WAITING ON WEDNESDAY

Hey there, "Waiting on Wednesday" is a meme hosted over at Breaking the Spine, featuring those books that you wish were out. Right. This. Second.

My WOWs this week are: the 4th installment in the Darkest London series.  I'm such a fan!!  Can't wait to read Jack Talent and Mary Chase's story :).  And an amazing book I saw last week on another blog (thanks, Readdicts!).

Goodreads summary:

Once a heart is lost in shadow...

Life has been anything but kind to Mary Chase. But the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals has given her purpose. Now she's been tasked with catching a vicious murderer dubbed the Bishop of Charing Cross. But someone is already on the case—and the last thing he relishes is a partner.

Only someone who lives in darkness can find it.

Jack Talent has been alone with his demons for many years. He never expected to have the willful Mary Chase assist him on the Bishop case. Their age-old rivalry reaches new heights—even as their desire for one another reaches a fever pitch. Though he aches to bring her close, Jack's dark secrets are a chasm between them. With dangerous enemies closing in, Jack must find the strength to face the past...or risk losing Mary forever.

Goodreads summary:

I want someone who will talk to me honestly about things. You're the only person who ever has. Maybe you don't know this, but when you're disabled almost no one tells you the truth. They feel too awkward because the truth seems too sad, I guess. You were very brave to walk up to the crippled girl and say, essentially, wipe that sunny expression off your face and look at reality. That's what I want you to do next year. Tell me the truth. That's all.

Amy and Matthew didn't know each other, really. They weren't friends. Matthew remembered her, sure, but he remembered a lot of people from elementary school that he wasn't friends with now.

Matthew never planned to tell Amy what he thought of her cheerful facade, but after he does, Amy realizes she needs someone like him in her life.

As they begin to spend more time with each other, Amy learns that Matthew has his own secrets and she decides to try to help him in the same way he's helped her. And when what started out as a friendship turns into something neither of them expected, they realize that they tell each other everything—except the one thing that matters most.

So, these are the 2 books I'm waiting on--how about you? :-)

Hope you're having a great week,

Ninja Girl

CROWN OF MIDNIGHT by Sarah J. Maas

Oh my, oh my, oh my!!  Adarlan's most kick butt assassin is back with a vengeance.  In Crown of Midnight, Celaena Sardothien reminds us exactly how she earned her title, and everything--the danger, the romance, the mystery, the kicka**ery--is turned up about 100 notches.

Honestly, I've been a fan of Maas's work since Throne of Glass, the amazing introduction to Celaena's cutthroat world.  But this book just took it to a whole other level!

In book 2, we find Adarlan exactly how we left it.

--Crazy, power-hungry king determined to keep Adarlan and its people under his thumb

--Dorian/Caleana/Chaol love triangle still unsettled (see: angst/confusion/who-will-it-be?)

--Danger (and magic) lurking behind every corner and everyone hiding their own secrets.

The main difference: Caleana is now the king's Champion.  That means she's in charge of carrying out his dirty work, including using her assassin-y mojo to dispose of anyone the king deems a traitor.  But our girl isn't very good with following orders--which is one of the many reasons why we love her J.

From beginning to end, Caleana blew me away.  Her bravery, just her overall independent attitude was spot on.  She's fierce.  She's ruthless.  And she's got the skills to take down her enemies and protect the people she loves.

There were 2 particularly awesome scenes where we get to see Caleana let loose.  One was the memory of her almost-escape from Endovier.   Sometimes memories can slow down the action, but this one only enriched the story.  Caleana went off on those cruel guards, cutting them down with a fierceness I always knew was in her.

Then there was Chaol's kidnapping.  That scene was just too good!!  I can't do it justice.  Again she goes to the quiet place in her head, a place where only her goal matters and anyone who stands in her way…well.  Let's just say, they won't be standing long.  Here's one of my fave quotes from that scene:

"Enough! We have enough enemies as it is! There are worse things out there to face!"

Celaena slowly turned to him, her face splattered with blood and eyes blazing bright. "No, there aren't," she said. "Because I'm here now."

Another great part: The Romance.  The triangle is finally put to rest.  No. I'm not going to ruin it, but…she made the right choice J.  Ninja happy dance, much love to Sarah J. Maas, thank-you-thank-you for letting our girl choose the right fella.  YAY!!

Okay, finished fangirling.

The best thing to me was that Crown totally lived up to the promise in book 1.  Everything that made me love the series was built upon and made even more fantastic/intriguing in book 2.  I'd definitely recommend to anyone who loves epic fantasy with a healthy dose of romance, mystery, and assassin-y goodness. 

Happy reading,

Ninja Girl

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY

 

Hey there, "Waiting on Wednesday" is a meme hosted over at Breaking the Spine, featuring those books that you wish were out. Right. This. Second.

Won't be out until 2014.  This one sounds crazy good!

 

Goodreads summary:

Bones meets Fringe in a big, dark, scary, brilliantly-plotted urban thriller that will leave you guessing until the very end.

Nearly Boswell knows how to keep secrets. Living in a DC trailer park, she knows better than to share anything that would make her a target with her classmates. Like her mother's job as an exotic dancer, her obsession with the personal ads, and especially the emotions she can taste when she brushes against someone's skin. But when a serial killer goes on a killing spree and starts attacking students, leaving cryptic ads in the newspaper that only Nearly can decipher, she confides in the one person she shouldn't trust: the new guy at school—a reformed bad boy working undercover for the police, doing surveillance. . . on her.

Nearly might be the one person who can put all the clues together, and if she doesn't figure it all out soon—she'll be next.

It reminds me of Brenna Yovanoff's Paper Valentine--which I loved!  Can't wait till this one comes out.

Have a great week,

Ninja Girl

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: Sequels by Sarahs!!

 

Hey there, "Waiting on Wednesday" is a meme hosted over at Breaking the Spine, featuring those books that you wish were out. Right. This. Second.

This week I'm featuring 2 fantastic sequels--both of which happen to be written by a different Sarah lol :-).

 

This book has AWESOME written all over it.  Sequels rock.  Yay Team Chaol!!!

 

Goodreads summary:

 

An assassin’s loyalties are always in doubt.  But her heart never wavers.

After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.

Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king's bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice.

Where do the assassin’s loyalties lie, and who is she most willing to fight for?

 

 

And this one sounds like it could potentially break my ninja heart.  Kami & Jared must end up together.  Period.  Or I will lose all faith in humanity.  Do the right thing, Ms. Brennan!  *resorts to groveling* Pretty please... o_o

 

Goodreads summary:

 

Free from bonds, but not each other

It’s time to choose sides… On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy English town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission in order to kill for blood and power. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob Lynburn is gathering sorcerers so that the town can return to the old ways.

But Rob and his followers aren’t the only sorcerers in town. A decision must be made: pay the blood sacrifice, or fight. For Kami, this means more than just choosing between good and evil. With her link to Jared Lynburn severed, she’s now free to love anyone she chooses. But who should that be?

 

Have a great week!!

 

Ninja Girl



THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER by Megan Sheperd

This book had a lot of things going for it.  First, the eye candy! The blood red font, the girl's ghostly pallor and the swampy/muted background hint at Juliet's dark world.  Titles like this intrigue me.  I immediately wanted to know more about the madman and his daughter.  And, of course, I was sold by the mention of Montgomery.  A boy from Juliet's past who is now--and always was--her crazy father's servant?  Montgomery who now--and always has--had a place in Juliet's heart?  Yes, please.  Sign me up!

So, parts I loved: 

1)  The Gothic tone.  There was a constant chill/mystery/threat in this story, and I appreciate Sheperd's ability to create suspense.  Not everyone pulls this off as effortlessly or as completely as she did.

2)  Juliet.  Her voice was perfect.  She was flawed, curious, reckless and brave.  Juliet's struggle (internal and external) is what made this book so interesting.

3)  Edward aka the mysterious castaway.  Honestly, after reading the summary, I had it in my head that I was a Montgomery girl.  Period.  But the book didn't truly pick up for me until Edward was found (fyi page 77)--half-dead, adrift at sea, clinging to life, hand clutched around a faded picture of...?

4)  The romance.  Wow.  I liked how Juliet wasn't afraid to want--and I also liked that Sheperd made it difficult to choose between the two guys.  Again, in most books, I know who I'm for instantly.  But this one…I liked both love interests, and Sheperd didn't try to sway me.

5)  Jaguar, Jaguar, Jaguar!  In it all of two seconds, BUT he reminded me of Jaqen H'ghar from Game of Thrones.  Don't know why, but a GoT reference is never a bad thing J.

Parts I didn't love:

1)  The cruelty to animals.  I should've expected this.  It says so right in the description for goodness sakes: Dr. Moreau experiments on animals, and he's freaking crazy.  But yeah, I'm a big animal lover (P.S. Never go see animal movies.  They always end badly!).  So those parts really upset me--which I think they were supposed to.

2)  Juliet's prejudice against the islanders/her father's creations.

3)  The ending and the fact that it's not standalone.  This is a personal preference.  I think the book would've been great as a standalone.  Although I'm all about the HEA, I liked (and loathed) how this one ended.

This one was tough at times for me b/c of the animal experiments, but it was a well-told story.  The mystery was excellent.  The twisty turns in the book were unexpected and kept me guessing.  I liked this story, and I think it was an exceptional debut.  Very evocative, very intense.

Anyone else read The Madman's Daughter?  As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading,

Ninja Girl

PAPER VALENTINE by Brenna Yovanoff

The book had such a creepy, dangerous atmosphere to it.  The tone and writing kept me enthralled throughout.  There was a menace running around Ludlow killing innocent girls, and I couldn't wait for Hannah to solve the mystery.  Paper Valentine was addictive, and I sped through the pages.

What really got me, though, were the well-drawn characters: Hannah, Finny Boone, Lillian, Ariel and Pinky, Angelie, Hannah's protective mother.  By the end of the book, I knew them all.

I could see each of them in my head.  I saw Hannah in her beautiful, crafty dresses that hid a complex girl with complex problems--not the least of which is a dead best friend/ghost who follows her around, offering snarky remarks.  Lillian, the ghost BFF, was one of my favorite parts.  She was Hannah's friend and yet…she was also a manipulative mean girl.  It was interesting how likable and unlikable she could be.  Another complex character--which made her all the more real. 

And if you want a hero with real problems and hang-ups and real heart, let me introduce you to Finny Boone J.

I can't believe I've never read anything by Yovanoff before.  She introduced me to a new type of love interest.  Before I go on about how much I loved Finny, let me say that I know there've been delinquents in YA books.  I know there have been bad boys with hearts of gold.  But Yovanoff broke the mold with this one.

Here's why: Finny Boone--besides having an AWESOME name--was the exact opposite of what we girls are supposed to want.

His looks are big and thuggish, kinda scary.  He almost always wears a threadbare white tank and has do-it-yourself peroxide blond hair.  He's missing a pinky finger on one hand.  He steals lighters from the gas station.  He's in the "slow classes."  By all appearances, he's big, mean, and stupid.

But here's the thing: Finny Boone is a contradiction.  When Hannah's bracelet is stolen by one of his friends, Finny gets it back for her.  When Hannah's having a bad day, he grabs the guy teasing her by the neck and tells him to back off.  When Hannah scrapes her knee, Finny picks out the glass and cleans the wound himself.    He's thoughtful, kind, and protective.  Finny Boone is actually everything a girl could want.

Several times in the book, other characters call him names like "retard," one even openly accuses him of being the serial killer.  Lillian is constantly warning Hannah off, but, thankfully, she doesn't listen.  You've got to love a main character who can think for herself.

I'd recommend this book for sure and not just b/c of Hannah or Finny.  (But seriously, you should read it just for him)  I've included the summary below.  If you want a heart-pounding mystery with creepy clues, a heroine with a spine of steel, and a hero who's as unique as his name, read Paper Valentine.

Happy reading,

Ninja Girl

Jacket summary: The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, the birds are dying, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls.

Hanna's best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can it when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders linked only by a paper valentine? Hannah can hardly begin to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.

With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realizes that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life—and it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again.

UNSPOKEN by Sarah Rees Brennan

Can we talk about the cover? *___*  It's even more gorgeous in person.  The background is this beautiful scarlet that fades in the center and darkens again near the bottom.  The title and leaves are bright gold, the gate and vines inky black.  Whimsical, dramatic, romantical (yes, I went there J).

Luckily, the story totally matches up to the jacket.

Unspoken centers around Kami and the imaginary boy in her head.  She's comfortable with Jared, has gotten used to the way their feelings tangle and is unwilling to give him up--even if it makes people look at her funny.  But when the mysterious Lynburns return, Kami gets a shock.  Jared is real.  He knows everything about her.  And she's not sure how to feel about it.

The mystery surrounding the Lynburns (what they are, how Kami and Jared's connection came to be, etc.) is icing on the cake.  The real heart of this story is character and a fantastic concept.  Imagine being mentally linked to another person.  I've seen this done before, but never so well executed.

Sounds kinda romantic, right?  And in some ways, it is.  Still, that doesn't stop Kami and Jared from freaking out.  Each struggles to come to terms with the reality of the other's existence.  Their connection was soul-deep and at times invasive.  It was one of the strongest parts of the book imo.

I loved how close we got to all the characters, especially the two leads.

The third person narrative helped, but Sarah Rees Brennan obviously knows her world and each and every person in it.   Kami is the kind of curious you just can't help but like.  She's a self-proclaimed sleuth, searching for the secret truth of her town, Sorry-in-the-Vale.  When animals and people start dying, she trudges along, determined to find the truth.  The girl had a great sense of humor and was an unapologetic Nosy Parker.  Loved her J.

Also loved how Brennan was able to infuse the same life and personality into her secondary characters.  Angela, the people-hating, nap-loving, always-loyal best friend.  Kami's dad and her brothers, Tomo and Ten.  Great, great, great.

And the humor.  That was the surprise!  Kami and her friends are hilarious.  Romance + Funny = One Very Happy Nnja :-)

Here are a few quotes I loved from Unspoken.

Kami whispered into Jared's hair: "I'm always on your side."--Unspoken pg. 74

"I used to have an imaginary friend when I was seven," Holly contributed.  "A unicorn called Princess Zelda."--Unspoken pg 85

Then later, Angela to Jared:

"I'm not calling you that," she announced flatly.  "It's too weird.  I'm going to call you Carl." 

Jared scowled.  "I don't want you to call me Carl."

"That's interesting, Carl," said Angela, cheering up.--Unspoken pg 86

The dialogue was lol funny; the writing was gorgeous; the mystery had enough twists and turns to keep you guessing; and the character relationships were fantastic.  Beware: One of the most devestating cliff hangers on the planet.  But worth it.  (Still, seriously, it'll make you wanna bang your head on the wall.)  Unspoken was a Gothic mystery YA with a nice blend of genres, a great Halloween read, but also a great anytime read J

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend,

Ninja Girl

STACKING THE SHELVES (6)

Hi everyone!  Picked up a small (but awesome) haul of two books this week.  Thanks to Ninja Aunt P for insisting on buying my books even though I had it covered :).  Love you!  Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

List of Books: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan and Defiance by C. J. Redwine

*Jumping up and down*  Whoop, I cannot wait to dig into these two lovely books.  Both have equally gorgeous covers, and the jacket summaries make them sound oh-so-good :D

Have a great week everyone!

Ninja Girl

P.S. The Veronica Wolff books I won and received last week?  Yeah, I just found out they were signed, with my name and everything!  How cool is that? :)

MOONGLOW by Kristen Callihan

There's something great about knowing that you're going to love a book.

And with Kristen Callihan, you just know.

The fantastic gothic world she created in Firelight gets even better in the second installment, Moonglow.  The romance, the danger, the hero and heroine, the reasons to read this book were too many to name, but I'll do my best to sum up.

Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, never thought he'd fall in love again.  After countless women, all paid, all with the same features, he knows his type: red hair, green eyes, the perfect body.  But when he finds Daisy, the only survivor at the scene of a recent werewolf attack, she awakens Ian's protective instincts.

Recently widowed, Daisy isn't the type of girl to swoon at the sight of blood.  Though one of her dear friends was murdered by the were, Daisy is reluctant to trust the Marquis.  Her gut feeling where Ian is concerned is to run far, far away.  But his flirtatious yet dangerous nature calls to something deep within Daisy, that side of her which was beaten back in a loveless, abusive marriage.

Together, Ian and Daisy discover several more bodies, and a plot which revolves around women who wear the very perfume Daisy created for herself.  With a killer led by scent and an intelligent heroine determined to save herself, Ian will have to be very careful not to lose his life--or his heart--to the one woman he never saw coming.

If you want to know why to read…

Ian + Daisy = Out-of-this-world Chemistry.

These two characters really got to me.  Ian and Daisy were perfect for each other.  And it wasn't just the romance--though that was *sigh* spectacular!!  At the moment, I can't think of anything I've read recently that has two characters with better conversation and more natural chemistry.  I couldn't put it down!

Daisy was so smart and fearless.  Usually the two don't go hand in hand; the heroine does something stupid, which makes this ninja roll her eyes.  But not Daisy!  Callihan made sure to give her power so she could protect herself.  And Daisy was just as much of an unapologetic smartass as Ian and had a great sense of humor.  Wow, a girl with brains and bravery.  A rare sight in Queen Victoria's London J.

And Ian Ranulf.  Oh, he was such a strong hero.  Scottish, bad boy werewolf with a tragic past and effortless charm whose brogue gets stronger when his blood is up.  Need I say more? J

Great plot.  The whole perfume angle was interesting, and I have to say I just love these Ellis sisters.  Can't wait for Poppy's story!  Moonglow was even better than the first book, and I'd totally recommend it.  If you love romance and gothic goodness, you don't want to miss Daisy and Ian.

Happy reading,

Ninja Girl

SOCIAL SUICIDE by Gemma Halliday

Twittercide [twit-er-sahyd]: the killing of one human being by another while the victim is in the act of tweeting.

I'm a really big fan of wordplay--especially when it's smart and funny.   And seriously, "Twittercide"?  Wow!  The back cover of Gemma Halliday's second novel tells you everything in that one word.  With Social Suicide, Halliday manages once again to keep this mystery series current and put a new spin on the teenage detective plot.

When Sydney Sanders is caught cheating with test answers artfully written across her fingernails, the popular girl is suspended faster than you can say "homecoming queen."  As a reporter, it's Hartley's job to get all the facts.  Even if that means setting up a secret meeting with Sydney, who's been tweeting about the injustice of her suspension ever since.  It should've been easy: Go to Sydney's house, get her side of the story, find out where she got the answers.  Simple, right?  But when Hartley discovers Sydney's dead body, lying face down in her pool, she knows it wasn't suicide.  Why would Sydney set up an interview, only to kill herself?  And more importantly: Who would want to stop her from talking enough to commit Twittercide?

This series has a lot going for it.  First, I haven't seen many YA mysteries that are willing to poke fun at themselves.  This one does just that.  I mean, yes, Twittercide is a serious crime, a girl did get killed.  But the beauty of this series is that even with all the humor you don't forget the seriousness of what happened, and you have an intelligent MC who's out to find the truth.

Which brings me to the best thing about the Deadly Cool novels: Hartley.

This is a girl you'd want to hang out with.  Like I said, she's smart, hilarious, and awkward.  And the awkward is why we love Hartley (or at least why I do J).

Chase Erikson may (or may not) have asked Hartley out enough times in this book that it made me cringe.  After he asks her to go to a football game, Hartley gets all dressed up--only to end up on a stakeout, knee deep in mud and bushes.  And, of course, Chase notices her Jasmine perfume.  Awkward!  Then he invites her for pizza, which again she dresses up for, and again turns out to be a non-date.  Poor, poor Hartley.  Ah, I felt for her.

She's exactly the type of heroine young girls can look up to, yet still relate to on a human level.  Can't tell you how refreshing that is.

The mystery was good as well.  There were enough potential suspects in the murder of Sydney Sanders that it kept you guessing.  Although, again I called this one pretty early, I'll say that it could've gone several different ways.  I just happened to guess right J  The writing has a great flow; it's quick and snappy and never boring.  And the books are always the right length. 

Like with Deadly Cool, I'd recommend this for sure!!  Can't get enough of Hartley and Chase <3

Happy reading,

Ninja Girl

FIRELIGHT by Kristen Callihan

I've never read anything so creepily romantic.  (And that's a compliment! J)

 Firelight was my introduction to supernatural Gothic romance, and Kristen Callihan did a fantastic job of drawing me in.  This book made me realize how important strong first chapters are--at least to me.  If the beginning is stellar, if it introduces me to intriguing characters in an interesting way, creating a picture I just cannot get out my head, it's a done deal.  I'll read till the end, those first chapters driving me to the finish.

Here's the scene that stuck with me: The dreaded Lord Benjamin Archer, a man who hides his deformity behind a black-as-night mask, is on his way to commit a murder when he comes upon a street urchin about to be attacked.  Despite being cornered in an alley by two bigger, brasher opponents, the street urchin doesn't look the least bit frightened.  Even when her hat gets knocked off, and all that fiery hair tumbles down, revealing her to be a girl, Miranda (aka the street urchin) doesn't back down or try to run.  Her fearlessness sparks something in Lord Archer.  He saves her; she finds out he's actually there to get revenge upon her father; and after a very sexy interlude, we're off and running.

The story was filled with danger, adventure, and mystery, but the best part was the romance.  These two characters, Miranda and Archer, were perfect together.  Watching them get to know each other, denying their true feelings at every turn--feelings we get to see first-hand through the alternating third person narrative--was as entertaining as it was excruciating.

Paranormally goodness was also present throughout the novel (Miranda's gift/curse, Archer's hidden past, a secret club that messed with the natural order and whose members are now being picked off one by one), but what struck me was the very human quality of Callihan's two leads.  Miranda's fearlessness was incredibly believable, her fear of herself a great contrast to that defiant nature.  Archer was moody and over-confident and had just the right mix of snark and sincerity.  I loved, loved, loved their chemistry.  It flared and simmered and lit up every page (too many fire references??)

And since today is Teaser Tuesday…a short excerpt from the book:

"He took a quick breath, and his voice dropped. "You've no notion of the effect you have on me"

The words gave a hard tug to her belly. She closed her eyes and swallowed. "If by effect, you mean finding yourself in unchartered waters, wondering whether you are coming or going...." She stared at his shirt, watching his breath hitch. "Then I fear you have the same effect on me, my lord.”"

And that's just one of the many "breath-hitching" moments J

I also loved Miranda's sisters--would've loved to see more of them in the story--and Ian McKinnon.  He was such a delicious little instigator.  Apparently Callihan thought so too, since his book is next in the series. *whoop*  The danger was thrilling, the murders/mystery appropriately horrific.  I'd recommend it for adult readers who love paranormal romance but are looking for that little something extra. 

Happy reading,

Ninja Girl

DEADLY COOL by Gemma Halliday

An updated Nancy Drew (or should I say Veronica Mars? J) for this generation with sass, sarcasm, and a brash attitude that'll have you laughing out loud.  Truly, if you're looking for the funny, give Deadly Cool a try.  Halliday has written a fast-paced and fun mystery that keeps you hooked from page one.

Here's the rundown: Hartley Featherstone has just discovered an open condom wrapper in her boyfriend Josh's locker.  Worse, rumor has it he's cheating on her with the not-so-virginal Queen of the Chastity Club.  When the Queen's corpse is found in his closet with a pair of iPod buds wrapped tight as a noose around her neck, the cops finger Josh as the murderer.

Too bad he's suddenly MIA.

With Josh popping up in her bedroom at odd times, begging her to solve the case, Hartley has two options: Push him out the window like he deserves or help the dirtbag prove his innocence.  Decisions, decisions.  What's a girl to do?  If you're Hartley, you throw yourself head-first into the investigation, partnering up with your best friend Sam and the bad-boy-next-door Chase, asking questions and running down leads better left to the cops.  After she stumbles over her second dead body, Hartley knows she's in over her head.  But even with the bad boy guarding her back, it may not be enough to stop the killer before Hartley ends up six feet under.

The book was such a nice break from the Epic, Dark, and Scary in YA I've been reading.  I've noticed that after reading a few dystopians/urban fantasy/paranormal I always enjoy a good laugh.  Deadly Cool was a welcome change of pace and tone.  Hartley--though not dressed in leather and with decidedly no superpowers--had me cheering and laughing and wanting her to find the bad guy and get the bad boy J

I really enjoyed her sense of the ridiculous and the humor that was carried throughout the story.  She was so likable and fresh that she single-handedly rejuvenated the YA mystery genre.  Not many a MC could carry that one off, but Hartley did it without even a hint of paranormaly goodness!  Good on you Gemma Halliday J

Also, the mystery was interesting and never boring.  Although I think I called it pretty early, I still wanted to see how Hartley ended up catching the murderer.  For me, it wasn't so much about the surprise of "Who done it?"  The kind of mystery I enjoy matches the story with a character I want to follow, someone I'm interested in and care about.  The setup pretty much assured that: A teenage MC done wrong by her boyfriend, who she, despite his lying, cheating ways, decides to help anyway?  Yeah, there was no way I wouldn't like Hartley.

Chase Erikson, bad boy extraordinaire who's got smarts to boot, was an added bonus.  Rarely in YA do the Bad Boy and the Smart Guy mix, but Chase was a hybrid, and I was all about it J

I'll definitely be picking up Social Suicide (Book 2), and I'd recommend it to readers looking for a little light after all the dark popping up in YA.  It's a good, quick read.  You won't be disappointed!

Happy reading,

Ninja Girl

ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD by Kendare Blake

Anna Dressed In Blood takes the term "ghost story" to a whole other level.  Like the highest level there is.  If horror were a mountain, Anna would be freaking Mt. Everest.

Kendare Blake pushes readers to the very peak of terror and then, when you're scared out of your wits/think you can go no further, she shoves you from behind and watches you topple from the edge, plummeting, screaming like a little girl all the way down.  In other words, she's a master of murderous intent, the Jedi of all things scary, and I loved her for it!

Horror's not really my bag, but I can honestly say this book changed my outlook.  Not only did Anna contain plenty of gore and guts, it had story, characters, and a strong mix of romance, action, and mystery.  I couldn't get enough.  When I was through, I felt like I'd been on the best thrill ride ever and was ready to go a second time--and a third and a fourth...

The first thing I loved was the story itself.  The concept was like nothing I'd ever seen: Cas Lowood, teenage ghost hunter, goes to a new town in search of his latest target: Anna Dressed in Blood.  The ghost girl is a local legend, a mystery wrapped in the blood stained dress she was murdered in…a killer who needs to be taken out.  Cas thinks he's just the person for the job--until he meets Anna.  Anyone who enters Anna's house gets dead, no exceptions--except Cas.  He's stunned when she doesn't try to kill him, and with that one unexpected act, the ghost and the ghost hunter develop a relationship neither one expected.

It was the ultimate opposites attract story.  First of all, Anna's dead.  Like really dead.  But, despite this, Cas develops an instant attraction to her.  Even before he sees Anna, just the sound of her name does something to him, affects him in a real visceral way that I found unbearably appealing.  I'm a sucker for romance, and when you put in such an unexpected set-up (i.e. deadly ghost hunter attracted to deadly ghost girl), I can't say no.  And with Anna and Cas, I never wanted to.  Their relationship was unbelievable yet I bought every word, every shared glance, every touch.  It was clear from the start they could never be together (more so than any "impossible love" I've read).  But I wanted them to be.  Desperately.

I still hold out hope.  Please, oh please, Ms. Blake.  Do the impossible, defy the rules of the universe, and let these two wonderful characters end up together.  (Like I said, me = desperate to see Anna and Cas happy J)

The thing I loved most, though, were the two MCs.  I was immediately attracted to the voice b/c Cas was that guy.  The good-looking loner, cloaked in mystery with secrets he keeps from everyone.  I've never read that guy's POV before.  Cas was surprising, just a teenage boy yet so much more.  He had a confidence about him, was so self-aware.  One of my favorite lines was this, "Girls, on the other hand, have always come easy."  Cas wasn't arrogant or cocky, he just knew what he had.  There's something incredibly attractive about that kind of self-assurance, especially in a male MC, and I think Blake hit the nail right on the head.

Anna was the best villain I've come across.  Period.  She had so many layers, so much depth, I don't even know where to begin.  Anna Dressed in Blood might've been the mystery driving the story, but Anna herself was the bleeding heart.  I can't even do her justice.  You guys will just have to read it J

I've read some truly fantastic books this year, but Anna was my number one.  (Unless you count The Hunger Games--nothing tops that--but I don't b/c I was just late to the party on that one)  I'd recommend Anna again and again, over and over, at the top of my lungs.  This is one you definitely should not miss and a new Top Ten Books Ever for this ninja J 

Hope everyone has a very happy Thanksgiving!!!

Ninja Girl

TOUCH OF FROST by Jennifer Estep



A school for mythic warriors?  Yes, please!

The one-liner for this one was enough to make me want to read it.  The fact that I'd just started The Elemental Assassin series (and LOVED it) was another plus.  Jennifer Estep did such a great with Gin Blanco, assassin name: The Spider, I just had to see what she could do with YA.

Touch of Frost may not have had gritty feel or the hardened/irresistible MC.  It might not have contained all the assassin-y goodness of her adult series (there weren't dead bodies popping up on every page, though the book does kick off with a murder), but Estep's YA debut did have a certain charm.

Gwen Frost has no idea what she's doing at Mythos Academy--a school where Spartans strut the halls, Amazons wield swords longer than your arm, and Valkyries shoot magic from their fingertips.  Gwen's just a Gypsy girl--the only Gypsy at Mythos.  She doesn't have supernatural strength or fighting ability.  The only thing different about Gwen is her gift of pychometry: the power to read objects or people through touch.  The gift's not all that great--especially when it goes on the fritz right after the most popular Valkyrie in school gets murdered.  No one seems to care about the murder, more interested in the fact that an ancient artifact's gone missing.  But Gwen is determined to find out what happened--even if it gets her killed.

Things I loved about this book: 1) The concept.  I've seen people do schools for wizards, Gods, vampires, you name it.  But Frost is the first book I've come across that features mythological warriors.  For that reason (and with the addition of a smart-talking sword and these things called Champions: humans chosen by the Gods to be their representatives on Earth), Touch of Frost seemed like unique, untapped territory. 2) The action.  There was plenty of action/tight spots where I wasn't sure if Gwen would be able to hack it.  But with a healthy dose of self-preservation and the help of new friends, she pulled through.  3) Logan.  Nothing more to say.  If you want to know more about Logan Quinn, the smooth-talking Spartan with a bad rep and perfect timing, you'll just have to read the book J. 

Things I didn't love: The amount of repetition.  Like in the Elemental Assassin series, there's plenty of well-worn phrases, stuff that could be taken out to keep the pace moving forward.  The length--which was affected by the amount of repetition.  It just could've been tightened up, made snappier to keep readers on edge the entire time.  There were also mature instances (signing mattresses, kids hooking up here, there, and everywhere) that I think are more appropriate for adult audiences.  I mean, come on, isn't there any innocence left in YA?

All in all, it was very good.  I'm interested enough in Gwen and Logan and the school of myths concept to read the next one.  I've got a feeling Estep will get even better as she goes along/becomes more used to the YA voice.  It really was great, and I hope to see more of Logan in the next book!

Happy reading,

Ninja Girl