World After by Susan Ee

World After by Susan Ee
My rating: 5 of 5 genies
Published: November 19, 2013
Genre: Paranormal, YA, Apocalyptic, Romance, Dystopian
Publisher: Skyscape
Source: Purchased
Pages: 438
Format: eBook
Purchase At: Amazon.com or The Book Depository

Goodreads Summary

In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world.

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

My Review

There are no words for this book. The funny thing is that I went in expecting nothing but perfection. Ee floored me with Angelfall and I just couldn't conceive of a world where the book following such excellence was lacking in any way. I needed World After to be as good, if not better than Angelfall. Spoiler Alert: It was.



The curse of the second is pretty much something I implicate when going into sequels, simply said, they tend to be less enthralling than their predecessors. But the curse? It didn't exist for this book. Ee is an author after my own heart, this is why her books are my kryptonite, I feel like she writes for me. So thank-you for this, Ee, it was superb.

World After follows the events of Angelfall and Penryn is slowly recovering from the scorpion sting that left her paralysed. She's with her family, Paige is finally returned, but the experimentations done on her have altered Penryn's baby sister in ways that go much deeper than the physical. Her pain was palpable, and finding the sister she lost in the "Low Demon" now in her stead was a struggle for Penryn. Her mother, craziness aside, latches onto her daughter and encourages Penryn to look in Paige's eyes because those haven't changed; she is the same sister and daughter they know and lost. Surprisingly, Penryn has difficulty with this, and if things aren't hard enough, they still don't know what to feed Paige. It isn't until one incident at their base refugee camp that the gory answer is arrived at.

Paige needs meat. Raw meat, most readily available in human beings. There is an uproar, and the rest of the survivors try to capture her and she flees the camp, leaving Penryn and her mother to find Paige yet again. Clara, an unexpected survivor who Penryn saves from being sucked dry by the scorpions/"locusts" comes along for the ride, and together they embark on the quest to save Paige from the unpredictable angels, herself, and from hurting anyone else.


Yeah, not so much.

I was taken rapture, by the incredible storytelling and the characters brimming with anguish and determination to survive. I think more than anything, this series is a chronicle of survival and persistence even at the worst of times.

Penryn grew, into the kind of Heroine one cannot forget about simply by closing the book. She stays with you, making you question her actions as well as what you might do in her place. If your world was turned upside down, the man you loved apart from you, and your family ravaged...what would you do? I'd hope I would act as Penryn did and kick some serious ass! Can I get a "what-what" for her skills with Pookie Bear!?



I was very pleased, and excited that more of Raffe's past was revealed through his sword and also that some insight as to what Paige went through was provided. I think I would have hated it if her whole experience with the angels was glossed over, and Ee gave just enough detail about her abduction that satisfied but did not completely satiate my curiosity. As always, I am hungry for more and the next book is something I absolutely must have.

World After was full of action and entertained me to the very end. Much is revealed about the Angels as well as their purpose on Earth. Uriah's motives are despicable, but then again was any less expected? Things are more complicated than they appear and I am glad there will be 5 books to unravel the mystery of this new world and its many conspiracies.

Did I mention, I am hella pleased to have more Raffe and Penryn coming my way? I NEED this two to happen, damnation aside. Their chemistry is crackling and my tummy warmed at their reunion. I'm shipping this so hard, it hurts. Raffe did not disappoint me and the fact that he recognized Penryn right away made the romantic in me swoon for days! I'm in love. World After is the kind of book that satisfies and I am so happy.



This book was everything I needed it to be, the perfect sequel with an ending that makes me ever loyal to Ee and this series. So beautifully written...All I want is the next book!

5 FLAMING GENIES!

Review: Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins
My rating: 3.5 of 5 genies
Published: April 30, 2013
Series: N/A
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal/Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Purchased
Pages: 371
Format: Paperback
Purchase At: Amazon.com or The Book Depository

Goodreads Summary

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

My Review

This book could have been better. I say this because Sweet Evil was the book that I pimped everywhere. I can't say that I will be doing the same with Sweet Peril because Wendy Higgin's second instalment wasn't as strong as her debut.

Sweet Peril takes off where its predecessor left and we're back with Anna and her daily Nephlim grind. She's got to work to keep her dad off of the other Duke's radar, turning the human population towards alcohol and drugs, but her heart isn't in it. Partly because she's half angel, and also because Anna's predominantly occupied with thoughts of Kaidan, missing him. They are still trying to take down the Dukes and gather allies, but it felt like all that really mattered was how much Anna missed "Kai." The fate of the world rests in her hands, and all Anna really wanted to do was see the boy.

To be fair, she does take the responsibility of saving Neph and Humankind seriously, but the teen swoony romance could have been dialled down. They are in love, I get that, but it felt like their romance dominated most of the book. I was looking forward to reading more of Kaidan and Anna, but with the way it was handled in Sweet Peril, I began to tire of their romance. It was like her life basically revolved around him, and one can only read about how smouldering a guy is before it gets to be enough. There are issues with Kopano, as can be expected, as well as an interesting revelation that has to do with Neph and their badges, but in all honesty Sweet Peril had more to do with Kaidan and Anna not being together than anything else.

I expected more substance, and even though we meet more of the other Neph, discovering additional information in regards to the prophecy, I wasn't as enamoured this time around. The series is still fantastic, I love you Wendy, but I'm hoping that Sweet Reckoning will more than make up for where this book fell short.

3.5/5 genies: Sweet Peril is compelling, and while it picks up nicely from where the former left off, this book fails to deliver as emotional an impact as the first.

Cover Reveal: Sweet Peril

**A post in which I reveal...new/up and coming, covers of the moment, the ones you should keep an eye out for.**

Now hold onto your seats, and get ready to lose it a little, because it's finally here. I kid you not, ladies, he has arrived! KAIDAN FREAKING ROWE!!! Gosh, my life is so totally complete.

Check out this GORGEOUS cover!

Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins
Publishing: April 30th 2013
Pages (est.): 464
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Angels and Demons, Romance

Goodreads Summary

Anna Whitt, daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a claim. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

How can you not sigh after reading all that?!? I cannot wait for April of next year to come! The Author is a total sweetheart, you should check her out in the links above and comment with me on your thoughts on this awesome series, YES IT'S A SERIES, and I'll chat right back!

Love you lots!

XX,

Cover Reveal: Infatuate by Aimee Agresti

**A post in which I reveal...new/up and coming, covers of the moment, the ones you should keep an eye out for.**

Infatuate (Gilded Wings #2) by Aimee Agresti
Release Date: March 5th 2013
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

Goodreads Summary

Haven Terra is still recovering from an internship that brought her literally to the brink of hell when a trip to New Orleans leads to more trouble. Graduating early from high school leaves the spring semester free, so Haven and her friends Dante and Lance head to the Big Easy to volunteer with community service projects. But their true mission becomes clear when they run across an enclave of devils known as the Krewe. New Orleans is a free-for-all for these shape-shifting devils, who are more reckless and vicious than any Haven, Lance, and Dante have encountered. And they soon discover their French Quarter housemates are also angels-in-training, and together they must face off with the Krewe in their quest for wings. But Haven’s resolve is tested when Lucian, the repentant devil with whom she was infatuated, resurfaces and asks her for help escaping the underworld. Can he be trusted? Or will aiding him cost Haven her angel wings—and her life? Thrilling, romantic, and full of surprises, this gripping sequel to Illuminate takes the battle of good and evil to the next level.

I haven't gotten to reading Illuminate yet, the first book in the series, but I'll hurry up on my task to get it read because I really do want to get my hands on this next instalment. What do you make of Infatuate and have you read Illuminate, if so, how did you like it? I'd love to know, feel free to respond in the comments below!

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
My rating: 2.5 of 5 genies
Genre: YA, Paranormal Fiction, Romance
Published: February 15, 2011
Pages: 453
Publisher: HarperCollins / Katherine Tegen Books
Source: Library Loan
Format: Paperback

Goodreads Summary

First there are nightmares.
Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.

Then come the memories.
When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.

Now she must hunt.
Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.

My Thoughts

I decided to do something interesting with this review and have an interview-type questionnaire regarding this book and my experience with it and its characters. This way, I get down to the gritty without really beating around the bush. You like? Proceed!

Q: What did you make of Angelfire as a whole, did it meet or surpass your expectations?

A: Well, in some cases it really did see to my expectations and I really couldn't find much to complain about. Sure, the plot was a little elementary - I saw some things coming from a mile away - but otherwise, it was alright.

Q: Biggest like of the book as a whole...Go!

A: Will! Will was very nice and at some instances he was the only thing making sense. When Ellie was being kind of a pain, I looked to Will.

Q: Any big issues with the book? What do you dislike about Ellie?

A: I hated the lack of choice, I mean, why does Ellie have to do it; why does one immature teen get the charge of saving the world from eternal damnation? I was very starved for choice. There should have been someone else, a wild card; Will should have had some hand in the life-saving other than just being there for Ellie. The boy was a lot more than an emotional crutch and his potential just wasn't met.

I think I kind of let my problem with Ellie out of the bag with the statement above. I disliked that she was really whiny at times and didn't fully grasp the role she played. See, this is what went down between her and Will every time he told her to practise harder on her heroism:

Will: Ellie, practise is tonight, don't miss it.

Ellie:'Oh noes, but Will, I missed movie night for the 3rd time this month because I was practising.

Will: You do understand that people die while you're away chomping down on those maynards and caramel corn, right?

Ellie: Just get someone else to do it, I gotta hang with the group. Any more cancelled dates and they'll, like, dump me from the crew!

Will: And this is more prevalent than someone's state of eternity, how?

Ellie: Ugh. Will, you just don't get it. I care about those people...sort of. Ooh, is that Marc Jacobs's new fall design?!
Gimme.

See? It was hard not to cringe a little, she could be airheaded at times.

Q: If you could change one thing about this book, what would it be?

A: The progression of the story. At times, the action dragged, like, it would take 2-3 chapters for the story to pick up again, which was kind of ridiculous. I would also change the cover, because Ellie is really nothing like the 30 something cover model. She's supposed to be bubbly, beautiful and popular. The girl in the picture gives off the impression of staidness and long nights spent reading in cemeteries; I guess she has friends, if latent spirits from another world count.

Q: Why 2.5 out of 5 stars, what made you rate the book this way?

A: Like I mentioned, the predictability could have been helped and character development kind of lacked. It went from Ellie being this clueless teenager to suddenly a saviour struggling to put back the pieces of her previous lives, because she's been reincarnated before, without so much as an appropriate enough explanation. The character development was unrealistic, and then there was the whole issue with her not taking her duties so seriously. To be honest, Will was kind of dry too, this is why I can't really fangirl about him, but the way I see it, he was better than Ellie even then. I don't hate the girl, but she needs work. Just putting it out there, things were wrapped up poorly in the end, I wasn't impressed with the interpretation of who Ellie really is, let's just say, Gabriel and I are not pleased.

Q: It's been great talk, thank-you for chatting with us. Any closing words, recommendations to those still on the fence about Angelfire?

A: I guess the only thing I can say is, read the book if you're interested. If you see it and think, 'hey, why not?' I'd give it a try just out of curiosity's sake. It isn't a bad book, and Ellie could be sweet at times; she wasn't all bad, and having Will around didn't hurt!

2.5/5 genies: This novel had its perks, I wouldn't read it again, but it was an okay read.

Review (The Skinny) : Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
My rating: 4 of 5 genies
Genre: YA, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Angels, Paranormal
Published: October 13, 2009
Pages: 391
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Purchase At: TheBookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

A SACRED OATH
A FALLEN ANGEL
A FORBIDDEN LOVE

Romance was not part of Nora Grey's the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

The Skinny

Oh I definitely liked this one! It was brooding and sexy and It got my toes curling in the RIGHT way. Since it first came out the cover has captivated me, urging me to pick it up and I'm glad I finally did! It was a great read and definitely doesn't deserve a lot of the negative criticism other than the obvious fact that the protagonist, Nora, has terrible choice in friends. I think I will always hate Vee, but always, always love Patch. Great book and I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel!

4 genies: A good read. I enjoyed this book, not quite loved, but it 

isn't far off from being amazing.

Review (The Skinny) : Fallen by Lauren Kate

Fallen by Lauren Kate
My rating: 1 of 5 genies
Genre: YA, Romance, Paranormal, Angels,
Published: December 8, 2009
Pages: 452
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Purchase At: TheBookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce – he goes out of his way to make that very clear. But she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, Luce has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret...even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, FALLEN is a page-turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

The (Really) Skinny

Unfortunately I really couldn't get into this one and it was much too dreary and depressing for my liking. The romance I found was lacking and the protagonist for the most part ground on my nerves. I won't be reading the sequel but it's a read for anyone who'd want to kill time...in a graveyard.

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

NOT recommend the read. 

Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 genies
Genre: YA Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Adventure, Angels & Demons
Published: September 27, 2011
Pages: 417
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Purchase At: TheBookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

My Thoughts

WOW. No, really, WOW!!! Is this really happening, did I just read a book that superb? Holy smokes, I think I did.



Laini Taylor is extraordinary. My gosh, this woman is a freaking genius! I think I have an official author crush. Her prose is delectable, polished as if some fine jewel made for royalty. Guys, she used words I had no clue the meaning of and occasionally had to look up, just because I had this urge to soak up as much of her brilliance as possible. This book cannot be called YA fiction without some hint of insult because there is no age restriction for a novel this good, everyone should read it. Everything was so perfect.

Why You Could Like This Book

If you love starcrossed lovers, your nose should already be ten feet deep into Daughter of Smoke and Bone's pages; I do not mean that Romeo and Juliet B.S. but real star-crossed lovers made of depth, sacrifice and substance, you have got to meet Akiva and Karou. And Madrigal. How does this work again? I don't really care how crazy I sound at the moment, because this was brilliant. There is wit and beauty in every page, Prague has never looked better to me than in this book. And you know what, I'm going to visit. Maybe a group of friends and I will take a trip and hunt for some devilishly handsome angels for ourselves! For all intensive purposes, Tyler HoechlinMr. Smokin-Hot-Smokey-Pants will play Akiva.


Oh, yes...

I am going to marry that man someday. Not Tyler, Akiva. Akiva would all but be my hero if not for one tiny detail...he effs up pretty majorly. Not that anyone can blame him, what went down was ridiculous, but I feel a little twinge of sadness because his actions ultimately ruined things a little between him and Karou. BUT NO SPOILERS! I will give nothing away, safe to say that this is romance and adventure and history all at its finest. While reading, I kept thinking how mythic the story seemed, as if Laini Taylor's imaginings were real and my reading it was just a recap on the history. She writes with a distinctly poetic flair, and the reader cannot help but tuck a little into themselves, sip a little of their warm drink and hang on for the ride.

The plot isn't anything I would have expected and even if the first few chapters fail to impress you, keep reading. Keep reading because there is more to come that is worth seeing. The whole cast of characters; Brimstone, Kishmish, Zusana, Issa, Twiga, Yasri and even Thiago feel like something out of an epic. Their relationship with Karou proves as even more profound when by 3/4 of the novel Laini Taylor lets lose the mother of all epiphanies and it all comes together. The end is somewhat the beginning of this story, and I mean that in the best way. It could be the beginning of interest if the stunning backdrop and side-story did not capture you before, or it could be the start of a second love if everything mentioned was already enthralling; I believe that I am of the second sort, I was already in love, but learning more of Karou and Akiva made me fall even harder in bliss.

Akiva is the avenging angel, and dayum does he make it look good. But on second thought, maybe I'll marry Tyler too, it never hurts to have options!

What You Should Watch Out For

The insta-love aspect is a very tricky one to manage because there really is more going on than meets the eye. So, my only advice in this case is to forget about it. Forget that there is any insta-love and take it just as love, because at the end of the day that is what it ends up being. On any other occasion I probably would be the one pointing out that people who just meet cannot be in love...but they haven't just met. So there, that is the only tidbit of spoiler I am willing to divulge; Karou and Akiva are meant to be, and I would hate for anyone to pass up on reading about them just because of some wrong misconception of an insta-love troupe being in place.

Other than that? There is graphic violence, deep sensuality and death within these pages, younger readers should be advised to read with extreme caution. I was heavily pleased and Daughter of Smoke and Bone is indeed a new favourite! I'm jumping on the bandwagon and have great plans to purchase the second book as soon as it releases. 5/5 genies!

Review: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
My rating: 5 of 5 genies
Published: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 454
Source: Purchased 
Format: Paperback
Purchase At: The BookDepository.com or Amazon.com

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.
Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna. Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

My Thoughts

This book blew my mind, a definite favorite, I cannot imagine ever not reading this! I encourage everyone appropriate - there is sensuality, be mindful of that - to pick Ms. Higgins stunning debut up! Rest assured that Sweet Evil is not a debut to be missed!! This is a good book. Actually, correction, this is a great book. This is the book that blows minds all over the place. My congratulations to Ms. Higgins, your debut is officially hot shiz.

Moving On...

What can I say of this experience? Well, I literally sat there on my bed moments after finishing Sweet Evil thinking, "Smokes! What do I do now?" Because I kept flipping the book looking for more story and pages, and there was none! My reading heart begged for more; the ending, and that it happened at all, quite frankly upset me. It never should have come, really, a "Never Ending Story" would have been the way to go. WHABAM!




The plot was engaging and the concept so original that to date, I often catch myself thinking back to the book on particular occasions. For example: these children of the fallen basically have to be bad influences to guarantee their worth, and thus they encourage others to be naughty too. So, say this is me during the day and I want a second ice-cream sandwich after finishing the first, all I have to do to discourage myself is think back to what happened when that girl overindulged in Sweet Evil and my appetite disappears! Weird, I know, but this is the way my mind works, apparently. I am losing weight because of you, Higgins!



And speaking of weight loss, you know who didn't need to lose weight? Kaidan, because the boy was F.I.N.E. all on his own, Anna was pretty great too. I adored all of the side-characters. They all had this round quality to them that made each and every one endearingly real somehow. Like when they would actually work - these kids take their jobs of screwing over everyone else super seriously - you don't end up blaming them, due to their unfortunate parenting, it really is a misfortune. Granted, some actually do enjoy their evil deeds but in regards to Blake, Mara, Ginger and Kapano, you understand largely that they are compelled to do bad things and think of themselves as less than even human. Life stinks, or at least for these poor kids it does.

I felt Kaidan's pain especially and understood predominantly from him how hard of a struggle they all must face every day. The thing that cannot be faulted about his and Anna's relationship is that he did care for her, he loved the girl so much that he couldn't be around her without asking basically for some kind of Underworld death sentence. It's still in the early stages, but these two, Anna and Kaidan, are rockstars together. However, the romance did not overshadow the story - thankfully - and Higgins does convey a convincing plot as well as setting.

My heart was one big mess, and I couldn't help feeling compassionate towards people and their circumstance, mainly because Anna Whitt is so sweet and kind; imagine reading a story told through her perspective - the kind of person who reads emotions and feelings/intent - and then try truly hating anyone...Not possible. She just has this heart and character that makes me all warm on the inside. I love you, Anna. Her eventual relationship with her dad was adorable too, the way they find a way of meeting just warms me to the core, and seeing both of them in the next book ranks top on my list of 'most-anticipated.'

Closing Words

I pre-ordered my copy and am very pleased with the decision. You know when you have expectations for something and you pray that they are at least partially met? Well, mine were exceeded, nothing disappointed me. The only sad thing? The wait time until the next book. Hit me baby!

**Disclosure: Book summaries were taken from Goodreads, thanks!**

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.

Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
My rating: 4 of 5 genies
Published: January 4, 2011 by HarperTeen
Pages: 435
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library Loan
Purchase At: The BookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary
In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . . Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.
Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side. As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil.
When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny? Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

My Thoughts

Tucker Avery made this book for me. I liked Clara too, and to be honest she did grind on my nerves a little - so did Jeffrey actually - but they weren't unforgiveable. Tucker however, had me right at the get-go. I was swooning, I mean really? a studly cowboy who happens to be oh-so charming? Hello!

H.M. (honorable mention) goes right to him, no question. I liked Clara's mom for a while, she was cool, but then she got all secretive and by the end, Hand didn't have me feeling the whole "she's doing it for her daughter's benefit" vibe. I was offended, as I suppose Clara was as well. Meg loved her children but didn't let them in on everything that I think they should have known.

Trust is huge for me. God forbid my mom started keeping secrets like that, we'd never speak again, it's that bad! What I meant at the begining about Clara's whining is that she can be a little a lot self-obsessed. At certain parts it was all about her and her "purpose" and Christian! I was mad at her because she treated several people in my opinion, very poorly.

She sucked at choosing friends and did not appreciate Wendy for the sweet farm cutie she was; ditching her to hang with the very suspicious Angela instead! The girl gave me the creeps and was shifty like she was constantly hiding things, which she was. I remain unconvinced that the fellow she meets in Rome isn't a black wing. Why else did she not mention him? Girl reeks untrustworthiness. But Wendy - the sweet loyal one - is the girl repetitively looked over, and I hated it. Maybe there was the whole, "We're angels! Let's be angels together!" thing that Clara shared with Angela which she and Wendy didn't have, but still, friends should not be treated that way.

Also Christian was too perfect. Like really too perfect, I was annoyed with him. He took "Golden Boy" to the next level and I never really felt like he was a character. Was he sweet? Yes, but he could have been more realistic. That said Christian did have his moments, and was always there to save her. He was a good prince charming, just not mine.

And as far as baby brothers go? Jeffrey kind of sucked. He was more selfish than Clara and that is saying a lot. I get the age he's at and know that the world seems to depend on the very air you breathe, but would it kill him to be more caring? I'm thinking of Danny from Nevermore when I make this plea because he is literally the best fictional brother ever. Be more like him and give a hoot about more than just your life and popularity. Sheesh!

The Plot was amazing though, I have to hand it to her, Hand knows how to spin 'em! She was busting out twists and loops that I never saw coming. In that regard she has my respect, this book was certainly far from predictable. Also the Setting was kind of cool. Jackson Hole I want to visit, for the gorgeous scenery and fabulous men. I'm booking my ticket!

P.A. (problem areas) were few for me and I don't think I can complain about much except for most of the character's absorption in themselves, but even that is kind of realistic because people don't always hold hands, and hardly they remember to consider those around them. I grabbed Unearthly because there was major hype surrounding it. Everyone was buzzing about it and I can't say that any of those people are wrong; I enjoyed the book for its smooth storytelling and want the next one ASAP, so this one is a definite 4 genies and favorite.

Is Clara a heroine with spunk? Yes. She was tough and I respect her for the way she handled the whole Carrot Hair thing, not to mention Bozo, I would have died. So the two of us will meet again January of next year and I can hardly wait, I miss my Tucker already.

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Review: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
My rating: 4 of 5 genies
Published: January 17th, 2012 by HarperTeen
Pages: 403
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library loan
Purchase At: The BookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary
For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

My Thoughts

This book is a solid 4 genies out of 5. Initially I gave it a 5/5, but upon further reflection it lowered slightly, I had to be honest about this review and there were things which bothered me.

This is weird, and I find myself dividing Hallowed into little segments because the book was hot and cold in varying degree. The beginning was great – I loved it – the middle slow, and the ending ultimately heartbreaking. I remember being at the middle of being done and thinking, ‘things are moving pretty slowly, because they were. There was so much drama regarding Clara’s purpose and who she would choose, I wanted to slap her a couple times when she got typically self-absorbed, oblivious to any problem not hers. But somehow, it turned out well in the end.

Hand returns to the Unearthly Series with a Vengeance. She is back in the game and better than ever. It isn’t really even a question: Hallowed trumps Unearthly on the scale of existence.




Sorry about that, pal.


Writing: 4 genies

Plot: 4.5 genies

Characters: 3.5 genies

Setting: 4 genies

H.M. (honourable mention): This award is going to Jeffrey because regardless of how I felt about him in the beginning, Hand won me over. His character was jaded, brooding and sometimes just plain unattractive, but now I see that great pain hides behind the majority of his negativity. Jeffrey’s reasons for being sick of ‘purposes’ are totally valid, and if I were him, I’d be done with them too. That is, if Clara Gardner was my sister.

P.O.C. (points of concern): I hated the love triangle. Understand this, I loved it too, but really I did hate the fact that there didn’t seem to be a definitive light at the end of the tunnel, or an inclination as to which boy Clara would end up with. Tucker Avery stole my heart the first book; I remember thinking that Christian was too perfect to be real, or believable as a person, but that changed drastically. Readers are let into Christian’s past, his struggles as well as desires and it is as if he morphs into so much more than the pretty boy meant to be Clara’s purpose, he becomes more than that. By the way, I am using ‘morph’ a lot lately, aren’t I? I must be reminiscing…





Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers!!


And speaking of good times, what happened to Tucker’s?? I disliked how feeble Tucker almost seemed in comparison to Christian; he is still gorgeous, but human and frailer than the kind of person Clara needed him to be. He almost seems like a phase now, you know the kind when kids talk back/drink/become demons hell bent on rebellion that they take up whatever happens to be contrary to go against the mold? Personally, I like to apply this logic:



-------

This applies only to the kids, of course to the children and anyone not me because you know I’m still going to speak my mind regardless!

But yeah, Tucker’s beautiful and a fabulous piece of work, but there were times in the book where he felt more like a passing phase. I really wish that had been done differently. He was so strong in Unearthly and at times he looked even stronger than Clara then; somehow this is lost, or maybe it was intentionally done by Hand to highlight Christian in a better light, make him more appealing and such? Still, where has the boy I fell in love with gone?

Christian assumes the role of ‘Mr. Everything You Will Ever Need’ for Clara rather effortlessly. Really, the girl should just go along with her purpose – go with Christian – because there is not a darn thing wrong with him. He completes her in a way that feels necessary. Even when she’s fighting the connection trying to make her own choices, he is still there.[Yay, Stanford! (hide spoiler)]

I think someone should step in and just make the choice for her. Not in a crappy Calla/Ren/Shay way, but tastefully in the way that I suspect only Cynthia Hand is capable. Remember the last time Clara exercised free will, folks? Things did not end well:




burn, baby burn!

Summary:
My Tucker woes aside, the whole plot was knit well and I really have to hand it to Hand, the majority of this novel flowed marvellously. The character’s relationships were intense, greatly complicated, and I kept biting my fingers, muttering to myself as I read:

“NO, DON’T TRUST ANGELA. ANGELA HAS BAD POTENTIAL!”

“CLARA, WHY AREN’T YOU LISTENING TO ME? CLARA?!”

“JEFFREY, stop being a prick.”

*Drool* “Tucker…”

*Double Drool* “Hello, Christian...”

By the way, I believe there was a drool or two in there for Michael too. And okay, so maybe my ‘muttering’ was more like yelling, Bite Me. Goodreads has it right for once with the rating system; Four out of Five means that I really liked it and I did. It is a favorite, and somehow – when I went in with expectations so very low – I left the book feeling satisfied.

There a loops and little disasters thrown in for good measure, this author never disappoints. That little doozy about someone dying? You are going to cry, because I just about bawled my eyes out; it is inevitable, you will cry at some point in this book. And you will love it, because we are all little masochists on the inside. Some more frequently than most, but hey!

Which brings me to the matter at hand, who exactly wins out in this twisted little love triangle? Neither, I think it hurts a little too much to pick between them and I can’t. I am neither “Team Christian” or “Team Tucker” because I am both.




Yes, I am a “double-dipper,” I “play both teams.” Suck it, they're both amazing. And I feel ready to accept the outcome - whatever it may be - come book three, because I love Tucker and Christian equally, maybe Christian a little more, but seriously though, read this. Don’t go in with any expectations other than yours; I find it a particularly brilliant pleasure when those demands are not only met, but blown straight through the roof. Hand is good at that, and this book is amazing!

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Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee

Angelfall by Susan Ee
My rating: 5 of 5 genies
Published: May 21, 2011 by Feral Dream
Pages: 255
Source: Purchased
Format: Kindle
Purchase At: Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco where she’ll risk everything to rescue her sister and he’ll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

My Thoughts

So this is what withdrawal feels like. I thought I knew, because I've read few books before and had some reaction close to this but nothing so profound. This book blew me away, and with three days until New Years I can safely say that this is the best book of 2011. I'm crying right now and I'm so sleepy because it's almost 4am where I am, but the only thing that matters and that I care about is that the book is finished.

And I'm in withdrawal.

No aspirin can fix this...

Full review to come in the morning.


The following day/days, UPDATE!

I don’t like rumors. In this case, someone was spreading a particularly vicious one that there existed a phenomenal book floating around - of which the online reading community was raving flying penguins about - an ebook, with stellar and amazingly well fleshed characters and chilling setting to boot; but wait for it… this book was supposedly .99cents

Only .99 cents; a meagrely almost-dollar.

Now what load of bull is that?? No way could something estimated as so incredibly good by a great majority of my Goodreads friends, and others, actually be so cheap. I couldn’t believe it, and because I happen to have a darling kindle as present from my 18th – say hi to my kindle, Tookie everyone *Tookie waves* – I needed to be sure that these rumours were not true. Also I had no ebooks to speak of and Angelfall seemed an excellent place to start. At least it was something.

I was determined to find out the truth. This had to be a joke, right?



Oh, who am I kidding?!




That was awesome!!

I love rumors – the good kind – and especially when they lead me to something truly ground-breaking and awe-inspiring as this! I did not stop reading for a moment, I took this to the treadmill with me and while Raffe and Penryn were treading the forests, I was beating it on that machine!

There was no way in any world – crazy post-apocalyptic or now – that I was leaving this book behind just to sweat. Sweating could wait, but you know when you get used to ordinary and then you experience something so startlingly new and so far from the norm that you really need to pinch yourself – or in my case almost fall off the treadmill – just to believe the marvelous thing in your hands/world astounding at the moment truly exists? Yes, well I can’t imagine a better example of that than my experience with Angelfall.

But first, let me speak to you of withdrawal. The condition, as some of you may know, involves aversive reaction to the removal of something otherwise deemed essential to sustenance. So basically, at the end of my journey that night/very early morning, I experienced withdrawal.

This, this is what I went through:



And get this, I finished at just a little after 3AM because the last few hours of my reading consisted of me dozing off – I’d been reading that whole day and at 1AM, I was exhausted – and then darting immediately back to Angelfall. It was like everything in me knew the importance of finishing, my subconscious went right back to it, like a drug. And when I was done, it hit me like the worst case of hangover ever; I cried and clutched Tookie to myself, promising that the world was not this way – not yet – and I would never leave her behind to suffer so cruel a fate. I…I think she smiled a little at me at that… and I think we shared something?

*Cough, creepy! So creepy* And moving on…

Simply said, I could not go without at least checking this book out; and hearing about Angelfall the way I did is really the best example of why I so love this community. Everyone, and I mean everyone, was raving about this. There were discussions upon discussions about how flipping amazin’ Susan Ee was; I needed to see what all the hoopla was about. Best. Decision. Ever.




For once, there will be no spoilers, nothing to ruin a single moment for anyone who hasn’t gotten their hands on this yet. Go buy the novel, it’ll rock your world and it’s priced at what, barely a dollar. Some online fiction is 3 times that amount and not nearly as good, what on earth are you waiting for?

Characters: Part of why I love Angelfall so much is because of its kick-butt characters. You’ve heard of Penryn? No? Well then you should have! She is the embodiment of perfection. Like really, this girl has it together where it counts and so strong…I couldn’t imagine being that way and in her position. Favorite and strongest female lead of the year. Not to mention, her mom is probably the most frightening person in non-existence. And somehow Penryn copes in a world where there is no medicine for her mother’s madness, she does not abandon her.

The praises keep coming as this girl also deals with the disappearance of her sister, Paige and the horror at the end when she discovers her once again. Like I promised, no spoilers, but how freaky was that for those of you who’ve read it? I have chills just thinking about that scene in general.

As rare as this is to have happen, the Angels were actually characters too – masterful and researched in detail – but they are portrayed so differently from what is standard. There are politics involved, scary deals made between individuals of unbelievable power, these beings long made out to be just good. They care most of all about hierarchy and who is in power, there are some willing to kill for that.

Truthfully it was hard to digest. I imagine no one else could have made me believe in any of what I read but this author. Long was it common assumption that Angels be just beautiful, cordial and well, kind; but all of that prior knowledge was subject to thorough distortion. Safe to say, it was the best experience I have by far had of something so ingrained and familiar being altered. My religion is still the same and I hold fast to it, but what Ee offered was a break from what was expected, a look into what the end of the world is supposed to look like, and through her eyes. The woman is a genius.

If not for anything else, read Angelfall for its new concepts, get it for that alone. So many of the characters still tug on my heart, most of all Penryn and Raffe.

Ah, Raffe.

And where exactly would a leading lady be without her suitable counterpart? In this case certainly nowhere. To anything that Raffe said, I was pretty much like:




Because he was a hot Angel and he was boss. Seriously, why can’t I get a guy like that, why?!? Does it really take the world endingoh no, no wayfor me to find a decent guy! The standards the majority of males today adhere to are much too low and must be lifted, because Ee is in town and with her around, well the normal men will be competing with Angels.




BAM, now how do you like them apples?!

The setting of this book was dead on fantabulous, and the plot has actually inspired me to do better myself with how brilliant it was and every single thing about this book is special. I don’t know if all the comparisons of Angelfall to the Hunger Games is much to go on, but I’m willing to try Hunger Games just to find out.

I need more of this, or something very close to it, I have been reading at too low a standard for much too long. The release of the next book needs to happen now. I need Raffe and I need Penryn; to be honest, I think I needed them much before ever reading about either. This whole experience was so worthwhile, there would have to be something wrong with me if I didn’t encourage everyone to get their hands on this.

5 genies: WOWZA. Yes, this is that book, the book you've been looking for! You need this novel in your life, take it from me.

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