Book Thoughts: The Death Cure

Title: The Death Cure
Author: James Dashner
Series: Maze Runner #3

I was really excited to get my hands on this one after the first two books in the trilogy. I don't know whether it was that I hadn't read the earlier books in a while or what, but The Death Cure didn't really live up to my expectations.

It was still good -- I still liked the characters and it was fascinating seeing the development of everything with the illness and the real world outside the maze and all of that. It was a fascinating setting, but it felt... redundant?

I don't know. I think there could have been a lot more closure (I wish there had been), I think the story could have ended better. Not plot-wise, but writing-wise. I wanted to see a better conclusion to the trilogy.

Mind you, even knowing that I would be kind of disappointed, I would still definitely read it, because after the first two, you have to know how it ends. And I feel like I'm making it sound like it was a terrible book -- it wasn't. It just wasn't up to par with the first two-thirds of the trilogy.

Book Thoughts: Scarlet

Title: Scarlet
Author: Stephen R. Lawhead
Series: King Raven #2

I enjoyed Scarlet a lot more than the first book in the series (and I enjoyed book one, to be sure). I thought the narrative style was a little weird at first; switching to an intermittent first-person narrator was a strange jump after the first book's third person. But once I adjusted to that, Will Scarlet is such a fun narrator.

I liked his voice, I liked that he seemed much more human than most of the other characters -- basically, the addition of Will Scarlet to the King Raven saga has done some very good things for the series.

Also, I think this book had a much more central and focused plot than the first book, which made it a lot easier to stay engaged. While the first one was very much setup for the rest of the series, this one had a cohesive plot - beginning, middle, and end - that could almost stand alone. I say almost because the ending leaves you wanting to know how it all concludes in book three, but the individual story of this book is wrapped up.

Very rarely do I enjoy the middle book in a trilogy more than the first book, but this is one of those rare cases. If you had a hard time with Hood, keep reading, because Scarlet is much better. And if you really loved Hood, I don't know what you're waiting for. Go read this now.

Book Thoughts: The Evolution of Mara Dyer

Title: The Evolution of Mara Dyer
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Series: Mara Dyer #2

Oh my dear sweet goodness this series.

It's brilliant. And creepy. And intense. And sexy. And ahhh I just love these books so much.

There were pieces of this book that confused me - the flashback dreams, what? - but I continue to adore Michelle Hodkin's writing and characters and oh my dear sweet lord the PLOT. I NEEDED to keep turning pages to find out what would happen next.

And now I am dying for book three. DYING.

I love the way Mara and Noah's relationship continues to grow and change, although I still have some hardcore questions about Noah. I loved seeing Jamie's character again, I love Mara's family, and good grief can Ms. Hodkin write suspense. You're questioning right along with Mara what's real and what isn't, and that's a pretty powerful thing to be able to do in a book.

Long story short: If you haven't read this series, do so immediately. If you've read the first one but not this one, GO GET THIS NOW.

Book Thoughts: Beautiful Redemption

Title: Beautiful Redemption
Author: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Series: Caster Chronicles #4

***Spoiler warning for earlier books in the series!!!***

Oh my goodness gracious.

What a stunning conclusion to a truly fantastic series. The Caster Chronicles is easily among my favorite series, and the conclusion is no different. (And yes, I cried.)

Parts of the book this time are told from Lena's perspective, which was different, but in a good way. I liked getting Lena's perspective. I just love all of the characters SO much, and the relationships between them and the way they're all both good and bad. This is about to turn into a sappy character rant, so I'll stop. After one more comment: Lena and Ethan's relationship is one of the best I've read. I love it and them so, so very much.

There were places I struggled with the mythology. I had to raise my eyebrows at some of the portrayal of the "afterlife," or Otherworld, just because there were places where it was a bit typical - and then I met Charlie and everything turned upside down. "Find x, cross the river, bargain with y" felt a bit too hero's journey - and anything else would have been completely wrong.

I just read 80% of this book in one sitting. And I wish it could go on forever. I love this series so much. If you haven't read it, DO. I'll be digesting this one for a while.

Book Thoughts: Rage

Title: Rage
Author: Jackie Morse Kessler
Series: Riders of the Apocalypse #2

I liked this one so much more than the first book in the series. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the first book, but I liked this one so much more. The characters seemed to have a whole new depth and Missy's internal struggle with War was just wow.

There were moments where I had to wonder whether high school students are really so cruel to each other -- peeing on her gym bag, really? My high school experience was vastly different and while there was bullying, it was much more subtle. Still, exaggerated situations aside, I felt like Missy's struggle was very real and portrayed beautifully. Ms. Kessler has a way with words.

Melissa Miller is such a great character. I loved that she was so involved with the soccer team; so many times, self-injurers in teen fiction are portrayed as having nothing at all except cutting, and Missy's not like that. She is more than a cutter, she's a person who cuts. And placing that in the fantastical context of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse made it that much easier to understand.

You don't have to read Hunger before this one (although that's the order they were written in); this one stands perfectly well on its own. But once you read this one, you'll want to read more of Ms. Kessler's writing. And if you weren't a fan of Hunger, read this one anyway. So good!

Book Thoughts: Forever

Title: Forever
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Series: Wolves of Mercy Falls #3

I FINALLY got around to reading the conclusion of Maggie Stiefvater's fantastic Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy and I can't believe it took me so long!

It had been a while since I read the previous books in the series so I was a little hazy on some of the plot details, but there's enough there in Forever that it didn't matter. I was immediately drawn back into Stiefvater's flawlessly beautiful writing, complexly compelling characters, and breathtaking romance.

I couldn't put it down. I love the way Maggie Stiefvater crafts words and builds characters, and I love the story she's telling here. Sam and Grace's romance is one of the most amazing love stories I can think of, and I also really love the relationship between Isabel and Cole and the way that plays out. The interactions of the wolf pack are so realistic, the reactions of the various people in the town are exactly what they should be, and every single character has depth and flaws.

I almost wish there had been an epilogue explaining whether or not the characters got their happily-ever-after, but I liked the way she ended the story. There's closure to what needs closing, but it's left open enough for readers to imagine the characters living their lives however they see fit, and I think that's brilliant too.

Definitely read this series. I know I'll be on the lookout for Ms. Stiefvater's other books!

Book Thoughts: Beautiful Chaos

Title: Beautiful Chaos

Author: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Series: Caster Chronicles #3

**Warning: Potential spoilers for books 1 and 2!**

I bawled like a baby through the last thirty pages or so of this book and I'm desperate for book four. It ripped my heart to pieces and kept me turning pages all afternoon. 518 pages of I-can't-put-this-down. I love this series so freaking much.

I had to wait longer than I liked to get access to this book after it was released, so when I finally started it, I was a little hazy on details of the earlier books. It didn't take me long to get back in the swing of it, though, and I could. not. put it down.

In the penultimate novel of this series, we see the effects of Lena's Claiming at the end of book two. Her Claiming was unnatural, and now there is a crack in the Order of Things. Gatlin is feeling the effects, and so is Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals. No one is unaffected, and the whole wonderful cast of characters must work to figure out how to restore the order and what it will take to make things normal again.

I love Ethan as a narrator and I love Lena and I just love all of the characters and ahh I cannot say enough good things of this series. I don't want to spoil anything, so I should probably stop talking now, but like I said before, I sobbed through the last couple of chapters (yes, actual tears) and then had to go seek out a hug afterwards. I NEED BOOK FOUR, STAT.

Book Thoughts: Endlessly

Title: Endlessly
Author: Kiersten White
Series: Paranormalcy #3

**WARNING: Potential spoilers for books 1 and 2!**

Oh my goodness gracious. A bleeping brilliant end to a bleeping brilliant series. At the time I'm writing this, it's been all of ten minutes since I finished the book, and wow.

IPCA's got new people in charge who are trying to drag Evie back in, all of the paranormals seem to think she's the only one who can save them, and then of course there's the Dark Queen who's torturing humans. Evie is taking on a lot in this final installment, and she's not sure how her soul is going to handle it.

The cast is back and as wonderful as ever: Evie and Lend (I love their relationship so much), Arianna, Jack, Reth, David, Raquel, Carlee and the rest. Snarky, sassy and hilarious dialogue makes it a laugh-out-loud story despite the emotional intensity of the subject matter. Because it is emotionally intense. For a comedic paranormal romance, there's a lot going on about free will and eternity and the right to choice.

Endlessly manages to be simultaneously thought-provoking and laugh-inspiring. If you haven't read the series, definitely do. If you have, I hope you enjoy(ed) the conclusion as much as I did! I know I will be terribly sad to let this cast of characters go and I look forward to reading whatever else Kiersten White comes out with in the future.

Book Thoughts: Supernaturally

Title: Supernaturally
Author: Kiersten White
Series: Paranormalcy #2

**WARNING: There may be some spoilers from the first book in the series!**

Evie is back, and still kicking butt. Still snarky and sassy and ready for adventure, she's discovering that normal... well, isn't all it's cracked up to be. She misses her taser and hates gym class.

And then Reth shows up, and a new character - Jack - and everything goes topsy turvy. And Evie has jumped at the chance to work for IPCA again (on her terms, this time) just to have some paranormalcy back in her life. Unfortunately, that may strain things with Lend -- not a fan of IPCA. And along the way, thanks to Reth's frustrating interference, Evie is learning some alarming truths about who she is.

I still love Evie's voice and I love that she's learned her lessons from the first book - she's grown and changed as a character and I think that is a wonderful thing to see. I also like that her relationship with Lend isn't perfect but they fight like a normal couple without breaking up. (Although seriously, some of the "hiding things from my boyfriend whee!" got a little old. C'mon, Evie, get it together!) I love her sparky humor and her genuine emotional responses to things; I like that even though she's been surrounded by the paranormal her whole life, she's still just a teenage girl at heart.

I don't think I loved this one quite as much as Paranormalcy, but it was still a truly fantastic (and funny) story and I am eager to read the third book as soon as I can get my hands on it!

Book Thoughts: Wicked

Title: Wicked
Author: Gregory Maguire

My favorite movie as a kid was The Wizard of Oz and I loved the book, and I recently developed a deep love for the musical Wicked -- so of course the next natural step was to read the book on which the musical was based.

When I first wanted to read Wicked, my dad told me I should wait because it was too "grown-up" for me. I finally got back around to it and at first didn't understand what it was that he thought was so awful about it; there were some allusions to sex, one unpleasant murder towards the end, they said the word "nipple" once, but nothing that seemed to justify having me wait to read it.

Having finished the book, I think I understand. It's not that the content would have been horribly inappropriate (although I probably would have asked some uncomfortable questions about sex, true), it's that the themes -- religion, politics, the nature of evil, whether there is a soul -- would have confused little-me and gone right over my head.

I have to say I prefer Baum's original and the musical version because I'm a sucker for happy endings and the writing style of Wicked wasn't as engaging as I would have liked, but I did really enjoy reading this one. It's given me a lot to think about, and it was really awesome revisiting an old favorite from a completely different perspective. I'm glad that I waited to read it, because I got so much more out of it now than I would have several years ago. There's a LOT in this book that's food for thought. I would definitely advise trying it!

Book Thoughts: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Series: Mara Dyer #1

I adore this book. It is my favorite of the books that I read over the summer, and that is not a title I bestow lightly.

The plot was fascinating. There was some sort of paranormal element, something seriously spooky going on, and Mara doesn't know what it is or why she can't remember the night her best friends died. Her family moves to get away from the trauma, but the PTSD -- because paranormal's not real, right? -- follows. And at her new school, there's Noah. Totally hot, and someone Mara's not sure she can be with.

I loved Mara as a character, and Noah and Daniel and the rest, but that wasn't the main reason I really loved the novel. I was caught up in the story -- I had to know what came next, what was going on. I loved the way the PTSD was handled: realistically. Mara feels like a much more real teenager than many paranormal novel heroines. She sees a psychiatrist (her attitude toward that was very realistic), is wary of her medication (which, by the way, is one that they would actually prescribe in a PTSD situation), falls for a new guy who she's a little wary of, tries to move on with her life but can't quite.

She doesn't accept that something paranormal is happening without question. She challenges it, tries hard to fit it to the reality she's always known. I felt like the whole situation was handled really well. And I liked that she tried to prioritize her real life over the paranormal rather than the other way around.

But yeah mostly I just loved the story and the characters and I am desperately waiting for the sequel. (October 23. Soon. I can make it that long... probably...) At any rate, I love this book and you should read it.

Book Thoughts: Anna and the French Kiss

Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins

I read this looking for a quick, fun, light-hearted read, and I was not expecting the emotional intensity that I found.

This book is fantastic. Absolutely freaking fantastic.

Anna is at an international boarding school in Paris for her senior year of high school. She misses her best friend and maybe-boyfriend back home, she misses the way she always thought her senior year would be, she misses home. But Paris has its draws -- including clever and charming (and taken) Etienne St. Clair.

I was expecting a cliched and cutesy story of girl-meets-foreign-boy. While it is definitely an adorable story of girl meeting foreign boy, it is not the cliched and cutesy read I was expecting. The characters seem so realistic and they have genuine emotional depth and I really love Anna as a narrator and it was so much fun to read about her. I cannot say enough good things about this book! St. Clair is awesome, Anna is a fantastic narrator and protagonist, the other cast of characters is fun too, and that's just the characters. The writing is brilliant, the story is engaging and endearing...

I was looking for something light-hearted and uplifting when I started Anna. I was worried for a little that there was going to be way more depth and genuine emotion than I was expecting but I could not stop reading. I was so engaged I'm pretty sure I actually cried at one point. But when I finished, I was able to put it down feeling the sense of lightheartedness I'd been looking for (and wishing for more adventures of Anna and St. Clair. Fortunately, they make a guest appearance in Lola and the Boy Next Door!).

I definitely recommend this one.

Book Thoughts: Crossed

Title: Crossed
Author: Ally Condie
Series: Matched #2

***Beware spoilers for Matched!***

I read this one over the summer, and while I didn't love it quite as much as I loved Matched, it was still great. (Also, I still think the covers for this series are freaking gorgeous, but that's me.)

It was fascinating discovering life outside the society along with Cassia. I continue to enjoy discovering the details of the world that Ally Condie has created (I'm a bit of a world-building geek). There's so much here that just leaves you wondering what's going to happen next.

I wish we'd gotten to see more of Xander. I was a little wary of the whole alternating-perspectives-between-Cassia-and-Ky thing, because so many authors don't distinguish very well between character voices and I get confused, but I shouldn't have worried: they're two very different characters. I almost enjoyed Ky's voice more by the end.

I still thoroughly love the characters and the world and I can't wait to get my hands on Reached to find out how it all ends!

Book Thoughts: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Author: Ransom Riggs
Series: Miss Peregrine #1

Ahh, where to start with Miss Peregrine... Was it strange? Yes. Was it spooky? Yes. Did I love it? Most definitely yes.

Jacob grew up on his grandfather's stories of monsters and an orphanage full of peculiar children who could do strange things (like levitate or turn invisible). Eventually, he realizes that the tales have to be make-believe... until the day his grandfather dies and he sees one of the monsters his grandfather has always described.

Naturally, everyone thinks Jacob is crazy: monsters don't exist. So Jacob sets off on a crazy quest to Wales to visit the orphanage and settle his nightmares... and finds so much more than he bargained for.

I just love this book. One of my favorites that I read over the summer and one that I am eagerly awaiting the sequel to. The characters are so much fun, the writing is great and blended seamlessly with a series of strange photographs described in the novel, and the story kept me eagerly turning pages to find out what would happen next.

A bit of a spooky read (perfect for Halloween season!), definitely a strange one, but one that I absolutely and wholeheartedly recommend.

Book Thoughts: Under the Never Sky

Title: Under the Never Sky
Author: Veronica Rossi
Series: Under the Never Sky #1

I finished this earlier today, and I wish I didn't have to wait all the way until January for the sequel. So good!

Aria has lived in the Pod known as Reverie her whole life. She has been sheltered from the outside world, existing in a place where disease has been eradicated and almost all interaction occurs in a virtual world rather than the real world. Perry's life has been the opposite. He grew up hunting and struggling to survive, dodging storms that lashed out from the Aether in the sky and knowing how dangerous life could be. When Aria is exiled from Reverie, she and Perry will need to rely on each other in order to save them both.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, I loved the setting - the idea of the Aether and the Pods is really cool. I kept reading because I needed to know what would happen next. I also really loved how distinct Aria and Perry's voices were. Even though none of the book was in first person, the focal character of each chapter was always clear just through the narrative voice. I love that.

Also: it wasn't love at first sight yay! Aria and Perry have to work at it and learn to trust each other, and the progression of their relationship from enemies to friends to something more was really well done.

Basically I just really thoroughly enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to read the sequel. Definitely read it!

Book Thoughts: The Fault in Our Stars

Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green

Grab a box of tissues and this book, sit down, and prepare to bawl your eyes out and then want to go back to the first page and read it again and again.

This book is freaking fantastic and it's also an emotional train wreck. Hazel and Augustus are both teenaged cancer patients trying to figure out how to live with their circumstances. I mean, when an author as talented as John Green is writing a book about a subject like cancer, you know it's going to be a tear-jerker, and TFiOS does not disappoint.

Very rarely can a book make me laugh out loud, cry, laugh some more, and then sob through the last eighty pages. Even rarer is a book that can do that and then make me want to pick it up and start right back over again. TFiOS does that and more.

I don't know how much I can say without spoiling too much, but: Swedish hip-hop, Amsterdam, the Literal Heart of Jesus, and a cast of characters that is entirely unforgettable -- you NEED to read this book.

Book Thoughts: Every You, Every Me

Title: Every You, Every Me
Author: David Levithan

I read this one around New Years, so it's been several months, and the impression that it has on me is still incredible. I'm a bit hazy on the details, but I remember it being emotionally very intense.

Evan's going crazy missing his best friend Ariel. And he might actually be going crazy: he keeps finding photographs aimed at him. The photos are actually in the book, which is really cool -- it's neat being able to see what it is that Evan's seeing.

Stylistically, David Levithan has created an interesting novel. Not just with the pictures, but with the text. Evan strikes through the words he changes his mind about saying, which gives readers an unusual (and powerful) view of what's actually going on in Evan's head versus what he's trying to make himself believe.

The other thing that really struck me about EYEM was the emotion. Evan's struggling with his own emotional and social difficulties, but he's also pressuring himself to manage Ariel's increasingly unstable tendencies. It was really intense seeing the way his emotions related to Ariel's. There's really no other way that I can describe it: emotionally intense. I had to put it down a couple of times just to come back to myself before I got lost in it entirely.

But wow, guys. Definitely read this one if you get the chance.

Book Thoughts: The Princess Bride

Title: The Princess Bride
Author: William Goldman

Princess Bride is one of the rare cases where I watched the movie before I read the book. I didn't even know the movie was based on a book until I'd been watching and loving the movie for years. It is still one of my favorite movies. So when I found out it was a book, of course I had to read it.

And I was not disappointed.

The witty and sarcastic narration, the hilarious shenanigans, the larger-than-life characters -- it's all here. TPB is one of the most faithful book-to-film adaptations I've ever seen: it truly captures the heart and soul of the book and even manages to keep a lot of the dialogue identical while still translating well to film.

But they're different, too. There were scenes from the book (as there will be with any book-to-film transition) that didn't make it into the film. It was like getting extra adventures with Inigo and Fezzik!

If you've seen and enjoyed the movie, read the book. So, so, so worth it. And if you haven't seen the movie -- read the book anyway! And then watch the movie after.

I love this story so much, you guys.

Book Thoughts: Pandemonium

Title: Pandemonium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Series: Delirium #2

Wow! I wasn't really sure what was going to happen in the follow-up to Delirium -- with the way the last one left off, I honestly had no clue what this one was going to contain.

What it contains: adventure, more exploration of the society Lena has grown up in, a whole host of new and wonderful characters, romance, action, and of course, an ending that left me desperate for Requiem. If you enjoyed Delirium, this is a sequel that does not disappoint.

What I want to talk about with this one, though, gets spoiler-tastic, so let me just say right now: ***SPOILER WARNING!!! DO NOT READ PAST THIS POINT IF YOU HAVEN'T READ PANDEMONIUM YET!***

...everyone who hasn't read it gone?

...seriously, I'm not trying to get rid of you, I just really don't want to spoil this for you!

...okay, ready?

...here we go. One more time: ***SPOILERS!!!***

Okay. So, at the end of Delirium, Alex dies. Lena is beyond heartbroken. But as Pandemonium proceeds through its plot, she works through the emotionally exhausting process of getting over him. She fears falling in love again, she fears her feelings for Julian, she fears betraying Alex, but she slowly learns to love again. And I loved that -- I thought it was beautiful. It was a bold move to kill off the love interest at the end of the first book, but I thought it made a powerful statement about the casualties of war and a broken society and paved the way to explore emotions that don't often get explored in these sorts of stories. I missed Alex, of course, but I fell in love with Julian right along with Lena, and I loved her healing process.

Plot twist: Alex isn't dead. Obviously I'm glad he's not dead in the sense that he's a great character and his death was sad, but in terms of the plot, I'm worried that bringing him back is going to turn Requiem into nothing more than a love triangle instead of the powerful dystopian piece it has the potential to be. I just wanted Lena to be able to be happy with Julian!

So, yeah, I almost hope she stays with Julian. But Alex... ugh I don't know! Can't wait for Requiem to find out.

Book Thoughts: Lola and the Boy Next Door

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins

I fell in love with Stephanie Perkins' first novel, Anna and the French Kiss (which I'm sure I'll post about at some point), and so I didn't doubt for a second that I would fall just as much in love with Lola. I wasn't wrong.

The stories are very different, and I think I honestly prefer Anna just because she's more like me, but Lola is such a fun and quirky character. I loved reading about her life, and her emotional struggles felt so real. (I won't lie - I cried.)

Also, Cricket! Wow! I love him. Okay.

I liked the way Lola's hot-rocker-boyfriend situation was handled, the way their relationship was portrayed so honestly. Relationships aren't always perfect and don't always last. And they leave emotional damage that can affect future relationships. And they can be hard to leave even when they're not healthy, because when you care about someone, it's easy to justify their flaws. All of that was handled so honestly and it was just excellent.

Also. Okay. Love love love Lola's friendship-enemyship-relationship situation with Cricket. Actually Cricket may be my favorite character in this book. (I mean, obviously I love Anna and St. Clair and they have more than just a passing appearance, but they're not main characters.) But Lola is worth reading just for Cricket, not to mention all the other fabulousness.

One other thing and then I'll shut up: Lola is the pseudo-adopted daughter of two gay dads (her birth mother is one dad's sister, if I remember right) and they play a large part in the story, but the novel is not about how Lola is the daughter of two gay men. It's so refreshing to see a story where homosexuality makes an appearance without the novel being ABOUT that, because that's how life is.

So, yes, definitely read this one, and also Anna and the French Kiss because it's (if possible) even more fabulous.

Book Thoughts: The Demon King

Title: The Demon King
Author: Cinda Williams Chima
Series: Seven Realms #1

I read this at the prompting of both my roommate and my brother and was not disappointed. It has the air of a typical fantasy novel: small villages and ornate palaces, swordfights (no gunpowder), and a mysterious history riddled with magic. And of course, there are evil wizards (and not-so-evil wizards).

I can't give this book a summary that does it justice (seriously, check out the Goodreads link), but I can tell you that I was sucked into both the lore and the story and very much drawn to the characters. Raisa is an awesome mix of kick-ass and the more typically feminine traits, and Han is a wonderful hero as well.

Fortunately, my brother has the second and third books in the series, so I'll be stealing borrowing those soon!

Book Thoughts: The House of Silk

Title: The House of Silk
Author: Anthony Horowitz
Series: Sherlock Holmes

I will confess that my excitement for a new Sherlock Holmes novel was spiked more by a love of the TV show Sherlock than for the original Arthur Conan Doyle canon, but if Horowitz pulled off anything like ACD, I'm going to have to go back and reinvest in the original stories.

This novel feels like something that could have been written at the same time as the rest of the Holmes canon. I've gotten so used to seeing Benedict Cumberbatch and Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes, so getting a more Conan-Doyle-esque persona was really cool. Sherlock Holmes and John Watson are such dynamic characters and I love finding different representations of them.

Characters aside, the story was awesome too. Action and adventure and, of course, mystery. Horowitz does an excellent job as a mystery writer, giving the readers enough clues to get the "oh, I should have seen it coming a mile away!" effect while wrapping the mystery well enough that you're turning pages trying to find out what happens.

Lots of fun! I recommend it to anyone who's a fan of mysteries or historical fiction or any reimagining of Sherlock Holmes.

(P.S. - If you haven't seen BBC's Sherlock, you should.)

Book Thoughts: Hood

Title: Hood
Author: Stephen R. Lawhead
Series: King Raven #1

I just finished reading this one, and it was not what I expected, nor did I expect to enjoy it as much as I did.

Hood is the first in a trilogy that is a retelling of Robin Hood -- but rather than in Sherwood Forest, it's set in the dark forest of medieval Wales and chock full of British political intrigue. I've always been a fan of the Robin Hood story (come on, who didn't love the singing-animals Disney movie of it?), but I wasn't sure what to make of the Welsh names and mythology.

But any wariness I had was swept away in the story. I enjoyed recognizing the various reincarnations of the traditional Robin Hood characters (Bran as Robin, Iwan as the Welsh form of John, so Little John, and of course Merian), but I also got sucked into this as a story all its own. There are parallels to Robin Hood, definitely, but it isn't a direct retelling. It's more a "reimagining."

There were places where the writing felt a little forced, but the story makes up for it. It's a decidedly dense novel (took me several days to read it), but that's because it is packed with Welsh lore and adventure.

Hood probably isn't for just anyone, but if you're a fan of the Robin Hood story and/or medieval stories and/or adventure, you should give this one a try.

Book Thoughts: If I Lie

Title: If I Lie
Author: Corrine Jackson

Wow. I skimmed the first few pages of this one just to see what it was about and ended up reading the entire thing. (Also, I bawled like a baby. So many feelings!)

Quinn's from a military town, being shunned because she got caught kissing someone who isn't her active-duty boyfriend Carey, and she can't tell the truth about the situation because she's promised to keep Carey's secret.

Some of the events in this story seemed almost too extreme or dramatic to be real, but that's why it's so powerful. The novel is fictional but the events in it are so real. It's hard to believe the kind of verbal, emotional, and physical abuse people suffer just for being who they are and loving someone other than who everyone expects them to love.

I absolutely recommend it, but wow, have a box of tissues ready.

Book Thoughts: And Then Things Fall Apart

Title: And Then Things Fall Apart
Author: Arlaina Tibensky

I read this book after hearing the author speak at a conference last November and thinking that she sounded like me. I had no real idea what to expect from the book. Even so, it managed to be not what I expected.

Keek (short for Karina) is sick. Heartsick, and also chicken-pox-sick. Her parents are splitting up, she and her boyfriend had a Fight, and her baby cousin is in the NICU on the other side of the country, and on top of all that she's covered in itchy pox. The novel is essentially Keek's diary as she tries to come to terms with the insanity in her life.

What surprised me, really, is that Keek is fourteen or fifteen. I've gotten used to reading about older teens (probably because I am an older teen - I'll be twenty in less than a year). It is from older teen protagonists that I look for internal struggles about virginity, not from a narrator my baby brother's age (high school freshman). But I think that, in part, is why Keek's story is important.

These are issues that real young teens face. As much as the idea of losing my virginity at fourteen would have terrified me, that's a legitimate question. And I loved that Keek was honest with herself about it and not afraid to be afraid. I think it's great to have a character encouraging young teens to do what's best for them rather than what someone else wants them to do.

ATTFA isn't one that I would have picked up had I not heard the author speak, and it's not one that I would give to someone my age, but for someone in 8th-10th grade, I would definitely give them this book. Honest and clever and funny and thoughtful, Keek is a narrator that makes me want to be her friend.

Book Thoughts: Masque of the Red Death

Title: Masque of the Red Death
Author: Bethany Griffin
Series: Masque of Red Death #1

Not gonna lie, I totally judged this book by its cover. But seriously, isn't the cover pretty? Anyway, the title (Poe!) and the lovely cover are why I decided to read it, but the story proved fascinating.

In a world ravaged by disease and death, masks are a status symbol as well as a health necessity: the wealthy can afford masks that will filter the airborne germs out of their air. Araby, daughter of the inventor of the mask, is set - living in safety, protected by a mask, and content with a practically royal best friend who can get her into all the best masks-only clubs.

But there's more to the world than meets the eye. I don't want to say too much more for fear of spoilers, but Araby discovers some secrets about the masks and the people who live without them -- like Will, who works at the club -- and those who may have even darker plans -- like Elliott, the off-limits brother of her best friend.

I don't feel like my summary has done it justice. At any rate, I think it's definitely worth a read! Dark and eerie with a great cast of characters that left me wanting the sequel.

Book Thoughts: Yes Man

Title: Yes Man
Author: Danny Wallace

I borrowed this book from my boyfriend a bit skeptically. I usually stick to YA and fiction. This is an adult book and a memoir.

I am glad that I decided to read it anyway.

Essentially, Danny decides to defeat his lethargy and depression by going a whole year saying only yes to every invitation, request, and opportunity. So, of course, he gets up to all sorts of wild and crazy shenanigans.

Yes Man is snarky and British and hilarious (seriously, the number of times I was in hysterics reading it is too high to count) and I absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun read. And not only is it fantastic, it's also true!

Read read read. What are you waiting for? (But don't see the movie. Every single person I've talked to said it was awful. The book is where it's at.)

Book Thoughts: Bumped

Title: Bumped
Author: Megan McCafferty
Series: Bumped #1

I just recently finished this book and I went into it having read a number of mixed reviews. People either loved it because it was an excellent social commentary or hated it because the slang was over the top and the science didn't make any sense. I fell in with the first group, despite thinking after the first chapter that I would be in the second group.

Bumped is set in a future world where a virus has made most people over the age of 18 or so infertile, so teenage girls are paid to get pregnant and have deliveries (can't call them babies, that would imply emotional attachment) for wealthy couples who can't have their own children. Melody's adoptive parents know she's gorgeous, smart, and talented and have set her on the path to being a RePro (reproductive professional). Harmony, Melody's identical twin sister, was adopted by the church. She finds the whole "pregging" culture unthinkable.

In a lot of ways, the premise of the novel was over-the-top. The first chapter made me almost not want to finish the book. But I kept going and I ended up really engaged in the characters and the way they felt about their environments. There really is a fascinating commentary on the way we oversexualize women, both in the secular and religious worlds. Also, some of the marketing stuff hits a little too close to home.

Short version: I didn't expect to like this book, but I ended up thoroughly enjoying it and am definitely planning to look for the sequel.

Book Thoughts: 34 Pieces of You

Title: 34 Pieces of You
Author: Carmen Rodrigues

I just read this one as an e-book on PulseIT, and wow.

I'm honestly not sure what I think of this book. Chronologically, it was a little hard to follow with the nonlinear storytelling; some of the actual events were a little hard to follow too because I kept getting the characters' voices mixed up and forgetting whether it was Jessie, Sarah, or Jake narrating. I would have liked more backstory about the characters, too.

BUT. But. Emotionally it was a pretty powerful read, a really interesting way to handle the death of a teenager and a loved one. I wish we'd been able to see things from Ellie's perspective, but maybe the point was that none of them could see things from Ellie's perspective.

I had a hard time putting this one down - it drew me in and made me want to keep reading. Fascinating take on the different characters' emotions. I just wish there had been a little more - it ended too soon. The issues in this book are very real and definitely played with my emotions. I recommend it for fans of Thirteen Reasons Why and Ellen Hopkins.

Book Thoughts: Kiss in the Dark

Title: Kiss in the Dark
Author: Lauren Henderson
Series: Scarlett Wakefield #3

I'm so glad that I had a couple of uninterrupted hours in which to read this book, because I would not have been happy to have to put it down. Kiss in the Dark is a fun, quick read with a perfect blend of boarding school drama and murder mystery. Oh, and Britishness. It gains lots of awesome-points just for the sheer Britishness of the characters and the story.

Kiss in the Dark is the third book in a series (the first two are Kiss Me Kill Me and Kisses and Lies), but it's not really essential to have read the first two to understand and enjoy this one. I still definitely recommend reading them in order as it provides a lot of the characters' backgrounds and explains events that are referenced in this one (plus, who wouldn't enjoy two more books of Scarlett?), but at the start of this book, the major events of the first two books are firmly in the past. Scarlett thinks she's starting over now that she's solved the murder of Dan McAndrew, except now Plum Saybourne, her ultra-popular nemesis, has transferred to her school.

Within a few weeks, Plum has the other girls at Wakefield Hall practically worshiping her, and Scarlett and her best friend Taylor are left to deal with it on their own. The verbal battles and the power struggles between Scarlett and Plum are certainly entertaining to read about. Scarlett's a strong character who knows how to stand up for herself, so the conflict escalates rapidly. In addition to all of the popularity struggles, Plum's out to destroy Scarlett's relationship with the gardener's son, Jase. But it turns out Plum isn't the only one who's not pleased with that relationship: Jase's father and grandmother and Scarlett's aunt have all indicated that the two should not be together. Scarlett's already trying to solve that mystery when she and Taylor stumble onto a dead body.

I felt like the mystery was really well-done - both mysterious situations, the murder and the objections to Scarlett's relationship with Jase, are handled realistically and thoroughly. My only complaints wer that in places it felt like Scarlett was a way better detective than she should have been, so it was a tiny bit inconsistent, and it was a little more predictable than I liked. There's enough of a conclusion to make Kiss in the Dark tell a complete story all on its own, but with enough questions left unanswered that I'll definitely read book four when it comes out.

The characters are great, too; I feel like the character development in this book is a lot stronger than in the first two, which is nice. I especially love that we get to see a new side to Taylor's character, as she's probably my favorite. And I love these books' approach to strong female characters. Kiss in the Dark is a great continuation of the series, and I definitely recommend the entire series to any teenage girl looking for a fun, quick read. Especially if you like Britishness. (They kick bums instead of butts! It's awesome.)

Book Thoughts: Crashed

Title: Crashed
Author: Robin Wasserman
Series: Cold Awakening #2

After I finished Skinned, the first book in the series, I was looking forward to the second book but wasn't really sure what to expect. Now, having read Crashed, I can say that I am seriously excited about the upcoming release of book three (Wired, due out in September). The characters are wonderful, the plot just keeps getting more intense, and the themes just sort of worm their way into your head and refuse to let go.

Lia's interactions with Jude, Riley, Ani, Auden, and her family are all very well-written. Her thoughts, actions, and reactions are all so starkly human, even as she debates just how human she really is. She's a wonderfully developed character, and she's constantly changing in response to the world around her. That said, at the beginning, I really didn't like her; I thought she was a snobby brat and she whined too much. But as the story went on, I liked her more and more, and she really is the perfect character for this story. She'll never be my favorite, though; I think that award has gone to Riley now.

The story is very well-done too; I love that Crashed shows us cities and corp-towns, changes in scenery from the luxurious world that Lia is used to, and the piece-by-piece revelation of Riley and Jude's backstory is excellent. While the actual storyline is fairly archetypal and there were a lot of bits and pieces I was able to predict, it's the details and the characters that make this story absolutely worth reading.

On the whole, though, I think what really kept me engaged in Crashed was the way it made me question so much. What does it really mean to be a human? Is there any such thing as "human," or is there only what we are programmed to believe?

Crashed is definitely a book that I would recommend, although it's not a stand-alone sequel; read Skinned first. A little strange, maybe, but worth your time.

Book Thoughts: If I Stay

Title: If I Stay
Author: Gayle Forman
Series: If I Stay #1

First off, I have to say how much I love this cover of this book. I love the texture of the font that makes it look so handwritten, I love the simplicity, I just love it. That said, the paperback cover is beautiful too, but I think I like this one better.

And the story is just beautiful. The narrative is nonlinear; a series of flashbacks is intercut with the story in the present, and it's not broken into chapters but rather divided by time stamps. Not everyone can pull off such a complex structure, but Forman certainly does. And the characters are so beautifully, wonderfully real. The choices Mia is forced to make are very real ones, and her reactions to them are so starkly human and so well-tied to her personality that she could very easily come to life. And even the smaller characters - Adam, Kim, Mia's family, Henry, Willow, everyone - are well-developed. Readers see them through the filter of Mia's narration, but we are shown (not told: important distinction) enough that we really get a sense of who these people are and what Mia's life is like.

Mia's relationships to her family and her boyfriend were refreshing, too. Her love life isn't perfect; far from the I-have-the-perfect-boyfriend or I-have-the-perfect-secret-lover relationships shown in a lot of books, Mia's relationship with Adam has the same ups and downs that any normal relationship has. They are in love, but their relationship is flawed. They fight and argue, but it's something they can work through. And it's wonderful to see a teen who doesn't totally hate her parents. Mia experiences the same feelings of loneliness and misunderstanding that most teens experience, but she still loves her parents, they are very present in her life, and she has a very protective and sisterly instinct toward her younger brother.

My only complaint was that it seemed to take a very long time to get to the heart of the major choice Mia was facing, but the story is absolutely worth reading in spite of that. It's beautifully written, heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time. I have to confess to crying like a baby at parts of it. Definitely read this book if you get the chance.

Book Thoughts: Shiver

Title: Shiver
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Series: Wolves of Mercy Falls #1

My first thought when I finished this book was, "Wow." It was absolutely phenomenal. The romance (because that's what this is - a romance) was very well-done; I know I, for one, have totally fallen for Sam Roth. Both of the lead characters - and the side characters as well - fell completely real. Stiefvater's writing is beautiful. Even if the plot were terrible - which it most certainly isn't - it would be worth reading just for the way the author tells the story. She even manages to make both first-person narrators feel like separate, real characters; their personalities are not the same and their voices are inherently different. It's not one person telling both stories as someone else - it's two different characters telling their own stories.

The romance between Sam and Grace is developed thoroughly and beautifully; all I have to say is: candy shop scene, and bookstore scene. It just makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. And the twist on the werewolf mythology is excellent. None of that about full moons and silver bullets; it's about temperature. And there's just enough mystery and non-romance-based plot that it doesn't feel obnoxiously sappy. Yes, there are sappy parts. It is a romance novel. There are supposed to be sappy parts. But there's so much more than that. It was so amazing. Personally, I also really enjoyed the importance of literature and musicality to the story. There is so much good stuff in this book. Everyone should read it. Yes, everyone.

I also have to mention the cover. I adore the cover of this book. It's beautiful. The blue-and-white gives it that wintery sort of feel that's so important, and the wolf - just watching - so subtle you might miss it. And then the one splash of red...it's perfect.

Definitely, definitely read Shiver if you get the chance.

Book Thoughts: Linger

Title: Linger
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Series: Wolves of Mercy Falls #2

Shiver certainly set the standards high for the rest of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, and I was pleased to discover that Linger more than meets those standards. Sam and Grace are such wonderful characters, and the addition of Isabel and Cole just makes it better. I was a little concerned at the beginning about having four different characters narrating, but I shouldn't have worried. Stiefvater pulls it off flawlessly. The characters are so real, and the story just keeps getting better. Stiefvater's way with words is just amazing.

As in Shiver, there is a lot of romance, and it is done well. But in Linger, there's a lot more extra stuff to it. The development of the individual characters and their backstories is just as if not more important than the development of the romantic relationships between the characters, and the platonic relationships between the other characters are also explored thoroughly. Everything about these characters is real and wonderful, and even if the story concluded in this book, I'd want another one just to spend more time with Sam, Grace, Cole, and Isabel.

And then, of course, there's the mystery of the werewolves. Why are they what they are? What does it mean to become one? And is there a way to stay human? It draws you in and keeps you there. And I really cannot wait for book three, because I need to know what happens.

There is just so much to this story. Absolutely everyone should read them, no exaggeration. My only complaint about Linger was that it was less self-sufficient than Shiver; in places, it felt more like it was building up to the next book rather than telling its own story. But that hardly counts, because I am so ready for book three already. I absolutely adore this series. Linger officially releases two weeks from today, and some formats are already available - this is one you should make sure you get a copy of as soon as you can.

Book Thoughts: Perchance to Dream

Title: Perchance to Dream
Author: Lisa Mantchev
Series: Eyes Like Stars #2

I read and fell in love with the first book in the Théâtre Illuminata series, Eyes Like Stars, several months ago. I was a bit concerned about starting the sequel because I was a little hazy on the details of the first book. I needn't have worried; while you certainly want to read the first book first, book two is almost self-sufficient.

As Bertie, Ariel, and the four Midsummer Night's Dream fairies are off on an adventure outside the Théâtre; Bertie is desperate to rescue her sort-of-boyfriend, the pirate Nate, and she also wants to discover the identity of the Mysterious Stranger who is her father. At the same time, she's maybe-a-little-bit falling for Ariel. She's also learning how to use her storytelling magic without accidentally doing anything dangerous, like lighting her fairy friends on fire.

So much of this book had me literally laughing out loud. I adored it. The comic relief, mostly in the form of the fairies but from other sources as well, is excellent. And I love, love, love all the literary references (the first line is "'It is a truth universally acknowledged,' Mustardseed said, flying in lazy loops like an intoxicated bumblebee, 'that a fairy in possession of a good appetite must be in want of pie," and it only gets better from there). But even through the lighthearted tone and the cheerfulness, there's a fair amount of danger and dark situations that definitely kept me turning the pages.

And the characters. Oh my goodness, the characters. Peaseblossom, Moth, Cobweb, and Mustardseed alone would be enough to keep me reading even with out all the other amazingness. Edible boyfriends and parodies about pie? Oh, yes. And Bertie is so sweet and so relatable - an awesome protagonist. And then there are the love interests. Nate and Ariel are both great characters (I'm Team Ariel, but that's me.) And all of the side characters are so much fun too. It's just spectacular.

My one complaint is that some of it was really hard to follow. While Bertie was experimenting with her magic, there were two or three places where I got really confused as to where she was and who she was with. But I think even that worked, because Bertie was confused a lot too. It made it difficult to keep up in places, but I still really, really loved the story.

So if you're looking for a quick, lighthearted, bundles-of-fun summer read (er, two), the Théâtre Illuminata books (first one titled Eyes Like Stars and the second one, of course, is Perchance to Dream) would be an excellent choice.

Book Thoughts: Infinite Days

Title: Infinite Days
Author: Rebecca Maizel
Series: Vampire Queen #1

I received an ARC of Infinite Days through LibraryThing Early Reviewers, and while I was excited to read it, I was a little wary of reading yet another vampire novel. I shouldn't have worried. With this one, Rebecca Maizel has completely remade all the rules. It's a completely new take on vampirism and I really, really loved it. It was also great to see vampires portrayed as the "bad guys" for the first time in a long time. I could have enjoyed it just for that. But there was so much more. It was a fantastic book.

Lenah is a wonderful character. Her emotions are so real, and the way she reacts to being in the twenty-first century for the first time is spectacular. It's a lot of fun watching her adjust to the modern world, getting used to the technology and the slang. You can really get inside her head. And the side characters were awesome too. Justin is a popular guy with depth to him, and Lenah's first friend in the human world, Tony, is easy to imagine just stepping off the page and coming to life. I felt like the "Three-Piece," the popular girls who date the most popular guys, could have been developed more than they were, but on the whole, the characters were excellent.

And the plot! Yes, it's a vampire romance novel, but it's so different from anything that's already out there. Lenah's relearning what it means to be human, what it means to have human senses, and that includes falling in love. The developing relationships between Lenah and Tony and Lenah and Justin are beautifully crafted, and the impending danger of the coven is really well-done too. There's a lot of mystery surrounding the ritual used to make Lenah human, and the reader gets really engaged in that.

Most of Lenah's vampire life is revealed through flashbacks, so she's really telling two stories at once: what's happening now, in the present, and how she got to be there. The flashbacks aren't necessarily continuous, which can get a tiny bit confusing, but it tells the story effectively. And almost all of the flashbacks are really well-done. Some of my favorite scenes were in the flashbacks.

So, in short, Infinite Days is a really great novel with an awesome new twist on vampire mythology and characters that you will not want to let go of. Definitely worth reading.

Book Thoughts: Glimpse

Title: Glimpse
Author: Carol Lynch Williams

Glimpse is absolutely wonderful. It's 484 pages long, but it's written in verse so in terms of word count it's probably pretty short. I read it over about an hour and a half. It's a quick read and an amazing book so please don't let the length scare you off.

Hope is 13. Her older sister Lizzie is 14. They have other friends, but ever since they were 3 and 4, they've been best friends and they've protected each other. So when Hope walks into their shared bedroom to find Lizzie pointing a gun at her own head and Lizzie gets shipped off to a mental hospital, Hope's world turns upside down. She doesn't understand why her sister would want to die. She doesn't understand what she's supposed to do now that she can't protect Lizzie anymore.

Hope's mother is not exactly a source of comfort; it seems like Lizzie has always been her favorite, but neither one of them was planned, and Momma hasn't really been there for the girls since their father died eight years ago. What Momma does have is a secret, and that secret may explain why Lizzie wanted so desperately "to leave/for good."

Glimpse was beautifully written and once you start reading it you just can't stop. Absolutely a must-read. So, so good. It was excellent. Both of the girls are incredibly relatable and real. Their problems don't make them any less normal girls. Hope's interactions with her best friend were always a lot of fun to read. And the writing is just spectacular. I really loved all of the poems and everything. This was a really, really awesome book. Definitely recommended.

Book Thoughts: The Demon's Covenant

Title: The Demon's Covenant
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Series: Demon's Lexicon #2

Okay, so, I'm not really sure where to start with this book. I can't decide whether to rant and rave about the plot, the characters, or the actual writing. I guess I can go in that order. The plot was fantastic, it just kept me reading and reading (I went to bed at 3:30 a.m. last night - this morning? - because I was reading this book). The Demon's Covenant picks up about a month after the conclusion to The Demon's Lexicon, only this one is told from Mae's perspective rather than Nick's. Jamie's a magician, and suddenly he's hanging out with Gerald - the leader of the magicians who tried to kill them just a month ago. Mae calls Nick and Alan for help, and they set out to determine what exactly Gerald wants. Then there's the fact that something is clearly wrong between Nick and Alan, and although Mae doesn't know what, it's clear that she's going to have to save them both. And the Goblin Market has a huge role to play, although no one is quite sure what. There's also the fact that she's deeply attracted to both of them. That was really my only problem with the book - I got tired of Mae's attractions toward Nick and Alan and the tall-dark-and-handsome Seb from school. Even so, it was worked in really well and the book would not have been the same without it. Everything about the plot just kept me turning the pages, wanting to find out what happened next.

And the characters. I love the characters so much. It was really cool getting inside Mae's head instead of Nick's this time - I think they're both such dynamic characters that it's awesome to get to see both of them that way. Mae's struggles with her own emotions and with her relationship with her brother are very engaging, and Nick's development as he's trying to figure out what it means to be human and whether he can ever be that is just amazing to watch(/read about). I do wish we'd seen more of Jamie, he's one of my favorites, and his role in this book is also spectacular. I am glad that we got to see more of Sin in this one, and it's really neat watching her character come to life too.

Then there's the writing. It's the perfect blend of seriousness and lightness. There were bits that had me laughing out loud (I'd quote them, but there are a lot), and the characters' dialogue is so full of sarcasm and dark humor, and it was just fantastic; then there were the parts where everything was incredibly serious, and reading it you can just feel the atmosphere that the characters are in.

So, long story short: awesome, awesome book. If you haven't read The Demon's Lexicon, go pick that one up and read it right now. If you have, and you haven't read The Demon's Covenant yet, I dunno why you're still reading this, because you should be reading this book instead.

Book Thoughts: The Body Finder

Title: The Body Finder
Author: Kimberly Derting
Series: Body Finder #1

I fell in love with this book from the first chapter. I couldn't tell you what about it made me love it, but once I started reading, I just couldn't put it down. At the very beginning, I was concerned that it might not live up to my expectations (which were very high, from all of the positive reviews I've read), because I felt like it was doing more telling and less showing...but then...it was just amazing.

Violet is such a relatable character. She's got a few friends but she's not super-popular, she has a hard time coming up with clever comebacks, she's trying to hide a crush on her best friend, she's scared but she's trying to do something about it. She has her flaws, but they're just a part of her - she could be real. And Jay. Oh my goodness, Jay. He has definitely earned a place in the top few Crush-worthy Fictional Guys. I wish the side characters had been developed more (I need more Chelsea and Claire, please!) but I think their role in the story worked.

The set-up, basically, is that Violet gets these sensory stimulations when she's around a murder victim or a murderer. Mostly that means that her cat smells weird after he kills a bird and she can always find the bird, but then she finds a dead girl her age in a lake at a party. Soon other girls start disappearing, there's a serial killer on the loose, and Violet may be the only one who can find and identify him. I had worried that the premise of "I see dead things" might be too cliche, but it totally wasn't. The mystery is really well done and I just could not put the book down until I knew what had happened. It was fantastic. I also really liked that it occasionally flashed to the killer's point of view, telling us just enough to keep us sufficiently horrified by the crimes but not enough to ruin the mystery.

And the ending. No spoilers, I promise, but if you read it you'll know what I mean: the ending was very well done. It works as a stand-alone, I think, but I'm sooo glad there's going to be a sequel, because I need more Violet and Jay. And Chelsea. And Claire. And so on and so forth...you get the picture.

Anyway, long story short, definitely read this one, you guys. It was awesome.

Book Thoughts: The Dark Divine

Title: The Dark Divine
Author: Bree Despain
Series: Dark Divine #1

When I started the book, I really loved the story but I kept getting distracted by the print. The font seemed to be in all bold, which I thought was weird, and honestly, that was the only thing that kept me from getting into this book from the very beginning. But once I got used to that...wow. Awesome book.

Grace is the daughter of a pastor, and her family is almost obnoxiously religious and saintly. On the surface, anyway - but they go out of their way to not talk about anything that creates a real problem. So they don't talk about Daniel Kalbi, Grace's one-time childhood crush and a friend who used to be so close he was like an extra brother to Grace and her older brother Jude. Three years ago, he disappeared, and something happened between him and Jude that Jude still won't talk about. So when Daniel turns up in her AP art class and starts flirting with her, Grace has no one to turn to.

It quickly becomes clear that something is up with Daniel, who is demonstrating abilities bordering on superpowers, and there are almost too many clues lying around (I figured out the secret well before the end of the book). Something's up with Jude, too: he's not acting like himself at all. Grace wants to find out the secret about what happened that night, but it might put her in more danger than she can imagine. And as she works to find out what's going on and how to fix it, her once-perfect family life is falling apart around her.

I really loved The Dark Divine. Grace was such a relatable character, and even though her family was kind of unnaturally nice, I felt like all of those characters could have been real (Jude probably least of all, but even him). And Daniel was the ultimate bad-boy, unlovable-and-yet-totally-lovable character, and I really related to him, too. I also loved the characters of Don Mooney and Grace's father, especially. And the plot had just the right mix of action and romance and mystery...it was great.

Also, Bree Despain did an awesome job with the mythology in this. It was a very interesting new approach to a very familiar paranormal topic (and no, it's not vampires). I'm not going to say anything else about that because I don't want to spoil anything...but, yes, it was awesome.

So, the one-sentence summary of that review: The Dark Divine is an excellent paranormal romance with an interesting twist on the legends that I would absolutely recommend.

Book Thoughts: Amy and Roger's Epic Detour

Title: Amy and Roger's Epic Detour
Author: Morgan Matson

I read this book on Simon & Schuster's PulseIt site over a couple of hours (when I should have been doing summer homework. This was much more interesting, though). It absolutely kept me hooked - even though I predicted pretty much by the end of the first chapter what would happen, I still was excited to find out how it happened, and it's really more of a character novel than a plot novel anyway. And the characters are great, so it's awesome.

Amy Curry's father died in a car accident three months ago. For the last month, she's been on her own in their California home: her mom is in Connecticut, and her twin brother is in rehab in North Carolina. In all that time and then some, she hasn't driven. Amy doesn't drive anymore, not since the accident. So when she has to get the car from Cali to Connecticut, her mom calls in the son of an old family friend: Roger. Roger's driving the car for her, because he'll be staying at his dad's house in Pennsylvania for the summer, but he only agreed to drive the whole way because he's hoping to encounter his ex-girlfriend, Hadley. What neither of them realize is how much they'll end up helping each other with their issues.

The characters are really relatable; I especially related to Amy, because even though she's very different from me in a lot of ways, her feelings are so real and understandable and human. And Roger, too - he's flawed, he's sweet, he's one of the most real fictional male leads I've encountered in a long time, which makes him really quite awesome. And the story is simple and sweet and cute, just like a fun summer read should be, but it also deals with a lot of deep dark issues.

The five words I would pick to describe this book: heartbreaking, heartwarming, sad, sweet, and smiley.

The phrase I would use to describe what you should do now: Go read this book ASAP, because it's awesome.

Oh! And I almost forgot to mention the playlists! Amy and Roger spend a lot of time on their road trip making playlists. Roger's playlists include Jack's Mannequin - a band I really like that hardly anyone at my school/church/etc ever seems to have heard of - as well as other alternative bands that are awesome (and some I don't know - new music yay!) and Amy's are comprised of show tunes and Elvis. Need I say anything more about how awesome this is?

Book Thoughts: The Replacement

Title: The Replacement
Author: Brenna Yovanoff

I would have loved to sit down and read The Replacement in one go, but unfortunately, schoolwork prevented that. It took me ages to get through this book because I had to keep hiding it from myself until schoolwork was done. But now I've finally caught up on schoolwork, so I sat down and finished it all at once. And since it comes out exactly one month from today, I figure that's just barely close enough to the release date that I can go ahead and put the review up right now.

The Replacement was awesome. I loved it.

What I didn't like was the description on the back cover. I feel like it says too much and not the right things. It  just doesn't quite fit completely with the story. But if you ignore that and just dive into the story...wow.

Mackie is not normal. He can't go to church with his family even though his father is a minister, because the ground is consecrated. He gets physically sick when he comes into contact with iron or comes too close to blood. He can't even kiss the girl he likes, because she has a metal tongue ring. He knows why he's not normal, and so does his family: he's not really their son, Emma's not his biological sister. The real Malcolm Doyle was stolen from his crib as an infant, and Mackie was left in his place. What makes Mackie different from the other Replacements is that he survived.

And now another child has disappeared: the baby sister of a girl from school, Tate. Mackie knows Tate - she's friends with two of his best friends, and he finds her intriguing. But he can't tell her that he knows what happened to Natalie. What he can do is find out what the truth is about who he is and how to save Tate's sister.

I loved Mackie as a narrator. I just connected to him -  he felt so real. His emotions, the way he struggled with his feelings for family and friends and classmates, his desire to fit in and hide his unusualness from everyone else...it was just excellent. It's very difficult to put into words the way I related to Mackie, but it was wonderful. I also really loved a lot of the side characters. Emma, Roswell, Tate, the Morrigan...and the Lady made the perfect villain. So, so awesome. I wish we got to see more of Tate and Emma.

So yes. I love the characters, I love the story (delightfully dark, creepy, beautiful and honest), and I love Brenna Yovanoff's writing style (seriously, it's awesome).

Book Thoughts: Mockingjay

Title: Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: Hunger Games #3

So, it's been about twenty minutes since I finished reading Mockingjay (I was all for staying up last night to finish it, but unfortunately school stopped that). For all of that time, I have been literally lost for words.

I read the last page and then just stared at the book for a little while. It's over. This is all there will ever be of these characters who took me on this absolutely heart-wrenching journey. And what a story it was.

I'm really not sure what I can say without being mega-spoilery, so I'll just ramble for a while about how much I adore the characters and the story and everything about this book and the whole series. Katniss is seriously one of the strongest, most kick-butt heroines I have ever encountered. Her strength is more physical than a lot of heroines' anymore, but she's got this mental strength too, and Mockingjay tested her in so many ways. We got to see another side of Katniss, which was really awesome. And I think more than anything, it's Katniss's weaknesses that make her such a wonderful character. And then there's Gale and Peeta (both of whom are wonderful characters, regardless of what all the die-hard Team Gale/Team Peeta people say. Although I know whose team I'm on - and always have been - regarding Katniss), and Prim (who's finally a legit character!) and Finnick (who is wonderful) and Boggs and everyone else.

And the villains, too. President Snow, of course, is one seriously bad bad guy. Also I will say that the development of other antagonistic characters was excellent.

I'm rambling a bit. Sorry. I really just do not have the words for this book. And I REALLY don't want to spoil anything. The plot just starts going and never slows down. And like I said...it left me speechless.

So instead of rambling on until I become completely incoherent or inadvertently spoil something, I will leave you with these thoughts: The themes of this book really hit hard. Suzanne Collins can do magic with words. And I approve of the ending. And I'm very, very sad to leave these characters behind as their story ends. Mockingjay made me smile and it made me cry (yes, literally cry. I will admit to this). The Hunger Games trilogy is definitely one of my favorite series ever, and this conclusion is absolutely stunning.

Book Thoughts: Extraordinary

Title: Extraordinary
Author: Nancy Werlin

I had pretty high expectations for Extraordinary, because I really enjoyed Impossible when I read it a couple of years ago and I think the cover for Extraordinary is beautiful (yes, I judged it by its cover. It happens). Unfortunately, I wasn't particularly impressed.

The premise is interesting enough, I guess, although I think the mystery would have been a lot better if not for the prologue and frequent inserts labeled "Conversation with the Faerie Queen" (that's not a spoiler - that's the first chapter heading in the book). The whole thing felt very predictable to me - I knew what was really going on the whole time, so I was just waiting for Phoebe to get it together and figure out what was going on.

My main problem with the book was the characters. I thought Phoebe was really annoying throughout most of the novel because she wouldn't stand up for herself. She had the potential to be an excellent, relatable character - her "psychological battle," as Ryland put it, about whether or not she was special, was actually quite well-done - except that she had absolutely no sense of self. She let herself be defined by what other people said. And Ryland, who was supposed to be the love interest, was an utterly detestable character. I hated him and the things he said to Phoebe. Again, because the plot was so predictable I understood why, but I still didn't like him. Mallory was okay, but like Phoebe, she didn't stand up for herself enough. The one character I really did like was Phoebe's Nantucket friend, Benjamin.

What saved Extraordinary in my eyes was the ending. In the last fifty pages or so, the plot took a turn that I had not fully expected, which was really nice; also, the characters finally started to seem real instead of a means to a plot-fulfilling end. If not for the last fifty pages, the book probably would not have merited 3 stars, but once I got to those final chapters, I discovered that I actually did not despise the book and actually did want to find out what happened.

On the whole, Extraordinary was not a favorite of mine and not one that I would glowingly recommend, but it did have its moments and the ending made it mostly worth reading. It's not one that I'd advise you to go out and buy now - but it might be worth checking out from the library sometime. (And I do recommend Nancy Werlin's other novel, Impossible.)