Review: The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Pub. Date: September 1, 2014
Pages: 224

Short Sweet Synopsis: Ceony has worked hard to be first in her class at the Tagis Praff School for the Magically Inclined to fulfill her dream of choosing metal as the medium for her magic; however, her dreams are crushed when the school assigns her to work with paper. Little does she know that there is more to paper magic than she even thought possible. When a magician practicing dark magic enters the picture, Ceony must use all the magic she has learned in order to save the life of her teacher.

"The Paper Magician" was a nice change from the books I have been reading. You may think that the idea of a paper magician is lame, but Charlie N. Holmberg makes it incredible. Like the idea of a magician who can work wonders with paper, there were aspects of "The Paper Magician" that I loved, but there were some issues with the execution of the plot that got in the way of the flow of the story.

I'm going to start with the positives because my experience when reading "The Paper Magician" was a good one. I loved the characters in "The Paper Magician" because they all had strong personalities. Ceony and Emery had great chemistry throughout the book and I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop. I truly appreciated the way Holmberg created his magical world where there Magicians bond to a specific man-made medium. Once bonded a magician can only work with that material. Even though paper sounds like a lame material to work with, it turns out that almost anything is possible if the magician knows his craft and understand the material.

My biggest problem with "The Paper Magician" was the pacing. Much of the book moved very quickly, but then the book slowed down towards the end. There was too much descriptions that didn't add to the world building or story. There was also a point where the plot started to crawl along and Ceony was going around in circles. It was getting really frustrating. I think it would have helped the pace if Emery and Ceony had more time working together at the beginning of the story and less with Ceony running in circles (sorry I'm trying not to give away cool details). Luckily the end of the book made it totally worth it!

I really enjoyed "The Paper Magician" because it felt very unique to other fantasy books out there. Yes it had romance and a good vs. evil plot, but these are elements I enjoy when the author does them well. Even though poor pacing is one of my pet peeves, I still really enjoyed "The Paper Magician" and even plan on reading the second book in the series.

Review: Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach

Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach
Pub. Date: June 1, 2011
Pages: 311
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

"Stupid Fast" is an interesting book. My ideas of the book and what the book actually was did not mix at all. I was under the impression this book was about a kid who discovered that he was great at sports and became an amazing football player with a side plot of some family issues. While Felton being a football player and an athlete is part of the plot, the main focus of the novel is the crumbling of his family. I think I was even told this book had humor in it, but I don't remember myself laughing.

Another reason I wasn't the biggest fan of this book was that I found parts unbelievable. I just didn't believe that the characters would act the way they did. They were too mature for high school students. I am not saying that no high school students are mature, I actually know many teens that are more mature than adults, but to have a town full of teens all willing to do the right thing just felt forced. Maybe I am just becoming a cynical "spinster". ;)

Overall the book was good, I read it in a few hours, but it wasn't what I was in the mood for.

Review of Tiger Lily

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Pub. Date: July 3, 2012
Pages: 292
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Short and Sweet Synopsis:  The story of Tiger Lily told through Tinker Bell with some romance between Peter Pan and jealousy over Wendy.  P.S.  This book is a harsh, realistic twist on the fantastical Neverland.

Another book with huge hype... I don't really know what to say about it. While I liked this spin on Peter Pan, especially with the emphasis on Tiger Lily, it moved slow. It took me about 100 pages to get into the story. While the book felt slow while reading, a lot happened and it was almost hard to take in everything.  It had a realistic love story (yes I said realistic when talking about a Peter Pan spin off) and I do appreciate that in most books, but for some reason I wanted a little bit more romance.  I have a feeling that the problem was not with the book, but that my expectations of "Tiger Lily" did not match the reality.

I just feel kind of confused about it because there was so much I liked, but it just dragged while reading it.  I wish I had read this for a book group so I could have talked out my confusion.

“Chopsticks”

by  Jessica Anthony

My Rating:

Pub. Date: Feb 2, 2012

Pages: 272

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Source: Library

Edition: Paperback

Short and Sweet Synopsis:  Newspaper clippings, photographs, drawings, IMs, postcards, wine bottle labels, and more tell the story of two teenagers in love.  One is struggling with insanity and a music career, the other is failing to meet the expectations of assimilating into a school in America.

"Chopsticks" was entertaining, but I'm left feeling a little underwhelmed.  While I did enjoy the potpourri of visuals used to tell this love story, I really wish I could have gotten into the characters heads more.  I have been frustrated with authors adding in fluff recently in order to meet the 400 page minimum that seems to be required to get books published; however, I really wanted more from "Chopsticks".  The story and characters had a lot to offer and I just felt like the format didn't satisfy me as a reader.  I wish it maybe had a few longer letters... maybe a diary entry to just beef up the characters a bit.

"Chopsticks" is a very quick and easy read.  The cover, format, and visuals in the book will attract many readers.  I did enjoy looking at this book and I would have a hard time believing anyone would feel like it was a waste of time.  Readers who would like to stay in Jessica Anthony's creative space longer may take some extra time to analyze and think about what they are looking/ reading.  This would be a good book to pick up if you have sometime to kill or are just hanging out in the library (although I am obviously bias).  

Overall, it was good.  Nothing to write home about, but I'm happy I read it.  Interesting visuals and an interesting plot.  I just want MORE!  

Review of "Entwined"

"Entwined"

by Heather Dixon

My Rating:

Pub. Date: March 29, 2011

Pages: 480

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Source: Borrowed From Library

Edition: e-book

Synopsis: Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it.

The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.

Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.

But there is a cost.

The Keeper likes to keep things.

Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.

I LOVE the cover of "Entwined".  It fit the romantic aspects that I was sure would be a part of a book that highlighted dancing and magic.  I think I loved the cover a bit too much because the book did not live up to it.  I really liked the retelling of the 12 dancing princesses  fairy tale.  It was great to understand why the King was so harsh.  He became a character with depth instead of just a horrible father trying keep his children from having any enjoyment out of life.  I liked how the daughters struggled to  live with their father.  Their difficult relationship felt true and grounded the story in a way that made it seem more realistic.  For the most part, I liked how the girls didn't adhere to social norms.  They had spirit and I enjoyed that.  

There were a few problems with "Entwined".  First, the daughters were kind of dense about the danger they were in.  I understand their naivety at first, but out of 12 girls only the oldest started to worry... it was very unrealistic to me.  Especially since these girls are strong minded and educated.  Second, the book was kind of slow.  I think it was just a bit too long because there were times when not a lot was happening.  I am a fan of dancing, but some of it could have been cut out.  It was just a bit too much.  I guess the problem was that I didn't love Heather Dixon's writing style.  It just wasn't my favorite.

Overall, I liked the book.  It didn't take me a long time to read, I just wish there had been more editing.  I am glad I read it because I did enjoy the plot.  I have a feeling that there will be readers out there who love this book, but I am just not one of them.  

Review of "Glow"

"Glow"

by Amy Kathleen Ryan

My Rating:

Pub. Date: September 13th, 2011

Pages: 320

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Source: Won ARC

Edition: ARC

Synopsis: If a violent battle destroyed the only world you’ve ever known, would you be brave enough to save who was left? Would love be strong enough to survive the fight? Either way, there’s no turning back.

The Empyrean is the only home 15-year-old Waverly has ever known. Part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space, she and her boyfriend Kieran will be pioneers of New Earth. Waverly knows she must marry young in order to have children who can carry on the mission, and Kieran, the handsome captain-to-be, has everything Waverly could want in a husband. Everyone is sure he’s the best choice. Still, there’s a part of Waverly that wants more from life than marriage, and she is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.

Suddenly, Waverly’s dreams are interrupted by the inconceivable – a violent betrayal by the Empyrean's sister ship, the New Horizon. The New Horizon’s leaders are desperate to populate the new planet first, and will do anything to get what they need: young girls. In one pivotal moment, Waverly and Kieran are separated, and find themselves at the helm of dangerous missions, where every move has potentially devastating consequences, and decisions of the heart may lead to disaster.

I am having trouble with this review because I LOVED some parts of the book and HATED others.  My expectations were too high for "Glow", but I think the book had some problems.  Overall, I did enjoy the book.  The plot was interesting and Waverly's story grabbed me from the get-go.  There were parts in the book that were horrifying and a bit difficult to read, but being a dystopian fiction it was fitting.  To be honest, I was actually happy that there were parts of "Glow" that unnerved me because I feel like great dystopian books should do this.  I really liked the female characters in this book.  They were all strong and had individual personalities.  Even if I didn't agree with their actions, I understood them as characters.

Where this book went extremely wrong for me was the portrayal of men.  I don't think there was a single male character in this book that I liked.  Kieran had his moments, but by the time the book finished I wasn't really sure what to think.  It almost came across that 98% of men did not respect women and saw them as carriers for their children.  If a man did show some respect toward women then he still had violence or power issues.  This made it EXTREMELY difficult for me to care about the male characters in the book.  I got really bored while reading much of Kieran's accounts and wanted to get back to Waverly.  I just felt that the conflict between the boys in this book just didn't make sense.  Pretty much every male seemed to be exaggerated caricatures.  

Overall "Glow" was good.  It had some very strong points, but I just wish there had been more time focused on what was happening through Waverly's perspective.  Maybe I am bias because I am a girl, but I can't see guys being happy with how they were portrayed in this book.  I guess I am left with liking the book.  I am happy to know how "Glow" ended, but I am not going to be finishing the series.  

Review of Max Quick: The Pocket and the Pendant

"Max Quick: The Pocket and the Pendant"
Mark Jeffrey


 

3

Pub. Date: April 26th, 2011
Pages: 304
Publisher: HarperCollins

Synopsis: Max Quick is a pickpocket, a vagabond, an orphan, and a thief. Even so, nothing about him seems particularly special . . . until one day when time mysteriously stops. Suddenly, nearly everyone in the world is frozen in time—except for Max. 

Now Max must journey across America to find the source of the Time-stop. Along the way, he meets others who aren't suspended in time, like Casey, a girl who's never been on her own until now. Together, as they search for the cause of this disaster, Max and his companions encounter ancient mysteries, magic books, and clues to the riddle of stopped time. But relentless and mysterious villains are hot on Max's heels and will do everything in their power to prevent Max from ending the Time-stop. And the closer Max gets to the answers, the more it seems that his own true identity is not what he once believed. 

Racing against a clock that no longer ticks, Max must embrace his past to save his future—and the world—from being altered forever.

"Max Quick: The Pocket and the Pendant" was a  fast paced read with lots of action.  I was hooked on this book after the first chapter and I had to find out what was going on.  Why was time stopped and why weren't Max and Casey affected?!  As I got more and more into the book, I just HAD to know why Max was missing his memory and who he really was.  If these mysteries aren't enough, there are many more that pop up throughout the book to keep your interest peaked. I would go into more details, but I HATE spoilers in reviews!

Even though the book was fast paced, I wish there had been more character development.  I wish Max's quest to find himself had been more of a driving force in this book.  There are moments where Max's identity is a top priority, but they are fleeting.  It almost feels like there are just too many mysteries happening in one book.  This is good for keeping the reader interested, but I like to be a little more connected with my characters.  This book almost felt like a complete series, or at least 2/3 of one, because of all the different mysteries that were solved and the number of villains- it kind of reminds me of Spider-Man 3.  

"Max Quick: The Pocket and the Pendant" is a combination of sci-fi and adventure that will have readers hooked from start to finish.  Fans of Percy Jackson will enjoy Max's quest to learn the mysteries of the Time Pocket as well as his own identity.  This book is probably best suited for reluctant readers or readers who enjoy non-stop action, but I think most readers will enjoy "Max Quick: The Pocket and the Pendant".

*I did receive a free ARC of this book for review.

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Review of "Here Lies Bridget"

"Here Lies Bridget"
Paige Harbison


3


Pub. Date: January 18th, 2011
Pages: 224
Publisher: Harlequin


Synopsis:  Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don't worship as attentively, teachers don't fall for her wide-eyed "who me?" look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she's always loved—Liam Ward—can barely even look at her anymore.

When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she's wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she's inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.

And Bridget's about to learn that, sometimes, saying you're sorry just isn't enough….

When I first heard about this book I was very excited because it reminded me of "Before I Fall", but "Here Lies Bridget" did not live up to my hopes.  The book was good, but it just didn't captivate me like "Before I Fall".  I had two problems with this book.  The first was the fact that I didn't really sympathize with Bridget until the very end of the book.  She was too cruel and naive about how her actions affect others.  She took advantage of EVERYONE in her life and wasn't nice to anyone.  She really just came across as the biggest, most spoiled brat character.  This wouldn't have been so bad, except for the fact that the book spent way too much time showing how terrible of a person Bridget was.  I wanted to see more of her realizing her faults and getting to know the real Bridget, but there just wasn't enough of this for me.

The book did move pretty quickly and it was enjoyable watching all the drama unfold, but I just had problems connecting with Bridget's character for most of the book.  Even though it was hard to read, I liked the scenes with Bridget’s stepmother.  She just seemed very genuine.  Something I really did like about the book was the complex relationship between Bridget and Liam.  I liked that it slowly unwrapped through the book.  I feel like her interactions with Liam were some of the only moments where I saw the real Bridget.  Getting to see the true thoughts of Bridget's closest friends was also another part of the book I really enjoyed.  Bridget was just so disconnected from other people's perceptions of her.

Overall, the book was good, I just wish more time was spent on Bridget learning about her flaws.  I would recommend this book to readers who enjoyed "Before I Fall" and "The Ghost and the Goth".  I wish I liked this book more, but it just didn’t meet my expectations.


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Review of "The Family That Wasn't"

"The Family That Wasn't"
Gene Twaronite

3

Pub. Date: August 24, 2010
Pages: 128
Publisher: iUniverse.com

Synopsis: The Family That Wasn't is a humorous fable of how our families live inside us. It will appeal to both teen and adult readers. The 13-year-old narrator, John Boggle (whose real name is John Bazukas-O'Reilly-Geronimo-Giovanni-Li Choy-Echeverria), finds his family so impossibly crazy that he cannot stand living with them another moment. He invents a new perfect family so convincing that he suddenly finds himself living inside this imaginary world.

But John finds that he too has changed. He sees his too perfect image in the mirror and begins to wonder if it is all some kind of mistake. Only trouble is, now he can't remember who he is. He only knows that he must leave this family at once. His sole clue is the name, John Boggle.
To find his true family he embarks on a cross country quest. Along the way he encounters other characters who have also lost touch with their families. Together they must find a way to reconstruct the connections to bring back the family that once was.

 "The Family That Wasn't" was entertaining and only took me a couple hours to finish.  When I heard the plot of the book, I knew it would be interesting and the book delivered.  Even though the book started off a bit slow, there was a lot of character development for John's family, the rest of the book sped by.  Usually I am not one for added length to books, but I actually wish there was more of "The Family That Wasn't".   I think the book would have been better if there had been more time spent with John on his cross-country quest.  I also wish there had been a bit more conflict, things just went a little too easily for John on his quest.  There were some set backs, but I wish there had been more of a climax.

I liked how John changed when his family changed.  It really showed how interlocked ones identity is with their relationship with their family.  We'd like to think that our lives aren't shaped by our family, but that would be a lie.  John's family wasn't all together terrible, excluding one person, but it was definitely understandable why he would want a new one.  I'm sure many kids have felt that they would like a new family at one point in their lives- this book is something that they can relate to.  I know I used to think about how my life would be different if I had a different family and now that I am older, I know that a different family could not love me more.  This book does a great job of showing readers why having the "perfect" family is not necessarily better than having the slightly crazy family you were born with.  

Overall, this book was a fun, quick read.  I would recommend it to anyone who has thought about replacing his or her family or who just thinks that this sounds like an interesting plot.  It kind of reminded me a bit of Coraline, but not nearly as creepy.

*I did receive a copy of this book for review.  

Review of "Crescendo"

"Crescendo"
Becca Fitzpatrick

3

Pub. Date: October 19, 2010
Pages: 427

Synopsis: Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described as anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy, Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The further Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim bloodline has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

I was disappointed in "Crescendo", to say the least. I loved "Hush, Hush" and really though Becca Fitzpatrick was setting up for a fantastic sequel, but "Crescendo" didn't live up to these expectations. My biggest problem was Nora. Everything she did and said pretty much annoyed the crap out of me. It kind of bothers me how in the synopsis it says that "Patch is starting to pull away from Nora" because it seems to me that her crazy, erratic actions are what really caused the problems. I want to say more about this because there is an argument at the beginning of the book that got way out of control, I am still shocked with how it ended, but I don't want to give anything away.

I do understand Nora being upset seeing Marcie and Patch spending so much time together and that it was hard to see Marcie wearing Patch's hat, but that is what happens (err I know that doesn't make much sense and isn't really a sentence, but I am trying not to give anything away). I am not saying that I think Patch's actions were the correct ones, but Nora went a bit postal over a situation she created.

I actually really enjoyed the rest of the book, even though a part of the end didn't really make a whole lot of sense. Why would you give someone you hardly got along with a car? The plot moved pretty quickly and the mystery of Nora's father's death kept me hooked on the book. I wish there had been more Patch in "Crescendo" and less Nora whining. I think the thing that annoys me the most is I probably wouldn't bother to read the next book in the series, but the ending was so good I HAVE to! Cliffhanger endings get me every time! It is funny because the more I think about the ending, the more I realize how awesome it was, but it still can't make up for Nora annoying me through the rest of the book.

I hope I didn't really offend anyone who loved the book with this review. I know a lot of people absolutely loved it. This really is just my opinion and I don't have a lot of tolerance for behavior such as Nora, so I am admitting I am bias here. The book did move very fast, I read it in one day. It ended up being only a like for me. The good thing is that I have until the fall of next year to get over my disappointment in "Crescendo" and I might even be pleasantly surprised by "Tempest", the third book.

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Review of "The House of Scorpion"

"The House of Scorpions"
Nancy Farmer

3

Pub. Date: September 1, 2002
Pages: 380

Synopsis: Matt is a clone of El Patrón, a powerful drug lord of the land of Opium, which is located between the United States and Mexico. For six years, he has lived in a tiny cottage in the poppy fields with Celia, a kind and deeply religious servant woman who is charged with his care and safety. He knows little about his existence until he is discovered by a group of children playing in the fields and wonders why he isn't like them. Though Matt has been spared the fate of most clones, who have their intelligence destroyed at birth, the evil inhabitants of El Patrón's empire consider him a "beast" and an "eejit." When El Patrón dies at the age of 146, fourteen-year-old Matt escapes Opium with the help of Celia and Tam Lin, his devoted bodyguard who wants to right his own wrongs. After a near misadventure in his escape, Matt makes his way back home and begins to rid the country of its evils.

"The House of Scorpion" fell a little flat for me. The plot was really interesting, but the characters weren't my favorite. I liked Matt, but I wanted to punch him in the face at certain points throughout the book. I struggled with this book because I understood why the author chose to make his character so hard to like and it worked well with the plot, but I have trouble reading books when I don't like the main character. I actually had trouble liking most of the characters in the book. I would say that I maybe liked half the characters in the book, but the best characters didn't show up until about halfway through.

I like how Farmer explored cloning in "The House of Scorpion". Parts of the book were hard to read because of how the clones were treated. It was also interesting to see how technology was used to enslave both humans and animals in Farmer's world. The Eejits were super creepy, but at the same time I felt terrible for them. It was also hard to read about how orphans were treated in Aztlan and how the government was able to control the ideas of the people. Technology was not the only weapon used as a means of control, drugs and psychology also played a large role in "The House of Scorpion"

The future portrayed in "The House of Scorpion" is terrifying, but at the same time it is not unbelievable. I think I would have liked this book more if I was in a book group and had people to discuss it with, but I kind of just felt frustrated at the characters through most of the story. I love how the book ended, but I had trouble getting through the first two thirds of the book. I guess what it comes down to is that the English major in me really liked the book, but the reader in me thought it moved a bit too slow and struggled with the characters. After even writing this review I feel like I should give the book a better rating, but I can't say I "really liked" the book while reading it. Lots of other people LOVE this book, so if you like sci-fi then this book will probably be right up your alley.

Review of "Halo"

"Halo"
Alexandra Adornetto


3

Pub Date: August 31, 2010
Pages: 496

Synopsis: Three angels are sent down to bring good to the world: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. But she is the most human, and when she is romantically drawn to a mortal boy, the angels fear she will not be strong enough to save anyone—especially herself—from the Dark Forces.

Is love a great enough power against evil?

I liked "Halo", but it was just too long and the characters were not my favorites. I felt like this book would have been more successful as 2 shorter books. There were two huge conflicts that both could have been flushed out in their own book. It made the first conflict seem to be not that big of a deal because it happened and it didn't seem to matter so the build up seemed pretty unnecessary. Although breaking "Halo" into two books may not have worked because the conflicts seemed a bit lacking and people may not have gotten farther than the first book. Maybe if the beginning had been shortened and the conflict towards the end of the book was developed a bit more it may have worked better. I'm sorry this is sounding very vague; I just don't want to give anything away! I was just expecting more action out of "Halo".

My major problem with the characters was that I didn't really like the dynamics of Xavier and Bethany's relationship, it felt kind of controlling, not in a completely "OMG this guy is a psychopath", but it just felt like he could turn into a clingy, overprotective boyfriend. I really didn't like how he would answer for Bethany and decide who is worthy of talking to her. I understand that Adornetto was trying to show that Xavier loved Bethany and was trying to protect her; I also get that Xavier was trying to help Bethany, but I just know that controlling relationships start with similar actions.

If you enjoy paranormal romances, especially ones that don't have much plot outside the central relationship, then you will probably love this book. I have a feeling most people will love Xavier and will not be bothered by his relationship with Bethany, but I had trouble getting past this. I know a lot of people love this book, so if it sounds like something you are interested in then it is totally worth giving it a shot.

*I received this book from the publisher for review*

Review of "Ink Exchange"

"Ink Exchange" ("Wicked Lovely Series" Book 2)
Melissa Marr


3

Pub. Date: April 29, 2008
Pages: 336

Unbeknownst to mortals, a power struggle is unfolding in a world of shadows and danger. After centuries of stability, the balance among the Faery Courts has altered, and Irial, ruler of the Dark Court, is battling to hold his rebellious and newly vulnerable fey together. If he fails, bloodshed and brutality will follow.

Seventeen-year-old Leslie knows nothing of faeries or their intrigues. When she is attracted to an eerily beautiful tattoo of eyes and wings, all she knows is that she has to have it, convinced it is a tangible symbol of changes she desperately craves for her own life.

The tattoo does bring changes not the kind Leslie has dreamed of, but sinister, compelling changes that are more than symbolic. Those changes will bind Leslie and Irial together, drawing Leslie deeper and deeper into the faery world, unable to resist its allures, and helpless to withstand its perils...

I was really hoping that I would love this book, but it just didn't happen. I was happy to see that the faeries were as dangerous as I was hoping for in "Wicked Lovely"; Irial was a great villain and I always felt on edge when his character was around. I liked the premise of the ink exchange as a way of feeding the dark faeries. I liked Leslie and Niall as characters and even have to admit that I respect Irial as a character but I can't say that I liked the guy.

"Wicked Lovely" actually had more to offer than "Ink Exchange"; it was a lot darker and dealt with real issues, like abuse, but it was bordering on being too depressing. Where the first book in the series had a super happy ending where, this one totally did the opposite. I think the darkness in "Ink Exchange" did make sense up to a point, but I felt like it was kind of painful to read because of how dark it was and then the ending was also pretty depressing making me just feel sad about everything. I did like how Leslie's side of the story ended, I thought it was fitting, but I didn't agree with how it ended for Niall and Irial. One of the problems was that I liked Niall too much, even though he probably would have caused a lot of harm to Leslie, I just couldn't get over it. There were other problems I had with the ending, but I will totally end up giving something away if I say anymore. Another thing that bugged me was Gabriel's character, I did not get him at all... even his description kind of confused me. Out of all the characters in the book he just didn't seem that evil. At the end of the book I kind of felt like I missed something about his character.

I did like "Ink Exchange" and thought the book was entertaining, but at the same time it was a bit confusing. "Ink Exchange" didn't really seem to be part of the same series as "Wicked Lovely"; yes they did have some of the same characters and dealt with faeries, but I just wasn't expecting this completely dark and depressing book after the super happy-go-lucky ending of "Wicked Lovely". I know I asked for dark, but it just seemed to come out of no where. At the beginning I was enjoying "Ink Exchange" more than "Wicked Lovely", but sadly this changed halfway through the book. I think readers will like this book more if they know what they are getting into when they pick it up. I know a lot of people do really enjoy this series, but after "Ink Exchange" I don't if I will continue reading it.

Review "Before I Die"

"Before I Die"
by Jenny Downham


3

Pub. Date: September 25th, 2007
Pages: 420

Synopsis: It's really going to happen. They said it would, but this is quicker than anyone thought. Everyone has to die. We all know it. With only a few months of life left, sixteen-year-old Tessa knows it better than most. She's made a list, though ten things she wants to do before she dies. Number one is sex. Starting tonight. But getting what you want isn't easy. And getting what you want doesn't always give you what you need. And sometimes the most unexpected things become important. Uplifting, life-affirming, joyous this extraordinary novel celebrates what it is to be alive by confronting what it's really like to die.

I enjoyed this book, but the characters made it hard for me to enjoy the book as much as I would have liked. Tessa kind of bothered me at some points, I understand that she is dying and that isn't something you can just get over, but it seemed like she was taking out her frustrations on everyone around her. Tessa's best friend seemed like she didn't care half the time and her mother was an immature mess. I think my favorite characters were Tessa's dad, her brother, and Adam.

Something I did like about this book was how honest it was; this is not a romanticized story with a happy ending. It is heartbreaking and the end is not what most people probably expected. I am wondering if the characters were maybe a little too honest for me. They all just seemed riddled with flaws, which is a realistic portrayal of how people are. Best friends don't always get along, people who are dying struggle with the cards dealt to them, and mothers aren't always good caretakers. I do appreciate the honesty of this book, but I just wish I could have enjoyed the characters more.

I also really like how Tessa had a list of things she wanted to do before she died. I like the whole idea of her trying to make the most of her time left, even if she had days where she would rather stay in bed and just give up. I didn't agree with everything on Tessa's list, but it is her list and I liked that there were thing on it that other people may not understand.

"Before I Die" is a good book and Jenny Downham gives the reader an honest peak into the final months of a teenager with leukemia's life. Even though I didn't love this book, I still would recommend it; just because I struggled with accepting some of the characters, doesn't mean that everyone will. This is a book that would be great for book groups and I kind of wish I was in one so I could discuss this book

Review of "The Ghost and The Goth" by Stacey Kade

"The Ghost and The Goth"
by Stacey Kade


3

Pub. Date: June 29th, 2010
Pages: 288

Synopsis: 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 as a spirit (DON’T call her a ghost) in the land of the living with no sign of the big, bright light 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 who despises the social elite. He alone can see and hear (turns out he’s been “blessed” with the ability to communicate with the dead), but he wants nothing to do with the former mean girl of Groundsboro High.

Alona has never needed anyone for anything, and now she’s supposed to expose her deepest, darkest secrets to this pseudo-goth boy? Right. She’s not telling anyone what really happened the day she died, not even to save her eternal soul. And Will’s not filling out any volunteer forms to help her cross to the other side. He only has a few more weeks until his graduation, when he can strike out on his own and find a place with less spiritual interference. But he has to survive and stay out of the psych ward until then. Can they get over their mutual distrust—and the weird attraction between them—to work together before Alona vanishes for good and Will is locked up for seeing things that don’t exist?

I enjoyed "The Ghost and the Goth", but it kind of fell flat for me. Alona was an interesting character, but I couldn't get over her attitude and ego. She got better towards the end of the book and it helped me to enjoy the book more, but I felt like it just took too long for me to start to enjoy her character. I did like how she was able to help Will to learn to use his ability and that did show that she wasn't as heartless as she seemed, but it came a little late for me. It also bothered me how Will would complain about Alona so much but then he was constantly staring at her legs. I guess that's just a guy thing, but the whole relationship didn't really make much sense to me. Both characters only seemed physically attracted to one another.

I think I would have liked the book better if the story had focused on Will's abilities more. I did enjoy hearing the story through both characters' perspectives. Sometimes I find this jarring, but both characters had unique voices that made it easy to follow. Overall the book was enjoyable and funny, I just wish I could have connected to the characters more. I know that other people have enjoyed this book a lot more than me, so I think it comes down to whether or not you can accept Alona's character.

Review "A Measure of Disorder" by Alan Tucker

"A Measure of Disorder"
Alan Tucker


3

Pub Date: April 30, 2010
Pages: 352

Synopsis: High school will be a breeze for Jenni Kershaw - if she lives long enough to enroll, that is. Jenni's ordinary, eighth grade life becomes a thing of the past when her science class goes on a field trip. Armed with only their notebooks, MP3 players, and wits, Jenni and her classmates are unknowingly transported to another world. There they encounter amazing creatures, some of which think a kid shish kebab would be a tasty treat. But they soon find the greatest dangers they face may come from themselves ... Follow Jenni and her class on their extraordinary adventures in their fight to discover who - and what - they really are.

I wasn't sure what to expect when reading "A Measure of Disorder" because the description is pretty vague and I hate to say that I'm not really a fan of the cover, but the book pleasantly surprised me. Tucker created a magical world and characters that I cared about. I loved how they were able to find their true identities in another world and I felt this was a really concept. I kind of wonder how Jenny's identity will play out in the rest of the series. I know that probably didn't make much sense to most people, but I'm trying not to spoil anything. I also liked how Crank's character explores the idea of "The Other" (basically someone who doesn't fit into the parameters of the society they live in), which is a topic I love to explore in books.

I didn't really like how the book was told through multiple perspectives and I had trouble keeping up with all the characters at the beginning. By the end of the book I was used to it and stopped noticing, but it did slow down the book for me. I am curious to see what roles the characters will play in the series. Even though it started off a bit slow because of all the characters, the plot really kept me hooked and I flew through the last hundred pages. I just had to know what was going to happen next.

I really enjoyed "A Measure of Disorder" and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy and adventure books. This is a book that I think would have appeal to readers of all ages. The ending of the book really surprised me and I am excited to read the next book in the series. Click here to learn more about the series and read a excerpt from the book.
* I did receive this book free of charge for review purposes.

Review "Jekel Loves Hyde" by Beth Fantaskey

"Jekel Loves Hyde"
by Beth Fantaskey


3

Pub. Date: May 3, 2010
Pages: 282

Synopsis: Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents’ rules—especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father’s office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she’s tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be the key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship.

To improve her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen’s sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill’s accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything—even Tristen’s love—just for the thrill of being . . . bad.

I have to admit I was a bit disappointed by "Jekel Loves Hyde". I loved the character Lucius in "Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side" and found his narrating voice of the story refreshing; however, I didn't fall in love with either Tristen or Jill. They both seemed pretty generic, Tristen as the misunderstood rebel and Jill as the smart girl who needs scholarship money for any hope of a future. On top of the characters being predictable, the plot didn't have any huge twists. I wish Fantaskey had been a little more creative in her interpretation of the story because I felt like it was just too predictable. I am trying not to give away any spoilers, but I didn't find Jill's actions towards the end of the book to be very believable. It seemed way too out of character and I feel like she should have realized what was happening to her.

With all this said, the book was still enjoyable. The book wasn't too long so it was a quick read. Jill's character was very generic, but she was strong willed and made it through situations where most people would have crumbled. The family dynamics in the book were really interesting. Jill takes on the role of the parent in the family. Tristan struggles to live with the knowledge of his family's past and tries to figure out how he can escape the madness that he fears will eventually overtake him. Even though the premise of the book was interesting, it just didn't have any flare.

Review: "The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma"

"The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma"
by Trenton Lee Stewart


3

Pub. Date: October 6, 2009
Pages: 400

Synopsis: Join the Mysterious Benedict Society as Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance embark on a daring new adventure that threatens to force them apart from their families, friends, and even each other. When an unexplained blackout engulfs Stonetown, the foursome must unravel clues relating to a nefarious new plot, while their search for answers brings them closer to danger than ever before. Filled with page-turning action and mind-bending brain teasers, this wildly inventive journey is sure to delight.

I loved the first two books in this series, but "The Prisoner's Dilemma" moved too slowly for me. I realized I was more than halfway through the book and very little had happened. I love Constance and was happy to learn more about her past, but I felt like most of the book was spent focusing on her past. It was just too much for me. I did listen to this book in audio, so maybe that's why it seemed so bad, but this book just didn't have the fast pace the first two books had. The characters also never seemed to be in that grave of danger for most of the book. They may have been taking a few risks, but none of them seemed that serious in comparison to some of their other adventures. Mr. Curtain was still vicious, but Stewart took some time to show a different side of him. This was another area of the book that slowed down the plot for me.

I did overall like the book and would recommend the series, but I was still surprised that it didn't have the intensity of the other books. The book was really heartwarming and I absolutely loved the ending. I still loved the characters and enjoyed their adventures. Even though Stewart seemed to wrap up the series in "The Prisoner's Dilemma", part of me wants another book just to see the characters in one more death-defying adventure.

Review of "Little Miss Red"- Robin Palmer

"Little Miss Red"
Robin Palmer

3

Pub. Date: Febuary 09, 2010
Pages: 272

Synopsis: Sophie Greene gets good grades, does the right thing, and has a boyfriend that her parents— and her younger brother—just love. (Too bad she doesn't love him.) Sophie dreams of being more like Devon Deveraux, star of her favorite romance novels, but, in reality, Sophie isn't even daring enough to change her nail polish. All of that changes when Sophie goes to Florida to visit her grandma Roz, and she finds herself seated next to a wolfishly goodlooking guy on the plane. The two hit it off, and before she knows it, Sophie's living on the edge. But is the drama all it's cracked up to be?

"Little Miss Red" was a cute, quick read. I enjoyed sitting out in the sun today enjoying the nice weather while reading this book. Even though sometimes I wanted to hit Sophie, I found her to be really genuine and enjoyed her as a character. In my twenties I am sitting hear wanting to yell at her because it is clear to me she is being taken advantage of, but then when I think back to some of my relationships in high school, I know that I let one of the guys I dated get away with some of the same things. Once you live through the mistake, you don't let it happen again ;)

Even though I liked Sophie's character, I didn't really care for the rest in the book. The rest fell pretty flat to me, which made me think Sophie should just move away starting off fresh and fabulous in a new town. The reason I enjoyed this book so much is that Palmer showed that love isn't like in a romance book. Relationships are difficult and usually do not live up to our romanticized expectations; however, that doesn't mean that you can't be happy spending your life with someone you love. I also liked that Sophie grew as a character by the end of the book. She made mistakes, but she learned from them and didn't regret what happened.

I thought it was a cute retelling of Little Red Riding Hood that is fully modernized down to Sophie's addiction to her iphone. I like how Palmer was able to keep the sleazy, smooth talking wolf character, but just disguise him in a human body. I would recommend this book to girls who like fun, modernized fairytales or romances.

Review of "China: Land of Dragons and Emperors"

"China: Land of Dragons and Emperors"
Adeline Yen Mah


3

Synopsis: The history of China spans thousands of years. Journey through China in this fascinating and absorbing book: discover the land of dragons and emperors, and learn about the significance of its ancient dynasties. Countless tools and materials that people have used every day for centuries—paper, gunpowder, cast iron, matches, and silk, to name just a few—were first made in China. Chinese society has progressed through major changes, but lucky numbers, festivals, beliefs about colors, the practice of footbinding, the building of the Great Wall, and the larger-than-life people of China are all integral parts of this ancient civilization and still have an impact on life today. Bestselling author Adeline Yen Mah explores an extraordinary view of the great story of China over the last two millennia in this nonfiction work, which also includes black-and-white photographs.

I first heard about this book reviewed on Kristy's (The Story Siren) blog and I had to read it. I am not a huge fan of reading non-fiction, but I took a class on Asian American literature in college and LOVED it. I have been interested in learning more about Asian cultures since. I was hoping that I would love the book as much as I loved the class, but I have to say that I was a little disappointed. Overall the book was informative and interesting, but it did get a little tedious. It basically went through each emperor of China describing the highlights of the different dynasty and some of the most important inventions of the time period. I had no idea so many things were invented in China and I learned a lot about the culture, but it just got a little dull about halfway through. Maybe it is just that I get bored with lots of date and I am don't usually read non-fiction. I really liked how Mah broke up the dynasty chapters by giving tidbits about different topics and photography for a visual of some of the different landmarks discussed. The book also has images, maps, a timeline, and a list of further reading suggestions.

I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys history or wants to learn about China. This book does give a lot of insight into both the culture and politics of the country, making it a valuable source even if it is a bit slow at times.