Elemental #3 Spirit

HAPPY RELEASE DAY...... Spirit this time.... bring it on. Presenting Elemental #3 Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer.

Here is the summary of the book:

With power comes enemies. Lots of them.

Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He’s learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can’t seem to afford any allies.

He’s up to his neck in hostiles. His grandfather, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait.

Then there’s Kate Sullivan, the new girl at school. She’s not hostile. She’s bold. Funny. Hot. But she’s got an agenda, too.

With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down. But finding out what means he’ll have to find someone he can trust…

Its Hunter's tale and its not all sunshine and roses. Picks up right sometime after Spark ended and Hunter it seems has alienated himself from the Merrick brothers after his bad decisions in Spark. Even Becca isn't talking anymore and Hunter feels like the person on the outside looking right in. But then Kate Sullivan enters his life.... she is new to town and butting heads where they don't matter.... And the danger still persists because Hunter doesn't know how to stop Calla Dean and the question of the dangerous guide leaves a bitter taste in everyone's mouth.

Brigid Kemmerer I seriously want to know how you get the inspiration for such dashing men...... come on thats like a distinctive talent to focus on one of them each book and make us fall irrevocably and utterly in love with them (so jealous of their girlfriends). I admit i was hesitant about Spirit, as it moves away from the Merricks to the outcast tough guy with bad-ass tattoos. But Kemmerer just had to make us fall in love with him didn't she.... Oh !I'm not complaining it was pretty educational too..... But no need to sound unhappy you guys the Merrick brothers are still here and they look out for their own.... its just Hunter needs to learn to trust them more.

I really liked Kate's character here. She comes on all at once, she is spunky, sassy, smart and a right seductress to boot and is just enough to lighten the phase Hunter is going through, what with picking a fight with just about everyone there was. The romance here is just something you have never seen before... its fun, its needy, balancing and sometimes just sweet at the same time.

Nothing less than spectacular, Kemmerer spins a tale well a part of a tale with the least known characters. Bringing every feeling, every emotion and splashing them across the pages.... and we feel right at home. Another amazing talent of an author..... her writing the way she brings out a story from inside a story and gives it an appropriate position too. In a way Spirit had much more drama than all other books of the series.....Brilliant..... keep it rolling Ms. Kemmerer.... can't wait for Nick and Mike's tale next.

 "Brigid Kemmerer takes us successfully upto the Hunter Garrity alley with this one"

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy


Publisher: K Teen


My Copy: Publisher and Netgalley


Rate:             5 /5 (It was Awesome)


Books in Series(review links):

         #0.5 Elemental

         #1 Storm

         #1.5 Fearless 
         #2 Spark 
         #2.5 Breathless

Transparent

Invisibility and some pretty cool genre evolved super powers. Presenting Transparent by Natalie Whipple.

Here is the summary of the book:

Plenty of teenagers feel invisible. Fiona McClean actually is.

An invisible girl is a priceless weapon. Fiona’s own father has been forcing her to do his dirty work for years—everything from spying on people to stealing cars to breaking into bank vaults.

After sixteen years, Fiona’s had enough. She and her mother flee to a small town, and for the first time in her life, Fiona feels like a normal life is within reach. But Fiona’s father isn’t giving up that easily.

Of course, he should know better than anyone: never underestimate an invisible girl.

Natalie Whipple brings to us in all its glory her shiny debut, Transparent. Where everyone has some kind of mutation running within them, the result of a drug taken to prevent radiation poisoning during the world war leading to these mutations in the descendants. Super strength, voice modulation, tech genius, invisibility ...... some powerful results in this mutated world and Fiona McClean is invisible.

She has been invisible all her life.She doesn't even know what she really looks like. but her misfortune is that her dad happens to be a big shot mob boss and haveing an invisible daughter can be just the thing a crime lord needs. But Fiona wants out, she and her mother flee to a small town to evade the dad and so she (Fiona) gets to finally be normal again..... Although happiness is never easy to come by. You have to give it your all to maintain it and Fiona would do everything to get out of the syndicate and have that life she always wanted free.

As every young adult book, even this one has its teenage romance quota. Fiona finds a semblance of normality in that town.... she finds friends and she finds the guy too, its pretty interesting to read when that happens and when you do, you just have one single though in your mind - "Fi deserves someone who can see her for who she is really and love her for it too" .... so sweet...

Natalie Whipple ....... you amazing ..... amazing person. The world building, the characters, their backstory, every scene.... every word was simply perfect. A packaged and complete standalone. In question of dystopian or such heavy creations to be put down in just one book doesn't really sit well but Whipple's Transparent just proves her caliber to deliver the best and the best is all we want to see.

"Refreshing, Well though of and highly entertaining, Transparent gets all the stars from me"

Genre :      Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Dystopia, Paranormal


Publisher: Harper Teen


My Copy:  Publisher and edelweiss


Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Steampunk Chronicles #3 The Girl with the Iron Touch

HAPPY RELEASE DAY.... Another perfect strike. Presenting Steampunk Chronicles #3 The Girl with the Iron Touch by Kady Cross.

Here is the summary of the book:

In 1897 London, something not quite human is about to awaken

When mechanical genius Emily is kidnapped by rogue automatons, Finley Jayne and her fellow misfits fear the worst. What's left of their archenemy, The Machinist, hungers to be resurrected, and Emily must transplant his consciousness into one of his automatons—or forfeit her friends' lives.

With Griffin being mysteriously tormented by the Aether, the young duke's sanity is close to the breaking point. Seeking help, Finley turns to Jack Dandy, but trusting the master criminal is as dangerous as controlling her dark side. When Jack kisses her, Finley must finally confront her true feelings for him...and for Griffin.

Meanwhile, Sam is searching everywhere for Emily, from Whitechapel's desolate alleyways to Mayfair's elegant mansions. He would walk into hell for her, but the choice she must make will test them more than they could imagine.

To save those she cares about, Emily must confront The Machinist's ultimate creation—an automaton more human than machine. And if she's to have any chance at triumphing, she must summon a strength even she doesn't know she has....

Steampunk, the ever elusive branch of sci-fi reinvents itself everytime an author successfully tries to incorporate this historical science fantasy bringing in something never before read. Kady Cross' Steampunk Chronicles is one such beauty that adds sci-fi, steampunk, history, drama, suspense, romance and all things nice to deliver something of the order to us and we readers have the right fun time reading and visualizing them as if they are happening right infront and we are an integral part of it.

For Finley, Griffin, Sam, Emily and Jasper .... our band of heroes this is another adventure that brings them even closer together. The archenemy, Machinist/Garibaldi is still at large and he has something even more dangerous up his sleeve, an automaton more human than machines.... does not bode well at all and Emily gets one garnering major attention because of her expertise with machines.

What I liked about the book and every other one in the series is that Kady Cross keeps it original and distinct, nothing too longwinding for readers to even consider not reading it. There are more than two characters in this series so I really commend Cross on successfully keeping all the perspectives separate.

The Girl with the Iron Touch, while primarily is Emily, Sam and new girl Mila's story but Griffin, Finley and Jasper still play a major part of the tale. Sam & Emily and Finley & Griffin finally address their feelings for one another. My personal favorite were when they had separate scenes together and the epic battle.... the use of clever tactics was just simply the most brilliant conclusion the book needed.... Ms. Cross I hope you are going to write more in this series because.... WE WANT MORE....

"Epic, Historical and Steampunk-tastically perfect"

Genre :     Historical Fantasy, Steampunk, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy


Publisher: Harlequin Teen


My Copy: Publisher and Netgalley


Rate:             5 /5 (It was Awesome)


Books in Series(review links):

         #0.5 The Strange Case of Finley Jayne

         #1 The Girl in the Steel Corset

         #2 The Girl in the Clockwork Collar

Elemental #2.5 Breathless

Its a Nick short this time.... Presenting Elemental #2.5 Breathless by Brigid Kemmerer.

Here is the summary of the book:

Too many secrets. Not enough time.

Nick Merrick is supposed to be the level-headed one. The peacemaker. Since it’s just him and his three hotheaded brothers against the world, that’s a survival tactic.

But now he’s got problems even his brothers can’t help him survive.

His so-called girlfriend, Quinn, is going quick as mercury from daring to crazy. Meanwhile, Quinn’s dancer friend Adam is throwing Nick off balance, forcing him to recognize a truth he’d rather shove back into the dark.

He can feel it—-the atmosphere is sizzling. Danger is on the way. But whatever happens next, Nick is starting to find out that sometimes nothing you do can keep the peace.

The air elemental and Gabriel's twin, Nick Merrick grazes the cover of this short story. Even the level headed ones have their own secrets...... every person has them. And Brigid Kemmerer ..... oh you brilliant woman....... she throws us a big secrets about the peacekeeper of the lot that we may never have thought possible.

 Nick is the dependable brother. The most level headed of the rowdy bunch. He can never do any wrong .... but color me surprised.... Nick is having identity issues. He is scared to tell his brother.....understandable.... still he needs to give his brothers a chance.... and I totally did not see that coming. But thats not all, Breathless shows is the shitty home life of Quinn, his girlfriend. She has an attitude but behind that is just a scared girl who wants to be accepted for who she is. And even if Nick is not attracted to Quinn, her understands her.... the dynamics of this relationship is truly a beautiful one....

"Secrets and issues..... Brigid Kemmerer gives big insights into the least known (as of yet) characters of her series"

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy


Publisher: K Teen


My Copy: Publisher and Netgalley


Rate:             5 /5 (It was Awesome)


Books in Series(review links):

         #0.5 Elemental

         #1 Storm

         #1.5 Fearless 
         #2 Spark

Elemental #2 Spark

Its red.... red means warm..... red means fire...... red means Gabriel..... Presenting Elemental #2 Spark by Brigid Kemmerer.

Here is the summary of the book:

Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally. Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can't. Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he's not doing it. And no one seems to believe him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Because Layne has a few secrets of her own...

The cover is red.... and red as far as the story points to is another HOT Merrick brother, the fire elemental this time, Gabriel. Spark pushes the story forward with Gabriel's perspective and his lady love's, Layne. Fire just like water can never be kept in bound. Even if water can be molded according to the vessel it is kept in but Fire..... you don't control this rage of nature..... tame it maybe ..... but absolute control is not possible....... In a way this describes Gabriel's fiery temper and attacking-before-asking-the-question nature perfectly.

The premise of Spark draws parallels with Storm but who cares I am partial enough to long exposures to the inner monologues of any and all the Merrick brothers and their other half's. For Gabriel and Layne, the latter proves to be a bit more of a calming presence to the rage in him, with Chris and Becca it felt they both needed the balance they so desired from their lives.... But got to say be it any brother or their girlfriends, their chemistry is enough to light us on fire *wink* (get your minds off the gutter people... i didn't mean it like that).

Spark also sees Gabriel and Hunter forming this weird friendship. Where Hunter helps Gabriel learn control over his element. It becomes clear later why Hunter was doing it, secrets were revealed and truths come out. Hearts break and trust shatters but Gabriel learns his important lesson that keeping secrets from family and loved one is detrimental to health not calming at all. Another brilliant work Ms. Kemmerer...... amazing.

"Another marvel in the series..... the Merrick brothers sure know how to make you all tingly inside"

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy


Publisher: K Teen


Rate:             5 /5 (It was Awesome)

Books in Series(review links):

         #0.5 Elemental

         #1 Storm

         #1.5 Fearless

Elemental #1.5 Fearless

Another novella..... Presenting Elemental #1.5 Fearless by Brigid Kemmerer.

Here is the summary of the book:

Being a force of nature doesn t keep you safe.Hunter Garrity is used to watching his back. The kids at school sense something different about him. And they re right.

Hunter has powers that have nothing to do with how hard he can throw a punch.

Maybe that s what Clare Kasten is picking up. She s shy, quiet, and intense, but she s sought him out. There s no telling what she wants from him.

But Hunter knows enough to sense a secret when it s close. And getting close to Clare is a danger he s ready to face.

Elemental was Mike's story, then Storm was Chris and now Fearless is Hunter's story. Chronologically placed just after Storm, this dates before Storm as this is Hunter's story before he moved to their (Merrick's) town. This is Hunter's story and his incident with Claire. Few days before the accident that killed his father and Uncle, Fearless is when Hunter gets the lesson that 'use them before they use you'.

Sick but this does explain Hunter's actions and his decisions, that he takes or will take in the following book. Fearless also explains his lack of trust in all those around him. Believable since he is a spirit elemental and spirit, the life force is way more affected in situations like these.

"Another tease but with Hunter Garrity this time"

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy


Publisher: K Teen


Rate:             4 /5 (Really Liked It)

Books in Series(review links):

         #0.5 Elemental

         #1 Storm

Elemental #1 Storm

Its fresh, its new, its hot..... Presenting Elemental #1 Storm by Brigid Kemmerer.

Here is the summary of the book:

Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys; all the ones she doesn't want. Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They're powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.

Secrets are hard to keep when your life's at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who's hiding the most dangerous truth of all.

The storm is coming.

As I said in my previous review, i.e., in the Elemental review, that I am reviewing it in the order of placement not publication. So now I move onto the first book of the series and suddenly things make much more sense around here.... Suddenly things make much more sense, about those swoon-worthy boys on the covers and this wonderful world Brigid Kemmerer created starting with Storm.

HOT! HOT! HOT! The Merrick brothers - Michael, Gabriel, Nick and Chris are so HOT. I wanna use crass words to describe what i'm feeling right now *wink**wink* but since I don't want to weird anyone out or even myself for that matter so I am resigned to using the good words YAY!!!

We started out with Michael's story in the novella, Elemental..... there it is just the beginning, we know the brothers are elementals.... pure elementals, so are a lot of people. But Storm is what explains it in details to us. What it means to control these basic building blocks of life..... what would the consequences being a pure elemental mean for them. What started this for the sake argument with the weaker elementals of town and how they cope.... and what lead them to live their loves like that.

By now there have been 5-6 books (including novellas) out and each focuses on the boy in whose perspective the book is written. With a blue cover, Storm places itself in Chris Merrick's.... HOT Chris Merrick's perspective and Becca Chandler's, his lady love. Both meet by chance when she saves him unknowingly from other elementals hassling him at school. What follows is a cat and mouse game between these two add to that the entry of new kid, Hunter Garrity making it a triangle and the ever tightening noose of the mysterious guides.... and you have yourself an epic testosterone fueled drama, that has you swooning in places.....

HOTNESS ALERT!!! HOTNESS ALERT!!! I am prepared to forget every other YA HOTTIE I have ever crushed on or lusted after in light of meeting the Merrick brothers.... storm has enough drama, secrets, stolen moments and action so much action to satisfy everybody. Brigid Kemmerer gives us the first dynamic couple on the block with Chris and Becca. Even the love triangle with Hunter feels genuine and not imposing at all. And the elemental action..... amazingly depicted... the way Chris interacts with water is just outworldly..... Stay tuned you all for my reviews of the equally hot sequels in the series....you will so not be disappointed at all.

"They saw this as the series that YA fans have been waiting for..... they are so right...."

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy


Publisher: K Teen


Rate:             5 /5 (It was Amazing)

Books in Series(review links):

         #0.5 Elemental

         

Elemental #0.5 Elemental

New series..... and some pretty hot boys grazing the covers... HOT! HOT! HOT! Presenting Elemental #0.5 Elemental by Brigid Kemmerer.

Here is the summary of the book:

Earth, Fire, Air, Water – they are more than you dream.

As an air Elemental, 17-year-old Emily Morgan doesn’t have much power. That’s okay—she knows what happens to kids who do.

Like Michael Merrick. He’s an earth Elemental, one with enough power to level cities. Which makes him sexy. Dangerous. And completely off limits. At least according to Emily’s family.

But her summer job puts her in close contact with Michael, and neither of them can help the attraction they feel. When forces of nature like theirs collide, one misstep could get someone killed. Because Emily’s family doesn’t just want her to stay away from him.

They want him dead.

Hot new series by the debutante author Brigid Kemmerer. I'll be clear before I begin about my review, since i'm starting it a little so I decided to read and review in the chronological order of numbering and not in order of publishing. So here goes nothing......

Elemental - is the story or the beginning of the story that started it all. Kemmerer whips up a rather fresh tale from something as basic as the five elements of nature. She takes the basic building blocks - Earth, Fire, Air, Water and Spirit and gives it much more than ever imagined before. This is Mike Merrick's tale and like everything it starts out peacefully but the end .....

The Eldest of the Merrick siblings, Mike is an Earth elemental - a pretty awesome connection to the Earth. Which makes him all the more appealing, sexy, hot , swoon-worthy and every other word in the category. But this level of power makes him dangerous. This is Mike starting, befriending the enemy Emily and coming to fall in love with her..... But its not as simple or as soft as a bed of roses.

Just a short story. It doesn't show the inevitable...... a tease..... A tantalizing tease.... The starter to the meal..... like a delicious appetizer..... which continues on to the first book of the series, Storm.

"A marvelous tease by Brigid Kemmerer"

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy


Publisher: K Teen


Rate:             4 /5 (Really Liked It)

Doctor Who Vol 1: Prisoner of Time

The longest running television show..... approaching its 50th anniversary and to make the journey more interesting we are being treated to some pretty cool stuffs on the way. Presenting Doctor Who Vol 1: Prisoner of Time by David Tipton, Simon Fraser (Artist), Scott Tipton, Lee Sullivan (Artist).

Here is the summary of the book:

November 23, 1963: A day that changed the world forever.

That day saw the broadcast debut of Doctor Who, which was to become the longest-running science fiction series on television.

And now, 50 years later, we pay tribute to one of the greatest pop-culture heroes of all time with this special series, which tells an epic adventure featuring all 11 incarnations of the intrepid traveler through time and space known simply as... the Doctor.

"It always begins with the same two words.......Doctor Who..." 50th Anniversary coming up on 23rd November, 2013 and as we approach the date, we are as in the Whovian fandom is being with some rich quality treats for the way. This series is part of this endeavor by IDW Publishing.

Pretty interesting background. Since this is the first volume in the series, so we see the first three Doctors (William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee) each with their own adventures in three different chapters. Each is connected to the story somehow but it is yet not clear as to what since this only the first edition.

The artwork is standard comic styled illustration but the renditions of the Doctors and companions is very well done. The first grandfatherly one, the second weird one and the third James Bond one, all coming alive in all their glory within these pages. I admit I began watching from Chris Eccleston's episodes so I am yet a but clueless about the classic ones..... catching on fast though...... done with the first Doctor now and going through the second one now.... Oh I can't wait for the anniversary episode.... its going to be an excruciating wait. 

"Marvelous treat to the upcoming much awaited Doctor Who 50th Anniversary episode"

Genre :      Graphic Novel, Tie-in


Publisher: IDW Publishing


My Copy:  Publisher and netgalley


Rate:              3/5 (Liked It)

The Faerie Ring #2 The Torn Wing

Historical fantasy, Irish lore and abound in history and mythology. Presenting The Faerie Ring #2 The Torn Wing by Kiki Hamilton.

Here is the summary of the book:

London 1872 -

A bloody escape, a deadly threat, a shocking revelation...

As an orphan who stole the Queen's ring - only to find the ring was a reservoir that held a truce between the world of Faerie and the British Court - Tiki’s greatest fear suddenly becomes all too real: the fey have returned to London seeking revenge. As war escalates in the Otherworld, Queen Victoria’s youngest son, Prince Leopold, is attacked. In order to protect her family and those she loves, Tiki needs to know the meaning of an fáinne sí, the birthmark that winds around her wrist. But will she be brave enough to face the truth?

Kiki Hamilton delves a little deeper into her creation with this book. There is a lot more drama, suspense, a sinister plot abound, lore, hunt of the truth and lot more developing forlorn looks of longing and love. The business with the Ring may have been over but fresh dangers are about and what the Unseelie Court wants does not exactly bode well with the rest of the world.

And Tiki is right in the middle of it. In The Faerie Ring, we found out that Tiki is the only living descendant of the long lost fae monarchy. And Tiki and Rieker must do everything not only just to save the peace with the fae but to prevent the Unseelie King from taking over London and wreaking havoc in the mundane world as well.

Under Hamilton's penmanship, we visit the 1800s London again, of old world monarchs, of masquerade balls and of the nether world in all its sheer brilliance. Tiki's character shows much more development this time. Sha has finally found a place to call home, all the kids she is looking after are well looked after. She is much more resolved to see that no harm comes to her loved ones. Her feelings for Rieker grows day-by-day ..... burning a slow track with us. Ms. Kiki sure knows how to tease us poor readers, giving out the candy but not the dessert. Life is an adventure in its own right and Kiki Hamilton has successfully taken us on the second stage of this journey with the promise of more.

"Entrancing, Adventurous and the sheer brilliance of will, The Torn Wing promises everything and delivers just the same"

Genre :     Historical Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult


Publisher: Fair Wind Books


Rate:             5 /5 (It was Amazing)

Books in Series(review links):

         #1 The Faerie Ring

         

The Split Worlds #1 Between Two Thorns

Don't know how to put it in words but I didn't like it very much.... i was okay but it didn't hold my interest. Presenting The Split Worlds #1 Between Two Thorns by Emma Newman.

Here is the summary of the book:

Something is wrong in Aquae Sulis, Bath’s secret mirror city.

The new season is starting and the Master of Ceremonies is missing. Max, an Arbiter of the Split Worlds Treaty, is assigned with the task of finding him with no one to help but a dislocated soul and a mad sorcerer.

There is a witness but his memories have been bound by magical chains only the enemy can break. A rebellious woman trying to escape her family may prove to be the ally Max needs.

But can she be trusted? And why does she want to give up eternal youth and the life of privilege she’s been born into?

An okay book with an interesting premise. A clash of outlining a plot and the executing a plot. Newman's tale divides the world into two parts, the Fae world and the mundane world, Exilium and Mundanus. Pretty slick there. Using it to visualize the Fae world as a mirror one to our own. Again pretty slick. Creating Fae worlds who control the different immortal families as patrons. Prettty cool. Even the characters are pretty well made.

But all things considered, the one place Newman's tale downsizes, is balance. There is no visible balance between the elements of the book. How they coordinate and how they execute it all goes downhill over there. I have no quarrel with any point of the book but somehow it didn't have the appeal that I was expecting from the cover as well as the synopsis.

Each character plays its own role in this. Cathy, Lord Poppy, Maz, William.... they all play their part but in a way what they are doing doesn't go at all with the story. Even it felt like there was no distinction between the way the mundanes think and those of the immortals. Seriously I wanted to like this book...... its interesting enough..... but I just couldn't get into it.

"Between Two Thorns seriously needs to get over the thorns in between...... An overhaul required"

Genre :      Young Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy


Publisher: Angry Robot


My Copy:  Publisher and netgalley


Rate:              2/5 (It was Ok)

Project Paper Doll #1 The Rules

I requested this on netgalley purely because of the cover, and because of its mysterious synopsis..... and I totally did not regret it. Presenting Project Paper Doll #1 The Rules by Stacey Kade.

Here is the summary of the book:

1. Never trust anyone.

2. Remember they are always searching.

3. Don’t get involved.

4. Keep your head down.

5. Don’t fall in love.

Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane’s survival—and that of her adoptive father—depends on her ability to blend in among the full-blooded humans in a small Wisconsin town, to hide in plain sight at her high school from those who seek to recover their lost (and expensive) “project.”

But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief’s son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane finds the attention frightening—and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules…

Rules are meant to be broken. Rules are what sets your life straight. Two lines that describe Stacey Kade's The Rules rather perfectly in my opinion. I have not read any of Kade's books before so this is a first for me and I liked it. The plot is pretty, the scene maybe old but it is very refreshing and there is enough romance, action and suspense to keep everyone happy.

Rules are what Ariane Tucker must follow in order to spend life in anonymity. Rules are what are keeping her and her father (who is not really her father) safe. Escapee of a secret government research project, Ariane has always had to make do with five simple and very important rules - Never trust anyone, Remember they are always searching, Don't get involved, Keep your head down and Don't fall in love. But these rules be damned, as the GTX tightens its noose around her, another distraction comes around in the form of Zane Bradshaw and suddenly every careful planning comes undone.....

The characters were very well crafted and the plot very well conditioned. Ariane's character was very well made. She is a government experiment, she is some who gets into a lot of trouble for speaking her mind, but most of all she is scared that somehow her secret would be known and then she would be back in her cage. Zane is the equally handsome boy toy. What began just for payback evolves into something so beautiful with him and Ariane....... for me that was the highlight of the book. And i want the sequel soon. We don't know as of yet what is going to be title of the next book but i'm totally excited.

"The Rules is one refreshing, heartwarming, heart-wrenching and action packed tale"

Genre :      Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Sci-fi


Publisher: Disney-Hyperion


My Copy:  Publisher and netgalley


Rate:              5/5 (It was Awesome)

Blood of Eden #2 The Eternity Cure

Blood calls to blood and it just keeps getting stronger.....  Presenting Blood of Eden #2 The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa.

Here is the summary of the book:

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

What do you want me to say that others already haven't!!! Julie Kagawa you are bloody brilliant. There is nothing imperfect about this tale at all. Kagawa wowed us first with her bestseller Iron Fey series (which still continues with its brilliance) then she forays into the vampire lore, adds post-apocalyptic dystopian to the mix and brings us vampires in their original glory, which I'm pretty thankful for. Beginning with the Immortal Rules, the journey gets even more hair-raising in this second installment, The Eternity Cure.

There is something pretty appealing about the notion of the 'call of the blood' or even that of  'blood is thicker than water'. People (and i'm including supernaturals too in that quota) tend to stick closer to or are impartial to blood relatives rather than to friends. Although even that can be contradictory in itself but it gets the concrete feel when its vampire blood involved. This is where the story begins Allison leaves Ethan and his group in Eden and sets out to find and rescue her sire Kanin, who she realizes has been captured and tortured repeatedly by the psychopath Sarren. Making usual allies along the way and braving the storm of danger coming everywhere around her.

One of the best things about this book was the brother-sister relationship between Jackal and Allison. Both are sired from Kanin, so both are looking for him and they joined forces for it. Jackal is sharp as a hot needle and snarky as the devil. He knows how to press someone's buttons to the point of no return and likes to make dirty jokes. Allison on the other hand is the strong-willed, determined heroine who fights tooth and nail to get what she sets out to do.

Come to think of it, in a way both Jackal and Allie are pretty much similar to each other.... well according to Jackal they are. And even if they are polar opposites and hold opposite ends of the stick when dealing with each other they are united in their goal. To save Kanin. Somehow the dynamics of their sibling relationship reminds us of two hot headed vampire brothers of CW.... (you can all totally guess that one i'm sure) but completely different topic. Still it is refreshing the dynamics is. Jackal totally adapted to the norm of a blood sucker - no regrets about the kill, be sure to keep his head in the game, manipulative and unpredictable. Allie on the other hand still got both legs on both boats = one in the humanity and other in vampirism. Rational and still possessing the ability to love and choose for herself........ her and Ethan are totally corny in that area but who cares, it balances the darker elements of the book perfectly.



I read this way before the release of this book but only now posting my review. I just couldn't find the words to describe the perfection this book is. Julie Kagawa knows how to deliver. Impeccable, suave, dystopic; the setting, the plot, the characters, the action, everything was amazing. Well balanced. And i'd go as far as to say that Kagawa really had me gobsmacked.... "you are terrible....... first you make us cry and then throw a bone like that at the end of the book"..... *seriously* that is the reason why we love you so much, you know how to keep the plot alive (a quality that an author needs very much) ....... Gimme 'The Forever Song' soon please, I can't wait.......

"Enthralling, Shocking, Compelling and sinister acts abound.... oh just perfection..... utter perfection"

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopia


Publisher: Harlequin Teen


Rate:             5 /5 (It was Amazing)

Books in Series(review links):

         #1 The Immortal Rules

Other Books by the Author(review links):

         The Iron Fey & Call of the Forgotten(series)

Alternate Covers of the book:

As far as the redesigned covers go while the new ones do suit the dystopia theme, i like the UK and Australian covers much better than the lot.

Australian Cover

UK Cover

The Sweetest Dark #1 The Sweetest Dark

A historical fantasy through the dark period of Europe..... fascinating. Presenting The Sweetest Dark #1 The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe.

Here is the summary of the book:

Lora Jones has always known that she’s different. On the outside, she appears to be an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of secrets: She hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside her that insists she’s far more than what she seems.

England, 1915. Raised in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. Then, much to her surprise, she is selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie, gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.

Jesse is the school’s groundskeeper—a beautiful boy who recognizes Lora for who and what she truly is. Armand is a darkly handsome and arrogant aristocrat who harbors a few closely guarded secrets of his own. Both hold the answers to her past. One is the key to her future. And both will aim to win her heart. As danger descends upon Iverson, Lora must harness the powers she’s only just begun to understand, or else lose everything she dearly loves.

Filled with lush atmosphere, thrilling romance, and ancient magic, The Sweetest Dark brilliantly captures a rich historical era while unfolding an enchanting love story that defies time.

Elegantly written and beautifully crafted. Breadth takingly detailed. 1915 circa England, the year of the first great world war. Picturesque landscapes of English countryside and elegance of the days of old. But the mirror world is what we miss out on if we don't look hard enough and it is in this world that our tale begins.... of the legacy of the ancient creatures of old, the Drakon (Dragons i.e.).

A paranormal romance. A love triangle of sorts, Lora, Jesse and Armand form the crux of the tale. These two polar opposite males enter Lora's life when she comes to Iverson as a scholarship student. Once is shy and passionate Jesse and the other, the rich aristocrat Armand. This is the tale of self-discoveries and committing the most dangerous of all sins in this sweetest dark amidst the air-raids, bombings, of the mysterious wailing in the air and of touching romance that surprised us since we came across it within the pages. Don't get me wrong there is danger too and the sword cutting almost at the edge that makes it all the more perfect and very light read.

This is my first Shana Abe read and I admit I was a little confused at the beginning of the tale. Only to figure out later that this somewhat follows Abe's another bestseller series 'Drakon', well definitely some chapters but as the clueless, I tried to make sense of Rue and almost everything else. The three protagonists are brilliantly written. Lora makes for a fantastic heroine and her chemistry with both Jesse and Armand was simply off the charts. And while Lora and Jesse's romantic sojourn come as a big change from the norm that i'm used to so I slowly adapted to it with the shocking demise of one of the characters to rock the boat. I am definitely excited to see where it goes from there in the Deepest Night.

"An enchantress of a tale.....Refreshingly new and Elegantly beautiful"

Genre :      Young Adult, Historical Fantasy, Paranormal Romance


Publisher: Bantam


My Copy:  Publisher and netgalley


Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Warm Bodies #1 Warm Bodies

Marvelous...... Brilliant..... I didn't know whether to laugh at the hilarity of the situation or cringe at the habits of a zombie. Presenting Warm Bodies #1 Warm Bodies by Issac Marion.

Here is the summary of the book:

R is a young man with an existential crisis--he is a zombie. He shuffles through an America destroyed by war, social collapse, and the mindless hunger of his undead comrades, but he craves something more than blood and brains. He can speak just a few grunted syllables, but his inner life is deep, full of wonder and longing. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse. Just dreams.

After experiencing a teenage boy's memories while consuming his brain, R makes an unexpected choice that begins a tense, awkward, and strangely sweet relationship with the victim's human girlfriend. Julie is a burst of vibrant color in the otherwise dreary and gray landscape that R lives in. His decision to protect her will transform not only R, but his fellow Dead, and perhaps their whole lifeless world...

Scary, funny, and surprisingly poignant, Warm Bodies is about being alive, being dead and the blurry line in between.

I'm a skeptic when it comes to these two brand words "zombie" and "romance", a not so new sub-genre, I have read a few books in this genre but Warm Bodies felt warm..... in a bloody amazing way, a u-turn for me..... Oh! WHO AM I KIDDING I'M READING THIS BOOK WAY AFTER THE RELEASE OF THE MOVIE..... I HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET BUT THE TRAILER INTERESTED ME (i'm waiting for the dvd/blueray release).... so I thought why not check the original text after all books are way better than the screen adaptations....And my prediction....... F****** AMAZING.....

R is the protagonist of the tale. And he is a human chewing zombie in the post apocalyptic world. The reader sees this world through the eyes of this "still in the early stages of decay" zombie. Reading how these zombies love, being lorded over by the even uglier and skeletal Boney's, eating human brains to sustain themselves..... the warm and pulsing Homo sapien brain and the warm read blood pumping through the veins...... sounds tasty doesn't it (yup i said it with a straight face not cringing at all) to a zombie perhaps and disgusting to us readers but somehow makes you appreciate that we are quite different (even with all the short comings).

What we see about 'R' is that he is different from the other zombies, he gnaws at the human cerebrum but his motif is to relieve memories of his victims with each savory bite.... glimpses into their lives. But it all changes when he eats his next victim Perry and his impulsive desire to save his girlfriend Julie. Therein begins this sweet journey of self discovery and a sweet evolving love between a zombie and a human.... helped along by some pretty kick-ass and slick action. Suffice it to say Warm Bodies is a warm zombie romance and new in its own right.

A sensitive love story..... Dry humor abound, Issac Marion has done the impossible and made us appreciate our humanity and produces brain chewing zombies who have the ability to amuse us with those creeptastic one-liners and feel for them. Action packed too for those looking ahead of the moral stuffs, human hunting zombies....zombie hunting and eating the humans. While this book is the first in the series and there is more to come so I have no problem with the ending.... its surreal this new world they need to brave and I have to say I'm pretty excited for what Marion chugs towards us with his next book..... and God so excited for this movie now that I know what I'm actually dealing with here.... happy eating  nom.....nom....

"Interesting and moralistic.... Isaac Marion spins a post apocalyptic zombie romance that has us laughing at  all the creepy lines and see this brave new world from the eyes of a zombie, whose default action is to chomp on the braaaaaiiiiiin .... nom nom"

Genre :     Young Adult, Post-Apocalyptic, Paranormal Romance


Publisher: Atria


Rate:             5 /5 (It was Amazing)

Night School #1 Night School

While the cover may speak otherwise... this is definitely not of a paranormal genre but a contemporary suspense/thriller. Presenting Night School #1 Night School by C.J. Daugherty.

Here is the summary of the book:

Allie's world is falling apart...

She hates her school. Her brother has run away. And she's just been arrested.

Again.

Now her parents are sending her away to a boarding school where she doesn't know a soul.

But instead of hating her new school, Allie finds she's happy there. She's making friends. And then there's Sylvain, a suave French student who openly flirts with her. And Carter, the brooding loner who seems to have her back.

Soon, though, Allie discovers Cimmeria Academy is no ordinary school. Nothing there is as it seems. And her new friends are hiding dangerous secrets.

Covers can go a long way in establishing a general sense of the book, as to what the reader should expect reading it. The cover of this book does that rather nicely and to an extent confuses the reader too. It is clear that the book is going to have mystery, suspense and a certain amount of thriller too but it also gives the impression that this is a paranormal story enough for readers to categorize it as such which is definitely not true. 

Well on with the story..... there is a definite amount of mystery in the air and the author manages to successfully put a tight lid to it throughout only gradually and slowly letting the cat out of the bag. Allison comes to Cimmeria Academy after her school tint in vandalizing and destroying school property and pretty much hanging in the wrong crowd. There she catches the attention of (excuse my language) two hot pieces of male anatomy, Sylvain and Carter. And while she seems to adjust rather nicely to the school making new friends but the school still is shrouded in a thicket of mystery. But the enemies are moving in as we speak and it won't be long before Allison finds out the secret of her family, of her legacy and of Night School.

A good introduction to the series. Mysterious and suspenseful to the end. And its not just the school but its inhabitants too who retain a certain degree of anonymity to themselves. But most of all I liked Cimmeria, its old and ancient architecture and mysterious hallways and arks. C.J. Daugherty's way of beginning the story of this school was brilliant and truly commendable but it was still a bit slow and that could have been corrected. I am very much on the wagon to check out the next ones in the series.

"Thrill of the chase - Thrill of the unknown..... C.J. Daugherty has brought about a tantalizing mystery for us to solve"

Genre :      Young Adult, Contemporary, Suspense, Mystery, Thriller


Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books


My Copy:  Publisher and edelweiss


Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Parallel

Contemporary and sci-fi rolled into one.... a worthy check out don't you think..... Presenting Parallel by Lauren Miller.

Here is the summary of the book:

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.

Book with the brains to support and such a beautiful cover to boot too. By and large a contemporary with the major branch of sci-fi and sometimes philosophical twists that play a tug-of-war of balance throughout this book. Parallel dimensions and its existence & the idea of 'destiny' and 'fate' are highly layered and play a major part in the life of the characters. This book has the potentials of being a great read..... thats guaranteed for sure.

When scientists ponder about and lay out all those complex equations to calculate such matter.... as a student  of science and a certified geek I am. i have a mind to spout out all of that ....fairly all those complex theories and statistics related to time and matter of past, present and future.... but I will loose  readers halfway and the sole purpose of the review will be dead..... so carrying on..... Time is a non-linear affair..... there is enough truth in the travels of that blue police box (*wink*) to know that one single change of decision at present can spark a whole new future. And I believe that parallel dimensions do exists depicting that said change between here and there (wonder what my parallel self would be like *sighs*).

And sometimes these parallel dimensions can collide joining together where the decisions made "there" super-imposes the ones made "here" and you wouldn't even know the difference. Although that's where the story begins. This is the story of Abby Barnes who  by fluke or what, remembers every decisions she takes "there" and tries to understand what all this means with the help of her friend Caitlin. Trying to do everything to get out of the shadow of her parallel self and get her life back to the way it was back on the Hollywood scene and not in a dorm at Yale.

Come to think there is very little, I would almost say that 3% of sci-fi is in this book. Propelling the contemporary along. Smart choice and brilliant thinking by author Lauren Miller. Even the chapters are skillfully labelled "here" and "there" to alternate the two worlds. It actually took me sometimes to get around it and get used to the brilliance of it..... and I did end up enjoying it very much. Abby and Caitlin were pretty much the only constant characters throughout, strong, determined, fragile, ready to jump the problem and make a difference, fitting the decisions of their parallel selves together..... pretty much everyday tale spiked with a hint of science fiction.

I did like the fact that they did not give in to their parallel selves' decisions and worked to retain their own life and damn well achieving it with Earth-shattering-star-blazing results. Good piece of writing...and it is my humble request that you guys give this book by the amazing Lauren Miller a chance.... I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

"Its exciting, a certain level of uncertainty and of decisions of cosmic consequences...... Lauren Miller has produced a fresh of the mill tale that is sure to entice you in its many folds"

Genre :      Young Adult, Contemporary, Sci-fi


Publisher: HarperTeen


My Copy:  Publisher and edelweiss


Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

The Infernal Devices #3 Clockwork Princess

*sighs* This is a fitting end .... a good end a marvelous end *sighs* ......... oh why did it end...... Presenting The Infernal Devices #3 Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare.

Here is the summary of the book:

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy. 

Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy?
Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute.
A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.

Perfection. Utter Perfection. Cassandra Clare you are a genius. Truly exciting. Dramatic. Romantic. Tragic. A full circle completed......... oh! I'm so happy....yet still so sad. Everyone was here. Every character got to play a huge part in this stunning book and in a way every character got their own happy ending. Tessa, Jem, Will, Charlotte, Henry, Sophie, Gideon, Gabriel, Cecily, Magnus and every other character here.....simply brilliant. I'll try to keep it spoiler free (but feels kinda pointless since i'm reviewing it way later than when i read it but i'll try) but my track record squealing over these books has not been the cleanest so i'll try for those who have yet to read it.... no promises though... 

Only good things for this book. I say only good things because I didn't actually find anything bad at all.....and I never would. Honestly what do you expect...... It was PERFECT. You will laugh, you will bawl your eyes out, you will swoon, you will sit on the edge of your seat trying to predict the next course of action and you will simply marvel at the way Ms. Clare will handle things her way.

Perfection in every sense, Clare really developed her characters throughout the books. What they once were during Clockwork Angel or Clockwork Prince, they don't remain such. Some have grown, some have matured, some stayed the same but switched roles. The true sense of the term Parabatai is beautifully laid out here. Strong enough for Jem and Will to have switched roles than what they were in the previous books. 

Tessa also grew beautifully into her character, much more sure, much more braver. I'm rather envious (we all would be) of her. She gets not one but two true loves. We had been contemplating the everyday cliche for the trio.... but as another surprising twist, the author gives us a conclusion to the problem we may never have thought possible. The trio loved each other equally. Their moments together, simple gestures of love and trust, every stolen moments, those swoon-worthy glances and their all-pervasive love. That was what made them Tessa, Jem and Will.

And if that's not all, Clare finally unveils all the secrets she had been sneakily *wink* hiding from us. By the end of it all you finally get to appreciate why the characters some of those decisions they committed before and you gain a new found appreciation for them.

The final battle and the Epilogue. Graceful, deadly, and enlightening. Truths were revealed, rash decisions were made and some weird (in a good way) things happened and swear to God it was bloody brilliant. The Epilogue just couldn't have been more perfect. I cried..... yes I knew this series was over, and yes there are going to be other series in this world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders but you know what I mean. It connected all the loose ends..... I'm truly thankful to Cassandra Clare for creating such an amazing series that doesn't need any explanation whatsoever. Thank you Cassie Clare..........you brilliant you.......

(I'm very excited for the City of Bones movie....can't wait for it...... and I also heard that they were turning the Infernal Devices into movies as well...... OMG SO EXCITED)

"A Perfect conclusion to the Infernal Devices.....it couldn't get any better than this"

Genre :     Historical Fantasy, Steampunk, Paranormal, Young Adult


Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry


Rate:             5 /5 (It was Amazing)

Books in Series(review links):

         #1 Clockwork Angel

         #2 Clockwork Prince

Other Books by the Author(review links):

         The Mortal Instruments(series)

No Strings Attached GIVEAWAY HOP

No Strings Attached Giveaway Hop

May 21st – 27th

RULES : 

1. There will be only One Winner (subjected to change). 

2. Winner will be informed via email and *must* reply within 48 hours else I won't have a choice but to select another winner. 

3. All entries would be verified. 

4. Just fill in the rafflecopter below :

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Spring Fling GIVEAWAY HOP

Spring Fling Giveaway Hop

May 1st – 7th

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Eve’s Fan Garden

RULES : 

1. There will be only One Winner (subjected to change). 

2. Winner will be informed via email and *must* reply within 48 hours else I won't have a choice but to select another winner. 

3. All entries would be verified. 

4. Just fill in the rafflecopter below :

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