In My Mailbox #6

This great reason for everyone to brag about all the books they received was started by Kristi at The Story Siren.

This week I received a pretty good amount of books, though some that I was expecting didn't show.

Bought:

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter
I bought these two books because I received an ARC of Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover in the series and I haven't read the first two yet! They look pretty cute although I have a feeling their a little tweeny. Has anyone else read them?
I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter





Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
Phoebe Kendall is just your typical Goth girl with a crush. He's strong and silent.and dead.

All over the country, a strange phenomenon is occurring. Some teenagers who die aren't staying dead. But when they come back to life, they are no longer the same. Feared and misunderstood, they are doing their best to blend into a society that doesn't want them.
The administration at Oakvale High attempts to be more welcoming of the "differently biotic." But the students don't want to take classes or eat in the cafeteria next to someone who isn't breathing. And there are no laws that exist to protect the "living impaired" from the people who want them to disappear-for good.
When Phoebe falls for Tommy Williams, the leader of the dead kids, no one can believe it; not her best friend, Margi, and especially not her neighbor, Adam, the star of the football team. Adam has feelings for Phoebe that run much deeper than just friendship; he would do anything for her. But what if protecting Tommy is the one thing that would make her happy?

From the Library:

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

In a society where unwanted teens are salvaged for their body parts, three runaways fight the system that would "unwind" them

Connor's parents want to be rid of him because he's a troublemaker. Risa has no parents and is being unwound to cut orphanage costs. Lev's unwinding has been planned since his birth, as part of his family's strict religion. Brought together by chance, and kept together by desperation, these three unlikely companions make a harrowing cross-country journey, knowing their lives hang in the balance. If they can survive until theireighteenth birthday, they can't be harmed — but when every piece of them, from their hands to their hearts, are wanted by a world gone mad, eighteen seems far, far away.

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Sixteen-year-old Macy Queen is looking forward to a long, boring summer. Her boyfriend is going away. She’s stuck with a dull-asdishwater job at the library. And she’ll spend all of her free time studying for the SATs or grieving silently with her mother over her father’s recent unexpected death. But everything changes when Macy is corralled into helping out at one of her mother’s open house events, and she meets the chaotic Wish Catering crew. Before long, Macy joins the Wish team. She loves everything about the work and the people. But the best thing about Wish is Wes—artistic, insightful, and understanding Wes—who gets Macy to look at life in a whole new way, and really start living it….

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

when Annabel, the youngest of three beautiful sisters, has a bitter falling out with her best friend-the popular and exciting Sophie-she suddenly finds herself isolated and friendless. but then she meets owen-a loner, passionate about music and his weekly radio show, and always determined to tell the truth. And when they develop a friendship, Annabel is not only introduced to new music but is encouraged to listen to her own inner voice. with Owen's help, can Annabel find the courage to speak out about what exactly happened the night her friendship with Sophie came to a screeching halt?

Evernight by Claudia Gray

Bianca wants to escape.

At the eerily Gothic Evernight Academy, the other students are sleek, smart, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.

When she meets handsome, brooding Lucas, he warns her to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him. But the connection between them can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

Terra is tall and blonde, with an unbelievably gorgeous body, but what most people in her stifling Washington town notice is the port-wine birthmark covering half her face. Terra secretly plans to leave her small town by escaping to an East Coast college, but is pushed off-course by her controlling father. When she meets handsome, goth Jacob who immediately understands her battle with feeling different, Terra is forced in yet another direction. With her carefully laid plans disrupted, will Terra be able to find her true path?

I'm expecting a few ARCs this week, can't wait!!! What books did you receive?

Taylor

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Publish Date: February 2009
Pages: 320
Age Group: Young Adult
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste…

Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.

As usual, I was drawn toward this book after my first glance at its cover. It's beautiful. It also features the same picture as the cover of North of Beautiful, if you haven't yet noticed.

Evermore is the type of book I am usually drawn toward, consisting of romance, self-realization, mystery and friendship. Because all of these were explained on the back cover, I had high expectations. Alyson Noel did not fail to impress.

The symbolism of Ever's name is cute. I myself would never be so creative as to successfully use symbolism in a story but still keep it interesting. (We all know how sick we get of symbolism in those required school books.)

Lets talk about Damen. WOW. He is definitely no Edward Cullen, yet he is still presented in a way that quickly made me fall in love with him. I usually don't care much for the guys who act suspicious and cover it up with cockiness, but Damen had this special quality to him that changed that feeling for me. Imagine dating a guy who takes you to a horse race and wins half a million, while also being the sexiest guy to ever lay eyes on! Sounds good to me! :D

Although this book followed similar lines as many other vampire stories, (although technically Damen is an 'immortal' not vampire) it still stayed original enough to keep me guessing. I never expected it to end the way it did! I figured Damen and Drina had some type of past, but I definitely wasn't excepting it to be so important in the end.

I think my favorite twist of this book was Summerland. What a neat concept, a place where everything is peaceful and you can create anything with your mind. I definitely am interested in taking my next trip there instead of Colorado. Ha!

I really have no complaints about Evermore. The book answered all necessary questions and was written in a way that forced me to read it from cover to cover nonstop. I'm really looking forward to Blue Moon!

5/5

Get excited for Hunted!

So many of you out there, including myself, are highly anticipating the fifth novel in the House of Night series, Hunted.

If in some strange way you haven't heard anything about Hunted by P.C. + Kristin Cast, here is the summary:

What if the hottest guy in the world was hiding a nameless evil, and all he wanted was you?

At the start of this heart-pounding new installment of the bestselling House of Night series, Zoey’s friends have her back again and Stevie Rae and the red fledglings aren’t Neferet’s secrets any longer. But an unexpected danger has emerged. Neferet guards her powerful new consort, Kalona, and no one at the House of Night seems to understand the threat he poses. Kalona looks gorgeous, and he has the House of Night under his spell. A past life holds the key to breaking his rapidly spreading influence, but what if this past life shows Zoey secrets she doesn’t want to hear and truths she can’t face?

On the run and holed up in Tulsa’s Prohibition-era tunnels, Zoey and her gang must discover a way to deal with something that might bring them all down. Meanwhile, Zoey has a few other little problems. The red fledglings have cleaned up well – they’ve even managed to make the dark, creepy tunnels feel more like home – but are they really as friendly as they seem? On the boyfriend front, Zoey has a chance to make things right with super-hot ex-, Eric, but she can’t stop thinking about Stark, the archer who died in her arms after one unforgettable night, and she is driven to try to save him from Neferet’s sinister influence at all costs. Will anyone believe the power evil has to hide among us?

Now that you are thoroughly excited for the novel as I am, here is the book trailer!!

For those of you who haven't already you can click here to read the first chapter.

Once you have done that you can then click below to have the second chapter read to you. How freaking cool!

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Yay! I'm so excited to have found all this information about Hunted, and I haven't received an ARC :( so I will be awaiting its release eagerly!

Taylor

Vote for my vampire poll!

I have a new poll on my sidebar. Since I'm so obsessed with all things vampire, I have a vampire based poll. Be sure to vote! Also, I may be having a special vampire surprise coming soon! You just have to keep checking back. :D

Anyways, be sure to vote because I am very curious whick vampire books all bloggers enjoy. I think that us bloggers who read more books than most have more knowledge about vampires than just Twilight, so I'm really curious if Twilight is as trendy in the blog world as it is in the rest of the world.

I personally am a HUGE Vampire Academy fan! For all you other VA fans I heard that the cover of Blood Promise is really cool! I can't wait until its graphic is released! Actually, I just can't wait until the book its self is released this late summer/fall!

Okay enough rambling from me. Vote vote vote!!!

Taylor

Guest Blog: Beth Fantaskey

I vividly remember the day that I realized I was a writer.

I was just out of college, sitting in a bland cubicle in a public relations office, writing a speech for a politician, when it struck me: “This is how I make my living. By writing.”
The setting was kind of awful, and the task that I was working on wasn’t very inspiring, but I recall being a little bit proud.

I was a writer...

It might seem weird, to think that I hadn’t labeled myself that way long before I was getting paid to actually write. But writing had kind of sneaked up on me.

I wasn’t a great student in college, and I wasn’t aggressive about setting myself up for a career. I guess I just didn’t know what I really wanted to do with my life. I certainly didn’t know that my writing was anything special. It was just something that seemed… easy.

But on that day that I realized I was a real writer, I felt those cubicle walls push back a little bit.

Writing… That was something that might just have a future.

Maybe, if I worked hard, I could write something more interesting than boring political speeches.

And so I started to apply myself, querying magazines and newspapers, and taking whatever assignments I could get. Pretty soon, I had an interesting, if sometimes bizarre, career niche. I was getting paid to do fun and often crazy things, like roller skating with spunky senior citizens, or running a “hash” (google it!), or getting dipped in chocolate while reviewing a spa in Hershey, Pa.

I loved that no day was the same, but I couldn’t stop thinking about how I might push those (by then) figurative walls back even farther. I started to think about writing fiction – stuff that would come straight out of my imagination.

I began small, selling short stories to the magazine Woman’s World.
Then, emboldened by that (modest) success, I tried a novel. And when that failed, I tried another, and another, until the third one, Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, caught a publisher’s attention.

Mine isn’t a story of overnight success. Maybe it’s even kind of… ordinary.
But the path has been fun, for me, and liberating.

Somewhere along the way, those cubicle walls didn’t just get pushed back. They tumbled down, and I am forever grateful for that revelation – I am a writer – because that was the day I stumbled onto my passion, and it started to set me free.

Beth Fantaskey






Beth's first novel Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side is now available in stores. It is an amazing debut book and if you haven't read it I highly suggest you do. I have reviewed it here.

In My Mailbox #4

In My Mailbox #4

The amazing idea for every blogger to get to brag about all the amazing books they got during their week was started by The Story Siren.

So, last week I didn't post an In My Mailbox because well, I didn't get any books. I already have so many TBRs at home that I just didn't have the need to go find more. This week was quite similar. I only got one book and it was from the library.


The Vampire Diaries: The Return & Nightfall by L.J. Smith

Elena Gilbert is alive—again.
When Elena sacrificed herself to save the two vampire brothers who love her—the handsome, brooding Stefan and the sleek and dangerous Damon—she was consigned to a fate beyond death. Until a powerful supernatural force pulled her back.
Now Elena is not just human. She has powers and gifts that were bestowed on her in the afterlife. What's more, her blood pulses with an overwhelming and unique force that makes her irresistible to any vampire.
Stefan wants to find a way to keep Elena safe so that they can make a life together. Damon, however, is driven by an insatiable desire for power, and wants Elena to rule as his princess. When Stefan is lured away from Fell's Church, Damon seizes his chance to convince her that he is the brother she is meant to be with. . . .
But a darkness is infiltrating the town, and Damon, always the hunter, is now the hunted; he becomes the prey of a malevolent creature that can possess him at will, and who desires not just Elena's blood but her death.

I'm expecting a good amount of books this week so I hope I have a more interesting load to share next week!

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark by Beth Fantaskey

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Published: February 2009

Pages: 368

Age Group: Young Adult

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

The undead can really screw up your senior year . . .
Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.

Wow! I loved this book! I had very high expectations for this novel and it definitely rose up to the occasion!

This book has the two ingredients that make me pick up a book. First, it has a beautiful. Secondly, and most importantly, ITS ABOUT VAMPIRES! I love love loveee vampire books.

Fantaskey mixed in so many different elements. Like many vampire books there were the old powerful royal families. Then, like many other vampire books there was the trendy high school style that isn't cliche vampire at all. She mixed the two together unlike any other book I have read.

One of my favorite parts of this book was how Jessica wouldn't believe that Lucius was a vampire. It usually bothers me when characters just believe people right away when they say their supernatural. Jessica's reaction was so much more realistic, not to mention funny!

There are only two problems I have with this book. First, I hated Faith's character. I wish she never existed! I felt like she took away from Jessica and Lucius's relationship and made it slightly unconvincing. I also hate that this is a one time deal. Please please please make this into a series! It was fabulous!

If you haven't read Jessica's Guide, do it! 5/5

Untamed (House of Night #4) By Kristin Cast + P.C. Cast

Untamed By Kristin Cast + P.C. Cast

Published: September 2008
Pages: 352
Age Group: Young Adult
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Life sucks when your friends are pissed at you. Just ask Zoey Redbird – she’s become an expert on suckiness. In one week she has gone from having three boyfriends to having none, and from having a close group of friends who trusted and supported her, to being an outcast. Speaking of friends, the only two Zoey has left are undead and unMarked. And Neferet has declared war on humans, which Zoey knows in her heart is wrong. But will anyone listen to her? Zoey's adventures at vampyre finishing school take a wild and dangerous turn as loyalties are tested, shocking true intentions come to light, and an ancient evil is awakened in PC and Kristin Cast's spellbinding fourth House of Night novel.

Since I always start my House of Night reviews off with talking about their wonderful covers, I just want to say: this is my favorite cover in the whole series! It is absolutely beautiful! Her hair is perfect, the tattoos are EXACTLY how I imagined them and the patterns on the side match her tattoo adding the final touch of perfection.

A girl in my Marketing class told me that this book was the worst in the series. She told me it was super repetitive (which sums up the first two) and never gets interesting. Wow, I don't think she could have been any farther from the truth. Although I didn't enjoy the first two books (read my reviews for details) I absolutely loved the third and fourth books!

Untamed had depth that the rest of the series only touched upon. Zoey finally opened up to herself, as well as her friends, and realized how powerful she truly is. Instead of spending all of her time, which she doesn't usually have much of to spare, chasing boys, Zoey begins taking care of important things.

I actually LOVE the boy problems Zoey has in this book, their so much more realistic than in the first and second, and even half of the third book. Instead of swooning over three completely opposite boys, Zoey is grieving over the loss of Stark, and trying to ignore her pain that Loren caused. The most realistic part of the whole situation was the communication between her and Erik. Both her and Erik's reactions were realistic. I love how easily it is to relate to what both of them are going through. I have never cheated on a boy before but Zoey's pain is so apparent and well written that I feel like I can completely empathize for her.

The turns that the book takes in the end are clearly a set up for Hunted. The nerd-herd (which Aphrodite is officially a part of!!!) all got away but now they need to fix things, once and for good. I am really looking forward to Hunted which is coming out very very soon!

4.5/5

Chosen (House of Night #3) By Kristin Cast + P.C. Cast

Chosen By Kristin Cast + P.C. Cast

Published: March 2008

Pages: 320

Age Group: Young Adult

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Bloodlust and dark forces are at work at the House of Night, and fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird’s adventures at the school take a mysterious turn. Those who appear to be friends are turning out to be enemies. And, oddly enough, sworn enemies are also turning into friends. So begins the gripping third installment of this “highly addictive series” (Romantic Times), in which Zoey’s mettle will be tested like never before. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling to maintain a grip on her humanity. Zoey doesn’t have a clue how to help her, but she does know that anything she and Stevie Rae discover must be kept secret from everyone else at the House of Night, where trust has become a rare commodity. Speaking of rare, Zoey finds herself in the very unexpected and rare position of having three boyfriends. Mix a little bloodlust into the equation and the situation has the potential to spell social disaster. Just when it seems things couldn’t get any tougher, vampyres start turning up dead. Really dead. But, as Zoey and her friends find out, things are not always what they seem…

As much as I loved the covers of the last two books, this one just didn't hit the spot. It was just kind of... creepy looking. And I thought it was slightly boring. Also, I thought maybe the neck would have the locket Zoey got from gorgeous Heath, but it didn't. The picture really had no relation with the book.

Although I didn't very much enjoy the first two books (Marked and Betrayed) I loved this books! The plot finally has a point to it! YAY! The book started out similar to the others, meaning lots of drama, Zoey being whiney and causing her own problems, and most importantly very repetitive. However, the last 100 pages or so were absolutely... AMAZING!

One of the problems I had with the previous two books was Zoey's boy problems. She spent way too much time talking about them but never really did anything to fix them. In this book however, Zoey finally takes some action. First, she goes to try and dump Heath (again), and fails (again). After her steamy scene with Heath she goes back to the academy only to hook up with Loren Blake. They imprint on each other which leaves Zoey with only two boyfriends. Then when I thought things couldn't get any more complicated... they did! I'm not going to say what happened (don't want to spoil too much) but wow, the book definitely picks up at the end.

I also love the direction of Aphrodite and Zoey's relationship. Its actually a bit funny because I always wondered if they would eventually become allies. Their relationship is actually quite funny, whether the Twins are calling her a hag bitch, or Aphrodite treats undead Stevie Rae like crap (because she smells like it) or just about anything. The girls try to hate each other but because of how closely Nyx has tied them, they can't.

This is about as much as I can say without blurting out all the amazing spoilers I would like to. I just want to say this: If you really don't want to read the first two books because they aren't very good than don't. All the information you need about the past two books is in this one. if you find yourself struggling to get through the first two as I did just read this book. It is amazing and I absolutely cannot wait to finish the fourth!

4.5/5

Betrayed (House of Night #2) By Kristin Cast + P.C. Cast

Betrayed By Kristin Cast + P.C. Cast

Published: October 2007
Pages: 320
Age Group: Young Adult
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night. She’s come to terms with the vast powers the vampyre goddess, Nyx, has given her, and is getting a handle on being the new Leader of the Dark Daughters. Best of all, Zoey finally feels like she belongs--like she really fits in. She actually has a boyfriend…or two. Then the unthinkable happens: Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey’s old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night, and Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world.

When I said that I was in love with the cover of Marked... I lied. Well no, but now it is a lie because HELLO!!! have you seen the cover of Betrayed? Yeah, it is absolutely gorgeous! I love the covers of these books, even the textures are enchanting!

The principle issue I have with this book is Zoey, the main character. She has transformed from a strong-willed, driven teenager hero into a whiny, self-conscious little girl. The plot of the story -Zoey being able to use all five elements, fighting and beating the "popular kids" having multiple gorgeous boyfriends at once, fighting against the undead- creates the possibility for an extremely powerful main character. I picture someone similar to Rose Hathaway from Vampire Academy. However Zoey is none of these things. She is smart in life or death situations, but the majority of her time she just finds ways to make her problems worse and complains about them.

Something I noticed that surprised me very much was typos. During both the first and second book (and even in the third that I am currently reading) I found multiple typos. I noticed two of them in the second book as well as the first. This really surprises me because I would think that after being out for over a year the publisher would have noticed and fixed them on the newly printed copies.

My least favorite scene from the book was when Stevie Rae died. The reason is Zoey's reaction. She expected all of her friends to take care of her and spend their time comforting her instead of grieving for their lost friend. This was especially weird because Erin, Shaunee, and Damien had known Stevie Rae for months longer than Zoey had. It just seemed so unreal that they would be able to comfort Zoey so warmly rather than grieving.

Though many parts of the book bothered me, there were parts I enjoyed very much. For instance, I don't know about you but if some gorgeous vampyre poet was writing me poetry and it showed up mysteriously, I would have melted. I love the way Zoey's boyfriends treat her. She is lucky to have so many understanding people in her life. Not many boyfriends would be understand if you were knowingly dating someone else. If Zoey didn't create so much extra drama, she would have the perfect life.

I also love the change in Neferet's character. I always wondered if she was too good to be true. Apparently, she is. Her character is very well established and left me furious but at the same time intrigued. I still have a hard time believing she is purely evil. I hope there are more twists coming with her character because every time she is a part of the scene something interesting happens!

The books are becoming repetitive and slightly boring to me, but Zoey's boyfriend troubles are still enough to keep me interested! Look for my upcoming reviews as I finish the series!

3/5

Marked (House of Night #1) By Kristin + P.C. Cast

Marked By Kristin Cast + P.C. Cast

Published: May 2007
Pages: 320
Age Group: Young Adult
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Enter the dark, magical world of The House of Night, a world very much like our own, except here vampyres have always existed. Sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird has just been Marked as a fledgling vampyre and joins the House of Night, a school where she will train to become an adult vampire. That is, if she makes it through the Change--and not all of those who are Marked do. It sucks to begin a new life, especially away from her friends, and on top of that, Zoey is no average fledgling. She has been chosen as special by the vampyre Goddess Nyx. Zoey discovers she has amazing powers, but along with her powers come bloodlust and an unfortunate ability to Imprint her human ex-boyfriend. To add to her stress, she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers: When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite group, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny--with a little help from her new vampyre friends.


In case you haven't already noticed, I am a sucker for both enchanting book covers and all things vampire. So naturally, the House Of Night series was a must read.

When I usually read a book, the first chapter or two are boring or confusing. Marked on the other hand was boring for the first 150 pages.

The story started out at a human high school with the main character Zoey getting marked. Her "best friend" Kayla was too preoccupied with the thought of making out with her boyfriend to care. I can't even imagine ditching my best friend (who I will possibly never see again) to make out with a guy who will always be around. I mean, there are bad friends in the world, but I thought Kayla's character was just impractical and a waste.

The secong problem I had with this book was its repetition. Yes okay, by the twelvth time you said Erik Night was hot I finally understood he was hot. The Cast duo also repeated how pretty Neferet was, how "ho-ish" and stuck up Aphrodite was and how Zoey could never decide if she wanted Heath or Erik. I think if the book stopped repeating facts that had already been stated it could have been half as long and twice as alluring.

However, the book did intrigue me into continuing the series. The plot was so imcomparable to most vampire stories, in a positive way. First of all, the spell it, vampyre. That alone is cool enough to draw me in. Secondly, I enjoyed the idea of vampyres being the elite of society (i.e. actors, authors, poets, and all the millionares out there) but yet still being somewhat outcast by normal human society. The third idea I enjoyed was having a worldwide body of people dominated by females! They make it realistic, but at the same time give the males their deserved credit.

Another element of the story I enjoyed was the casualty of the writing. Instead of using huge words and poetic flow, the Cast duo wrote the book in a personal, almost conversational style. This created a more approachable and normal side to Zoey, as well as her other friends. Instead of always being perfect, they had funny opinions, dorky hobbies, and always got sidetracked when talking to cute boys.

To the benefit of the Cast girls, the book picked up quickly enough to capture my interest and forced me to dive into the series. I look forward to the next book Betrayed, so look for its upcoming review!

3.5/5

Peeps By Scott Westerfeld

Peeps By Scott Westerfeld


Published: September 2006
Pages: 312
Age Group: Young Adult
Publisher: Penguin Group

Okay, let's clear up some myths about vampires. First of all, you won't see me using the v-word much. In the Night Watch, we prefer the term parasite positives, or peeps for short.

The main thing to remember is that there's no magic involved. No flying. No transforming into bats or rats either. We're talking about a disease.

After a chance encounter with a mysterious woman one night, Cal Thompson's life is changed forever. He's been infected with an insidious parasite. The good news: he's only a carrier- still sane, without the worst of the symptoms. The bad news: he's infected all his former girlfriends- and now they've turned into what Cal calls peeps. The rest of us call them vampires. And its Cal's job to hunt them down before they create even more of their kind...

Incase you haven't realized yet... yes I am one of those lame people addicted to the paranormal, particularly vampires. Oh, and yes I do love Scott Westerfeld books as well. This being said, I had to question my love for both after finishing Peeps. To be comopletely honest, my favorite part of the book was its cover.

Right from the beginning, I was confused. Westerfeld dives right in, giving explanations for things after they have already happened. Then, as if I wasn't already confused enough, Cal explains that how Sarah was acting when he caught her wasn't normal (uh hello- you never told us what normal was!)

After things become a bit clearer I actually started to enjoy it. I have always had a certain respect for authors who take a such a common book theme, like vampires, and change it around completely. The first difference was the lack of a sappy love story. Yes I do love to read them, but the direction Peeps took romance was intriguing in a unique way. Because Cal is infected, he can't have a girlfriend. Worse than that, he can't even kiss a girl. That's right, if he does anything besides touch a girl they get infected. Talk about a twist.

The next difference I liked was the vampires, or peeps, themselves. In nearly every vampire book written, they are free to roam (though they usually spend most of their time out of the sun.) Even more, they are functional, and usually sane. In peeps, unless you have a rare case, like Cal's, the transformation leaves you schizophrenic, angry and anti-social to the extreme. They are in fact so different and creepy that they live mostly underground, with a brood of rats. I'm talking hundreds of them.

After taking in the differences between Peeps and most vampire books, I was bored again. Cal and Lacey's relationship never has any flame and only seems to become more and more boring with every page. When things start getting hectic, both Sarah and Morgan re-enter Cal's life and the book is once again confusing. On top of this, the build-up of meeting Morgan is completely pointless because the interaction between her and Cal is quick and unexciting. In fact, the only real contact they have is Cal running away from her house when she seems him and then him agreeing with her about spreading the disease. After a whole book of looking for her... that's it.

Unlike the Uglies series, Scott Westerfeld failed to impress me with this novel. The ups were mediocre and the down were boring, leaving me glad to be finished.



2/5

Shadow Kiss By Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy Series #3)

Shadow Kiss By Richelle Mead

Published: November 2008

Pages: 448

Age Group: Young Adult

Publisher: Razor Bill

Is Rose's fate to kill the person she loves most? It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since Mason's death, Rose hasn't been feeling quite right. She has dark flashbacks in the middle of practice, can't concentrate in class, and has terrifying dreams about Lissa. But Rose has an even bigger secret . . . .She's in love with Dimitri. And this time, it's way more than a crush.

Then Strigoi target the academy in the deadliest attack in Moroi history, and Dimitri is taken. Rose must protect Lissa at all costs, but keeping her best friend safe could mean losing Dimitri forever . . .

I'm starting to feel like a 12 year-old girl getting all giddy about a new crush. I am completely in love with this series.

The book starts out in a steamy love scene which quickly turns all wrong when Rose realizes she is in Lissa's head while she is making out with Christian- yuck! Poor Rose, she already has enough boy problems with Dimitri being off limits and her still mourning over Mason's death. For once I can honestly say I was temporarily NOT jealous of Rose Hathaway.

A spider web of problems continues to tangle up, but all the while I never felt confused. Adrian is still fighting a losing battle for Rose, the girls are trying -and succeed- in getting to Victor Dashkov's trial. While they are there the girls see Mia, who disappeared after Mason's death and learn she is living and going to school at the Royal Court. Now, Mia used to be a backstabbing jerk, but after running away last year and learning some perspective, Mia has definitely changed for the better. I love reading about how happy she finally seems to be after having so much internal anger for so long, and seeing how much she has matures.

Mead does an amazing job of showing growth, maturation and change within all of the characters. I kept catching myself changing my opinions constantly about characters. Christian has shaped into a dedicated Moroi who is willing to put it all in the line to save the Moroi race (even though everyone thinks he will turn Strogoi like his parents.) Lissa finally finds true happiness and learns how to accept and use her role as the last Dragomir. Rose is as sassy as ever but with a mature edge to it. Instead of arguing for the sake of arguing and rebelling because she can, Rose uses her aggressive energy to kill Strogoi (SCARY!), have a deeper connection than ever with Dimitri, and even start to make things right between her and her astranger mother.

I have never been a very big fan of action and war movies, or even books for that matter, but the battles against the Strogoi leave me at the edge of my seat and craving more. I think the addiction stems from the drama created from the battles. Rose is constantly worrying about Lissa and Dimitri which makes me want to keep reading to make sure they are safe!

In an attempt to keep this review from spoiling too much, all I'm going to say is this: I HATED THE ENDING! I mean, it was written amazingly, and I figured something like this would happen but I really wish the book didn't leave off where it did. I actually had to force back tears.

In the end, Shadow Kiss left my head spinning and feeling every emotion I can think of all at the same time. The book, like the other two, never slows for a second which makes it nearly impossible to find a good place to stop. In fact, I don't think I ever did stop :P

Just like the rest, this book amazing which gives it a well deserved 5/5.

Frostbite By Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy Series #2)

Frostbite By Richelle Mead

Published: April 2008

Pages: 336

Age Group: Young Adult

Publisher: Razor Bill

Rose Hathaway’s got serious guy trouble. Her gorgeous tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason has a huge crush on her, and she keeps getting stuck in her best friend Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian.

Then a massive Strogoi attack puts St. Vladamir’s on high alert, and the Academy crawls with Guardians- including the legendary Janine Hathaway… Rose’s formidable, long-absent mother. The Strogoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks. This year, St. Vlad’s holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only provide the illusion of safety. When three students run away to strike back against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. Only this time, Rose- and her heart- are in more danger than she ever could have imagined…

Okay, just when I thought there could never be a better book than Vampire Academy, Frostbite is here to prove me wrong. This book is amazing!

First of all, Rose and Dimitri’s relationship becomes way more complicated (I didn’t know that was even possible) putting Rose into an even more sassy mood. Her character is constantly changing, but in this book she seems to be a little more constant. She spends most of her time being jealous and just plain angry.

As if her problems with Dimitri aren’t enough to get my attention (which they are) now there is a new guy, Adrian Ivashkov, a prince with a party-boy reputation. Of course this doesn’t stop Rose from spending time with him, even if it is against her will. As much as she dislikes Adrian, she continues to find herself drawn to him. I personally think he is one of those bad boys that every girl wants to make into their good boy, which makes me wish I was Rose!

But with all this being said, the pace definitely picks up in this book as danger from the Strogoi becomes magnified more than ever. Suddenly boy problems become the least of Rose’s worries as she has to face her first (not counting Natalie) Strogoi battle.

To sum it up, THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. I give it a 5/5 of course.

Vampire Academy By Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy Series #1)

Vampire Academy By Richelle Mead

Published: August 2007
Pages: 314
Age Group: Young Adult
Publisher: Razor Bill

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond to the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strogoi; the fiercest and most dangerous vampires- the ones who never die.

The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, maker her a Dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Stigoi, who are hell-bent on making her one of them.

After two years of illict freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. Rose will continue her Dhampir education. Lissa will go back to being Queen of the elite Moroi social scene. and both girls will resume breaking Academy hearts.

Fear made Lissa and Rose run away from St. Vladimir's- inside the Academy's iron gates, their world is even more fraught with danger. Here. the cutthroat ranks of the Moroi perform unspeakable rituals, and their secretive nature and love of the night creates an enigmatic world full of social complexities. Rose and Lissa must navigate through this dangerous world, confront the temptation of forbidden romance, and never once let their guard down, lest the Strogoi make Lissa one of them forever...


I ordered this book in hopes of finding another vamprie series to enjoy instead of just rereading Twilight over and over again. Man, am I glad I did. This book, and the others in the series are without a doubt the best books I have ever read.

The book starts quickly, with Rose and Lissa being dragged back to St. Vladimir's by the gorgeous Dimitri (my soon to be husband :D) and life at the Academy starts off with a bang. Right at their return their schedules are very busy, and the girls don't get to spend as much time as they would like together.

Lissa is batteling with her Spirit powers (she doesn't know she has them yet) and they begin to cause her depression. Lissa is a cutter, and because Rose is shadow-kissed, she can get into Lissa's mind and always comes to her rescue when she needs it. On top of constantly being worries about her best friend's mental state, Rose is taking two extra training sessions a day from the gorgeous new Guardian, Dimitri.

Right from their first day, Rose feels a connection with Dimitri. Their forbidden romance is extremely addicting, and I kept having to stop myself from skipping over parts just to read about their sessions together. Although Rose doesn't seem to realize it, Dimitri acts just as attracted to Rose but in a secretive and sexy way.

Rose is one of the most powerful and strong willed characters ever written about. She is sexy and flirty, but at the same time she doesn't take crap from anyone, making her the girl that every guy wishes they had and every girl wishes they were. She also goes through struggles that every girl can relate to. She flirts with people, gets caught making out, has a crush on her hot teacher, feels like she has no one to talk to, and is constantly protecting her best friend. Her character is the perfect blend of every element, which made me feel as if I were her.

Toward the end of the book, Lissa and Rose's fears for leaving were proven right, and Lissa is in mortal danger.

This book is absolutely perfect, Mead's writing style couldn't fit the characters more accurately, and I can assure every girl 13+ that they will NOT be able to put this book down until they finish it!

I give it a 5+/5 for being AMAZING!

Vampire Diaries: The Fury and Dark Reunion By L. J. Smith

Vampire Diaries: The Fury and Dark Reunion By L. J. Smith

Published: 1991
Pages: 528
Age Group: Young Adult
Publisher: Harper Teen

Elena: transformed, the golden girl has become what she once feared and desired.

Stefan: tormented by losing Elena, he's determined to end his feud with Damon once and for all—whatever the cost. But slowly he begins to realize that his brother is not his only enemy.

Damon: at last, he possesses Elena. But will his thirst for revenge against Stefan poison his triumph? Or can they come together to face one final battle?

Collected here in one edition are the third and fourth volumes of The Vampire Diaries, a riveting conclusion to the tale of two vampire brothers and the beautiful girl torn between them.

Due to some shipping and ordering issues, I wasn't able to read this book for a few weeks after reading the first one. With that being said, I had a lot of time to think about it, guess what would happen, and just get excited for it. When I finally got it, I felt pretty let down.

There were so many parts of this book that I never understood. What was the point of killing Elena? Why was Elena so obsessed with Damon and Stefan liking each other? Why did Elena keep saying she loved Stefan so much, but everytime they were alone she suddenly had a million other things to do? What was the point of bringing Katherine back? When Katherine had them as prisoners, why was Stefan acting so weird? Why did Katherine think she killed Klaus if she obviously didn't? What was with all the weird ghosts? And how did Elena just suddenly come back?

Now that I'm done ranting, there were a few parts I did like. I actually enjoyed reading from Bonnie's perspective because I always felt she had so much more to offer than they let her. She always has so many thoughts, whether they are relevent to what is going on or not, which seems so much more realistic for a teen. She showed more emotions than Elena.

The biggest problem I had with this book was I felt like I never connected with it. Instead of recreating relationships and emotions, Smith just assumed that the reader was still connected with emotions that she explained in the first book. The only people who were easy to connect with were Katherine and Klaus because they were the only characters to grow in any way during this book. I suppose Tyler too since he changed so much.

I wish this book would have been more captivating because I felt so drawn to the first.

I wasn't a very big fan, 2/5.

Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle By L.J. Smith

Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle By L.J. Smith

Published: 1991
Pages: 512
Age Group: Young Adult
Publisher: Harper Teen

Elena: the golden girl, the leader, the one who can have any boy she wants.

Stefan: brooding and mysterious, he seems to be the only one who can resist Elena, even as he struggles to protect her from the horrors that haunt his past.

Damon: sexy, dangerous, and driven by an urge for revenge against Stefan, the brother who betrayed him. Determined to have Elena, he'd kill to possess her.

Collected here in one volume for the first time, volumes one and two of The Vampire Diaries, the tale of two vampire brothers and the beautiful girl torn between them.


A friend of mine told me to read these books months ago, but the title sounded silly, so I just blew her off. But then one day I had nothing to read and I decided I would give them a fair chance or my friend's sake. I'm glad I decided to pick it up. I was quickly addicted, finishing it in a few hours.

The story is about a girl named Elena who is the post popular girl in school and how she falls in love with the new guy, Stefan Salvatore, who ends up being a vampire. I'm going to admit, the idea of Elena being popular, queen of the school, and perfect was a little lame. Anyone can write about a person being loved by everyone. Luckily, Elena is a smart girl so her character is powerful unlike most "popular girls." But even so the book picked up quickly and Elena's popularity becomes the least of my worries.

I love the twists this books takes like Damon coming to down, Stefan being a vampire, Caroline backstabbing Elena, and everything else! I don't want to say too much! The book is a little confusing, but everything finally comes together in the end.

Overall the book is a fun and easy read, and any girl who is looking for a good love story, (vampires make the hottest boyfriends it seems) will enjoy it.

The book was pretty addicting, I'd give it a 3.5/5