The Hunt Review

       The Hunt, by Andrew Fukuda, is a breath of fresh air in the YA dystopian genre. To keep a genre vibrant and alive, new books have to challenge the boundaries and institutions of that genre. The Hunt most definitely does that. 

       Welcome to Earth. It has been taken over by vampires. Or rather, aliens. Bear with me, I know it sounds campy, but it gets better. The origins of this situation are vague, but earth has been taken over by aliens. The long-extinct humans are known not as humans, but as hepers. 

       However, of course, they haven’t. Meet Gene, our main character. Gene is a seventeen year old heper who has been masquerading as a normal member of alien society for his entire life. His mother and sister died when he was very young. He had his father for a while, but then he disappeared too, and now only Gene is left. He goes to school like everyone else, but his entire survival is based around an elaborate system of deceptions. He has to cover his human scent, he can’t laugh, smile, or change the pitch of his voice, and he wears fake fangs. If he is discovered, he will be killed in a very painful instant, so his life is a bit high in stress.

       The aliens are extremely similar in appearance to humans, but they have a number of behaviors and physical traits that are different. For instance, they melt when exposed to sunlight, so they are nocturnal and all their buildings are lightproof. They do not express emotion in their voices, they have fangs, and they can move extremely fast. As a race they are aloof and cocky. They invaded and took over Earth because they eat flesh. The aliens crave human flesh, and go in to a terrible bloodlust at even the slightest hint of a human presence. This is why the hepers/humans are extinct. They have all been eaten.

       Now, the curveball. It is announced that there are, in fact, hepers still living in captivity, and there is to be a heper hunt. This causes uproar and madness among the people, for the hunter who succeeds in capturing the hepers will eat them. The hunters are to be picked by a lottery, and through some dumb luck, Gene is selected. He travels to the Heper Institute to be trained for the hunt, and, well, from there you’ll have to read the book yourself.

       Gene's situation is very interesting. He has lived his whole life in a society he can never really be a part of, being taught that what he secretly is (a heper, what we would call a human) is lesser and weak. He is completely dissociated from humanity, yet, when he has to make a string of hard choices at the end of the book, his own human nature is inescapable. I love stories like this, because through impossible circumstances, they show us what people really are.

      This book has a number of very well executed plot twists. I was able to predict a couple in the first half of the book, but the last few really got me, especially the very last one. 

Characters: Gene isn't that interesting on his own, but the situations he is placed in and the decisions he makes make him fascinating. The secondary characters are also good. I like how arrogant the aliens are. This isn't a character book, though. It's definitely a plot book. 

Plot: Really, really well done. I am impressed. This book is extremely well paced. A pleasure to read. 

Ending: Excellent! Fukuda gives a satisfying resolution to the events in this book, while still leaving loose threads to weave in to the sequel. And, he drops a huge bomb on the last page. Wow. No spoilers, go read it!

Writing: This book was definitely written by a dude. You can tell. It's very precise and intentional. Very readable. 

Mature Content: Some seriously gross melting aliens, and some fairly gory people-getting-nommed scenes. Nothing ridiculously graphic, but it sticks in your head for a while. Eew. 

Overall: Shut your face hole! I, er, Gene, was just getting chased by aliens!!

This is an excellent book. Go read it now.

Nightlight Review

Author: The Harvard Lampoon
Release date: November 3, 2009
Pages: 154
Publisher: Vintage
How I got it: Bought 

About three things I was absolutely certain.First, Edwart was most likely my soul mate, maybe.Second, there was a vampire part of him--which I assumed was wildly out of his control--that wanted me dead.And third, I unconditionally, irrevocably, impenetrably, heterogeneously, gynecologically, and disreputably wished he had kissed me. 

And thus Belle Goose falls in love with the mysterious and sparkly Edwart Mullen in the Harvard Lampoon’s hilarious send-up of Twilight.  

Pale and klutzy, Belle arrives in Switchblade, Oregon looking for adventure, or at least an undead classmate. She soon discovers Edwart, a super-hot computer nerd with zero interest in girls. After witnessing a number of strange events–Edwart leaves his tater tots untouched at lunch! Edwart saves her from a flying snowball!–Belle has a dramatic revelation: Edwart is a vampire. But how can she convince Edwart to bite her and transform her into his eternal bride, especially when he seems to find girls so repulsive? 

Complete with romance, danger, insufficient parental guardianship, creepy stalker-like behavior, and a vampire prom, Nightlight is the uproarious tale of a vampire-obsessed girl, looking for love in all the wrong places.

Stupid funny, adjective: A type of funny in which things sometimes make no sense, but the audience doesn't care. In a sentence: Will Ferrel always has the BEST stupid funny movies.

Fact: I LOVE stupid funny things. South Park, Monty Python, Will Ferrel movies...it like what reality tv is to most girls my age; it is so terrible but I can't stop watching it nor do I want to. So naturally Nightlight had me LOL-ing, ROFL-ing, and OMGICBWITTIH (OMG I can't breathe what is this this is hilarious)-ing.

Nightlight definitely had its moments when it could've been better, though. I kept waiting for them to talk about Edwort's face a lot, or comment on how poorly Belle handled life without him, but they never did. I definitely felt like they missed a great opportunity for some spot-on humor there, but oh well.

Then they had such great commentary on the original Twilight, like this:

“So, Belle, what's new today?" 

Dad," I said, grasping his hands and looking directly into his eyes. "I'm in the deepest love that has ever occurred in the history of the world." 

"Gosh, Belle. When someone asks you 'What's new?' the correct answer is 'Not much'. Besides, isn't it a little soon to cut yourself off from the rest of your peers, depending on a boyfriend to satisfy your social needs as opposed to making friends? Imagine what would happen if something forced that boy to leave! I'm imagining pages and pages would happen - with nothing but the names of the months on them.”  

And some things they just threw in to make fun of Meyer's writing:

“Listen' he whispered ferociously, like a ferocious breeze or a very gentle hurricane.”  

“Muurp," muurped Edwart.” 

Several things they joked about were just totally different from Twilight, of course. The Harvard Lampoon twisted the story around in any way they possibly could, but most of the time I found what they came up with to be hilarious. Take this for example:

“It suddenly occurred to me that, after all that frolicking in the meadows, he hadn't kissed me. Was it because of the mold that grew in my sinuses?” 

Plot: What plot?

Characters: What total spazzes.

Writing: Not...very good. Purposely, sometimes.

Ending: Kind of strangely sweet?

Mature content: I think there was some swearing? I don't remember anything that struck me as inappropriate, though.

Overall:

No one dared talk to me while reading this because I was laughing so hard and often everyone just assumed I was crazy.

Seriously, this book had me in laughing fits. My little brother kept trying to kick me out of the living room because apparently I was laughing too loud. This definitely isn't a book for everyone, but if you like stupid funny things, I HIGHLY recommend it.

Other reviews:

StoryWings

Poisoned Rationality

Spell Bound Review

Author: Rachel Hawkins
Release date: March 13, 2012
Pages: 327
Publisher: Hyperion
How I got it: Bought 

Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted. 

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident. 

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

Holy craaaaaap guys. Even with my relatively new book-snobby, contemporary loving ways, Spell Bound still left me a mess. I couldn't have asked for a better ending to this series.

Even in the first five chapters in Spell Bound there are TWISTS. Twists that totally slapped me in the face! And then there were more! And then when I thought there were twists they twisted into non-twists! Let me reiterate: TWISTS. However, despite the book's twisty nature, it never got confusing or annoying. I'm telling you guys, this Hawkins lady is a witch. A witch with mad writing skillz who needs to write faster.

Sophie, why can't you be in ALL THE BOOKS? Your snarky humor and determination should definitely rub off on more characters. Archer, I know my mom and sister hate your guts, but I've ALWAYS loved you. You play off of Sophie's humor SO WELL and add a little mysterious broodiness to the series. Cal, Jenna, you two just...just GAHHH.

There's not much more I can say without spoiling anything, so I guess I will end the review with this: I love this series, and this book--full of revelations, emotions, and wicked cool magic--wrapped it up near perfectly.

Plot: Awesome.

Characters: Awesome. 

Writing: Snarky and fun.

Ending: Both happy and sad.

Mature content: Not much, if any.

Overall:

I'll miss yooooouuuuu.

I really will.

Immortal Rules Review and Giveaway

Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Release date: April 24, 2012
Pages: 485
How I got it: For review from publisher 

In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.  

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.
Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters. 

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.
Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike. 

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

I absolutely LOVE Kagawa's Iron Fey series, so I put aside my weariness towards the idea of a post-apocalyptic vampire novel because I knew if Julie Kagawa had written it, I would love it. So imagine my shock and sadness when I...didn't.

The pace was just really...slow. The Immortal Rules is nearly 500 pages, and it reads like it. Certain plot points dragged on and on when sometimes I felt like portions of the novel could've been cut out entirely.

Yet not once through the dragging plot did I find a character to invest in. I thought Allison was going to be kick-butt, and while she has her moments, I didn't find her the be the character I was hoping for and had a hard time connecting with her, especially when she seemed to be making one stupid mistake after the next. I never cared for Zeke either, and Allison and Zeke's relationship seem awkward and fake to me.

However, The Immortal Rules had its shining moments. Kagawa's writing is, of course, great, and the dark and hopeless world she created is strikingly vivid and gory, and Kanin was a mysterious character. Unfortunately, this wasn't enough to hold my interest in the story for long periods of time.

Plot: Slow and not what I was expecting.

Characters: Ok, I guess.

Writing: Great.

Ending: Good, but I doubt I'll be reading the sequel.

Kid friendly? There's violence and gore, and a little bit of swearing.

Overall:

I put this book down way too many times.

It took me a long time to read this, way longer than it should've. The Immortal Rules just didn't hold my attention and wasn't for me.

Other opinions:

YA Book Queen

The Book Cellar

Parajunkee

Gypsy Book Reviews

Even though I didn't love The Immortal Rules, you might, so I've got one finished copy from HarlequinTeen to give away to one of you! US only, ends on the 30th. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bleeding Hearts Review

Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Release Date: December 20, 2011
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Most appropriate for ages: 12+
How I got it: For review through NetgalleyOther titles in series: Hearts of Stake, Blood Feud, Out for Blood

The Drakes and friends will be tested when an infestation of deadly vampires threatens Violet Hill. 

Lucy's cousin Christabel has come to live in Violet Hill, and adjusting to the difference between life in a small mountain town and her home in the city is difficult enough. The strict curfew that Lucy's parents enforce is the worst part. Something really dangerous couldn't possibly happen in this tiny town.  

But Christabel has noticed some mysterious happenings, and it seems like Lucy, her boyfriend Nicholas and his brother Connor are all in on a secret that Christabel doesn't understand—one that seems deadly serious. Although she won't admit it, Christabel would love to be in on any secret with Connor Drake. But when she is kidnapped by the ruthless Hel-Blar vampires, Christabel must cause more and more trouble in Violet Hill, Lucy and Connor finally fill Christabel in on all the undead drama. Together, they must find a way to stamp out the Hel-Blar for good.

I have really enjoyed all of the books in this series, so imagine my shock and disappointment when I found that Bleeding Hearts was my least favorite in the Drake Chronicles so far.

Immediately I disliked Christabel. She was--there's no other way to put it--pretentious. "Oh, I'm from the city, nothing scares me. And look, I wear combat boots AND I read Pride And Prejudice a lot. So obviusly I'm tough but also have a good heart and overall I'm just cooler than you."* It got really old really quick. And Connor was pretty cool (he gets bonus points for being a Firefly nerd) but I did not love him like I probably should've.

So as you can imagine, I was not a fan of that aspect of Bleeding Hearts. I would've much rather heard more about Solange and Lucy's story-line, because I found that one a lot more interesting and fresh.

It does not help that Harvey is kinda recycling the same story-line for each installment. Vampire boy meets human/vampire/hunter girl, they immediately hate each other but get the tingles for each other, make out, lovelovelove. I don't know why its repetition now starting to bother me after I've already read 3 books of it, but it did. Though I will say that Harvey broke the mold a little towards the end, and for that I was grateful.

But what was with the short story at the end? I was finally getting into this book, when it abruptly ended and switched to a short story about the parents. WTF? I'm not sure if that'll be in the finished copy of not, but for the record, I would've much rather had more about Solange than her parents.

There were things I loved about this book (Lucy's POV! Solange going through weird stuff! Vampire politics! Nicholas and Lucy sexytimes!) but there were also things that really irked me (see above) so I guess overall it was kinda so-so for me. I'll probably be checking the next book out in the library.

*She did not actually say this but SHE MIGHT AS WELL HAVE.

(Also, has their town always been Violet Hill? Like the song? How did I miss this?)

Plot: Fast paced, as always.

Characters: Christabel was probably my least favorite character in the series so far, and Connor was eh, but the rest were as fun as ever.

Writing: Decent enough.

Ending: DUDE SERIOUSLY.

Kid friendly? There was some swearing and mentions of heavy drinking (adult).

Overall:

Striking up conversations with people instead of reading...mostly.

I'm very wishy-washy about this book. It had its fun and exciting moments, but also moments that made me groan and roll my eyes and talk to the person next to me instead of reading.

Jessica Rules The Dark Side Review

Author: Beth Fantaskey
Release Date: January 10, 2012
Pages: 309 (ARC)
Publisher: Harcourt
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: For review through tour site
Other titles in series: Jessica's Guide To Dating on the Dark Side

The highly anticipated sequel to Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side. 

It’s one thing to find out you’re a vampire princess. It’s a whole other thing to actually rule. Newly married Jessica Packwood is having a hard enough time feeling regal with her husband, Lucius, at her side. But when evidence in the murder of a powerful elder points to Lucius, sending him into solitary confinement, Jessica is suddenly on her own. Determined to clear her husband’s name, Jessica launches into a full-scale investigation, but hallucinations and nightmares of betrayal keep getting in her way. Jessica knows that with no blood to drink, Lucius’s time is running out. Can she figure out who the real killer is—and whom she can trust—before it’s too late?

3 years after reading Jessica's Guide To Dating on The Dark Side, and I still look back fondly about it. That says something about Fantaskey's debut, so I was excited to read the sequel (and get my Lucius-fix).

As I started to read Jessica Rules the Dark Side, I realized that I'd need to read the story of Lucius and Jessica's wedding before I read on. I also wished there was more recap about the end of book 1--I mean, by the time it'll be published, it will have been about 4 years since Jessica's Guide was released, and it was 3 years since I'd read it.

Sadly, I was rather annoyed by Jessica. Jessica (or Antanasia as she's mainly called in this installment) is pretty annoyingly whiny and naive through a good deal of Jessica Rules, but trust me when I say that it's worth wading through to see her overall transformation.

Even though Jess and Lucius's relationship is--thankfully--rock-solid throughout the book, there's still a new romance brewing between Raneiro and Mindy. I loved learning about Raneiro a lot, and thought Mindy was a surpirsingly bright and fun character, but I didn't love their relationship. It felt strained and unhealthy to me.

I can't say I liked Jessica Rules as much as I remember liking Jessica's Guide. I predicted the villains from the very beginning, didn't like one of the relationships, and thought the pacing was a bit off. BUT this was still a fun read, and I still completely love Lucius A LOT, and those who loved the angst in the first installment will also find plenty of angst here.

Book Report:

Plot: Exciting, but the end was predictable and the pacing was off.

Characters: Jessica can be annoying, BUT Lucius, Raneiro, and Mindy were awesome throughout.

Writing: Light and easy to read.

Ending: I'm going to guess that there's a third book? Maybe?

Kid friendly? There's mentions of sex, and maybe some very mild language.

Should I read it? Fans of Jessica's Guide shouldn't be too disappointed!

Overall:

Glass Houses Review

Author: Rachel Caine
Release Date: October 3, 2006
Pages: 248 (PB)
Publisher: NAL Jam
Most Appropriate For Ages: 14+
Where I Got It: Bought

From the author of the popular Weather Warden series comes the debut of an exciting new series set in Morganville, Texas, where you would be well advised to avoid being out after dark.

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.

Glass Houses was one of the best, most fun paranormal books I've read in a long time.

Lately with paranormal YA, the characters are annoying and two dimensional. And while the characters in Glass Houses aren't as developed as well as, say, a John Green character, they're still a step above some books I've read. Shane was such a swoonworthy love interest, Michael and Eve were great and devoted friends, and Claire was a unique and cool main character.

This was a well-paced novel, but I would've liked a bit more action. Luckily, the cliffhanger ending suggests that there will definitely be more action in the sequel, Dead Girl's Dance.

I don't have to much to say about this one. It was just fast and exciting and good. Overall, I really enjoyed Glass Houses, and I cannot wait to head back into Morganville. Especially since I've heard this series just gets better and better.

Book Report:

Plot: Fast and easy to follow.

Characters: Very fun and likable!

Writing: Not bad. The setting was really well described.

Ending: Why would you end it THERE?

Kid friendly? Pretty. There's a make out scene, brief mentions of sex, and some swearing.

Should I read it? Yes, fans of the genre can't go wrong with this one!

Overall:

 

Bite Me Review

Author: Parker Blue
Release Date: September 30, 2008
Pages: 231 (e-galley)
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: For review from Netgalley

An edgy book for teens that spans the gap between YA and adult fiction. Life after high school is tough enough without having to go 15 rounds with your inner demon. Val Shapiro is just your ordinary, part-demon, teenaged vampire hunter with a Texas drawl. And a pet hellhound named Fang. Soon enough she finds herself deep in the underbelly of the city, discovering the secrets of the Demon Underground and fighting to save those she loves. Whether they love her back or not.

I know the YA blogging community has given up on vampires. And I get why, and normally I'd agree. But there are still the few good vampire books, and those are usually the ones that manage to bring something new to the table. I'm happy to report that Bite Me did just that.

Val has a fantastically snarky personality, but it's clear that it's hiding wounds underneath it. Wounds that are clear once you meet her...um, gem of a family. They've blamed her for everything that goes wrong in her life, even though her little sister's as immature and stupid as Dawn from Buffy. She's a flawed, kick-butt heroine and I liked her character a lot.

I had a couple of issues with the book: Fang's one-liners were really cheesy, the ending wrapped everything up too perfectly, and the mystery is a tad too thin. So no, Bite Me was not perfect...but I liked it anyways. It was full of action, some decent enough romance (that I'm hoping will develop a bit more in the next book), and an awesome protagonist.

It was fun. It knew it, I knew it, neither of us was expecting more. I'd recommend this one to people who are sick of your average YA paranormal and are looking for a quick fix. It's actually got some stuff I hadn't read about in the genre before, and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.

Book Report:

Plot: Grabbed me fast.

Characters: Likable and fun.

Writing: Val's voice was really authentic.

Ending: Eh.

Kid friendly? There's brief mentions of sex, and very mild swearing.

Should I read it? Yeah, I liked it.

Overall:

 

Blog Tour: Out For Blood Review+Giveaway

Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Release Date: Dec. 21, 2010
Pages: 292 (ARC)
Publisher: Walker Books
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: For review from publicist
Other titles in series: Hearts At Stake, Blood Feud

Hunter Wild is the youngest in a long line of elite vampire hunters, a legacy that is both a blessing and a curse at the secret Helios-Ra Academy, where she excels at just about everything. Thanks to her friendship with Kieran Black, Hunter receives a special invitation to attend the coronation of Helena Drake, and for the first time, she sees the difference between vampires that must be hunted and vampires that can become friends—or even more. When students at the academy fall victim to a mysterious illness, Hunter suspects they are under attack from within. She will need someone she can trust to help her save the future of Helios-Ra . . . help that shockingly comes in the form of Quinn Drake, a drop-dead gorgeous vampire. Who said senior year would be easy?

Out For Blood is told in two points of view, Quinn Drake's and Hunter Wild's. Both of their narrations were equally grabbing, entertaining, and full of clever humor, and the plot refused to slow down.

So. Quinn. I started out not liking him. He fit the hot player type perfectly, which is not a personality that I find appealing at all. Luckily, he grew on me so much that I couldn't see not loving Quinn Drake. (Though, in all honestly, the guy on the cover freaks me out and doesn't look anything like how I imagined Quinn.) Hunter was a level headed, logical, with incredible fighting skills that I think it'd be impossible to not relate to.

And when you put Quinn and Hunter together?

Sparks fly.

I was fascinated with the world of the vampire hunters, the Helios-Ra. Thought obviously it lacks the mythology the vampires have, it's still a really cool world to read about, and I hope we get more looks into it through the series.

I do have a few very minor complaints. Mostly with Hunter's friends. Though they each had some original traits, I never really got much personality from any of them. They were just kinda...blah, I guess. Also, the big mystery of the novel never really got going until the last 80 pages or so.

Luckily, those two things I noticed didn't take away from my reading experience with Out For Blood, and this is still a book--and series--that I'd highly recommend.

Book Report:

Plot: Exciting and original.

Characters: Awesome.

Writing: Witty and just plain good.

Ending: Very nice. No cliffhanger.

Kid friendly? Yeah. There was some swearing and gore, but nothing too bad.

Should I read it? Yes. I don't think you'd even need to read the first two in the series to enjoy this one.

Overall:

 

Thanks to the awesome people at Walker Books For Young Readers, I have one copy of Out For Blood and a bookmark to give away to one lucky winner! This contest will end on Jan. 10, 2011 and is open to only residents of the US. FILL OUT THIS FORM to enter. (While comments are greatly appreciated, they don't count as entries.) Good luck!

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner Review

Author: Stephenie Meyer
Release Date: June 5, 2010
Pages: 192/4 hours and 10 minutes (Audiobook)
Publisher: Little Brown
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: From library

Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.

I enjoyed this one. More than some but probably not as much as others.

It was really interesting to see how the vampires in Stephenie Meyer's world act when they're not goody-two-shoes vegetarians, though I actually would've liked to see a little more gore and all, actually. (First time I've ever put that in a review...)

My favorite character as definitely Fred. I didn't really care too much for Bree's "BFF"/love interest Diego. It was possible that it was because I listened to the audiobook version of this, and Diego's voice wasn't nearly...um....enough like a guy for my taste. (Though that's as far as my complaints go for the reader, overall I thought she did a good job.) Bree herself was a pretty good character, though.

So I guess I was kinda neutral about this one, overall. I'm glad I read it though. It was an interesting, quick read that I enjoyed and would recommend to Twilight fans.

Book Report:

Plot: Well paced.

Characters: Not too bad.

Writing: I definitely noticed a lack of description...

 Reading (audiobook): Aside from Diego's voice, pretty good.

Ending: Expected, but still pretty sad.

How kid friendly is it? Very. There's death, but other than that I didn't notice anything.

Should I read it? Sure. It was quick, so you wouldn't be wasting that much time if you didn't enjoy it.

Overall:

Almost To Die For Review

Author: Tate Hallaway
Release Date: August 3, 2010
Pages: 241 (Paperback)

Publisher: NAL (Penguin Group)

Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: For review from publisher

On her sixteenth birthday, Anastasija Parker learns that her so-called deadbeat dad is actually a vampire king. And he wants Ana to assume her rightful position at his side, in spite of the fact that she has witch's blood running through her veins-from her mother's side.

Too bad witches and vampires are mortal enemies. And now Ana's parents are at each other's throats over her future. It's up to Ana to make a choice, but deciding your eternal destiny is a pretty big deal for a girl who just wants to get through high school.
-------------------------------
Towards the beginning of Almost To Die for, I wasn't that impressed. It just wasn't grabbing me.

But when it grabbed me, it really grabbed me.

Yeah, slow to start, but once it picks up, it really picks up. It was definitely a new take on vampires and general YA paranormal. There wasn't too much conflict until the end, but I think that part of that had a lot to do with building the story up for the next books in the series.

Ana was a good protagonist, and I'd definitely use the words feisty and fun to describe her. I loved the guys in this book, especially Nikolai. What can I say? I have a thing for non-jerk rocker guys. But I also liked the very gentlemanyly Elias. Ana's mom annoyed me to no end, and her dad did as well.

I was really impressed by Tate Hallaway's writing and storytelling abilities. Sometimes you have to pick between good writing and good humor, but not in Almost To Die For.

The ending was action-packed and left me wanting book 2! Overall, a welcome new paranormal romance. Definitely one to pick up.

How kid friendly is it? Not a lot of language, violence, or sexual content. This one is definitely safe for younger teens, in my opinion!
 

Blood Feud Review.

Author: Alyxandra Harvey

Release Date: June 22, 2010

Pages: 272 (ARC)

Publisher: Walker Books For Young Readers

Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: Around The World Tours
Other titles in series: Hearts At Stake (which I would recommend reading before this)

It's been centuries since Isabeau St. Croix barely survived the French Revolution. Now she's made her way back to the living and she must face the ultimate test by confronting the evil British lord who left her for dead the day she turned into a vampire. That's if she can control her affection for Logan Drake, a vampire whose bite is as sweet as the revenge she seeks.

The clans are gathering for Helena's royal coronation as the next vampire queen, and new alliances are beginning to form now that the old rifts of Lady Natasha's reign have started to heal. But with a new common enemy, Leander Montmarte—a vicious leader who hopes to force Solange to marry him and usurp the power of the throne for himself—the clans must stand together to preserve the peace he threatens to destroy.

This second adventure in the Drake Chronicles—told from both Logan's and Isabeau's perspectives—has all the same butt-kicking action, heart-pounding romances and snarky humor that readers loved in Hearts at Stake, as well as exciting new revelations about the vampire dynasties to keep readers coming back for more.
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When I read the description for Blood Feud the first time I must admit that I was slightly horrified that they were taking the focus away from my beloved Lucy and Solange and instead putting the spotlight on Logan and some new chick. I should've had more faith in Alyxandra Harvey.

The plot was action-packed, as expected, but still had a very good story to go along with it instead of just being "Hey let's kick some butt for no reason cause people like action books!" The Drake Chronicles has actually progressed to be a really original and interesting vampire book, with a little history thrown in with Blood Feud.

Like I said, I was worried about ditching my Heart's At Stake's fantastic protagonists (which were still included in the book, but not nearly as much), but I still loved them! From what I saw of Logan in Hearts At Stake I wouldn't expect him to be as sweet and sensitive as he was. And man does Alyxandra Harvey know how to create some kick-butt chicks! Isabeau was another great character, and she brought a whole new vampire storyline with her that I loved and would loved to have heard more about. There wasn't as much humor as in Hearts At Stake, but there was still some, of course.

Alyxandra Harvey is a brilliant storyteller, and her writing was good too. But I mean the woman can tell a great story!

Even though the ending wrapped things up nicely, I'm still dying for the next book. I think I may be addicted to this series. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

How kid friendly is it? Pretty. There's not a lot of gore, but there is violence as well as a little language.

Alex Van Helsing: Vampire Rising Review

Author: Jason Henderson

Release Date: May 3 , 2010

Pages: 256

Publisher: HarperTeen

Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: From Around The World Tours

Fourteen-year-old Alex has no idea that he's descended from the world's most famous vampire hunter, but that changes fast when he arrives at Glenarvon Academy and confronts two vampires in his first three days. Turns out Glenarvon isn't the only school near Lake Geneva. Hidden deep underground lies an ancient university for vampires called the Scholomance. And the deadly vampire clan lord known as Icemaker? You might say he's a visiting professor.

When two of Alex's friends are kidnapped by Icemaker, it's up to Alex to infiltrate the Scholomance and get them back—alive. Assisted by the Polidorium, a top-secret vampire-hunting organization with buried ties to the Van Helsings, Alex dodges zombies, bullets, and lots—and lots—of fangs on his way to thwarting Icemaker's plans and fulfilling his family destiny.

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Vampire Rising sounded like it could have been Maximum Ride - the wings + vampires and a male main character, which sounds great to me since I'm very obviously an action (and Maximum Ride) junkee. But Alex Van Helsing: Vampire Rising fell flat for me.

The plot was...decent. I followed it, but action scenes would pop out of nowhere along with some new supernatural creature that didn't get a good entry at all and then I'd feel lost. I think this may be a problem with the writing, or even possibly me, but it definitely took away from my overall enjoyment of the novel.

I never really connected to the characters. At all. None of them had a lot of personality...or any personality, really. I didn't have a favorite or a least favorite.

The writing was decent, except for what I've already explained above. Jason Henderson has already written some comics, I believe, and you can tell by his storytelling.

The ending was OK. Overall, this wasn't the book for me. I managed to finish it but never really got into it. I'm pretty sure there will be another but I don't think I'm going to read it. If it sounds interesting to you, then give it a try. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood.

Hourglass Review

(INCLUDES SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT READ EVERNIGHT AND STARGAZER.)

Author: Claudia Gray

Release Date: March 9, 2010

Pages: 338 (ARC)

Publisher: HarperTeen

Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: For review from Around The World Tours

After escaping from Evernight Academy, the vampire boarding school where they met, Bianca and Lucas seek refuge with Black Cross, an elite group of vampire hunters. Bianca must hide her supernatural heritage or risk certain death at their hands. But when Black Cross captures her friend--the vampire Balthazar--all her secrets threaten to come out.

Soon, Bianca and Lucas have orchestrated Balthazar's escape and are on the run, pursued not only by Black Cross, but by the powerful leaders of Evernight. Yet no matter how far they run, Bianca can't escape her destiny.

Bianca has always believed their love could survive anything--but can it survive what's to come?

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I swear, this series gets better and better with each book.

Claudia Gray is the master of twists and turns, I can never guess where she's taking the series next. The plot is original, exciting, and full of fast paced action. And I loved the setting(s) for the book.

In Hourglass, you get to see how much Bianca and Lucas' relationship has grown. And grown it has. It's become a healthy, beautiful relationship and one that will stick out from all of the other teen romance books in my mind. Bianca is a strong character who stuck by her decisions, even if it did cost her, and I loved that. Lucas seems to like to throw himself a pity party once in a while, but with what he's faced in his short life, I can understand why, and for the most part he's strong as well. The side characters are all amusing and easy to love, too.

The writing was easy to read and fast paced. The writing isn't amazing, but Claudia Gray can tell a great story.

I am still in shock from the ending, I need the next book NOW! Definitely what would be described as a cliff-hanger...what other things can you do on a cliff? Fall? Okay, it was a cliff-faller, I guess. Overall, a great installment to the series. If you're a fan of paranormal romance with lots of action and you haven't read this series yet, then you're missing out.

Hearts At Stake Review

Author: Alyxandra Harvey

Release Date: December 22, 2009

Pages: 248 (ARC)

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers

Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+

On Solange’s sixteenth birthday, she is going to wake up dead. As if that’s not bad enough, she also has to outwit her seven overprotective older brothers, avoid the politics involved with being the only daughter born to an ancient vampire dynasty, and elude Kieran Black—agent of an anti-vampire league who is searching for his father’s killer and is intent on staking Solange and her entire family.

Luckily she has her own secret weapon—her human best friend Lucy—who is willing to defend Solange’s right to a normal life, whether she’s being smothered by her well-intentioned brothers or abducted by a power-hungry queen. Two unlikely alliances are formed in a race to save Solange’s eternal life—Lucy and Solange’s brother Nicholas, and Solange and Kieran Black—in a dual romance that is guaranteed to jump start any romance-lover’s heart.

Even fans of the genre who’ve seen it all will find a fresh read with kick-butt characters and family dynamics that ring true for all brothers and sisters—vampire or otherwise.

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Hearts At Stake was a fun, fast-paced read that I didn't want to end.

The plot was always moving. Stake here, holy water there, something was always happening. I loved that aspect of Hearts At Stake. It's a page-turner that quickly becomes addictive and hard to put down.

In the midst of all of the action, I somehow managed to fall in love with a few characters. I can't just pick one favorite character from Hearts At Stake, but it's a three-way tie between Lucy (Solange's best friend who's can kick some major butt), Helena (the Drake family's mother who was also a very strong, kick butt character), and Nicolas (he's one of those super-sweet guys/vampires...usually). I had a lot of trouble distinguishing which brother was which, except for maybe one or two. (And obviously not the brother that Hearts At Stake mainly focused on, Nicolas.) There were seven of them, so it was a little hard to remember every single one.

The writing flowed nicely, and Alyxandra Harvey seems to write action and romance scenes with ease. She'll be a much welcome addition to the genre.

The ending was climactic and exciting, just as I'd expected. My only complaint with Hearts At Stake would be that I didn't get to know some of the characters as much as I'd like in the midst of all of the action. But overall I really enjoyed this novel to the very happy ending. Definitely one for paranormal fans to pick up when they're looking for a fast, fun read! I'm very excited to read the sequel, Blood Feud.

(Thanks again to Walker Books for Young Readers/Bloomsbury for providing me with a review copy!)

Hearts At Stake is one of seven books being offered in my 200 Follower Shin Dig. Go enter!

The Twilight Saga: New Moon Review

I highly doubt that I need to post a synopsis, do I? So instead I'll just state my thoughts.

The first time I saw Twilight I thought it was good. They could've done better, but good. The second time, it was worse. The third time it was bad. They changed so much that I had to separate the book from the movie; pretend that they were completely unrelated. But when I did that, all that was left was a lame movie where the romance was too forced, the acting wasn't up to par, and the special effects made the vampires look like sweaty animals or something; but definitely not the amazing vampiric ability that is needed from vampires.

So, please imagine how thrilled I am about honestly being able to say: New Moon was SO much better than Twilight.

The acting was way better. We see less of Edward (Rob Pattinson) and more of Jacob (Taylor Lautner) which is good, because Taylor is noticeably a better actor than Rob. And, guess what? Kristen Stewart (Bella) can act! Instead of stuttering and blinking rapidly when upset, and she seemed less nervous on screen, and (this wasn't really her fault in Twilight, though) she looked better. Dakota Fanning did great in her role as Jane, even though (again, not really her fault) her contacts seemed too big. I loved Bella's dad, Charlie, and the very rare times that the Cullen family were in the movie they were all great.

New Moon actually stuck to the book, too. They didn't cut out very important scenes like Twilight did, luckily. And they didn't add much, either. (Except one scene involving a motorcycle and a guy. My friend and I were literally freaking out and most likely making everyone around give us odd glances.) They stayed very true to the book, though.

Special effects wise: Edward still looks sweaty. Maybe a little more sparkly, but still not what's described throughout the series. I was too relieved that they didn't make the weird sparkly sound to care too much though. The wolves were so cool! I loved the human-like expressions they would have, and the close-ups they did of the wolves eye.

It's weird, because in the books I love both guys, but I know that Bella should be with Edward. But, in the movies, she looks like she should be with Jacob. They showed their relationship progress so much better than Bella and Edward's did in Twilight, and they have better screen chemistry.

My friend and I would giggle through the movie while we cracked stupid jokes and watched men take their shirts off for no apparent reasons. ("Bella, you're bleeding! Let me take my shirt off to stop the blood.") Oh, and, here's something that made us roll on the floor laughing in the theater that you need to look out for: Edward's nipples. One seems giant, hairy, and possibly slightly deformed, while the other is very small and dainty. It was just weird and hysterical. Oh, and Jasper's hair. It was like some kind of Weird Al perm.

All in all, my faith in the movie franchise has been restored! Huzzah! Hopefully Eclipse, with its new director and new Victoria (both against my wishes) will live up to its successor. If the second time I watch this, its significantly worse than my first time, I'll re-review it, but I highly doubt that will happen.

Vampire Game Vol. 1 Review

Author: Judai

Release Date: January 13, 2009

Pages: 200 (Even though I thought it was a few more...)(Paperback)

Publisher: Tokyopop

Most Appropriate For Ages: 13+

In an epic battle, King Phelios defeats the Vampire King Duzell, but both monarchs are mortally wounded. As the two lay dying, Duzell prophesies that the two will meet again after their death, and vows that he will be triumphant. At least half the prophesy is proven true when Duzell is resurrected 100 years later, as a baby wildcat who is rescued and adopted by Ishtar, who just happens to be the great-granddaughter of his nemesis, King Phelios. Ishtar is a playful girl with an iron will and a penchant for pranks, a trait that distresses her caretaker, Sir Keld, and the dashing, but often bumbling, imperial guard, Captain Darres. Ishtar is not, however, the reincarnation of Phelios, leaving the now feline Duzell to continue his quest for revenge...with the surprisingly cooperative Ishtar as his companion!
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Vampire Game was something that my sister had, and it was the only thing for me to read after I'd finished The Dust of 100 Dogs, but it was better than I'd originally thought it would be!

The plot is somewhat juvenile- I mean, come on, a cat and a princess? And, it was too low on action for my manga tastes. But, other than that it wasn't bad. Definitely original.

The characters were really good! The main character, Ishtar, was pretty much a rude brat. Yet, I still loved her! Duzell provided some good laughs with his sarcastic comments that made me love him too. We didn't hear much from her body guard, Darres, who's past I'm anxious to find out since it really didn't go into much detail about his past in the first volume.

The animation, kinda like the plot line, was juvenile. I'm hoping it evolves throughout the series, because it didn't impress me very much. The dialogue wasn't too bad, though.

I didn't think I would care about the sequel until the ending of volume one, which was a nice little cliffhanger. Overall, this wasn't exactly my type of manga, but I enjoyed it. Definitely one for comedy and fantasy manga fans.

Shattered Mirror Review

Release Date: July 8, 2003
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Age Group: 12+
Pages: 221 (Paperback)
Other Titles In Series: In The Forests on the Night, Demon in my View (You should read them in order.)

To the casual observer, Christopher Ravena and Sarah Vida look like normal high school students. But he’s a vampire who has sworn off human blood, and she’s a witch, a daughter of the most powerful vampire-hunting dynasty in history. Slowly, without meaning to, Sarah finds herself won over by his sensitivity, his gentleness, his kindness. But his past and her future collide when they both get tangled up with Nikolas, one of the most reviled vampires ever.
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I think I liked Demon In My View more, but this was still a really good addition to the Den of Shadows series.

The plot was very original, and executed well. There was lots of action, and the Sarah's journey was very well documented. Even so, I didn't have much trouble putting it down, although there were parts where I couldn't.

I think part of the reason it was semi-easy to put down was that I didn't love any of the characters. Sarah, Christopher, Nissa, and Nikolas, were all OK. Sarah was probably my favorite; she had awesome fighting skills, wasn't whiny, and let her emotions guide her through the whole book.

What can I saw about Amelia Atwater-Rhodes? She is one of my favorite authors. All of her books that I've read (which, right now, has only been the first 3 in the Den of Shadows series) have been very well-written, well thought out, and very quick reads. And, of course, Shattered Mirror was no exception.

So, although Demon in my View is still my favorite out of the series, Shattered Mirror was still a pretty darn good read, and quick. If you're looking for a new, relatively unknown, well-written vampire and vampire hunter book, pick up Shattered Mirror. And the rest of the 90s, gothic Den of Shadows series.