(Blog Tour) Book Review: Jazz In Love

  Jazz in Love by Neesha Meminger

JAZZ IN LOVE description and cover art courtesy of Goodreads.

Publication Date: 3 January 2011

I purchased an ebook of JAZZ IN LOVE.

The JAZZ IN LOVE Blog Tour was arranged by The Teen {Book} Scene.


DESCRIPTION
Jasbir, a.k.a. Jazz, has always been a stellar student and an obedient, albeit wise-cracking, daughter. Everything has gone along just fine--she has good friends in the "genius" program she's been in since kindergarten, her teachers and principal adore her, and her parents dote on her. But now, in her junior year of high school, her mother hears that Jazz was seen hugging a boy on the street and goes ballistic. Mom immediately implements the Guided Dating Plan, which includes setting up blind dates with "suitable," pre-screened Indian candidates. The boy her mother sets her up with, however, is not at all what anyone expects; and the new boy at school, the very UNsuitable hottie, is the one who sets Jazz's blood boiling. When Jazz makes a few out-of-the-ordinary decisions, everything explodes, and she realizes she'll need a lot more than her genius education to get out of the huge mess she's in. Can Jazz find a way to follow her own heart, and still stay in the good graces of her parents?


MY THOUGHTS

The Tweet
JAZZ IN LOVE is a great coming of age story about a girl trying to break away from her parents' influence and be an independent young woman.

What Worked (for Me)
My favorite character in JAZZ IN LOVE is the main character, Jazz. I know this sounds like a well, duh statement, but I have read many books where I could not connect with the main character(s). Such was not the case in this book. Jazz, who has been raised in a traditional Indian household, is a smart and funny seventeen year old girl trying to navigate the waters of young-adulthood while having a crush on a boy deemed "inappropriate" by her parents. I liked how Jazz was willing to go against her parents to stand up for something she really wanted and/or believed in. Not that I am advocating for teens to disobey their parents, but I do believe that ANYONE, teen or otherwise, should stick by their beliefs and be willing to sacrifice for something they really believe in. This ideal is what really allowed me to connect with Jazz and her story.

I also liked the amount of family involvement in JAZZ IN LOVE. I've probably mentioned this in other reviews, but I don't like the old trope that teens can only have a "story" or be involved in something interesting because their parents are absent or don't care. Even when Jazz was doing something against her parents wishes, there was still an obvious and underlying respect for them as people. And this went both ways. Jazz's parents had such strict rules, not just because of their traditional family values, but because they HAD family values and wanted to make sure that Jazz lived up to her potential and respected herself. Even though some of her parents' actions may have been misguided, it was all because they loved Jazz and were trying to do what they thought was best for her.

Overall
JAZZ IN LOVE was a departure from my usual reading as it was purely contemporary YA fiction. There were no vampires, werewolves or other paranormal creatures/species. But I'm glad I decided to read JAZZ IN LOVE because it is a well written, slice-of-teenage-life story that has engaging characters, an interesting storyline and witty dialogue.

MY RATING IS 4 STARS

(Blog Tour) Book Review and Giveaway: Entice

Entice by Carrie Jones
Book description and cover art courtesy of Goodreads.

I received an ARC of Entice from the publisher, Bloomsbury, as part of the Entice Blog Tour.

Publication Date: 3 January 2011


Description
Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that's not quite how things have worked out.

For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he's been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it's taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla?

And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there's that other small problem: Zara's been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn't just turned. She's Astley's queen.


MY THOUGHTS

The Tweet
An action packed story, Entice follows Zara and her new king, Astley, as they try to find a way to save Zara's boyfriend, Nick, from death.

What Worked (for me)
Entice, the third novel in the Need series is an action packed read that captured my attention from start to finish. The book picks up right where Captivate, the previous book, ends. Zara's boyfriend, Nick, has been killed and carried off to Valhalla by the Valkyrie, Thruth. In order to save Nick, Zara allows Astley to pixie kiss her, thus turning her into a pixie and making her Astley's queen. (I'll refrain from explaining more because I don't want to ruin the previous novels for those who have not read them.)

What I liked best about Entice was the development of Astley's character. Astley becomes a major part of the plot in Entice. And not just because he is helping Zara to find Valhalla and Nick. Parts of Astley's past are revealed through interactions with his mother. Jones really made Astley's character more relatable by showing his emotions towards his mother and the way he was raised as a child. Astley's very human feelings towards his mother endeared me more to his character, despite him being a pixie and technically a "bad guy." The development of Astley's character also made me more willing to accept Zara's changing feelings towards him. I'm not a big fan of the romance triangle that seems to be the formulaic trend in paranormal young adult novels recently. But, in Entice, this is well played and really brings another dimension to the book.

Entice also introduces more Norse myth and lore about the pixies themselves. I really enjoyed this inclusion. One of the reasons I love reading so much is learning about cultures, peoples and practices I am not familiar with. Despite this being a fantasy novel, the obvious research Jones put into writing Entice makes it more believable and realistic.

Overall
Entice is a great addition to the Need series. Carrie Jones has written a great fantasy novel that captured this reader's attention and didn't let go until the last page. I am very much looking forward to reading the final novel and to finding out how Zara, Nick and Astley's stories end.

MY RATING IS 4 STARS


ENTICE GIVEAWAY
Post an insightful comment below about my review and/or your own thoughts on Entice and you will be entered into a drawing to win your own copy of the book. Please include your email address in your comment. Drawing is open to those with a US MAILING ADDRESS only. Contest will close on 3 January 2011 and the winner will be announced here, on the blog, on 5 January 2011. ONE ENTRY PER PERSON. Winner will receive prize directly from the publisher. GOOD LUCK!


For more information on Entice and the other books in the Need series, check out these Facebook pages:

NeedPixies
Bloomsbury Teens

(Blog Tour) Book Review and Giveaway: Out for Blood

Out for Blood by Alyxandra Harvey

Description and cover art courtesy of Goodreads.

I received an ARC of Out For Blood from the publisher, Bloomsbury, as part of the Out for Blood Blog Tour.

Publication Date: 21 December 2010

Description
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?


MY THOUGHTS

The Tweet
A funny and engaging story of the romance between a vampire hunter and a vampire, against the backdrop of danger from an unknown enemy.

What Worked (for me)
After reading the first two books in the Drake Chronicles series, I was very excited to read Out For Blood. And I wasn't disappointed. The third book in the series is just as engaging as the previous novels, with the addition of new characters, a look into the famous (or infamous) Helios-Ra Academy, and of course a great romance.

In Out For Blood, the story centers around Hunter Wild, a human attending the Helios-Ra Academy, a training ground for vampire hunters, and Quinn Drake, one of the many sons of the new vampire queen, Helena Drake. I liked how the author, Alyxandra Harvey, focused on the story of Hunter and Quinn, but still continued the stories of the other characters introduced in the first two books.

I also liked the mix of drama and romance in Out For Blood. Harvey created a nice balance between action scenes and romantic interludes. There was also the perfect amount of hilarious dialogue and comedic scenes to relieve the tension of the drama and make the characters believable and realistic.

Overall
Harvey has created well developed characters in all three of her books and the story of Hunter and Quinn is interesting and pulled me into the world of the Drake family and the people in their lives.

MY RATING IS 4 STARS


As a special surprise to my blog readers, Bloomsbury has provided me with a link to a preview (one month earlier than it will be released to the public) of Alyxandra Harvey's next novel, Haunting Violet, due out in June 2011. Haunting Violet, a departure from the Drake Chronicles, is a Victorian ghost story. To check out the excerpt, click here.

Also, if you post a comment below with your thoughts on either my review or Out for Blood itself, you will be entered into a drawing to win your own copy of Out for Blood. Please include your email address in your comment. Drawing is open to those with a US MAILING ADDRESS only. Contest will close on 3 January 2011 and the winner will be announced here, on the blog, on 5 January 2011. ONE ENTRY PER PERSON. Winner will receive prize directly from the publisher. GOOD LUCK!


For more information on Out for Blood, check out these links on Facebook:

The Drake Chronicles
Alyxandra Harvey
Bloomsbury Teens

Book Review: Dust City

Dust City by Robert Paul Weston

Publication Date: 30 September 2010

I received an ARC of Dust City from Star Book Tours.


Description
Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?
His son, that's who.

Ever since his father's arrest for the murder of Little Red Riding Hood, teen wolf Henry Whelp has kept a low profile in a Home for Wayward Wolves . . . until a murder at the Home leads Henry to believe his father may have been framed.

Now, with the help of his kleptomaniac roommate, Jack, and a daring she-wolf named Fiona, Henry will have to venture deep into the heart of Dust City: a rundown, gritty metropolis where fairydust is craved by everyone and controlled by a dangerous mob of Water Nixies and their crime boss leader, Skinner.

Can Henry solve the mystery of his family's sinister past? Or, like his father before him, is he destined for life as a big bad wolf?


My Thoughts

The Tweet
Henry searches for the truth surrounding his father's arrest in a gritty reimage of a fairy tale world starring evolutionary characters.

What Worked (for me)
Robert Paul Weston has taken a well known fairy tale and created a unique story full of suspense and mystery. Henry Whelp breaks out of the Home For Wayward Wolves to find out what really happened the night his father murdered a young girl and her grandmother. He finds more questions than answers on his journey to the truth, but with the help of his friends, Fiona and Jack, he is able to crack the mystery and expose the horrible deeds of people no one would suspect.

I liked how Weston didn't just reimagine the story of Little Red Riding Hood. He used other popular fairy tale characters to populate the world of Henry Whelp. My favorite was Henry's friend, Jack. At first, Jack, the only hominid (human) in the Home, seemed like a normal character until he escapes using magic beans that grow a tree (sound familar?) Cindy Ella and Snow White also make appearances. Weston's creativity at recrafting these individuals into different, but still recognizable characters, is great and drew me into the story of Dust City.

What Didn't Work (for me)
When I first started reading the story I was confused about Henry, the wolves and the other animalia because they (seemingly) walked and talked like humans. It wasn't until I got further into the story that the evolution of all the animalia was explained. I felt this explaination could have occurred earlier in the story to avoid confusion. I know, at the beginning, this took away from my understanding and enjoyment of the novel itself. Once this was revealed, I went back and reread some of the beginning Dust City with new eyes. It definitely made it easier for me to be drawn into the story once the evolution angle was revealed.

Overall
Dust City is a great reimage of the fairy tale world. Weston has taken familar characters, twisted them up, and shone them in a new light with a fantastic story of mystery and evil. He's even got a little romance thrown in for good measure. I would definitely recommend Dust City to anyone who is a fan of dark, gritty fairy stories.

My rating is 4 stars

Description and picture courtesy of Goodreads.

(ARC) Book Review: Blood and Flowers

Blood and Flowers by Penny Blubaugh

Publication Date: 1 March 2011

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


Description
Three years ago, Persia ran away from her drug-addict parents and found a home with the Outlaws, an underground theater troupe. With time, this motley band of mortals and fey, puppeteers and actors, becomes the loving family Persia never had, and soon Persia not only discovers a passion for theater but also falls in love with one of the other Outlaws. Life could not be more perfect.

Until an enemy makes an unfair accusation against the group and forces them to flee their world and hide in the neighboring realm of Faerie. But in Faerie, all is not flowers and rainbows. With bloodthirsty trolls, a hostile monarchy, and a dangerous code of magic, the fey world is far from the safe haven the Outlaws had hoped for..


Long Story Short
Blood and Flowers tells the story of Persia and the Outlaw theater troupe that she is a member of. In Persia's world, the Fae and humans live together, but the Fae, with their fairy magic, are not trusted by the humans. Despite this, Persia and her friends see to be living a relatively good life together, until a few wrong words turn their world upside down.

What Worked (for me)
Blood and Flowers is told from the point of view of Persia, but is by no means just about Persia. In fact, this book is about a multitude of characters who are all well developed and easy to relate to. From Tonio, the de facto leader of the Outlaws, and his partner Max, to Floss, the fairy who uses magic to make their performances truly come alive, to Lucia, who in the past wanted so bad to go to the fairy realm that she wished herself there, Blubaugh has done a great job of creating characters that have individual personalities and all contribute to the outcome of the story.

I also liked the development of Persia and Nicholas' relationship. I've read many books recently where boy and girl meet and there is this instant attraction and BLAM! they're in love. With Persia and Nicholas, their relationship started out as good friends that slowly developed into something more as the story progressed. I liked how much more realistic this felt.

What Didn't Work (for me)
The ending of the book was very abrupt. One minute I'm enjoying the story and then it's over. Of course I knew the book was ending, but after the buildup I was expecting something more. I still really enjoyed Blood and Flowers, but the finale did leave me wishing the story didn't end there. It's looks as if this is a stand alone novel for the moment, but maybe Blubaugh left it open-ended so that she could make it into a series if warranted.

Overall
Underneath it all, Blood and Flowers explores how latent prejudice and a few wrong words can affect the attitudes of many. The fae are used as a scapegoat to place blame on. Because of the fae's other-worldliness, it is easy to convince humans that they are the cause of all the bad going on.

Blubaugh has written a collection of wonderful characters. I was able to connect with them, and felt personally invested in their individual stories, as well as the overall plotline.

My Rating is 4 stars


Picture and Description courtesy of Goodreads.

Book Review: Bright Young Things

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

Publication Date: 12 October 2010.

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


Description
The year is 1929. New York is ruled by the Bright Young Things: flappers and socialites seeking thrills and chasing dreams in the anything-goes era of the Roaring Twenties.

Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey escaped their small Midwestern town for New York's glittering metropolis. All Letty wants is to see her name in lights, but she quickly discovers Manhattan is filled with pretty girls who will do anything to be a star…

Cordelia is searching for the father she's never known, a man as infamous for his wild parties as he is for his shadowy schemes. Overnight, she enters a world more thrilling and glamorous than she ever could have imagined—and more dangerous. It's a life anyone would kill for . . . and someone will.

The only person Cordelia can trust is Astrid Donal, a flapper who seems to have it all: money, looks, and the love of Cordelia's brother, Charlie. But Astrid's perfect veneer hides a score of family secrets.

Across the vast lawns of Long Island, in the illicit speakeasies of Manhattan, and on the blindingly lit stages of Broadway, the three girls' fortunes will rise and fall—together and apart.


The Tweet
Bright Young Things is the story of three young women looking for love, fame and family in 1920s New York City.

What Worked (for me)
 The setting of the book. I was really looking forward to reading Bright Young Things, not only because I like the author's other series, The Luxe, but also because I am a big fan of historical fiction and have recently developed an interest in the 1920s and Prohibition. In The Luxe series, Godbersen had a gift for using great descriptions and imagery and she did not dissappoint me with Bright Young Things. I loved how she really captured New York City and particularly Manhattan during this time period. Her mention of places and landmarks were well researched. I was drawn into the story of the three young women and didn't want to put the book down once I started.

I also liked the contrast of Cordelia and Letty's lives in New York once they went their separate ways. I liked how Godbersen showed the difference between Cordelia's new life as the daughter of a rich bootlegger and Letty's life as a "working girl" who was just making enough money to pay for rent and food. Despite coming from similar backgrounds and travelling to New York together, the girls had very different experiences once their paths diverged from one another. I also liked the introduction of Astrid into the story. She too, created a contrast as a native New Yorker and socialite who was dating Cordelia's brother.

Overall
Bright Young Things is a grand historical fiction novel that will appeal to young adults and adults alike. Author Godbersen has set the scene for a wonderful series with this first book. It is full of romance, intrigue and of course wonderful scenes of New York in the 1920s. Anyone who is interested in history will be drawn into this novel. I can't wait to see how Godbersen continues the saga in the next book in the series.


My Rating is 4 stars

Picture and description courtesy of Goodreads.

Book Review: Awakened

Awakened by Ednah Walters

Publication Date: 2 September 2010.

I received a finished copy of this book from Star Book Tours.


Description
Most teens turn sixteen and get the license to drive, Lil Falcon gets the license to kill demons, but no one told her she is not supposed to fall in love with one.

Orphaned as a child and raised by an eccentric grandfather, Lil is concerned with surviving high school and is unaware she's a Guardian—a being with super powers charged with killing demons and protecting humanity. But when she meets Bran, a mysterious boy with amazing abilities, his psi energy unlocks her latent powers.

But Bran has a secret that can destroy their growing relationship. He's part demon. But in her heart, Lil knows Bran is not evil. So when her grandfather is kidnapped by a powerful nature-bender and Bran is the only one who knows where he's being kept, Lil convinces the other Guardians to trust him, not knowing her grandfather is just the bait. And the truth that she discovers in the demonic enclave may just destroy everything she believes in, unless she makes the right choice—love and sacrifice.


My Review
Awakened is a unique take on the story of Nephilim, the descendants of angels and their human mates.

Loved: The character Sykes. I loved his personality and flirtatious nature with Lil. In the beginning, I thought he came off as a little too forward with Lil, but as the story progressed, I liked the comparison of his relationship with Lil and Bran and Lil's relationship. Despite his teasing and flirting, it was obvious that Lil really had a connection with Bran. I loved how Walters developed this distinction and avoided the typical triangle of girl caught between two boys.

Liked: Lil's personality. Lil is a great character in this book. She is compassionate and willing to do anything for those she cares about, without minding the consequences. I liked how Walters developed Lil's character in Awakened. She starts off as being a somewhat naive, somewhat lonely girl, who has no idea of the powers she possesses. As the story continues, readers can see how Lil adjusts to difficult and dangerous situations. She shows her strength and her willingness to help others. Despite knowing very little about Bran (at the start of the story), she wants to help him and prove that he is the good person she believes him to be. I liked how Walters wrote Lil as someone who tried to see the good in most situations.

Disliked: I thought Bran could have had more character development. While readers did learn his "story" and why he was seeking the help of the Guardians, as a reader, I didn't feel any connection to him. He was the boy Lil liked and the brother of a bad guy, but that's it. Since this is the start of a series, I'm hoping that Bran become more developed in the next book.

Overall: I liked Awakened and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I enjoyed the "ensemble cast" nature of the book. While Lil is definitely the main character, I liked how Walters created the rest of the young Guardians with their own well developed characters and personalities. I also liked the unique take on Nephilim and the contrast of good and evil described in Awakened.


My Rating: 4 stars

Description and picture courtesy of Goodreads.


Awakened Book Trailer

(ARC) Book Review: Unearthly

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Description and cover art courtesy of Goodreads.

Publication Date: 1 January 2011.

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


Description
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?


My Thoughts

The Tweet
Unearthly is a story about angels, romance and the sacrifices one must sometimes make for a greater good.

What Worked (for me)
The character development and relationships described in Unearthly. As you may be able to to tell from other reviews I have done, I am huge on character development. I like being able to read about characters that are well thought out and described personality wise (not necessarily physically). I want to be able to emphasize with and know where characters are coming from, without it being heavy handed and competing with the actual storyline. Cynthia Hand has done just this with her characters in Unearthly.

I especially liked reading about the relationship between Clara and her mother. In most young adult novels, there is very little character development, or even mention, of parental figures, beyond them being a source of money or strife (or both). I loved that Hand was able to create a loving, though not without disagreements, mother-daughter relationship. Hand also developed the character of Clara's mother well, without taking the focus off of Clara and the young adult aspect of the story.

I also loved the scenic descriptions in Unearthly. Hand makes the town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming come alive with her fantastic descriptions of the town and surrounding environs. I especially liked her descriptions of nature and the mountains that she included when Clara and Tucker are hiking.

Cynthia Hand also had great descriptions of the angel-bloods themselves - how the Black Wing looked and the feelings he invoked in those around him, what Clara and her mom looked like when achieving Grace, and the way Clara's hair looked when they first arrived in Jackson Hole.

What Didn't Work (for me)
The romantic triangle. When Tucker was first introduced in the story, despite Clara and him not liking each other, I could see where it was leading. I thought to myself, 'Oh boy, not another triangle where the girl is stuck between two boys and has to decide who to be with. Who WILL she choose?' Despite not liking this aspect of the storyline, I have to admit that Hand really made the device work, and not seem trite and overused, by making Christian part of Clara's Purpose and not just another boy she had feelings for. In the end this did not take away from my total enjoyment of Unearthly.

My Rating is 4 stars


Unearthly Book Trailer

(ARC) Book Review: The Other Side of Dark

The Other Side of Dark by Sarah Smith

Publication Date: 2 November 2010

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


Description
Since losing both of her parents, fifteen-year-old Katie can see and talk to ghosts, which makes her a loner until fellow student Law sees her drawing of a historic house and together they seek a treasure rumored to be hidden there by illegal slave-traders.

Law Walker knew Katie Mullens before she was crazy. Before her mother died. Law knows Katie’s crazy now, but she’s always been talented. And she keeps filling sketch pads even though her drawings have gone a little crazy as well—dark, bloody. What Law doesn’t know is that these drawings are real. Or were real. Katie draws what she sees—and Katie sees dead people. People who have died—recently, and not so recently—in accidents, from suicide, even a boy who was trapped in a house that burned down more than 100 years ago. And it’s this boy who makes Law want to get to know Katie all over again. So what if his dad doesn’t want him dating a white girl? So what if people think Katie is dangerous? The ghost boy is hiding a secret that Law needs to know—and it’s much bigger, much more shocking than anyone ever expected.


My Review
The Other Side of Dark is a ghost story that incorporates romance and history to create an intriguing novel.

Loved: The conclusion of The Other Side of Dark was a stunner and I loved how Smith brought this about. The book started off slow and some of the language was hard to understand. I resisted the urge to put the book down halfway through and I'm glad I did. The ending was totally worth it!

Liked: The historical aspect of the story. As an African American myself, it is nice to read a book that isn't afraid to "go there" in recounting the horrifying acts committed against slaves. Even though this book is fiction, I felt it gave a realistic view of the slave experience and portrayed to readers the terrible conditions that slaves had to endure.

Disliked: Katie's father. His character came off as too supercilious and sanctimonious to me. I found it interesting that he married a white woman and then proceeded to completely oppose her viewpoints and ideals. He was all about black and white (literally) and couldn't see any gray area. I think his character could have been dialed back (just a little) and still have been interesting and made the same contribution to the story.

Overall: I think Sarah Smith has written a good story, however it is dark and some parts are very disturbing. I would recommend this book to older, more mature teens. I loved the blend of history and the present, as well as the supernatural ghost story.


My Rating is 4 stars

Description and picture courtesy of Goodreads.

(ARC) Book Review: Virals

Virals by Kathy Reichs


Publication Date: 2 November 2010

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




Description
Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage "sci-philes" who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.


As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer's scent.


Fortunately, they are now more than friends they're a pack. They are Virals.




My Review
Virals is a well-written murder-mystery adventure with a dash of science-fiction. Kathy Reichs makes her first foray into young adult fiction with a great story that would appeal to young readers, "sci-philes", and reluctant readers alike.


Loved: The main character, Tory. She is a smart, benevolent fourteen year old who is not afraid to stand up and fight for her friends, as well as the wolf pup she formed a relationship with. Despite some major setbacks in their investigation of a cold case murder, the Virals, led by Tory, continue to search for the truth and ultimately find the answers they are looking for in a decades old case that could have gone unsolved had they not started to dig for information.


Liked: The fact that the story was more science-fiction than paranormal. Not that I'm not a fan of paranormal novels, but it was nice to see the author break away from this trend and branch out into something different. I'm hardly a "sci-phile", but Reichs simplified all the science with well-written explanations and examples that anyone young or old could understand without prior knowledge of the subject matter.

 Overall: Kathy Reichs has once again managed to create an engaging storyline that includes adventure, mystery and science. Virals is an absorbing debut young adult novel that will create a wider audience for Reichs.


My Rating is 4 stars


Picture and description courtesy of Goodreads.