2011 Debut Author Challenge

The new year has rolled around and that means another Debut Author Challenge hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren. I participated last year, and while I did not review all the books I had chosen, I did make the minimum required to participate. So I'm proud of myself for that, especially since I didn't join until August 2010. And I'm excited to participate again this year.

What is the 2011 Debut Author Challenge?

The objective is to read a set number of YA (Young Adult) or MG (Middle Grade) novels from debut authors published this year. The minimum number is 12, but there is no maximum! Anyone can join, you don’t need a blog to participate. If you don’t have a blog you can always share your reviews by posting on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, GoodReads, or any other bookish site. The challenge will run from January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011. You can join at anytime!

For more information on the 2011 Debut Author Challenge, please visit The Story Siren.

My 2011 Debut Author Book Choices

These are the books I have chosen to read and review. Once I finish and review a book, you will be able to click on the title of the book to link to my review.

1. XVI by Julia Karr
2. BAD TASTE IN BOYS by Carrie Harris
3. BESTEST. RAMADAN. EVER. by Medeia Sharif
4. BLOOD MAGIC by Tessa Gratton
5. BORN AT MIDNIGHT (SHADOW FALLS #1) by C.C. Hunter
6. CLARITY by Kim Harrington
7. DARKNESS BECOMES HER (GODS AND MONSTERS #1) by Kelly Keaton
8. DARK PARTIES by Sara Grant
9. DIE FOR ME (REVENANTS #1) by Amy Plum
10. DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth
11. ENTANGLED by Cat Clarke
12. FALLING UNDER by Gwen Hayes
13. HOURGLASS by Myra McEntire
14. THE IRON THORN (IRON CODEX #1) by Caitlin Kittredge
15. THE IRON WITCH (THE IRON WITCH SAGA #1) by Karen Mahoney
16. LUMINOUS by Dawn Metcalf
17. THE NEAR WITCH by Victoria Schwab
18. OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy
19. POSSESSION by Elana Johnson
20. STARCROSSED (STARCROSSED #1) by Josephine Angelini
21. STUPID FAST by Geoff Herbach
22. VESPER (DEVIANTS #1) by Jeff Sampson
23. WAKE UNTO ME by Lisa Cach
24. WITHER (CHEMICAL GARDEN #1) by Lauren DeStefano
25. WILDEFIRE by Karsten Knight

(ARC) Book Review: Hunger

Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler
I received an ARC of Hunger from 1 ARC Tours.

Publication Date: 18 October 2010.


Description
Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home: her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power — and the courage to battle her own inner demons?


My Review
Hunger presents a unique look into anorexia and how it truly is a mental illness.

Loved: How readers were able to get a glimpse into the mind of a person suffering from an eating disorder. It was interesting to see how the "Thin Voice" dictated to Lisa what she should and shouldn't eat or what the consequences of eating would be. It was also interesting to see how much in denial Lisa was regarding her illness. She truly believed that her behavior was normal and rational.

Liked: How the author used fantasy to present a unique look into anorexia and bulimia. As Famine, Lisa's own hunger affected people wherever she went. On a more personal level, this shows how anorexia and bulimia can affect more than just the person suffering from the disorder.

Disliked: The length of the book. Kessler had a great concept and story, but it felt it was a little rushed from the middle of the book up to the end. I would have liked a little more story development.

Overall: Kessler creates a strong character connection between Lisa and her friend Tammy, who suffers from bulimia. I liked how Kessler contrasted this with Lisa's former friendship. It showed how much an eating disorder can change lives, habits, and relationships.


My Rating is 3.5 stars

Description and picture courtesy of Goodreads.

Book Review: Shadow Hills

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Publication Date: 13 July 2010

I received an ARC of this book from Star Book Tours.


Description
His love captivated her... his secrets might kill her.

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.

After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.

But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life.


My Review
Anastasia Hopcus has written an intriguing novel full of mystery and romance with a dash of science thrown in. Her debut novel, Shadow Hills, is a great departure from the werewolves, vampires and angels that have been so prevalent in the recent releases occupying the YA section of bookstores and libraries. Hopcus' unique concept of a genetic mutation, a town shrouded in mystery, and a young girl searching for answers about her deceased sister, all combine to make an engaging and hard to put down debut novel.

What I liked most about Shadow Hills was how Hopcus incorporated music into the story. Music is a big influence in my personal life and Hopcus' use of it made me feel more connected to the book. The individual musical tastes of her characters help me to have more insight into their personality. I must admit, I did have to look up a few of the artists/bands mentioned because I wasn't familiar with them, but I also found some new tunes to add to my personal library. Having the musical connection made it easier to lose myself in the world of Shadow Hills and to personally connect with the characters.

The one aspect of the book I found a little unrealistic was how fast the relationship between Zach and Phe grew. I personally felt it was a little to fast. It seemed as if she barely knew Zach and all of a sudden they're all hot and heavy. I would have liked to see more development of a friendship before it went straight to romance. Also, Phe seemed to take Zach's condition pretty easily. I think I would have been a little more cautious and not jumped into a relationship with someone who had a genetic mutation that caused all sorts of unusual "gifts."

Overall, I liked Shadow Hills. The incorporation of a unique paranormal romance makes it a standout in YA fiction. This debut novel is refreshing and engages readers into the mystery of the town of Shadow Hills and it's residents. I am looking forward to the next book in the series and am interested in seeing how Hopcus continues Phe and Zach's story.

My Rating is 3.5 stars



Description and picture courtesy of Goodreads.

Check out my teaser of Shadow Hills here.


Shadow Hill Book Trailer

Book Review: The Ivy

The Ivy by Lauren Kunze

Publication Date: 31 August 2010.

I received an ARC of this book from Good Golly Miss Holly ARC Tours.


Description
Freshman year at Harvard--glamorous parties, blossoming friendships, steamy romances, and scandalous secrets. Skip the campus tour and get right to the good stuff: classes are for scoping guys (and their Facebook profiles), not taking notes. The library is for study dates (the medieval history stacks get a lot of action), not studying. And success is a 4.0 GPA... plus getting into the most exclusive parties. How will Callie--a California girl with brains, beauty, and big dreams--and her three roommates survive?

Get admitted to The Ivy, the first book in a provocative new series about the world of the Ivy League.


My Review
In The Ivy, Callie Andrews is a young woman, struggling to fit in as a freshman at Harvard. Callie starts off as a somewhat naive small town girl, who soon discovers the joys (and troubles) of attending an exclusive Ivy League college. The authors of The Ivy are alumna of Harvard and I felt that this fact made the story seem more realistic. While I'm sure some poetic license may have been taken to "spice up" the overall story, knowing the authors had the experience of attending Harvard themselves made it seem as if I was getting an insider view of what really happens at an Ivy League school and Harvard in particular. And, if I'm judging from The Ivy, it's not just about academics and coveted internships, that's for sure.

The one thing I felt lacked in the book was that I really felt no attachment towards was the main character, Callie. In fact, halfway through the book, I was getting a little annoyed with her. She seemed to have a knack for making wrong choices and alienating her roommates and friends. I would have liked her to be less selfish and retain some of her original character, not just have it all swept away in the folly of gaining social status and recognition. I was also confused as to why she had to have so many romantic interests. The story would have still been good, and to me more interesting, if her love life wasn't overcrowded with so many guys.

I look forward to reading the next book in this series. I would really like to see more character development of Callie's roommates. It would be nice to see a little more POV from them, especially Dana. I think I would be more invested in their characters and stories if I learned more about their personal lives and how they came to develop the personalities they have. I was also much more interested in them then Callie herself (as mentioned above). This was a good debut novel and I'd enjoy seeing how the storyline plays out in future books.

The Ivy is a good addition to the young adult market since it deals with a subject that is rarely written about in YA novels. I'd love to see more first year college books on the shelves. I think that even in fiction, it shows the highs and lows of teens striking out on their own for what is most likely the first time in their lives. While I think this book is appropriate for older, mature teens, it does contain drinking and sexual situations. I would therefore not suggest it for a younger teen audience.


My Rating is 3.5 stars

Description and picture courtesy of Goodreads.

(ARC) Book Review: The Replacement

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
I received an ARC of this book through Star Book Tours.


Description: Mackie Doyle seems like everyone else in the perfect little town of Gentry, but he is living with a fatal secret - he is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now the creatures under the hill want him back, and Mackie must decide where he really belongs and what he really wants.

A month ago, Mackie might have told them to buzz off. But now, with a budding relationship with tough, wounded, beautiful Tate, Mackie has too much to lose. Will love finally make him worthy of the human world?


My Review: The Replacement is an original and edgy read that introduces readers to a dark and twisted world. Told through the eyes of Mackie Doyle it portrays the uglier side of human nature and unimaginable beings that exist on the fringes of human society.

The two characters that stood out the most for me were Tate and Emma. Tate was a strong, independent female character. When her younger sister's "replacement" dies, Tate is the only one to defy the townspeople's long-held silence regarding missing babies. I liked how her love for her sister was so great that she was willing to speak up for her sister even though the rest of the town, including her family, was following the status quo.

Emma too, was a strong, independent female character who accepted and loved her brother Mackie's replacement, despite knowing he wasn't really her brother. While almost all replacements, sickly to begin with, died young, Mackie grew up to be a teenager because of the love and attention that Emma gave him. She was willing to sacrifice for her brother so that he could survive in the human world.

The one character I would have like to see more development on was Mackie's friend Roswell. I would have loved to learn more about his family and what made them the exception to the rest of the townspeople.

The Replacement was a well written story of dark and dangerous beings. Yovanoff has created a great atmospheric novel that will appeal to older teens and adult readers.


My Rating: 4 stars

Decsription and picture courtesy of Goodreads.

Book Review: Tyger Tyger

Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton
I received an ARC of this book from We Love YA! Tours.


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

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

The goblins are coming.


My Review: In Tyger Tyger, author Kersten Hamilton mixes urban fantasy and Celtic mythology to create a modern fairy tale full of adventure. I really liked this book because it had an edgy feel to it that would appeal to mature teens and also adults. It's definitely not your average fairy tale!

Teagan is an average teen, going through life with a loving family, consisting of her librarian father, painter mother, precocious younger brother and a somewhat flighty best friend. But all that changes when Finn Mac Cumhaill comes to live with her family. From that point on, Teagan's life changes drastically and she becomes aware of a world she never would have believed existed.

What struck me the most about this book was the character development. Hamilton had such rich character development from supporting characters, such as Lennie, to the main characters, Teagan and Finn. I also really liked how she portrayed Aiden, Teagan's younger brother. Aiden was an "old-soul" in a child's body. At times he acted just like any other six year old, but other times he was more mature than some adults I've encountered, especially considering some of the situations that Teagan, Aiden and Finn faced throughout the book. But Hamilton weaved this so effortlessly into Aiden's character development that it didn't seem out of place or inconsistent.

Tyger Tyger is a great adventure story full of the darker side of the fairy world. I am looking forward to the release of the second book in this series (sometime in mid 2011). I just wish I didn't have to wait so long.


My Rating: 4 stars

Description and picture courtsey of Goodreads.

Book Review: Other

Other by Karen Kincy
I bought this book.


Description: Seventeen-year-old Gwen hides a dangerous secret: she’s Other. Half-pooka, to be exact, thanks to the father she never met. Most Americans don’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for Others, especially not the small-town folks of Klikamuks, Washington. As if this isn’t bad enough, Gwen’s on the brink of revealing her true identity to her long-time boyfriend, Zack, but she’s scared he’ll lump her with the likes of bloodthirsty vampires and feral werewolves.

When a pack of werewolves chooses the national forest behind Gwen’s home as their new territory, the tensions in Klikamuks escalate-into murder. It soon becomes clear a serial killer is methodically slaying Others. The police turn a blind eye, leaving Gwen to find the killer before the killer finds her. As she hunts for clues, she uncovers more Others living nearby than she ever expected. Like Tavian, a sexy Japanese fox-spirit who rivals Zack and challenges her to embrace her Otherness. Gwen must struggle with her own conflicted identity, learn who she can trust, and-most importantly-stay alive.


My Review: Other is a very different kind of story that tells of a world where paranormal creatures are known to humans. Because of this some Others feel the need to hide who they are in order to blend in with human society. Gwen is one of those Others who hides in order to escape persecution and prejudice.

The thing that struck a chord with me the most was how Gwen struggled with being Other. Not just with feeling out of place among humans, but the actual physical struggle between her human side and her pooka side. She often feels as if she has to suppress her "pookaness" in order to prevent herself from shapeshifting. This cause a physical reaction of pain that generally ends with her giving in and shifting. This inner battle made me empathize with Gwen and gave her character depth.

I liked how the author didn't make the story completely "us against them" (humans against Others). By incorporating Gwen's prejudice against bloodborn Others, Kincy showed how sometimes prejudice comes from within a group. This prejudice causes Gwen to get stuck on one person as a suspect and blinded her to who the real killer was.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Other and I really liked the incorporation of lesser known "others" like water sprites and dryads. It's a unique view of the paranormal world and a fresh take on this young adult genre. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a change of pace.


My Rating: 4 stars

Click here to check out my teaser of Other.

Description and picture courtesy of Goodreads.

Book Review: Tweet Heart

Tweet Heart by Elizabeth Rudnick

Publication Date: 22 June 2010

I purchased this book.


Description
Claire is a #hopelessromantic. Lottie is determined to set up her BFF with Mr. Perfect. Will wants his #secretcrush to finally notice him. Bennett is a man with a plan.

Claire can’t believe it when her dream guy starts following her on Twitter. She never thought he noticed her, and suddenly he seems to understand her better than almost anyone.

But the Twitterverse can be a confusing place, especially when friends act differently online than they do in person. Things get even more complicated when Claire realizes she’s falling for someone else, the last person she ever would have expected….

Told in an innovative format combining tweets, emails, and blogs, Tweet Heart is a contemporary romantic comedy that will set your heart atwitter.


My Review
The format of Tweet Heart is what drew me to it initially. I've read books in the past that were in all email, memos and/or voicemails and phone calls and I really enjoyed them. I thought it was a cool idea to use social media and Twitter to write a book and I was not disappointed. I liked how the icons gave me a glimpse into the physical appearance of the characters since, unlike traditional novels, character descriptions were not really possible. I also liked how I was able to see situations from different perspectives through each characters tweets. Author Elizabeth Rudnick does a great job of creating separate and unique personalities for her characters and allowing them to show through their tweets and emails.

My favorite character by far is Bennett. He's sarcastic, snarky and funny, which is hard to get across on Twitter when you can't use more than 140 characters (believe me, I speak from experience). His conversations and blog entries made me laugh. And Will got my sympathy for crushing on Claire who really liked another guy.

The story line of Tweet Heart was not original - boy likes girl, girl likes other boy, boy pretends to be other boy online, which leads to all kinds of shenanigans - but the format made the story different. It showed how easy it is to misrepresent yourself online and how anyone can pretend to be another person. For those who are not Tweeters, the format can take a while to get used to, but once you get it a great story and characters emerge. Tweet Heart is romantic and funny and worth picking up even if you're not a Twitter veteran.


My Rating is 3.5 stars

Description and picture courtesy of Goodreads.

Book Review: The Ghost and the Goth

The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade
I received an ARC of this book from We Love YA Tours.


Description: After a close encounter with the front end of a school bus, Alona Dare goes from Homecoming Queen to Queen of the Dead. Now she’s stuck here in spirit form with no sign of the big, bright light coming to take her away. To make matters worse, the only person who might be able to help her is Will Killian, a total loser/outcast type who hates the social elite. He alone can see and hear her, but he wants nothing to do with the former mean girl of Groundsboro High.

Can they get over their mutual distrust—and this weird attraction between them—to work together before Alona vanishes for good and Will is locked up for seeing things that don’t exist?


My Review: The Ghost and the Goth is one of the funniest and entertaining books I have read in a while. Despite the somewhat cliched loner boy/popular girl pairing, author Stacey Kade has written a unique ghost story that is impossible to put down (I literally read the book in one night).

Alona Dare seems like the typical head cheerleader/most popular girl at school, but this masks the problems she has to deal with at home with an alcoholic mother and uncaring father. And Will Killian seems like the typical loner, anti-social outcast, but in reality he is a medium who can communicate with ghosts. I like how Kade doesn't totally conform her characters to the usual stereotypes, but instead shows readers that what may look perfect or normal on the outside is not always so.

I really liked how Kade plotted out the story in The Ghost and the Goth. It's easy to see where and how the story will end, based on the premise, but Kade throws in some surprises and eventually concludes with an ending that was not quite as expected but very good.

Stacey Kade has penned a great story that captured my interest from the first page. I loved the pacing, character development and storyline and am looking forward to reading more from her in the future.


My Rating: 4 stars

Description and picture courtesy of Goodreads.

The 2010 Debut Author Challenge

I'm a little late coming into this challenge since the year is half over, but I looked at the books I plan to review and decided that I wanted to participate in the 2010 Debut Author Challenge, hosted by The Story Siren.

What is the 2010 Debut Author Challenge?

The objective is to read a set number of YA (Young Adult) or MG (Middle Grade) novels from debut authors published this year. Anyone can join, you don’t need a blog to participate. If you don’t have a blog you can always share your views by posting a review on Amazon.com/BarnesandNoble.com/GoodReads/Shelfari, or any other bookish site. The challenge will run from January 1, 2010- December 31, 2010. You can join at anytime!

Below is my list of books that I plan on reading and reviewing for the challenge.  Books I have already finished are linked to their reviews.

1. Manifest - Artist Arthur
2. Wintercraft - Jenna Burtenshaw
3. Fortune - Megan Cole
4. Matched - Allie Condie
5. Nevermore - Kelly Creagh
6. Nightshade - Andrea Cremer
7. Personal Demons - Lisa Derochers
8. Knightley Academy - Violet Haberdasher
9. Tyger Tyger - Kersten Hamilton
10. Shadow Hills - Anastasia Hopcus
11. Firelight - Sophie Jordan
12. The Ghost and the Goth - Stacey Kade
13. The DUFF - Kody Keplinger
14. Hunger - Jackie Morse Kessler
15. Other - Karen Kincy
16. The Ivy - Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur
17. Infinite Days - Rebecca Maizel
18. Angel Star - Jennifer Murgia
19. Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver
20. Anna and the French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins
21. Bleeding Violet - Dia Reeves
22. Return the Heart - T.K. Richardson
23. Tweet Heart - Elizabeth Rudnick
24. Numbers - Rachel Ward
25. The Replacement - Brenna Yovanoff

Book Review: Manifest

Manifest by Artist Arthur

I received an ARC of this book through We Love YA Tours.

Publication Date: 01 August 2010


Description
When fifteen-year-old Krystal Bentley moves to Lincoln, Connecticut, her mom's hometown, she assumes her biggest drama will be adjusting to the burbs after living in New York City.

But Lincoln is nothing like Krystal imagined. The weirdness begins when Ricky Watson starts confiding in her. He's cute, funny, a good listener—and everything she'd ever want—except that he was killed nearly a year ago. Krystal's ghost-whispering talents soon lead other "freaks" to her door—Sasha, a rich girl who can literally disappear, and Jake, who moves objects with his mind. All three share a distinctive birthmark in the shape of an M and, fittingly, call themselves the Mystyx. They set out to learn what really happened to Ricky, only to realize that they aren't the only ones with mysterious powers. But if Krystal succeeds in finding out the truth about Ricky's death, will she lose him for good?


My Review
Manifest, the debut novel of author, Artist Arthur, tells a unique paranormal teen story. I really liked the concept of this book, but I felt there could have been more character development for Krystal. She comes off as kind of spoiled, always complaining about her mom and step-father. I did feel that her personality became more positive by the end of the book, but that personally it was hard to relate to Krystal as a character.

On the other hand, this is the perfect young adult read. Arthur has managed to truly capture the voice of a teenager. While some of the vocabulary and sentence structure seemed more middle grade than young adult, I liked how authentic Krystal and her friends' characters came off.

I also liked how normal (besides the supernatural powers) Krystal and her friends' lives were. They went to school, had family issues, etc. Some paranormal teen novels are so focused on advancing the plot and creating conflict that everyday activities fall to the wayside. For me, having characters, "go through the motions" so to speak, of normal days despite what may be happening makes a story more realistic. Sometimes I'm reading a young adult book and wondering, why aren't these kids in school or when are they going to eat or they haven't slept in days. It may sound trivial, but it can make a huge difference in my reading enjoyment.

As a debut novel, Artist Arthur has written a good story. I have no doubt that she will improve as a writer and I look forward to seeing how she continues the Mystyx series.


My Rating: 3 stars

Picture and description courtesy of Goodreads.


Manifest Book Trailer

Book Review: Wintercraft

Wintercraft by Jenna Burtenshaw

UK Publication Date: 13 May 2010

I purchased this book from The Book Depository, as it has not been published in the US yet. Those who are interested in purchasing the book, can do so on The Book Depository website, with FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE. Please make sure that The Book Depository ships to your country before attempting to purchase. Click here to purchase.


Description
Ten years ago Kate Winters' parents were taken by the High Council's wardens to help with the country's war effort. Now the wardens are back...and prisoners, including Kate's uncle Artemis, are taken south on the terrifying Night Train. Kate and her friend Edgar are hunted by a far more dangerous enemy. Silas Dane -- the High Council's most feared man -- recognises Kate as one of the Skilled; a rare group of people able to see through the veil between the living and the dead. His spirit was damaged by the High Council's experiments into the veil, and he's convinced that Kate can undo the damage and allow him to find peace. The knowledge Kate needs lies within Wintercraft -- a book thought to be hidden deep beneath the graveyard city of Fume. But the Night of Souls, when the veil between life and death is at its thinnest, is just days away and the High Council have their own sinister plans for Kate and Wintercraft. To help Artemis, Edgar and herself, Kate must honour her pact with a murderer and come face to face with the true nature of death.


My Review Jenna Burtenshaw has penned a novel that pulls readers into a unique world where there are people, called the Skilled, who can see into the land of the dead. At the beginning of the book, the main character Kate, has no idea what kind of power she possesses. The discovery that she is one of the Skilled puts her in danger and leads her on a journey that ends with her facing a great evil. Ultimately, Kate has to believe in not only herself, but her power, in order to save her and those she cares about.

My favorite character in Wintercraft is Silas Dane. Silas is supposed to be the villain in this story. He has done some horrible things, including kill people. But as the story advances, I found myself sympathizing with his plight. Silas is bound by blood to serve an evil, manipulating woman named Da'ru who is only out to gain as much power as she can. While readers can see that Silas has committed terrible acts, they are ultimately overshadowed by the true cruelty that Da'ru possesses. I liked how though Silas never apologized for the things he did, he somewhat redeems himself in the end of the book.

Wintercraft was a great read that was a nice change from the usual paranormal teen storylines of vampires, werewolves and angels, which is not to say I don't like those books, just that I have been reading a lot of them lately and was happy to delve into a different type of story. Wintercraft is a wonderful debut novel, set in a fascinating world and I hope that Burtenshaw writes a sequel (or more).


My Rating: 3.5 stars

Picture and description courtesy of Goodreads.



Disclaimer: As an affiliate of the Book Depository, I earn a commission on all purchases made through the link above.


Wintercraft Book Trailer

Book Review: Numbers

Numbers by Rachel Ward

I bought this book.


Description: Whenever Jem meets someone new, no matter who, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head. That number is a date: the date they will die.

Burdened with such an awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. But while they’re waiting to ride the Eye Ferris
wheel, Jem notices that all the other tourists in line flash the same number. Today’s number. Today’s date. Terrorists are going to attack London. Jem’s world is about to explode!


My Review: Author Rachel Ward takes the old concept of foretelling death and gives it a new spin in this fast paced novel about a girl who can see the date of people's death by looking into their eyes.

Jem is a lonely girl who discovered at a young age that she could see the death dates of people. This brutal discovery was made on the day of her mother's death and since then she has led a solitary life to avoid seeing the numbers. But one day she forms a relationship with Spider, an outcast like herself.

My favorite part of Numbers was seeing how Ward develops the relationship between Jem and Spider. Jem dislikes Spider in the beginning, but he refuses to leave her alone and they soon develop a friendship. When they have to flee London together, they become dependent on each other and readers can see how the friendship starts to develop into something more. All this despite the fact that Jem has seen Spider's number and knows they will have little time together.

I think Rachel Ward has written an exciting story that explores the idea of fate and whether or not a foretold future can be changed. Numbers is a story that will keep readers interested until the end.


My Rating: 4 stars

Picture and description courtesy of Goodreads.


Numbers Book Trailer

Book Review: Angel Star

Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia

Seventeen-year-old Teagan McNeel falls for captivating Garreth Adams and soon discovers that her crush has an eight-point star etched into the palm of his right hand-the mark of an angel.

But where there is light, dark follows, and she and Garreth suddenly find themselves vulnerable to a dark angel's malicious plan that could threaten not only her life, but the lives of everyone she knows, and now, she is torn between one angel's sacrifice and another angel's vicious ambition.

Divinely woven together, Angel Star takes readers on a reflective journey when one angel's sacrifice collides with another angel's vicious ambition in a way that is sure to have readers searching for their own willpower.


My Review: Despite the current trend in angel themed YA novels, Jennifer Murgia introduces a unique story and fresh take on the guardian angel story. Her novel Angel Star mixes mythology, symbolism, and of course a love story, to create a wonderful novel that pulled me into Garreth and Teagan's world and didn't let go till the last page.

My favorite part of the story, beside the mythology, was seeing how Teagan's character grew. In the beginning of the story, Teagan is portrayed as a solitary girl with one friend, Claire. Teagan's happiness seemed to depend on Claire's actions and feelings. But, by the end of the story, and in the midst of tragedy, Teagan grew into a person who stood up for herself and was willing to risk all to save the boy she loved.

I also liked the character of Teagan's mother. For the most part, parents in YA novels are portrayed as absent, too busy or apathetic towards their children. There's good reason for that, because otherwise how else would the teenagers get up to the shenanigans and trouble they get into that forms the plot of the story? But with Teagan's mother, Jennifer Murgia, creates a character that loves and worries about her daughter, yet because she is a single working mom, she is not home often. I admire how Murgia was able to develop a story with conflict for her main character, but still have a loving family life.

Jennifer Murgia has written a complex and fantastic story of a guardian angel's personal sacrifice to protect the girl he has fallen in love with and a girl who will do all she can to overcome the evil haunting her.

My rating: 4 stars

Click here to check out my teaser of Angel Star.

Description and picture courtesy of Goodreads.