on the last page is as good as it gets. That there is reason one. Why make it out to be this romance if it ultimately isn't? That makes no sense to me, give the reader what you promise or don't promise at all. I felt like I was lied to, drawn and baited by that yummy cookie on the cover. (Darn, she found my weakness!) *Stuffs Godiva down shirt and runs for the hills towards the Von Trapp's, but slowly returns to finish review.* Seriously thought,that is not cool.

Give me sugar and sweetness, warm romance is what I'm after. M.J said it right, "Togetherness", not empty promises! But moving on...Reason two is simply that the characters didn't connect for me, there was a place in my heart wanting to hold and understand Cameron and Jenna but I couldn't. I couldn't get why after so long of missing and wanting each other, you finally find that person and then just let them go. What does that say about your 'love'? I know the saying: "love them and set them free" but that to me is the absolute last resort. I will not go down without kicking and screaming (figuratively speaking)! I will remind you why the feelings between us are special and why, with every fiber of my being I want you, I love you. Again, If this wasn't the depth of Jenna's and Cameron's relationship, Sara shouldn't have made it seem this way.

In reality they were confused kids trying to make sense of life and I could have accepted that...If I was told. Which leads me directly to Reason three: What a life! What with Jenna struggling with "Jennifer" issues and thorough miscommunication problems between not only her mother but everyone around her; and Cameron's needed to be so darn aloof! "Come out with it boy" I kept praying, stay with her and help each other, but he ignored me and did the only thing he felt was "right", which by the way, left them both very unhappy and empty. I was and still am exhausted and that is the only word for it. I wouldn't read this book again.

Review: The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
My rating: 2 of 5 genies
Genre: YA, Urban Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Paranormal
Published: March 16, 2010
Pages: 329
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library Loan
Format: Hardcover
Purchase At: TheBookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes that the dead leave behind in the world... and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find the dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer... and becoming his prey herself.

My Thoughts

So the way I see it, this book is far too predictable to read. Before going further than where I stopped I am sure that the killer will be caught and Jay and Violet will realize their undying wuv for each other. It really is a beautiful thing! gag And maybe I'm a little too cynical, but watching Violet struggle with her feelings was beyond lame.

Like really? He's smoking, go for it! (Not to say girls should attack good looking men everywhere, that there would be cause for war. There are not enough fine ones to go around, end of story.) Life is hard enough as it is and if an available (albeit super-protective) guy you've known all your life suddenly gets very good looking over the summer, why not make things easier on yourself?

Violet didn't.

She agonized over her feelings like she was some child when really the girl was wise enough to know certain things, such as what guys liked and how to kiss, but not how to go about telling the guy you like that you like him? (Tongue twister that one is!) So unrealistic.

Derting made it hard to believe and I hated the parts with the serial killer. His chapters served no purpose other than to make the reader (or at least me) extremely uncomfortable. Let's just say that I've survived something like that, thank God, and I did not appreciate having to read his perspective. It was so chilling and certainly far from being intriguing, I had to put the book down at least twice just to remind myself that it was fictional and that the guy was too badly written to be real.

He was slime and I get it, I totally get that Derting was going for that. She wanted the person reading to root for Violet, but really I was just confused. I disliked Violet and hated the serial killer, there was no one to choose from. Except maybe Jay and that is a position no person deserves to be stuck in. Why is the only choice left the over-protective/slightly demeaning boyfriend? Nay!

I choose the cat.

The two genies are for the beginning because at least that was decent. Needless to say, I will not be continuing with this series. Funny thing is my library doesn't carry any book after the first. And here I thought my librarians really didn't know any better. Who would have thunk? Gee, I wonder why.

2 genies. The review says it all, reading this book was not a happy experience.

Review: Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
My rating: 2 of 5 genies
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Retellings, Horror, Shapeshifters, Romance
Published: June 7, 2010
Pages: 324
Publisher: Little, Brown Books For Young Readers
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Purchase At: TheBookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.
Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend--but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for?

My Thoughts

It was good for a while and then it got creepy, fast. I loved that Pearce had such ingenuity as to take a staple classic like Little Red Riding Hood and then flip it completely up it's axis. The bond between the sisters was incredible and for a while I even went as far as to admire the connection the two shared. Until I realized what was happening, that is. Until then I was all for this one as a four or five genie read and was a huge fan, probably even going as far as to say I envied the characters, Rose and Scarlet. That notion didn't last long however, and certainly not past the point when they moved to the city and Rosie started her classes. Then reality set.

This book is really creepy, no joke. I don't admire their relationship (Scarlet and Rosie's) anymore because of how wrong it seems. I hope that I never share a bond like that with anyone in my life. Honest.

Something about it just wasn't right and I hate the co-dependence so intricately laced in every sentence, that one needed the other's permission for the very slightest of things. It was as if they owned each other. Almost. Silas kind of screws things up in that department, but he and Rosie's relationship was never 'sparks are flying' for me; it just kind of happened one day and then they were in love. Not my ideal romance!

I recommended this book to my sister (she's 14) and then to her friend who is 15 just to know their opinion and they liked it. Maybe it is just me, but going on with this read never happened once I set it down to rest. I could try again someday, if I ever felt the need to scare myself silly with the thought of owing anybody in this world so much of me that I was practically bound to them, but that day is very far away.

Review: Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
My rating: 3 of 5 genies
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance, Vampires, Humour
Published: February 1, 2009
Pages: 351
Publisher: Harcourt
Source: Library Loan
Format: Hardcover
Purchase At: TheBookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

The undead can really screw up your senior year ...

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.

My Thoughts

I finished this read in 2 days, that's how swift of a book it is! I like how the chapters are compressed and not really drawn out, it made reading it very appealing. Beth Fantaskey is a very gifted author and I felt her characters were very real and relatable. I could relate to both Jessica and Lucius as easily as I did to everyone else - speaking of which, the supporting characters are phenomenal! At times I felt as though they carried the story a little, but it was still GOOD.

The cover was great and I would have liked a better view of Lucius as well as his noted long locks, but I'm not complaining. What I didn't like however, was the almost abruptness of some scenes; it was like one moment you were in one situation dealing with issues, but then the next chapter it was totally something else. I get that there will be other books, and the author must have planned it that way, but at times it was confusing.

It kind of got to the point where I felt like I was reading fanfiction - little snippets and bits of a story - but don't get me wrong: I ADORE fan-fiction. I've been writing on there since I was 13 and without it I'd have gotten little feedback and not the opportunity to grow. For me it was my writing school, but for a novel I felt there should have been more consistency.

Beth writes clearly and precise, and she certainly kept me hooked, (ask my parents who haven't seen much of me for the past 2 days. That's right, I've been shut-off in my room, reading.) Lucius was irresistible with his love for Jessica and she was very brave, I loved that! This was a read definitely worth my time and I'll for sure check out the second book as well as that wedding, online...I want to see how things went down! So all in all this book is worth a pick-up, a good sit-down and definitely a read!

Review: Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
My rating: 1.5 of 5 genies
Genre: YA, Urban Fantasy, Magic, Paranormal, Zombies, Shapeshifters, Vampires, Horror
Published: May 14, 2009
Pages: 293
Publisher: Razorbill
Source: Library Loan
Format: Paperback
Purchase At: TheBookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

In Strange Angels, Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called “the touch.” (Comes in handy when you’re traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)

Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she’s next. Even worse, she’s got two guys hungry for her affections, and they’re not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her?

My Thoughts

I realize that I cannot keep doing this to myself, that is, reading books I do not like, for the pure sake of getting it done. Doing so has proven time and time again to be a complete waste of effort. It has taken me forever just to get 70 pgs into this!! I started another book after dumping this entirely, Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi and it is brilliant! At 70 pgs with Mafi's book, I never wanted to stop. With Strange Angels I always wanted it to end.

And make no mistake, I'm not hating without a reason, I wanted to like this, I really did, it just never worked out that way because:

I. Hate. Dru.




She's egotistic, boring as heck, generally ungrateful and CONDESCENDING. Ah, Dru, let me count the ways I hate thee:

1. How dare you prance around acting "above" everyone? What makes you so great, kid? NOTHING. I don't care if you could out-barter me when it comes to arguing in the secret underworld black market for canned leprechaun feet! As far as I'm concerned, You. Are. A. Tool.

It's great that some people really liked this, I get that some readers will disagree, but this definitely wasn't for me. The action was slow moving and the characters far too over-thought to provide natural or even enjoyable reading.

The author tried hard to make Dru so, so, so B.A. And all through I kept getting these obvious and weird Rose Hathaway nudges of similarity like, 'look here! She's B.A. doesn't give a f--- and does whatever she wants. Isn't she familiar? But not overly so, so that I could possibly go to prison for attempted plagiarism? You're a teen, right? Love her, love this shit! Please, I'd love to hunt her down, effectively now.

2. This bothered me to no end. One thing I will never get over is how she describes Graves - her only friend so far and with the attitude this girl has, I don't blame anyone for keeping their distance. So Graves basically takes her in, and yet she persists in making him out to be some circus freak. St. Crow even writes him as a, half-breed because of his mixed race.

Whatt De Frickson Racers?!? When did we start talking about dogs here; or are people from mixed coupling not considered human?? She makes him pathetically self-conscious, gangly and just an oddity. As is mentioned many times throughout the book, Graves does not know what to do with himself. Ever.

It's told from first person, whatever, but do I honestly need minute by minute detail on how awkwardly the boy sits/handles himself or how all of his strange complexities can somehow be linked to the fact that he's mixed. GET. OVER. YOURSELF. Children from interracial couples are so freaking adorable! How dare you point a hand at that, St. Crow?

At this point, around pg 40-ish I was already frustrated beyond belief. You know when you stick a book down and want to go back to it? I never did, on the contrary I was relieved whenever the opportunity arose to get as far away from Dru as possible.

3. As a protagonist, Dru sucks. She is stale, uninspiring and just there to act obnoxious. Sorry, but future installments having pretty covers aside this is the real reason I ever picked Strange Angels I cannot deal with Dru; and since she is the main character here, I thought it might be best to cut my losses.

I never grieved for her.

I never rooted for her.

Heck, I never even liked her. Poor Graves, he did though, too much if you ask me. That girl makes Bella Swan and Luce from Fallen look like freaking optimists. She treated him as well as St. Crow implies of him, like a dog.

*Sigh* To wrap things up because I really do not want to be meanerany more honest about this, 1.5 genies is all this book is getting from me, nothing more and if possible a lot less. If it wasn't for the (wasted) potential. The whole 'real world' deal is pretty sweet, it just sucks that Dru tries to make it exclusive to a fault. I'm sure St. Crow isn't a bad writer; she just has very poor characters.

Review: The Hollow by Jessica Verday

The Hollow by Jessica Verday
My rating: 1 of 5 genies
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance, Ghosts, Paranormal, Mystery
Published: September 1, 2009
Pages: 513
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: Library Loan
Format: Hardcover
Purchase At: TheBookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

A love like no other...

When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead...and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.

Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her - one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

My Thoughts

Where to begin? 'The Hollow' had me at its great cover and back story, I mean mysterious good-looking strangers and weird deaths are the stuff of greatness, right? Nope, I'm afraid I was wrong on that one. I really tried my best to get into this read because I hate not finishing a book! It makes me feel like I've given up and I'm an optimist so there's always that hope that somewhere along the pages it WILL get better. Wrong. The romance was not believable for me as I felt the 'connection' between Abbey and Caspian was weird with a capital 'W' and creepy with a disco ball Sparkly-Cullen.

I mean good-looking guys are all good and well, but seriously? One who randomly appears right where I am in the BASEMENT of my supposed 'dead' friend's house, one he claims he didn't know, and also at the CEMETERY for said friend's funeral?? It's perfect that he asks her to meet him there the next day, it solidifies his creepster status, but also portrays Abbey as the girl who eagerly rushes off to meet him there.

She doesn't even know the stud well enough and hurriedly FOLLOWS?!! No. No way. It was unrealistic and too sudden, so much so that Abbey looked desperate. There, I said it. The writing at the beginning was good enough, even a little quirky and had me chuckling a bit, but as It went on I just couldn't do it.

I get that she lost her best friend and Verday did an excellent job of portraying her loss, but really can't the protagonist be a little more interesting? I picked up 'The Haunting' and wanted to read that, but from my experience with 'The Hollow' I don't think I'll bother. Plus, the image of Caspian's hair was impossible to summon! A single black streak across white hair?! I think I got a headache from just trying to grasp that image...oops, there the *snap*,*crackle*,*pop* of my brain frying goes again! Maybe it's just me but this wasn't one to talk about. Sorry Verday!

This was just not my book, not recommended. 1/5 genies!

Review: A Curse Dark As Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce

A Curse Dark As Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
My rating: 2 of 5 genies
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Retelling, Romance, Historical, Mystery, Magic
Published: March 1, 2008
Pages: 396
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Source: Library Loan
Format: Hardcover
Purchase At: TheBookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

This ravishing winner of the ALA's William C. Morris YA Debut Award is a fairy tale, spun with a mystery, woven with a family story, and shot through with romance.

Charlotte Miller has always scoffed at talk of a curse on her family's woolen mill, which holds her beloved small town together. But after her father's death, the bad luck piles up: departing workers, impossible debts, an overbearing uncle. Then a stranger named Jack Spinner offers a tempting proposition: He can turn straw into gold thread, for the small price of her mother's ring. As Charlotte is drawn deeper into her bargains with Spinner-and a romance with the local banker-she must unravel the truth of the curse on the mill and save the community she's always called home.

My Thoughts

I tried to get into this one, really hard actually, but the sentences just dragged endlessly and never seemed worth the effort. Bunce's knack for description is remarkable in the sense that she can make the very most elementary of things, complex. My experience with this book was very much like an essay; leaving me thinking it a very well written piece of prose, but not truly engaging. Not that every essay out there is as dry as card board, only that A Curse Dark as Gold could have been written for scholars with no business whatsoever bothering with escape literature. It was lengthy and thick in all the wrong ways and my senses were never engaged with the main character or the grief surrounding her.

I wanted to like it, and I understand that the plot truly does thicken once the main protagonist decides to do something; I just couldn't manage to keep myself motivated long enough for that moment to come. The two genies at the beginning of this rating are for the writing because I really do find it beautiful and Ms. Bunce has a talent for words.

But I warn you to pick this book up only if you are going on a trip you are certain will prove a very far journey. You may also read this if the library next door suddenly caught fire and by sheer luck this is the only piece of written literature to survive.

2 genies: I wanted to like this, I really did, but too much was left under-developed.

There was far more worse than good.

Review: Betwixt by Tara Bray Smith

Betwixt by Tara Bray Smith
My rating: 1.5 of 5 genies
Genre: YA+ Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Dark
Published: January 1, 2009
Pages: 512
Publisher: Little, Brown Books For Young Readers
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Purchase At: TheBookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

For three teenagers, dark mystery has always lurked at the corner of the eyes and the edge of sleep. Beautiful Morgan D'Amici wakes in her trailerpark home with dirt and blood under her fingernails. Paintings come alive under Ondine Mason's violet-eyed gaze. Haunted runaway Nix Saint-Michael sees halos of light around people about to die.

At a secret summer rave in the woods, the three teenagers learn of their true, changeling nature and their uncertain, intertwined destinies. Riveting, unflinching, beautiful, Betwixt shows a magic as complex and challenging as any ordinary reality.

My Thoughts

Creepy does not even come close to describing this book. I wanted to like it, and even put in an honest effort into reading the first couple chapters, however it royally sucked. The characters were all so trashy and the author's attempt at making them seem different from every other YA Paranormal stereo-type really didn't come across very well.

Many of the people featured in this book have serious issues and I could never get into it because of how unrelatable the characters were to me. The guys have issues, the girls need to learnt that skanky behavior is not in. All of them should see someone about the possible STD's contracted during one of their ridiculously skeevy parties and Smith needs to learn that twisted literature like this is NOT Y. A. It is mature. Trying to make a quick buck by marketing the book out to "Fans of Twilight" is a technique that is getting pretty old for me fast, and especially when the content boarders highly on being a little too adult.

I enjoyed the cover and thought that it was pretty for a while - hence why I bought it - but eventually the compounded weirdness of everyone just grew too much to handle. This book is weird. Save yourself the money, I kind of regret now that I didn't. The only thing going for this book is the creativeness of its concept, I have never seen anything like this before. If you want something different, a little bit startling, and do not mind the tad slowness in terms of pace, this book could work better for you. It just didn't do it at all for me.

Verdict: Something saved this book from completely sucking. Otherwise, it would be forgettable at the very best, and yet, there were redeemable qualities somewhere.

Review: Crave by Melissa Darnell

Crave by Melissa Darnell
My rating: 1 of 5 genies
Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance, Fiction, Fantasy
Published: October 25, 2011
Pages: 416
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: Bought
Format: Paperback
Purchase At: TheBookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

Savannah Colbert has never known why she's so hated by the kids of the Clann. Nor can she deny her instinct to get close to Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman. Especially when she recovers from a strange illness and the attraction becomes nearly irresistible. It's as if he's a magnet, pulling her gaze, her thoughts, even her dreams. Her family has warned her to have nothing to do with him, or any members of the Clann. But when Tristan is suddenly everywhere she goes, Savannah fears she's destined to fail.
For years, Tristan has been forbidden to even speak to Savannah Colbert. Then Savannah disappears from school for a week and comes back…different, and suddenly he can't stay away. Boys seem intoxicated just from looking at her. His own family becomes stricter than ever. And Tristan has to fight his own urge to protect her, to be near her no matter the consequences….

My Thoughts

Right, so I got to page 13 of this one. 13, and I spent money on this!! I stood there, in the drug store and was deliberating between Inheritance, Phantom (the new L.J. Vampire Diaries book not by L.J.) and this little darling of a monstrosity, Crave.




Why, oh why, did I go with this?!? I should have turned to Goodreads before ever purchasing this, but then again I did not know what books would be there. In my defence though, I do not regret deciding not to pay $30 for Inheritance because after the disaster that was, Brisingr, I'd rather read spoilers off the internet than waste money again.

But back to this, this little turd bucket. I will attempt to summarize what I gathered from the 12 and 1/2 pages read because reading any farther could possibly kill me. Possibly.

Savannah is Southern.(Isn't that such a typical little Southern-esque name? I can hardly stop the gag.) The fun doesn't end there, folks, she also lives with her crazy Gran.



I quote: "Finished already?" she asked before slurping her tea. The sound grated over my nerves.

"Um, yeah." I set the bowl and spoon in the sink, keeping my back turned so she couldn't see the blush burning my cheeks. I was a horrible liar. One look at my face and she'd know I'd just thrown out the breakfast she'd made me.

"And your tea?"

Oops. I'd forgotten my daily tea, a blend that Nanna made just for me from the herbs she spent months growing in our backyard. "Sorry, Nanna, there's no time. I still have to fix my hair."

"You can do both." She held out my mug, her cheeks bunched into a bright smile that didn't do much to disguise the snap in her eyes.

What. The. Smurfflepop?!? Someone tries to get me to drink tea I do not want, especially an old lady with 'snap in her eyes,' and I haven't ran away screaming yet? Not only is the dialogue terribly clichéd but the character of Savannah is just dull. Like oats left in the open for 20 minutes dull, like molasses dripping off a wall dull. And I paid money for this?!



If there is one thing Crave has inspired me to do, then it is to get myself an ebay account. Maybe I can pawn this off somehow...And another thing, why on earth is the series even called, The Clann?? What, the extra 'n' is supposed to make it so evil? PSSSSSHHHHH, give me a royal break and possibly, my money back.

Review: A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies
My rating: 2.5 of 5 genies
Published: September 27, 2011 by HarperTeen
Pages: 390
Source: Library Loan
Format: Hardcover
Purchase At: The BookDeopository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

On the night of Skye's seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites—like fire and ice—Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye's life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move—only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.

In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can’t help falling for, and Devin, who she can’t stay away from, the consequences of Skye’s choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

My Initial Thoughts

This cover is gorgeous! Man it's so pretty with the shiny words and girl at the front pulling a whole Rose in Titanic pose! All she really needs is a Jack, but in this case, Sky does not get 1 admirer - not just 2 either - but 3 guys who want her. How do I know this from only reading approximately 44.5 pages into the book? Well that's just the problem, A Beautiful Dark is painfully predictable. Most of you may not know, but I put off marking this as "unfinishable" because I was dreading the review, I couldn't do it.

And while some people think that ripping a book apart is fun, that there's some enjoyment in burning it to flames, page by page there isn't. Truth be told, someone worked very hard on this and since Jocelyn Davis has never once offended me in any way shape or form, I think it only fair that I deliver a respectful review. Kind of one of those "get in, get out deals." Hit it!!

Basically...

The main problem with this book seems to be that it is very literally a regurgitation of very YA novel to date with aspects taken moderately from each. There was nothing to expect because quite honestly I already knew.

For example, Skye has 2 best friends, I will get to them later, but they like to throw her a 'surprise' party every year even though she doesn't like the gatherings. AT. ALL. That point was made so evidently aware to me that I almost shook the friends and slapped them upside the head with salmon for continuing with the 'tradition' when poor Skye looked like she just dreaded the whole ordeal and only went along with it to please them. What kind of friends are these? Beats me how she fakes liking the parties every year! The friends come off as heavily inconsiderate for persisting despite her refusal.

It should be sweet that they do it for her, really it's a nice gesture, but ONLY WHEN THE PERSON BENEFITS FROM IT. This girl hated the parties, end of story and it didn't help sell the whole "best friends since forever" angle that Cassie and Dan didn't see it. Plus, the parties are probably doing more harm than good since every year they serve as a somewhat permanent reminder of the parents she doesn't have. [Maybe they were too strung up in their own little world? If the question most of you are contemplating now is "they like each other" I'm going to have to say yes, yes they do, and I got this much from reading almost 45 pages. And like with Skye's ritual birthday parties, there really were no more surprises to be had. (hide spoiler)]

Secondly, the love triangle or whatever contraption it was intended to be, I'm still trying to work out in my mind what shape would work but...Oy Vey.




All those guys for one girl?? What is she supposed to do, shoot candy out her boobs like Katy Perry?! It was unbelievable and tired. When I first met Ian my impression of him was of the sweet guy next door, but since the book's blurb points out that 2 other guys are supposed to compete for Skye's momentary affection I knew something had to be wrong. And then it hit me:

Ian is a plot device. He doesn't really have any purpose as a character other than better exemplifying just how lovely our dear protagonist supposedly is, because if 3 hot men want her she must be something special. Instead it left me feeling fidgety and bored because it was pretty apparent who in that twisted relationship would be hurt in the end: Ian, and I liked him. This wouldn't have been a problem if the other guys - Asher and Devin - were anything to write home about. Fair enough I didn't get that far, but the foundation was laid pretty bare and like I said, been there, done that was my response.

Asher and Devin reminded me a little of Damon and Stefan Salvatore in angel-angsty-bad boy form:

- Long brooding looks at female? Check.
- Creepy sense of female having known both guys before? Check. By the way this sets the stage for very creepy explanations as to why. I hear some Edward-Cullen level stalking occurred?? Yeah, enough said.
- The general appeal of both guys makes it impossible for the leading lady to get either from her mind? Check!!
- She will consequently have to choose between them. *Gasp* Who will it be!?! Dun, dun, dun, dun!!!

It was all done before! Everything has happened somewhere else and while I went in with high hopes and great expectations blazing, I was disappointed. I could have given up at 10 or so pages in, but instead kept at it as best I could until a good friend of mine pointed out, there is no point in reading something you know you aren't going to like. As soon as the stale disposition of this novel and its characters registered I knew this wasn't the type of book that I'd rave over.

As a protagonist, Skye is standard. And brooding. And just far too uneventful to make me want to come back. She lives in a ski town that didn't really offer much and by the time I stopped it was just before she meets the boys at her high school. Honestly, I am beginning to think that school isn't such a safe place anymore! All the paedophiles wind up there. And yes these boys are paedophiles, they are immortal and therefore by far older than Skye. I'm serious, the more I read YA fiction the more I consider home-school for my children.



You're right, finely dressed man! They'll probably turn out awkward.

In Conclusion

*Sigh* I have nothing else to say. I went as far as I could go with this one and hopefully this review is at least helpful. 2.5 genies out of 5! Like I said, it would have received a higher rating if it were original, but it isn't. Or at least not to me, feel free to form your own opinions.

This novel had its perks, I wouldn't read it again, but it was an okay read.