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Birth of a Killer by Darren Shan
Birth of a Killer by Darren ShanThe Saga of Larten Crepsley: Book One
Pages: 253
Ages: 12+
First Published: Oct. 5, 2010 US (Oct. 19, 2010 CAN)
Publisher: Harper Trophy Canada
Rating: 4/5
First sentence:
When Larten Crepsley awoke and yawned one grey Tuesday morning, he had no idea that by midday he would have become a killer.
Acquired: Received a review copy from Harper Collins Canada.
Reason for Reading: I love Darren and read each new book as it comes out.
Larten Crepsley is a major character in Shan’s “Cirque Du Freak” series and this book, first in a proposed 4-book series, tells his life story starting briefly with his pre-vampire childhood and continuing on through the years until he becomes a fully blooded vampire and leaves his master to go out in the world by himself.
Since this book happens before the “Cirque Du Freak” series it is not necessary to have read it to understand this book but the joy of meeting familiar faces and learning their past history will be missed if this book is read cold turkey. Larten is an interesting character from the first page and quickly develops the personality traits we are used to seeing in him but now we know where his silent, hardness comes from and the roots of his greatness. Somehow reading the story when you know how the whole story of his life ends in the distant future leaves out some of the tension as we already know the ultimate fate of many characters, including Larten . But there are many questions about Larten’s past that need explaining and his connection with the Cirque Du Freak and Mr. Tall is covered in this volume as is his whole apprenticeship, half-blooding, full blooding and his first trip to the Council to participate in the games as a fresh blood. Lots of excitement, with much action and the introduction of Larten’s role-models shape the beginning of his life and the ending leaves us with a quick glance at the introduction of an old enemy from “Cirque Du Freak” making me eager to pick up Book Two, which will be out in May of this year (2011).
Another Pan by Daniel & Dina Nayeri
Another Pan by Daniel & Dina Nayeri
The Second of Another Series
Pages: 393
Ages: 14+
First Published: Sept. 14, 2010
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Rating: 4/5
First sentence:
All nights come to an end — that is to say, all nights see the break of day.
Acquired: Received a review copy from Candlewick Press.
Reason for Reading: Next in the series.
I loved this book almost as much as the first in the series! In fact, I think I loved the story even more but I didn’t find it to be the page-turner that Another Faust was. This was more of a slow read, one that kept me interested and I loved falling into the world, but somehow it did have a slow pace. I’m not sure if this is the book’s fault or my own as my mind has been all over the place so close to Christmas. But fast or slow paced who cares? I loved Another Pan!
Professor Darling is a teacher at the Marlowe school. Both his children attend, Wendy and John Darling; this is his first year at the high school. There are a few new Resource Assistants this year and one them is named Peter. Professor Darling’s history class revolves around Ancient Egyptology and a particular set of 5 myths and artifacts in which he alone believes prove that the Egyptian god of the Dead was not Anubis but a female. Peter is at the school looking for bonedust from a certain set of 5 mummies which when ground together will provide the elixir of permanent youth. So far he’s managed to slow the aging process considerably with the dust from one such special mummy. It seems the underworld has attached itself to Marlowe along with a new mousy, plain looking school nurse with a strange eye. Wendy and John join Peter and his crew of Lost Boys (in place all over the world and naturally at Marlowe as well) in entering the underworld and trying to retrieve the mummies and fighting (or tricking) the guardians of each after they hear and study each myth to help them locate the point of entry in Marlowe to the correct place in the underworld.
It is with the nurse that the connection with the previous book comes. Another Faust introduced us to the demon posing as a governess and here she returns before she has had time to fully recuperate in the form of the nurse. This is all covered in the first chapter. But when she returns to the underworld she regains her full power as the Dark Lady. The Dark Lady has taken on many manifestations in the living world, the glamorous governess in Another Faust and the terrible, frightening nanny of Peter’s childhood.
I love how all the elements of the Peter Pan story are brought together here in a completely different fashion. Peter Pan is represented in his true form (from the book) as a nasty, self-centred youth and his sidekick who is in love with him, Tina, will do anything for him even though he does not reciprocate her undying love. Tina, like Tinkerbell (in the book) is jealous of Wendy with a pure hatred. Other elements that find their way into Another Pan but have nothing to do with pirates or crocodiles are the hook and the tick-tock of a watch. Truly, a very original re-imagining of the ingredients that make up Peter Pan that the authors have used in a completely unique way to tell their own story.
As a series, I find this very compelling as it does not follow the same cookie cutter recipe of most series. There is not a continuing plot line with the same characters. In fact, these first two books could be read on their own, apart from a series. What connects them as a series is a villain and a school, which is becoming a character itself. There is also a very brief mention in passing of an event that happened last year at the school involving Christopher Faust and connecting it to the evil within Marlowe.
I’m a fan of this series and can’t wait to see what classic story the brother/sister author team use as the springboard for the next book.
Torment (Nicola)
Torment by Lauren KateA Fallen Novel, Book 2
Pages: 452
Ages: 14+
First Published: Sep. 28, 2010
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Rating: 3.5/5
First sentence:
Daniel stared out at the bay.
Acquired: Received a review copy from Random House Canada.
Reason for Reading: next in the series.
First I’ll mention that this is one of the most stunning covers I’ve ever seen. I love b/w photography and the design here is breathtaking. Now on to the book.
I can’t really give a summary as not much happens in Torment. Luce is sent to an exclusive boarding school which just happens to have a special class for Nephilim and amongst the Nephilim Luce can be hidden from those who seek to destroy her. In the meantime Daniel and Cam have made an 18 day truce between the angels and demons to work together to kill those who seek to kill Luce. Thus the book takes place over those 18 days. There’s a lot of Daniel and Cam getting the bad guys, the bad guys trying to get Luce, Luce getting herself into trouble by disregarding the rules she’s been given and Luce learning more about the shadows, the Announcers, and how to control and use them.
There is a lot of “Twilight syndrome” going on here in Torment. Daniel has become demanding, giving Luce rules and instructions to follow without reasons, he orders her around and isn’t telling her everything. He has become the dominant male species. While Luce, when she is away from and gets close to Daniel feels the overwhelming passion, desire, pull and love for him. Regardless, she is no Bella. Luce starts questioning Daniel’s behaviour and doesn’t take kindly to being pushed around even though she can’t get past the inhuman passionate bond they share. What all this amounts to is a bunch of not much happening, making the book a slow read leading up to an anti-climax that ends in a “to be continued” manner with no resolution.
I did really enjoy the two new characters introduced that befriend Luce, both Nephilim. Shelby her roommate, a no nonsense type of girl who at first resents Luce for her infamous reputation. And then Miles, a watered down Nephilim, with the Angel in his heredity in the distant past. Miles is a friend Luce can count on and one who might become more than just a friend.
My problem, same I had with the couple of Twilight books I read, is that I don’t like Daniel. I’m not rooting for Luce and Daniel. I want him to turn out a bad guy and in the end I want Luce and Miles to end up together, just a couple of regular people (well almost) in real love, not some earth shattering, passionate, end of the world, meant to be, for infinity, lust-love. Won’t happen though. Just like it was obvious Edward would win in the end, Daniel will also.
I had thought this was going to be a trilogy but they are calling book three “the next book in the Fallen series” which sounds ominously like there are plans for a 4th book and so on. If this does conclude in a trilogy I will read the third book when it comes out to see how it all ends. If more are planned, I’ll just wait until the series is done and see if I still feel like reading them when that time comes.
End of Days (Nicola)
End of Days by Max Turner
Night Runner, #2
Pages: 318
Ages: 13+
First Published: Aug. 16, 2010 CAN (Sept. 28, 2010 US)
Publisher: Harper Trophy Canada
Rating: 5/5
First sentence:
I’m told vampires are popular in books these days.
Acquired: Received a review copy from Harper Collins Canada.
Reason for Reading: Next in the series.
That a sequel to Night Runner was coming out came upon me fairly close to its actual publication. I was thrilled and couldn’t wait to read the new book as I had been out of the loop about the sequel being a go!
The very first thing I want to say to US readers is that the US cover is awful! This book is aimed at teenage boys and is *not* a vampire romance like the usual fare out there. Sure girls will love it too, but please don’t let that girl-appealing US cover let you think that it’s not for boys, spend the little extra and get the awesome Canadian cover, if you have to!
Everybody is a year older now and getting used to either knowing they are vampire or having just been turned. The Coven is still out to get Zach, and other child vampires, keeping him on the run, though he has been safely holed up for the last year. But with the death of the one who held them together The Coven is fighting within itself making it an unstable organization; the Underground who protect the vampires from society has been breached and detection from that side is now out of control and suppliers find their blood tainted and vampires are dying. But that is not all. An ancient prophecy of the son of a hunter who will either save or destroy the vampire world seems to be coming true as vampires are ripped to shreds by an incredible Beast, that not even the strongest vampire among them can defeat. Zach finds himself in the middle of this chaos, being a child vampire on the run from those who wish him dead and being the son of a hunter whom some think may be the promised Messiah. A select few of the remaining old wise ones remind him to stay on the side of the good, to choose saint over evil. But can he?
It’s been just over two years since the first book came out that I don’t know if I’m being fair when I say this is even better than Night Runner! While the immediacy of having just read End of Days may make it feel better than the first, it is certainly of equal brilliance. What an incredible vampire story! Turner has created a vampire mythos and world that tends toward the tried and true vampire lore but he hasn’t been afraid to inject his own new, fresh vision that creates something very refreshing and exciting. Breathtakingly revitalizing is the absence of a mopey, clingy love story. There is a love relationship, which is important to characterization but is not essential or even necessary to the plot. They are simply two characters who love each other and whom the reader grows fond of as well. All the characters are fascinating from the evil Beast, which has a mystery behind it, to Ophelia their caretaker and on. More background is given on everybody really fleshing out the characters from book one. This is a page-turner, a stay-up all-nighter and a return to the vampire (with an attitude) genre. Best for those who don’t like their vampires ala Edward. The book comes to a satisfying conclusion but there are many unanswered questions and dangling threads that can be picked up for another book. Hopefully, the wait will be shorter than two years Mr. Turner!
Ghostopolis (Nicola)
Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel
Pages: 268
Ages: 12+
First Published: July 1, 2010
Publisher: Graphix
Rating: 4/5
First sentence:
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re having a little engine trouble.
Acquired: Received a review copy from Scholastic Canada.
Reason for Reading: I’m always intrigued by stories that take place in the “afterlife”.
Frank Gallows is a ghost wrangler. He hunts down ghosts who’ve escaped the afterlife and sends them back but after 30 years on the job he’s losing his touch, bored and plain grumpy with life. Sent to track down a night mare, the skeletal horse is on the run. As she goes through a wall, Frank shackles her and hit’s the send button. Problem: on the other side of the wall the skeletal mare had en-caged a human boy, Garth, and he ends up in the afterlife with her. As headquarters sets up a team to rescue him, Frank and his ex-girlfriend, a ghost, go after him themselves. They find Ghostopolis, the city centre of the afterlife, greatly changed and dominated by Vaugner, an evil, powerful human-type being. Garth, Frank and Claire must find a way back to the mortal world and since Vaugner is trying to stop them at every turn they must first stop him.
I found the story a little hard to get into as it starts right away with the action and it takes a bit to figure out what is going on. Plus the artwork was a little startling, the artist’s depiction of people are on the ugly side of ugly. Once the plot became clearer, I started to enjoy the book and once the artist had the opportunity to add action scenes with non-human characters to the illustrations, I became more comfortable with the style and even enjoyed it by book’s end.
The story has several layers to it: a grown man with the behaviour of a child learns to grow up on the inside, a man who can’t express his love outwardly makes the ultimate sacrifice to earn the love he craved and power and the begetting of power for power’s sake can only lead to evil in the end, to name a few. Then there is the basic plot which is both exciting and fun. The book is quite dark though, death being the main theme here; my 10yo certainly couldn’t handle it. Along the way Garth and company meet killer insects, skeletal armies, zombies, mummies and some other very strange characters. There is humour added to lighten up the darkness mostly in the form of sarcasm and wit, though there is some outright grossness to make you laugh (or cringe) too such as the delicacy of tarantula on a stick and an ancient fortune telling wolf who is blind and tells the future through smells and happens to “toot”.
At well over 200 pages there is a lot of story and characterization to be found in this simple story of good vs. evil and redemption for those who seek it.
Manifest (Nicola)
Manifest by Artist Arthur
Mystyx series, book 1
Pages: 248
Ages: 13+
First Published: Aug 1, 2010
Publisher: Kimani Tru
Rating: 3.5/5
First sentence:
“I can’t hear you. I can’t hear you,” I repeat, talking to myself.
Acquired: Received a review copy from the book’s publicist.
Reason for Reading: The sounds of a Paranormal YA Ghost Whisperer with an added twist plot was enough to make me want to read it.
This is a book that I enjoyed more the further I got into it. I find that while I’m reading I often rate a book as I go along. This was a two at the beginning, a solid three by the middle and pushing a four and a half by the end so to sum it all off I’ve gone with an overall three and a half. Krystal can see dead people, hear them, have conversations with them and now they are asking her for help. Ricky Watson, a very cute boy, for a ghost, wants Krystal to find out who killed him and he won’t stop pestering her until she agrees to help him. Two other kids at school are trying to corner Krystal into meeting them somewhere secret when they find out Krystal has the mysterious ‘M’ birthmark that both of them also have. This may all be very exciting to some but not Krystal as she is in the middle of glooming over her parents divorce, her mother’s moving her from NYC to hicktown Connecticut and her subsequent marriage to Gerald who seems to hate Krystal almost as much as she hates him.
When I first started reading I really did not like the character of Krystal. She was full of angst, self-importance, rude to her mother and everyone else for that matter, whiny and basically a grating narrative voice to have to read. Krystal’s attitude remains the same for a good part of the book but fortunately the plot was exciting enough to keep me reading. There is a mystery to solve and the three teens set out to solve who killed Ricky; popular belief is that the crew he hung with had something to do with it but Ricky wants their names cleared and the real killer found. The story becomes more involved when Krystal meets another ghost in the boiler room, a crying girl who has had her head bashed in and thinks there may be a connection to Ricky’s death.
The plot was a fun read and I ended up reading the book in an afternoon. Little bits of information are leaked as the book progresses though I knew who the culprit was early on. This plot line is closed by the end of the book. In amongst the solving of the mystery, is a plot line where the teens found out about their birthmarks and powers, this, again, is an intriguing story arc and one that will continue through the series. They learn enough in this volume but there are many more questions to ask and so much more to know. The dynamics of the group of three who are from very different backgrounds is also explored and grows.
Krystal’s home life is an ongoing issue through the book and it just plain annoyed me. I’m not cold-hearted. I appreciate the drama of the situation, but it is one of those things where if everybody had just told the truth at the beginning there would not have been all this hatred and misery for so long. Toward the end there is some kind of resolution, and Krystal seems to lose her angst and bad attitude but we’ll have to wait until book two to find out for sure. Because Krystal aside I really liked all the other characters, especially Sasha and I’m quite excited to find out what the next book will bring.
Early to Death, Early to Rise (Nicola)
Early to Death, Early to Rise by Kim Harrison
Madison Avery, Book 2
Pages: 228 pages
Ages: 13+
First Published: May 2010
Publisher: Harper Teen
Rating: 5/5
First sentence:
The car was hot from the sun, and I pulled my fingerprints from it as I slunk past.
Reason for Reading: Next in the series.
A fabulous sequel to Once Dead, Twice Shy! An exciting story from beginning to end that had me glued to the book until I was finished. Once again Kim Harrison finished off with a nice, neat, satisfactory ending without the use of a cliffhanger, though leaving the loose threads and plot direction for the next and what may be the last book of a trilogy. All the characters from book one return so that even though we’ve had to wait a whole year for this book, their familiarity quickly comes back to mind and the author does give quick mentions throughout of events that happened in book one to refresh our memory without going into a rehash of book one except for a quick half-page prologue.
I really don’t want to say a lot about the plot in the book as it carries on from book one taking the main character Madison Avery, who is dead, further along with the job she has been assigned and I don’t want to give plot spoilers for either book. We get a greater insight into the workings behind the scenes and while this actually is an angel book where the angels come from heaven and god (with a little g) is once mentioned, the author has taken great liberty to create her own fictional vision of how death works and what part angels play in helping souls to reach heaven. Harrison’s vision is fantastical (having nothing to do with Christianity) but does pose some seriously tough questions about free will.
The characters are wonderful. Madison grows into some of her powers and finds it’s not all fun and games to be a supernatural being. Madison grows to connect closer and even bond with some of her supernatural friends, Barnabas the light angel and Nakita the dark angel and Grace the guardian angel. Madison’s love interest Josh, is not an integral part of this story, but in the brief page time he gets at the beginning and end their relationship does take a step in the right direction.
Some very cool ideas at work in this sequel which not only entertained me but had me thinking and and seeing the point of view of both sides, the Dark and the Light. While, morally, I know where I stand, I can understand the various points of view. It will be very interesting to see how all threads and issues are resolved though I do have an idea as to a possible direction. A great series that I am really enjoying. Just wish I didn’t have to wait a whole year for the next book!
Claim to Fame (Nicola)
Claim to Fame by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Pages: 256 pages
Ages: 13+
First Published: Nov. 10, 2009
Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR
Genre: YA, paranormal
Rating: 4/5
First sentence:
I was supposed to be doing my algebra homework that night.
Reason for Reading: I’m a fan of the author’s.
Deep topics are under discussion in this book, first and foremost being transcendentalism. The main character does an awful lot of thinking and figuring things out in her head rather than impulsively acting upon her feelings as so many juvenile book character do. This leaves me somewhat concerned with the age group the book is marketed to. (The dust jacket says 10-14). I think that age group expects action rather than quotes from great transcendentalists such as Emerson. Personally, I recommend the book for Young Adults, 13+.
I enjoyed the book immensely. I haven’t read too many books by Haddix, yet, but I’ve yet to find one I don’t like. Lindsay Scott is a mysterious character at first as we find her. Then as she opens up and tells her story I found her to be a compelling character. The story is a slow one, with lots of thinking, reminiscing, and the turnings inside Lindsay’s head. The action does not start until near the end, bringing the book to a satisfactory conclusion.
Lindsay is a former television sitcom star (sort of a “Full House” knock off) where she was the cute little kid. When she hit puberty, her powers also hit. Lindsay can hear anything, anyone, anywhere in the world says about her. Being a popular actress this brought on an avalanche of voices in her head and while she tried to cope she eventually had something akin to a nervous breakdown (to the outside world). The show was canceled and Lindsay became a recluse for the next five years, not leaving her house, living with her father who was abandoned by her mother upon her birth. We meet Lindsay at age 16, just as her father has died and she begins the journey into figuring out why she is the way she is. What starts this journey is a night on which two teenage fans “kidnap” Lindsay, having read in a tabloid that she was being kept under lock and key by an abusive father. This forces Lindsay to look at her life and she discovers she may not be the only one with her powers.
A very unique topic, with characters that are real and sincere. I found this an enjoyable read that dealt with a lot of issues teens will relate too such as death of a parent, peer pressure, what others think of us, wanting to hide away from the world and ultimately leaves with a positive message that when others think ill of us (are unkind, even bullying) there are likely to be issues in that person’s life making them act out aggressively to others, letting one understand how to feel compassion for one’s enemies. This was a quick, page-turner for me. Recommended.
Meridian (Nicola)
Meridian by Amber Kizer
Pages: 305 pages
First Published: Aug. 11, 2009
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Rating: 3/5
First sentence:
The first creatures to seek me were the insects; my parents cleaned the bassinet free of dead ants the morning after they brought me home from the hospital.
Reason for Reading: I was attracted to the angel aspect of the story as I enjoy paranormals involving angels.
When Meridian turns sixteen her family has planned for her to be whisked away to live with “Auntie” for an undermined amount of time. It is here that she learns that she is only half-human, the other half is angel. In fact she is a Fenestra, a window to the ‘other side’ that the dead seek out, if she is near, to make their passing easier. Auntie is also a Fenestra and Meridian has been brought here to learn how to open and close the window properly without getting sucked in herself. But time is short and their evil opponents, the Aternocti will do anything to destroy Auntie and Fenestra before the information can be passed on.
The premise of this story is very exciting and I feel the book could have been so much more than it was. The only character I really connected with Meridian herself, even though there were plenty of times when her behaviour didn’t quite ring true. I’m of two minds when it comes to this book. I feel as though my words will make the book sound worse than it was because I really did enjoy the story, became quite caught up in the plot and read the book quickly.
Besides the lack of fully developed characters my main irritant with the book were the religious issues. The author went to great pains to repeatedly let Meridian know that in (the book’s) world their is no Christianity. Meridian would ask questions about Heaven and would be given answers like religions have many names for it. She’d ask about God and be told “the Creators are known by many names”. This type of thing is mentioned so much you are hit over the head with it. And yet, the bad guys are masquerading as Christians. We are told once at the beginning of the book, before we meet the bad guys, that they are a cult, after that they are simply referred to as Christians. However, throughout the entire book all the detailed descriptions of this group, their practices and church celebrations are all based on The Old Testament. The self-styled preacher quotes Biblical phrases often and their are notes for the reader to look them up (all Old Testament). There is no mention of Jesus or Christ, except once when someone mentions they voted to keep the Christ in Christmas. This just really irked me. The two issues together come across as being anti-Christian. This isn’t the first I’ve run into this. If an author wants to make the bad guys a group of Christians, so be it, but at least have them follow the The New Testament where Christ is found i.e. the term “Christian”. As far as I would say, ‘Christians’ who only follow the Old Testament would actually be Jewish.
Back to the story, remember I did say that overall I did enjoy it. It has a very strong beginning and the Fenestra creation, with the other mythos created around it is unique and interesting. The book ends satisfactorily but the two main characters are ready to set off for their future, making a sequel more than obvious. I would read a sequel should one be written.
The Reckoning (Nicola)
The Reckoning by Kelly Armstrong
Darkest Powers, Book 3
Pages: 391 pages
Ages: 14+
First Published: Apr. 6, 2010
Genre: YA, paranormal, fantasy
Rating: 4.5/5
First sentence:
After four hours on the run, I was finally safe, tucked into bed and enjoying the deep dreamless sleep of the dead … until the dead decided they’d really rather have me awake.
Reason for Reading: Next and final book in the trilogy.
Summary: The four supernatural teens finally arrive at a safe house only it may not be as safe as it seems. In this concluding book of the trilogy they prepare for the final showdown with The Edison Group and try to rescue those who are still in their clutches.
Comments: One can’t give much information on what happens in this conclusion as it is all so dependent on the previous books with everything finally all coming together. What I can tell you is that it is a brilliant, satisfying conclusion! A fast-paced read with plenty of reveals and shockers throughout. While Ms. Armstrong has kept the high octane action fore and centre, she has also managed to fully develop Derek, Simon, Tori and Chloe’s characters and relationships. They have all changed so much from the characters we first met in “The Summoning”.
This is one of the best supernatural YA trilogies I’ve read in some years. The Reckoning is a worthy conclusion that fans will appreciate having had the wait. The ending is quite interesting. Leaving us with a complete, finite finish and yet also leaving a few dangling threads and foreshadowing the upcoming future of the characters. This leaves the reader satisfied that the story is over, yet also leaves room for one to hope we may yet see these characters again. Which brings us to Kelley’s next YA book due out next spring, “The Gathering”. A visit to the author’s website reveals it described as continuing the series while giving the current characters “a well-deserved break”. From this I could envision this series continuing on indefinitely as sets of trilogies which really makes me excited.
Gone (Nicola)
Gone by Lisa McMann
Wake Trilogy, Book 3
Pages: 214
Ages: 15+
First Published: Feb. 9, 2010
Rating: 3/5
First sentence:
It’s like she can’t breathe anymore, no matter what she does.
Reason for Reading: Next (and last) in the series.
Summary: Janie has been left with a decision to make about her future and concentrates on making that decision. However, a wrench is thrown into her contemplations when her never before known father shows up in ICU causing her alcoholic mother to go off the deep end and add a twist to her previous choice. Now she must decide which is lesser of two evils.
Comments: Right of the bat I’ll say this was rather disappointing. For a good portion of the book, from the beginning, the story mostly concentrates on Janie’s dealing and coping with her alcoholic mother. Which would have been fine if this was just another teen dysfunctional family novel (which I abhor) but it was supposed to be the final book in a, so far, exciting paranormal trilogy. Janie has become very good at blocking out dreams unless they hit her out of nowhere, so during this part of the book there is barely any semblance of paranormal activity.
The introduction of Janie’s father and his story that Janie learns through his comatose dreams was an interesting plot move and was certainly the highlight of the book. I enjoyed the twist it brought to the story and the extra dimension it added to Janie’s decision. In the end though, I thought her decision lacked logic and I came up with a different way in which she could have possibly solved her dilemna.
I won’t go into any details about what I thought of the casual, s*xual relationship between Janie and Cabel, except that I was not impressed. In general I was not impressed with Gone much at all; I read the book very quickly, I was already committed to the characters and enjoyed the previous two books *very much* but Gone just did not share an exciting plot with them. The father’s part was good but not that exciting and I didn’t pick up this book to read about the trials, tribulations and effects of an alcoholic on a family. Readable, but disappointing for the last book in a trilogy.
Another Faust (Nicola)
Another Faust by Daniel & Dina Nayeri
Pages: 387 pgs.
Ages: 14+
First Published: Aug. 25, 2009
Genre: YA, paranormal
Rating: 5/5
First sentence:
Victoria didn’t have time to play.
Reason for Reading: The plot drove me to choosing this one. Plus, I’ll admit the cover also attracted me.
Summary: Five children disappear from their homes, all ten years old. Five years later they all arrive at an elite New York high school with a governess in charge of them. They are all beautiful, brilliant or athletic and soon take over the school with their popularity. They each have a special talent such as stopping time, reading minds, etc. and they’ll do anything to get what they want including making deals with the devil.
Comments: I absolutely loved this book so much! I really didn’t know what to expect when I went into it as I have been avoiding reading any other reviews and it just surpassed all my possible expectations. The five teenagers range in temperament from nasty and backstabbing to shy and lonely. The governess is the real villain in this story and I was just tickled that she shared my name, Nicola. I don’t come across my own name in literature all that often so that was fun for me. The story is amazing. I can’t say much as it’s best to find it all out on your own. The story slowly unravels itself chapter by chapter and has a very unexpected twist at the end which really brings home the dangers behind the classic story of selling one’s soul to the devil. There’s nothing I did not like about this book; the characters, the plot, the pacing, the theme made a brilliant reading experience for me which I was sad to see come to an end. The ending is satisfying and I heartily recommend this tale of greed, evil and redemption.
My Soul to Take (Nicola)
My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent
Soul Screamer, Book 1
Pages: 282
Ages: 14+
First Published: Aug. 8, 2009
Genre: Teen, Paranormal Romance
Rating: 4.5/5
First sentence:
“Come on!” Emma whispered from my right, her words floating from her mouth in a thin white cloud.
Reason for Reading: Even though I do not like romance books, I am getting into Paranormal Romances and Harlequin’s new Teen books intrigued me.
Comments: Kaylee can feel when someone near her is going to die. In fact she sees a dark shadow surrounding them. But then Kaylee has an overpowering urge to scream, a loud piercing, almost ear splitting screech that once starts she has no control over. The only way she can stop it is to get far enough away from the person then her urge dies down. Her best friend Emma helps her, thinking they are panic attacks. Her aunt and uncle, whom she lives with, have already sent her to the psych ward once so now she keeps the attacks secret. All her life the attacks have been years or almost a year apart but suddenly three girls in town drop dead in as may days and Kaylee is a witness to two of them. Something is not right. At the same time she meets a boy, Nash, who is able to calm her urge to scream without removing her from the ‘pre-deceased’.
This book was amazing! I won’t tell you what Kaylee eventually finds out about herself but Ms. Vincent uses a very seldom used creature from folklore as characters in this novel. She has created a whole new wonderful mythos to work with that was pure joy to read. The story was compelling, very hard to put down. Kaylee is a strong female character, independent, yet respectful where it is due. It really is the story and the plot that kept me so hooked, though. Very well-written and unique to say the least.
For a teen book, I was pleased with the portrayal of the romance aspect. Both Kaylee and Nash are smart, intelligent teens. Kaylee knows when to back off and not let things go to far and Nash is very respectful to notice Kaylee’s body language and never take more than has been offered.
Personally, I am not a big romance fan so the girl sighing over the boy in the beginning did have me rolling my eyes quite heavily but once the plot got going full steam the drooling over his various body parts took a back seat to the paranormal part. I mention this so that paranormal fans won’t be afraid to pick up a book by Harlequin, thinking it will all be romance with a capital “R”. Instead what you get is an incredibly unique paranormal story that is too good to miss, even if there is a bit of romance.
I am very anxious to read Book 2. This one ends nicely with the plot being wrapped up, but there are some character threads left open that will transition nicely into the next book. Highly recommended!
The Hanging Hill (Nicola)
The Hanging Hill by Chris Grabenstein
Zack and Judy Jennings, Book 2
Pages: 322
Ages: 10-14
First Published: Aug. 11, 2009
Genre: children, horror, ghost story
Rating: 5/5
First sentence:
There’s this thing about ghosts: Once you’ve seen one, you can basically see them all.
Reason for Reading: The sequel to The Crossroads.
Comments: Zack and his step-mom, a famous children’s book author, are spending the summer at the Hanging Hill Theatre where, for the first time, one of her books is being turned into a musical. The Theatre has been around for well near a century while both the building and the land have quite a chequered past. So it comes to no surprise to Zack when he starts to see the occasional ghost. But when the ghosts start talking of demons and Zack meets ghosts with bloody weapons who can affect things in this world he starts to take notice. Before long he’s racing against time to save the life of a sacrificial child and several others taking part in the play.
This was fabulous! One exciting read that never stops from start to finish. So much better than its predecessor. I had some problems with The Crossroads and the author has not repeated those concerns making The Hanging Hill a phenomenal horror story for the middle grades. The story does have its bloody bits and some gruesome descriptions so I wouldn’t recommend it for the squeamish but nothing is overboard and certainly acceptable for this age group in my (conservative) opinion.
The chapters are very short making it hard to put the book down. The characters are an eccentric lot making for a fun story while Zack and the other couple of main characters are down to earth, likable, characters with real dialogue. I’m recommending this for ages 10-14, though I rarely give an ending age, I feel that teens will find the characters young, even though no age is given this time around, the children are obviously middle graders, and anyone under ten I feel would find the horror parts a bit to much, unless they are used to that sort of thing.
A great read! I was hooked from the beginning and am hoping this is not just a sequel but will continue as a series. I’d love to follow Zack and Judy on another ghostly adventure!
Haunted (Nicola)
Haunted by Barbara Haworth-Attard
Pages: 273
Ages: 14+
First Published: Aug. 18, 2009 (Canada only)
Genre: paranormal, thriller, mystery, magical realism
Rating: 4.5/5
First sentence:
Dee spread feed over the ground, calling, “chick, chick.”
Reason for Reading: I love a good ghost story.
Comments: Set in the Bruce Peninsula area of Ontario at the time that the soldier’s had returned home from WWI, Dee and her Grandmother live in a small cabin at the outskirts of a rural town. Grandmother is the town’s midwife and also the one people come to for “medicines” when they are sick. The town does have a doctor, has for some years and business isn’t what it used to be but some folks still would rather trade goods with Grandmother than pay cash to the doctor. Fourteen year-old Dee has been raised by Grandmother as her own mother ran off with a travelling show when Dee was only a few months old, her father is unknown. Otherwise the only special thing about Dee is that she sees dead people.
Her ‘gift’ which she keeps secret even from her Grandmother tests her endurance when a former friend of hers’ bones are found up on the mountain approximately four years old. Everyone thought she’d run away with a boy at the time and now people are remembering other girls who ‘disappeared’ in the past. It isn’t until a new girl is found dead that a Detective from Toronto is sent for to find this serial killer in their midst.
This is the first book I’ve read by Barbara Haworth-Attard, though she’s written many juvenile and YA novels. I highly enjoyed it. I found the serial killer mystery to be tightly written and fast paced with plenty of clues but not easy to figure out at all. I had it narrowed down to two suspects from the start but wavered between them for a while. I think the intended audience will have a great time with this mystery.
The supernatural element was an added bonus to an already strong straight-forward thriller plot. The spooky ghostly episodes certainly added to the sense of fear surrounding the plot. This brings about a second theme that runs through the book of Dee wondering why she sees these spirits and wonders about her Grandmother’s special gifts and why her mother ran away and has never come back. Overall, a very intricate plot that carries many threads and combines the paranormal with reality with the ease of an accomplished writer.
I enjoyed everything about this book. Dee is a fun character, fully developed, as is her Grandmother who has a hard shell that Dee occasionally cracks and sees underneath. The only thing I found disappointing is the stereotypical use of a mentally challenged character (which appeared to be downs syndrome to me), who was called “retard” by the nastier folks in town. This character is introduced first but as soon as the girl’s bones are found it’s obvious that stereotypically the “retard” is going to come under suspicion of the murders. I expected it from the get go. And indeed the author fell into that trap. It’s typical of the time period but something a little less obvious would have been more original.
Otherwise, I read this book throughout a day, thought it was a brilliant serial killer mystery for this age group and loved the paranormal aspect. Recommended!
The Awakening (Nicola)
The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong
Darkest Powers, Book Two
Pages: 360
Ages: 14+
First Published: Apr. 28, 2009
Genre: YA, paranormal, fantasy
Rating: 4/5
First sentence:
When the door to my cell clicked open, the first thought that flitted through my doped-up brain was that Liz had changed her mind and come back.
Reason for Reading: Next in the series. I received a review copy from the publisher.
Comments: The story picks up shortly after Book One and without giving much away, I’ll say this book’s main focus is that of the teens being on the run. While all six teens are still in this book, only five of them are a part of the story and if you’ve read Book One it may not be the five your thinking of. As all the teens take part in the plot, two of them in particular become the main characters and the undercurrents of a romance are felt boiling beneath the surface.
As often happens with the second book in a trilogy, The Awakening does have a feeling of being the middle part, filler if you will, awaiting the big climax of Book Three. Oh, I still enjoyed it, very much in fact, but the plot just doesn’t advance very much. Don’t get me wrong, there are still plenty of exciting, tense, and unexpected moments and a couple of reveals along the way. What this book does do though is show a lot of character development. We learn a lot of previously unknown information (secrets even) about each teen and we also get to know each one much more closer. All of the supernaturals, as they call themselves, have personalities which are made up of both likeable and unlikable characteristics making them real people to connect with.
While the plot only slightly advances we do learn a lot of the background of the story, how and why the teens have their powers, and who is after them and why, plus information on their own personal backgrounds. This compiled with the Book One leaves the reader very anxious for the big showdown in Book Three. Having been hit with a cliffhanger ending in The Summoning (which I don’t like), I am happy to say that The Awakening leaves us with a more finite, however brief it may be, ending.
Kelley Armstrong is my new found favourite author and I’ll be going back and starting her adult series for sure now.
The Summoning (Nicola)
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
Darkest Powers, Book One
Pages: 390
Ages: 14+
First Published: July 1, 2008
Genre: YA, paranormal, fantasy
Rating: 5/5
First sentence:
Mommy forgot to warn the new babysitter about the basement.
Reason for Reading: I’ve been wanting to read this author for sometime now but her adult series has a number of books in it and with all the series I already have going it’s a daunting project and I thought this new YA series would be a great place to start and see if I liked the author before trying her adult books.
Comments: Chloe was a normal teenager until the day she sees a very scary ghost of a janitor in the girl’s bathroom and runs screaming down the school hall. Next thing she knows, she has woken up in an exclusive home for mentally troubled teens. She’s told she has a mental condition and they only want to help her get better. The handful of other patients all seem nice enough, well except a couple who have major attitude problems, and she begins to adjust to her diagnosis. But Chloe (and the others) begin to realize that something isn’t right. Chloe can still see dead people and the kids don’t think it’s because of any mental illness. In fact, quite a few of them seem to have rather special talents. Why are they always being threatened with transfer? What’s so bad with being transferred? Why can Chloe see the girl who was transferred?
This is an absolutely amazing read! You need one of those rubber page-flipper thingies on your finger so you can turn the pages fast enough when you read this. Kelley Armstrong has created an amazing world, which her website reveals is the same one in which her adult books are set. The mental home the teens live in has that boarding-school feel to it but with a much closer, tighter, oppressive atmosphere. While three of the teens stand out as main characters at this point, all six of them are fully realized and each given a background and believable personality.
The plot starts off with a bang and just keeps going from there. Event after event keeps the pace moving very quickly then reveal after reveal towards the end will have you gasping in shock. There is an overhanging darkness throughout the book which we are briefly let into and by the end of the book we have some idea of what it is but no real knowledge of its depth except that it has evil intentions.
The book does end basically mid-paragraph though not exactly with a cliff hanger as we know what is coming immediately next but it is one of those “to be continued” endings that I’m not partial to with everything left just at the crucial moment and leaving the reader dying to read the next book. Fortunately, I have the next book on hand and don’t have to wait a year to found out what happens next but I do fear that book two will leave me in the same position. However, the book is just too darn good to take any marks off so it gets a full rating from me! This is the best teen novel I’ve read since A Great and Terrible Beauty (which I loved!) and this is by far the better book. If you read paranormal books, whether they be adult or teen, you’ll love this. Go get it now! Highly recommended.
Once Dead, Twice Shy (Nicola)
Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison
Madison Avery, Book 1
Pages: 232
First Published: May 26, 2009
Genre: YA, paranormal
Rating: 5/5
First sentence:
Everyone does it. Dies, I mean.
Comments: Madison dies on prom night with her date holding her hand. Not as romantic as it sounds though. As he’s only her date because their dad’s set it up for them and she’s not really dead as she was scythed by a dark reaper and managed to steal his amulet in the morgue when he came to claim her soul, thus she claimed his powers. Now she’s been taken in by the light reapers and being taught there way while living on earth, as a dead girl, having several people’s memories of that fateful night erased, but when the truth of whose stone she really carries comes out she is left alone at home with a guardian angel to look after her. Of course, this is exactly when the enemy strikes but instead of going for her they go for someone close to her and Madison must spill the truth of her death to a living person and that person soon becomes the only one whom she can only trust as light and dark and fate and choice battle it out with each other.
A fabulous book! What a whirlwind read from start to finish. The two main character’s Madison and her friend, Josh are wonderful, well-rounded teens who at first seem stereotyped. Josh being a gorgeous, jock with an attitude and Madison a goth girl who tries to be as weird as possible but we soon see this is not so as we learn their many layers to discover that looks are often deceiving. Fabulous plot! I just love angel stories, but only when they are actually heaven sent angels. And while not harped upon it is mentioned these angels do come from heaven and that’s enough for me. The story contains two factions, both originating from the same place, one dark and one light and each containing angels, reapers, and timekeepers. From above they can visit the higher beings, seraphs, or call upon lower beings, guardian angels, in this case a cute little cherub named Grace with a real fun sense of keeping her protectorates from harm. One night while looking after Josh she makes his little brother stub his toe every time he swears making a restless night for everyone!
I hate to admit this is my very first Kim Harrison book but I thought it would be a great place to start and I was right as it has me anxiously awaiting the next in this series and even more eager to read her adult books. This is her first book for YAs.
One thing bothers me about the book and that actually has nothing to do with the writing but the cover. Which I will say that I do love, but after reading the book you will know that Madison’s hair style is referred to over and over again. It really takes on a point of symbolism in the story and the girl’s hair style on the cover is so not the one in the book. Really, what’s up with that?
Not to end on a negative note for such a great book, one thing I especially liked and am often particular about in serial books is that the book did have a complete and final ending. One could read this book and happily not need to continue on, but on the other hand it does end so obviously as really just the beginning of a whole new story. Everything has changed so much since the beginning, one can only wonder what life will be like for the main characters and the newly befriended ones now. Great stuff, bring on book #2!!