ARC Review: Rush by Eve Silver

Release Date: June 11th, 2013

352 pages

Publisher: HarperTeen

So what’s the game now? This, or the life I used to know?

When Miki Jones is pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game—her carefully controlled life spirals into chaos. In the game, she and a team of other teens are sent on missions to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures. There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Miki has only the guidance of secretive but maddeningly attractive team leader Jackson Tate, who says the game isn’t really a game, that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival, and the survival of every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn’t. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.

Rush is a thrilling and original novel. I wasn't expecting it to like it so much, so maybe that's why it exceeded my expectations so much; or most probably, the novel just really is this good. The mystery surrounding the plot and the characters was also one thing that captivated me from the beginning, I wasn't sure what to expect and many twists and turns were completely unexpected, therefore this novel was like a small box of surprises.

You die and you get stuck in a game-like reality, in which you fight against aliens to protect the world; plus if you die there, you die in real world too, period. Let's just start by saying that this plot is completely unexpected, original and well, freaking awesome?! Furthermore, the author is a suspense-meister. There are so many secrets and mysterious details surrounding Miki's new reality, which makes the novel more alive and difficult to figure out. There are small problems that come with this territory, since the description of this reality wasn't so full of detail, therefore the world-building was a bit lacking. I do have higher hopes for the sequel, though.

The characters were the best part of the novel. Miki was a great heroine, kick-ass and strong, full of curiosity (even a bit too much) and intelligent, and I loved that she was half-Asian! But the show stealer was Jackson Tate. You don't know anything about this guy, but he just has this allure and you can't help but like him. It's a character full of unexpected secrets, and those are almost always the best to read about. The many other secondary characters were a bit obscured by my (and Miki's) obsession with Jackson, although they were fitting and complemented the story really well.

Rush was the novel that most surprised me in 2013 up until now. I read the whole thing so fast and now I can't get my hands fast enough on the sequel. That's the downside of ARCs, since I have an even longer wait till the next one comes out. But I'm certain that it will be worth it. The ending was a huge cliffhanger and I can't wait to see which direction the author will take regarding the plot and the characters. Hopefully it will also be a small box full of surprises.

A huge, huge thanks to HarperTeen for providing me with a copy of this worderful novel for review!

Review: If I Should Die by Amy Plum

Release Date: May 7th, 2013

405 pages

Publisher: HarperTeen

I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.

Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.

It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.

After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying—to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others—so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

2013 is a sad and happy year for me. Many debuts are becoming new favorites, but also many old favorites are coming to an end. The Die For Me series has been a favorite of mine since the first book came out. Probably because of the freshness of the premise, the beautiful writing and the insanely romantic story set in Paris, one of my favorite (and most romantic) cities in the world! If I Should Die didn't disappoint me and I'm glad that, if this series absolutely had to end, at least the ending was a good one.

I'll try not to spoil so much of the story, since I'm sure there may be some of you who haven't had the chance to read this one yet (what are you waiting for?!). I'm sure many of you had some expectations about the ending, so did I, but If I Should Die won't (shouldn't) let you down. I wasn't very surprised about how Plum's executed the plot and its twists and turns; admittedly I had already thought about or guessed many of the surprises meant to rend us speechless. Nonetheless it didn't make this novel boring, on the contrary, I devoured it. I liked the fights, the humor, the trip to New York, the romance, the homecoming of some characters and the appearance of new ones: they made this book special, even unique in the trilogy.

I'm not going to lie, either, and say that this one was my favorite of the three. I don't even know which one would I choose. However I can say that the characters are equally great in all three of them. I love Kate as a main character and in this one, she is even more independent and strong. Long gone is the sad girl from Die For Me. Vincent is his usual swoony-self, however after reading Die For Her (the novella from Jules' POV - read it now!) my heart was torn between Jules and Vincent. That was surprising for me, since I couldn't imagine liking a character as much as I enjoyed Vincent in this trilogy. But Plum achieves the impossible, or many not so impossible, I guess. I love all the characters in this trilogy and I could certainly see myself reading anything, any novella, released about any of them.

Surely some of you will be disappointed (hopefully not), since you had some many expectations. For me, If I Should Die delivered what I had been hoping for: that happy feeling when you get after ending a beloved book. Maybe some things were missing, maybe not, but I'm happy with how things ended. Kate and Vincent certainly got happy ending they deserved and maybe Jules will get his one too. I don't know if I want Amy to write more on this series in the future, but for the moment, I'm satisfied. Thanks for giving us this wonderful series that will always have a special space in my bookshelf!

Review: Towering by Alex Flynn

Release Date: May 14th, 2013

293 pages

Publisher: HarperTeen

At first, I merely saw his face, his hands on the window ledge. Then, his whole body as he swung himself through the window. Only I could not see what he swung on.
Until, one day, I told my dream self to look down. And it was then that I saw. He had climbed on a rope. I knew without asking that the rope had been one of my own tying.

Rachel is trapped in a tower, held hostage by a woman she’s always called Mama. Her golden hair is growing rapidly, and to pass the time, she watches the snow fall and sings songs from her childhood, hoping someone, anyone, will hear her.

Wyatt needs time to reflect or, better yet, forget about what happened to his best friend, Tyler. That’s why he’s been shipped off to the Adirondacks in the dead of winter to live with the oldest lady in town. Either that, or no one he knows ever wants to see him again.

Dani disappeared seventeen years ago without a trace, but she left behind a journal that’s never been read, not even by her overbearing mother…until now.

I'm a huge fan of fairytale retellings and I've heard so many things about Alex Flynn and I knew that I had to read one of her books. I don't know why I have never read of her novels but when I saw a retelling about Rapunzel (a fairytale that is not easily and modernly retold), I just had to request a copy for review. A big plus was also that one of the main characters is called Rachel (sorry, I just had to mention it)!

The thing about retelling Rapunzel is that it's not an easy story to retell it in a modern way. There is nothing modern about locking a girl away in a tower nowadays and maybe that was just me, but I was really skeptical throughout the novel. I don't think it's entirely Flynn's fault, nevertheless I couldn't enjoy the story completely. I know that the magical aspects of the story couldn't completely disappear but there some things that didn't go well with me, like the whole story with the drugs and some cheesy parts which I didn't expect in a modern retelling. Furthermore some things weren't even explained and I just had the feeling that the novel felt incomplete (I still don't understand Dani's appearances and how they knew Rachel was going to be a special child..but I guess that's the fairytale aspect of the story).

The characters fell in the "ok" category. They weren't that special but enjoyable anyway. Maybe a bit too "fairytale-ish" for a modern retelling. Rachel was too naive and just like a Disney princess and Wyatt was the perfect prince, even though the author tried to incorporate some darker aspects into his past.

I'm not saying that I didn't enjoyed it, I did, yet it didn't blow my mind away as a fairytale retelling. Maybe I just started with the wrong novel since Flynn's retelling are usually well-reviewed. I certainly will give this author another shot. Rapunzel IS a difficult fairytale to modernize. Nonetheless I would recommend this one to those of you who are in need of a pleasant and rather slow-paced novel.

Thanks to HarperTeen for providing me with a copy for review!

Review: Parallel by Lauren Miller

Release Date: May 14th, 2013

419 Pages

Publisher: HarperTeen

Abby Barnes had a plan. The Plan. She'd go to Northwestern, major in journalism, and land a job at a national newspaper, all before she turned twenty-two. But one tiny choice—taking a drama class her senior year of high school—changed all that. Now, on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Abby is stuck on a Hollywood movie set, miles from where she wants to be, wishing she could rewind her life. The next morning, she's in a dorm room at Yale, with no memory of how she got there. Overnight, it's as if her past has been rewritten.

With the help of Caitlin, her science-savvy BFF, Abby discovers that this new reality is the result of a cosmic collision of parallel universes that has Abby living an alternate version of her life. And not only that: Abby's life changes every time her parallel self makes a new choice. Meanwhile, her parallel is living out Abby's senior year of high school and falling for someone Abby's never even met.

As she struggles to navigate her ever-shifting existence, forced to live out the consequences of a path she didn't choose, Abby must let go of the Plan and learn to focus on the present, without losing sight of who she is, the boy who might just be her soul mate, and the destiny that's finally within reach.

It's a standalone! Really, that's the only bad thing I have to say about this novel. When I read the summary, I expected great things from Parallel and it sure delivered them! With a refreshing premise about parallel lives, compelling and entertaining characters, Parallel will provide you with one of the best reads of 2013.

Admittedly I had some trouble in the beginning to understand what was going on and it IS a complex plot, so you do have to stop sometimes and think about what you read. But that was the beauty of it for me; it has been a long time since a novel has kept me enthralled throughout it. The parallel lives are so different so that you could easily identify which Abby it was, furthermore each chapter's title would clarify about when the scene was happening. Foremost I enjoyed the twists and turns that had been caused by her parallel decisions in the past, so it was really interesting to see how the relationships and events would change because of them.

The characters were really easy to read and identify with. Abby is a normal teenager that is a bit of a control freak (she planned out her entire life!), so when everything went crazy with her parallel calling the shots, you can guess how she reacts. Caitlin was a favorite of mine because she is just unexpected (a beautiful girl who loves physics!), even though I don't enjoy maths as much. I think every character is really realistic, and the romance as well. It's not an insta-love by any means and some twists and turns in her love life were not in the least expected!

I have read many books in this year already and I have to say that Parallel was one of the best. It certainly will be added to my list of favorite books. I'm certain many people won't enjoy that they may have to reread a paragraph (or more) to understand the concept of parallel lives, but for me what won me over was the novelty of it. It was refreshing and unfortunately it's a standalone. The ending is a bit open and that's the only thing still bugging me about this novel!

Huge thanks to HarperTeen for providing me with a copy of this captivating novel!

ARC Review: Reboot by Amy Tintera

Release Date: May 7th, 2013
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).

Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.

The perfect soldier is done taking orders.

Reboot was a different kind of novel. Everything was balanced: the growing romance, the amazing plot and the drastic characters' development. While in many novels, the romance rather outshines the other aspects of the novel, in Reboot the romance only added charm to a mostly dark story.

Instead of zombies, Tintera introduces the Reboots. Teenagers who die and are rebooted and come back to life with abilities. Our main character, Wren, was dead for 178 minutes, which means that her humanity is almost nonexistent. While the government misuses the reboots as soldiers, the population rather fears them. Tintera did an amazing job introducing us to Wren's world. Authors often forget to tell us more about the world the characters live in, yet this was certainly not the case in Reboot.

Being dead for so long, Wren didn't retain much of her humanity. She is really cold, serious and determined. But it's Callum (dead for only 22 minutes) who brings out the real (or more human-like) Wren. Her change throughout the novel is palpable. The story with her best friend was also really touching. But I really enjoyed Wren as a main character; she was different from the typical heroine.

Reboot was entertaining and different, action-filled but romantic. The ending was interesting enough to make us yearn for the next novel. While some things did bother me in this novel like Wren's thoughtlessness (though understandable) or how everything turns out as expected. However Reboot was a good enough novel, that these slight problems were easily overlooked.

Thanks to HarperTeen and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of Reboot for review!

ARC Review: Taken by Erin Bowman

Release Date: April 16th, 2013
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.
They call it the Heist.
Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.
Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

Taken was one of my most-awaited novels this year. I had it in my mind ever since I heard the summary and maybe, that's the reason that it didn't quite meet my expectations. Furthermore I'm not that used to male narrators but with time I even started to like reading from the boy's point of view.
Although it wasn't what I was expecting, Taken still was a great read.

The plot goes pretty much as expected. Gray's brother is expected to be heisted within the next 24 hours and that's what happens. From this moment on, I could almost always foresay what it was going to happen. And that was the thing that bothered me so much in this novel. And also I really disliked the love triangle and that's not usually a problem for me. Gray started to get closer to a new girl while Emma was in trouble and that was what upset me somehow. But while these things could have been better, Bowman does bring a lot of action to the novel and the story itself is actually really interesting and original.

I had a hate/love relationship to each character. All characters have nice and bad characteristics. And yes, I know this is usually a good thing, but it was too much sometimes and they just started to get on my nerves. Gray was sometimes too grumpy and Emma too weird. By far my favorite character was Bree, even though she acted a bit too manly sometimes, she was an interesting character. And I would have liked to get to know more about Blaine (Gray's brother), since he almost didn't appear in this novel.

Taken is a novel that I certainly expected more of, but I'm still happy that I got to read it and review it. The plot was captivating yet I felt that the whole thing was backwards. The beginning was the best part of the novel while towards the ending, the pace slowed down. Mostly I like books that end with a bang, and that was not the case. I'm still going to read the next one, though. I would recommend reading Taken, maybe you will have another opinion about it!

Thanks to HarperTeen and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy for review!

ARC Review: Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Release Date: March 5th, 2013
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen




They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past.But we are still here.And there are more of us every day.

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.
After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor.

Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.But we have chosen a different road.And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.We are even free to choose the wrong thing.

As always, I´ve been blown away by Lauren Oliver´s writing. Her writing is flawless and the pace is so pleasant to read. I don´t know many authors that can write the way she can, somehow everything sounds so truthful and moving.With Requiem is no different. certainly a worthy conclusion to one of my favorite YA series.

So much is happening in Requiem, finally everything should come together. I liked the alternate perspective between Lena and Hana, we not only get to experience what is happening in Lena´s hometown but also what Lena and the other Invalids have to go through. Everything comes nicely together in the end, even though it is an open ending. It was such a fitting idea for this series because in the end, Oliver is giving us the chance to decide for ourselves. I have no words for this novel, it is that simple. The love triangle is so realistically-written and not only that but also anything else in this novel, the bad and the good things are relatable.

What makes this series so special is that you can identify yourself easily with any of Oliver´s characters. I like each and every one of them. Lena became a strong character, so easily discernible from the character she was in Delirium. Hana is a different character, as well, but is it that bad? Even Lena has to ask herself sometimes if the procedure is such a bad thing. Finally love can become a disease but sometimes it is just worth the risk.

All in all, Requiem is a fantastic conclusion to one of my favorite series, ever. I´m a huge fan of Lauren Oliver and all of my expectations were met in Requiem. Certainly some will be mad, sad and even desperate with this ending, but I, for one, was happy with the way things ended. It was a very satisfying conclusion and as always, you will be taken into a rollercoaster ride of different emotions. I cannot wait for Lauren Oliver to write more unbelievably unique novels, which I will most certainly read.

ARC Review: Pivot Point by Kasie West

Release Date: February 12th, 2013
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.
In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

First of all, I was totally attracted to the gorgeous cover and secondly, the summary sounds amazing. After reading Pivot Point, I'm so happy that the cover reflects the novel's beautiful writing and its enthralling plot. Pivot Point exceeded my expectations and believe me, they were pretty high. Pivot Point is that typical amazing novel that you don't know if you should write a review 30 pages long or just put it simply like this: drop everything tomorrow and go buy this novel, asap!

The plot blew my mind away, seriously. Addison has the ability to see her future, so the each chapter is about the two different paths that Addison can choose in her life: to stay in the compound with her mother and the people with abilities or to go with her father to live among the Norms. This completely original concept was so exciting and extremely enthralling that I couldn't put this book down! Furthermore both paths complemented each other and it was fun being able to see how both paths intertwined.

And then, the characters. It's actually pretty impressive and surprising if I end up liking all characters in a novel. Pivot Point was this impressive and surprising case. Addison was a great main character; she is rather quiet, responsible and a bit timid. She has her own personality and I enjoy when characters are not over the place. Each character had its own personality and I could put myself into everyone's shoes, so they were realistically written as well.

Overall, I just loved Pivot Point. I'm completely sure that it was one of my favorite reads this year, maybe even THE favorite novel in 2013 but it's too early to be able to say this. But I'm certain that anyone will enjoy this fantastic novel which is really original and impossibly captivating! I'm dying to get my hands on the next one!

Huge thanks to HarperCollins for providing me with a copy of Pivot Point for review! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Review: What's Left of Me - Kat Zhang

Release Date: September 27th, 2012
Hardcover: 343 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books

I should not exist. But I do.

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

In theory, this novel had everything to be epic. What's Left of Me has a refreshing premise: two souls living in one body and only the strongest soul will prevail. What if the other soul doesn't go away? Like in a typical dystopian novel, the defected will be eliminated. This novel reminded me a lot of The Host by Stephenie Meyer but it was different in many ways, so don't worry!

The story itself was great, what really went wrong was the pace set by the author. Many chapter just dragged and nothing really happened, even though there were many opportunities to the story to be more exciting. Nevertheless I enjoyed reading the novel and I fought through the slower chapters and I'm happy that I didn't just give up. The plot is promising and I'm sure the next novel will be better, either way, I'll be reading it! Now if you are expecting What's Left of Me to be filled with romance, you are certain to be disappointed.

I had a hard time forming an opinion about the characters. In the beginning I felt more connected to Eva (the narrator) and Eddie was rather boring. But in the course of the novel, I got more and more annoyed with Eva. In the end, I guess I like them both but not as much as I was expecting to. Frankly, with the other characters I made no connection whatsoever. Ryan, the probable romantic interest was rather absent and dull, but let's hope that the sequel will provide us more in the characters' department.

Nonetheless, I read this novel rather quick. Even though the pace was much slower than expected, the story was promising enough to leave readers intrigued about the next page, the next chapter and the next book.

Thanks to Harper Collins UK for providing me with a copy of What's Left of Me for review!

ARC Review: Through The Ever Night - Veronica Rossi

Release Date: January 8th, 2013
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen

It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

Through The Ever Night is unbelievably amazing. It's no wonder that Veronica Rossi is one of my favorite writers right now. I'm shocked that a sequel could be as good as this one was. Everything, from the characters' development to the course of the story, was amazing and beautifully written.

The story sets a great pace for a second novel in a trilogy. It's not as eventful and fast paced as the first one but it doesn't drag, either. Everything that happens feels natural and suitable for the story. I'm still in awe of Rossi's beautiful and enthralling way of writing.

Aria and Perry, where to start? I really loved them in the first one but that doesn't even compare to how I feel about them now. I can't wait to know where the story will take them. One thing that I really value in a novel is when you can connect with the characters and Rossi really accomplished this so far. Aria really grows as a character; if you reread Under The Never Sky, the difference in character is palpable. Perry is no exception. And Roar and Liv, the other amazing couple of characters. It's incredible how each character has a such a unique and own personality.

I'm sure that anyone that was looking forward to Through The Ever Night's release won't be disappointed. I wouldn't even be surprised if some of you think that this one was better than its prequel. Yep, that's how good this novel was. Now we will have to wait till 2014 to see where Rossi will take our beloved characters next.

A super huge thanks to HarperTeen for providing me with a copy of this wonderful novel!

ARC Review: Prophecy - Ellen Oh

Release Date: January 2nd, 2013
Hardcover: 312 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen

The greatest warrior in all of the Seven Kingdoms... is a girl with yellow eyes.

Kira’s the only female in the king’s army, and the prince’s bodyguard. She’s a demon slayer and an outcast, hated by nearly everyone in her home city of Hansong. And, she’s their only hope...

Murdered kings and discovered traitors point to a demon invasion, sending Kira on the run with the young prince. He may be the savior predicted in the Dragon King Prophecy, but the missing treasure of myth may be the true key. With only the guidance of the cryptic prophecy, Kira must battle demon soldiers, evil shaman, and the Demon Lord himself to find what was once lost and raise a prince into a king.

After reading such a summary, I believe that anyone would be completely excited. A strong heroine, a great fantasy and the promise of an amazing adventure, what else?! But unfortunately in the case of Prophecy, the promise fell short. Certainly there are many highlights but not as many as I was hoping for when I first started reading it.

The first and foremost thing that bothered me in this novel is that I didn't feel any connection to the main character. She was strong and courageous alright but the connection with her was missing. And to be frank, I didn't feel any connection to any of the characters. The romance that I thought would bloom in the course of the novel was also lacking. I didn't even get why they became friends in the first place.

The plot was actually pretty great but I think it could be a bit refined. We receive almost no information about the enemy and why they are even attacking. Who are they? What do they want? These questions remain almost unanswered. But the world building had great potential. The mythology as well. I think the author could have furthered the novel in these areas. The characters were almost a lost cause for me.

Overall I really liked the potential of Prophecy and the promise of a better sequel. The story is really interesting and captivating. If the author changed some things in the next novel, this series could be something amazing. I look forward to seeing how things will develop in the sequel, even though there were many aspects I disliked.

Huge thanks to HarperTeen and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of Prophecy in exchange of an honest review!

Review: Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Release Date: July 3rd, 2012
Hardcover: 292 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen

Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair. . . .

Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell.

Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything--her family, her future--to be with him. When she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter.

With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.

I love Peter Pan. I really loved reading the classic and the Disney movie is also sweet. So when I heard about Tiger Lily, I was instantly interested in it. I love such spin-offs that show more to the secondary characters. Of course, this one is also an adaptation to the classic, and this may or may not please readers. It really is a novel that readers will either love or hate.

The Plot: Tiger Lily's story is sad. So it is surely a sad story told from Tinker Bell's point of view about a girl who loves a boy who loves someone else. The story is believeable, although everyone who has read the classic will think that Anderson didn't do it justice. She does changes some important things but keep in mind that this is an adaptation. The writing is beautiful, though. It will certain break many hearts.

The Characters: Tiger Lily is an interesting character. She is strong and independent and because of it, she doesn't know how to show her feelings. Unfortunately she learns that if you wait too long, someone else won't wait. She learned it the hard way and I think people will be able to relate to her situation. Tinker Bell is the narrator and I think that gives a nice new spin to the story. Peter Pan is simply Peter Pan and I admittedly liked him the most in this novel. I really liked the relationship between Peter and Tiger Lily, which was turbulent to say the least.

Tiger Lily is a novel that you know from the beginning how it will end, but you can't help but hope that things will end differently. I was rooting for Tiger Lily and even saw Wendy as a threat. The writing will certainly captivate readers and leave them heartbroken in the end. If you enjoy fairy-tale adaptations and the changes won't bother you so much, you should certainly check this one out!

Jodi Lynn Anderson is the New York Times bestselling author of Peaches, The Secrets of Peaches, Love and Peaches, the popular May Bird trilogy, and Tiger Lily . She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband and an endless parade of stray pets.

Review: Arise - Tara Hudson

Release Date: June 5th 2012
Hardcover: 404 Pages
Publisher: HarperCollins


Amelia—still caught between life and death—must fight for every moment of her relationship with the human boy Joshua. They can hardly even kiss without Amelia accidentally dematerializing. Looking for answers, they go to visit some of Joshua’s Seer relatives in New Orleans. But even in a city so famously steeped in the supernatural, Amelia ends up with more questions than answers…and becomes increasingly convinced that she and Joshua can never have a future together.Wandering through the French Quarter, Amelia meets other in-between ghosts, and begins to seriously consider joining them. And then she meets Gabrielle. Somehow, against impossible odds, Gaby has found a way to live a sort of half-life...a half-life for which Amelia would pay any price. Torn between two worlds, Amelia must choose carefully, before the evil spirits of the netherworld choose for her.

Arise was a worthy sequel to Hereafter, every bit as unputdownable as the first one. Hudson really had an original idea with this series and it's always good to know that the author won't fall into the ordinary with the next novels. Arise had everything one looks for in a novel and I'm sure the next one will be just completely amazing.

The Plot: Arise begins right where Hereafter left off. I loved the concept of voodoo and that Amelia became half-alive. Furthermore I think that Hudson writes with the right amount of everything: romance, action and sad moments. There were many twists and turns that were, though predictable, really enjoyable. I never thought I would enjoy a ghost story so much! When I finished this novel, I was sure of one thing: Arise was completely enthralling. 

The Characters: Amelia still is this careful but brave person. She cares for everyone and tries to do the right thing, always, even if it would hurt her. I like her very much, and I liked her even more after she met Gabrielle. I think Gaby gave Amelia a new edge. The new characters were all really easy to welcome and I hope we will read more about them in the next and final installment. And we can't forget Joshua, the totally swoon-worthy and sweet love interest. He cares a lot about Amelia and their relationship seems to get more mature.


Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. I wasn't expecting it to be this good and I certainly wasn't expecting the voodoo aspects and the awesomeness of the new characters. I hope that Hudson will keep this up and that the third novel will be just as great as this one. If you haven't read Hereafter yet, you certainly should! 

Born and raised in Oklahoma, Tara Hudson graduated with a degree in law, mostly because she believed all the horror stories about English majors and their careers in the food-service industry. Luckily, she soon remembered how much she loved telling ghost stories, particularly to her girlfriends who liked visiting abandoned cemeteries as much as she did. Tara currently lives in Oklahoma with her husband, son, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets.

(ARC) Review: Something Strange and Deadly - Susan Dennard

Release Date: July 24th, 2012
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen


The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…
Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—
The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.
And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.
Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

I haven't had so much fun with a novel for quite some time now. Something Strange and Deadly was a dark, funny, romantic and even sad novel and I enjoyed EVERY single minute of reading it! The thing that I enjoyed most about Dennard's novel was that nothing is superfluous in this novel: there is the exact amount of romance so that it's not the most important thing and the suspense and action scenes always fit the moment perfectly.


The plot: There was a bit of a mystery surrounding the creator of the zombies but it was unfortunately a bit predictable. Yet Something Strange and Deadly was a most enjoyable read and I certainly found some twists in the story to be completely unexpected! The author certainly knows how to write a heart-breaking scene! The novel ends in a really sad note but I utterly enjoyed it and I wouldn't have this novel ending any other way.


The characters: Now, the characters were my favorite thing about this book. Eleanor certainly makes my list of favorite heroines ever! She was strong, determined, curious and, well, just plain amazing! The romance wasn't overdone. The relationship between Eleanor and Daniel develops rather slowly and sweetly, just how I like it. And I can't even start on Daniel, he was just so swoon-worthy but I would love to know more about him and his past in the next installment. The other characters really complemented the story and I can't see the novel being this awesome without Joseph and Jie. 


To emphasize: I'm dying to get my hands on the sequel, literally. I can't wait to read more about the Spirit-Hunters and how Eleanor will fit in their future adventures. Most of all, I can't wait to see how Daniel and Eleanor's relationship will develop (this will make even more sense to you after you read this novel!). Something Strange and Deadly was just plain unputdownable and I had to pull an all-nighter to finish it. And after finishing it, my mind still wandered to Eleanor and her friends. I recommend this novel to Steampunk lovers and paranormal, specially zombie, fans! Actually, everybody should buy pre-order it now!

Thanks to HarperTeen for providing me with a copy via Edelweiss in exchange of an honest review

I’m a 28-year-old reader, writer, lover of animals, and eater of cookies. I used to be a marine biologist, but now I write novels. And not novels about fish either, but novels about kick-butt heroines and swoon-worthy rogues (I really like swoon-worthy rogues). I live in Germany with my French husband and Irish setter, and you can learn more about my crazy thoughts and crippling cookie-addiction on twitter, facebook, or Goodreads. My debut, Something Strange and Deadly, will be available from HarperCollins on July 24th, and you will never believe how happy this makes me! Website / Twitter / Something Strange and Deadly's Website (check out this beautiful website!)