Review - The Uninvited by Sophie Jordan
Title: The Uninvited (Uninvited #1) Author: Sophie Jordan Teaser: “They say she’s a killer. One day she will be.”...
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Title:Compulsion (The Heirs of Watson Island #1)Author:Martina BooneTeaser:“Three plantations. Two wishes. One ancient curse.”Genre:YA Paranormal Southern GothicNumber of pages:433Released:October 28th, 2014 by Simon PulseDescription:
All her life, Barrie Watson has been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lives with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt’s South Carolina plantation instead—a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that became compulsions.
Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who knows what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family's twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn't what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead.
Positives:-Southern charm. Perfectly done.-Romance! Woot woot! Builds wonderfully.-Paranormal story that isn’t over the top. The ancient curse on two families that creates a fued is done so well that it is not boring or over told.Negatives:-Hmmmmmm… I don’t know, actually.Overview:I can’t say enough good things about this book. First of all, having the setting be in this big elaborate type plantation house with tons of history and secrets…. OMG awesome. I absolutely love settings like that – an old house that holds family secrets that are revealed one agonizing step at a time. Sadly, most books just don’t do this write. The southern feel is over the top or annoying or the story is dull as hell. This book was neither.The characters were subtle, and built up slowly as you grew to know them. This felt very realistic as the book didn’t super-speed along. The two feuding families seemed to be their own ‘character’ as well, and you could feel the animosity between them. The main character, Barrie, had recently lost her mother. Her grief over this was very realistic. Although she was especially close to her mom, it still hit home with me as my mother passed just a year ago.I don’t cry at too many books, but I did at this one. I won’t say why, because I don’t want to spoil it… But it is epically beautiful and heartbreaking. Martina Boone wrote the sadness in this book so well you can feel it in your own heart and stomach.I could write forever about this book, but I would just end up spoiling this for you. This is a must, must, must, must read.Rating:
Recommended to:-Everyone.Not Recommended to:
-No one.
About the Author:Martina Boone was born in Prague and spoke several languages before learning English. Her first teacher in the U.S. made fun of her for not pronouncing the "wh" sound right, so she set out to master "all the words”—she's still working on that! In the meantime she’s writing contemporary fantasy set in the kinds of magical places she'd love to visit.
If you like romance steeped in mystery, mayhem, Spanish moss, and a bit of magic, she hopes you'll look forward to meeting Barrie, Eight, Cassie, Pru, Seven and the other characters of Watson Island. -
Title:Trial by Fire (The Worldwalker Trilogy #1)Author:Josephine AngeliniTeaser:“Worlds collide. Magic reigns. Love burns.”Genre:YA Paranormal Fantasy (Witches)Number of pages:374Released:
September 2nd, 2014 by Feiwel & FriendsDescription:This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying experiences that others in her hometown of Salem take for granted, which is why she is determined to enjoy her first high school party with her best friend and longtime crush, Tristan. But after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class, Lily wishes she could just disappear.
Suddenly, Lily is in a different Salem—one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of them all is Lillian . . . Lily's other self in this alternate universe.
What makes Lily weak at home is what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. In this confusing world, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone and a love she never expected.Positives:-In Josephine Angelini brilliance, the romance in this book is sweeping. I am hooked and can’t wait for the next installment.-Utilizing creative elements, some real-world ideas of witchcraft are also put into the lore, such as the use of herbs.-Never a boring moment. Not ever.-Characters you easily get to know and love.Negatives:-The Lillian/Lily thing bothered me at times when it came to the romance. I would have a hard time being in Lily’s shoes.-I wanted more Salem-y lore! Not just ‘witchcraft’, but perhaps the places and history behind it. When I read the location was Salem I was so excited.Overview:I absolutely adore Josephine Angelini. I will most likely read everything she writes. Her creativity, plot, characters, and romance always seem to be spot on to keep you from being able to put down the book. The story never seems too ‘typical’, the plot never seems rushed or dragging on, the characters are alive in your head, and the romance develops realistically and then makes even your skin burn!The plot of this book combines many elements that I love to see in books. Rowan, one of the main characters, takes Lily out in the wilderness and has to survive. I love rugged survival stuff like that. Honestly, it is a good way to have the romance and relationship develop between the two characters realistically, because anyone in that situation would have a hard time not depending on that other person. The plot itself surprised me in many places, and left me feeling like I should cover my eyes in others. This book, needless to say, is very steamy.The characters – what can I say? I would fall in love with Rowan so easily. I love the diversity in this book as well. The Native American culture behind the Outlanders, the introduction of a gay character, and the use of witchcraft. There are scenes between the characters that I could go back and read over and over again, each time getting that rush. Each character has something that makes you adore or hate them, making it easy to feel a connection.There is not much to say about the romance in this book other than – HOLY HELL. It is sexy and makes you feel good and bad at the same time. I can’t wait to see what is next for them.Rating:Recommended to:-Any readers of Josephine Angelini.-Those who want a steamy romance.-Those who like witchy books!Not Recommended to:-Those that perhaps don’t want to read YA fiction that is a little risqué at times.
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Title: The Girl From the Well (Book #1)
Author: Rin Chupeco
Teaser: “She will rise from the depths and seek vengeance.”
Genre: YA Paranormal Horror
Number of pages: 267
Released: August 5th, 2014 by Sourcebooks Fire
Description:
You may think me biased, being murdered myself. But my state of being has nothing to do with the curiosity toward my own species, if we can be called such. We do not go gentle, as your poet encourages, into that good night.
A dead girl walks the streets.
She hunts murderers. Child killers, much like the man who threw her body down a well three hundred years ago.
And when a strange boy bearing stranger tattoos moves into the neighborhood so, she discovers, does something else. And soon both will be drawn into the world of eerie doll rituals and dark Shinto exorcisms that will take them from American suburbia to the remote valleys and shrines of Aomori, Japan.
Because the boy has a terrifying secret - one that would just kill to get out.The Girl from the Well is a YA Horror novel pitched as "Dexter" meets "The Grudge", based on a well-loved Japanese story.
Positives:
-The prose. Hauntingly beautiful. Creative and intimate. Lush and intricate. I will read everything this author releases, just for her delicate, thoughtful writing.
-The characters. The main character, the ghost, is expertly “shown” to the reader. What I mean by this is that the author doesn’t have to have the character outright say “this is who I am and what I’m like”. The author shows this by even little things the character does or reacts.
-The retelling. This story takes the poorly developed written story in the movie The Ring. Sure, even I loved that movie because I thought it was so scary. But this book takes that story and brings life, story, history, plot, and tear-jerking reality to it.
Negatives:
-The length. Only because I would have wanted to read MORE.
Overview:
I am not one for YA Horror. Personally, I thought they wouldn’t be scary enough, would be cheesy, or would be poorly written in an irritating way. This book has some –very- scary parts that almost made me think… “If this was a movie it would NOT be for kids.” The best part of the book for me though was that she took Horror and made it scary AND beautiful. How does one do that? I don’t even know.
The plot was perfect for me. I could see a certain few people thinking it is ‘slow’ or not dramatic enough, but I don’t think they are truly appreciating the book then. The story flows like water that is just quiet enough you can barely hear it in the dark of night. It elevates and then descends to where you can feel the emotions and the spaces. The story develops where I was emotionally attached to the boy, but to the ghost girl in an even more strong way. I can’t wait to see more of her.
I cannot speak enough about how much I loved the ghost character. She was written perfectly. She actually doesn’t say much in the book, but you feel her so easily. Instead of having a lot of dialogue with the other characters of the book, you feel as if she is having dialogue directly with you.
Overall, this book is amazing. Changed my mind about YA Horror and made me fall in love with the author. This is a beautiful work that took a played out story from the movies and retold it with a history and background that I can’t wait to explore more.
Rating:
Recommended to:
-Everyone.
Not Recommended to:
-….No one. -
Title: The Pretenders (The Cemetery Girl Trilogy #1)
Author: Charlaine Harris and Christopher Golden, Illustrated by Don Kramer
Genre: YA Paranormal Graphic Novel
Number of pages: 128
Released: January 7th, 2014 by InkLit
Description:
She calls herself Calexa Rose Dunhill—names taken from the grim surroundings where she awoke, bruised and bloody, with no memory of who she is, how she got there, or who left her for dead.
She has made the cemetery her home, living in a crypt and avoiding human contact. But Calexa can’t hide from the dead—and because she can see spirits, they can’t hide from her.
Then one night, Calexa spies a group of teenagers vandalizing a grave—and watches in horror as they commit murder. As the victim’s spirit rises from her body, it flows into Calexa, overwhelming her mind with visions and memories not her own.
Now Calexa must make a decision: continue to hide to protect herself—or come forward to bring justice to the sad spirit who has reached out to her for help...
Positives:
-The blurb above really hooked me in. A great premise of a girl who lives in a graveyard, has visions, and runs into danger. A lot of potential here as I was looking for graveyard goodness.
-The art is very beautiful and rich. When opening the pages, the art is what finally sold me on trying it out.
Negatives:
-I’m new to graphic novels, but I’ve read a good few now. And this one just seemed confusing. The story seemed to jump from scene to scene quickly and left me thinking, “Oh wait.. What?” The connections from scene to scene just weren’t there.
-I was disappointed by the lackluster story. I mean it was an –okay- mystery, but the confusion and predictability made the whole thing just –okay-.
Overview:
You know what you read wasn’t that good when you don’t have much to say about it. I don’t have much to say because I didn’t feel like I actually got to know the main character much. Which, given, she doesn’t remember anything, but I would have liked to see the character learn a bit more about herself. The characters I did like was the old man and woman. Their kindness was written very well, although if I were them I would be a little bit more cautious around some girl that is staying in the cemetery and steals from me.
Although I am all for fantasy stories that –aren’t- realistic, there are just some things that need to be realistic. Such as reactions characters have to certain situations. In this graphic novel, I found myself laughing here and there thinking, “What… That’s all you’re gonna do?” It felt like the main character went from being super freaked out to just aloof about the situation. Not really a lot of consistency there.
To end, I will say that I am going to read the next one. The premise is really creative, and I hope the author and artist can develop the character and story a bit more.
Rating:
Recommended to:
-YA Paranormal Fiction fans that have never tried Graphic Novels. It’s not too overwhelming and would be a good place to start.
-Those who love the author of the Sookie Stackhouse series, as she took part in this.
Not Recommended to:
-Long-time Graphic Novel fans. I think some of the issues I stated above may leave you feeling unsatisfied. -
The Witch Snitch's Review Of....
Title: The Archived (The Archived #1)
Teaser: “Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.”
Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal
Number of pages: 328 Pages
Released: January 22nd, 2013 by Hyperion
Description:
The dead rest on shelves like books. Each body has a story to tell, a life in pictures only Librarians can read. The dead, called 'Histories', rest in the Archive.Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often—violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a tool for staying alive.Being a Keeper is dangerous and a constant reminder of those she lost, Da and her little brother. Mac wonders about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. Yet someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.
Positives:-Great premise. It creates a whole no world beyond ours and teases the question of what happens after death.-It actually surprised me. The book reads like a mystery as you find clues little by little with the protagonist. Usually I can predict what happens, but this one actually had me give a stunned “Oh!”-Realistic portrayal of grief. Although the book does not center on the grief the protagonist suffers after losing a sibling, the characters don’t get ‘insta-better’ like characters in some books do. Nothing is really the ‘same’ after you lose something close to you. The author provides a lot of symbolism to that.-Easy to read! I got through this one quickly as I kept getting breadcrumbs of the mystery.-Okay, who doesn’t love a mystery surrounding around deaths in an old hotel?
Negatives:-A slight love triangle in this book, which happens to be a bit tipped over to one guy more than the other.
-Similar YA plot format.
-Limited glimpse into the whole world of the Archived. I’m sure there’s more that we will see as the series continues. I understand why the author left you wanting more, but I was still so eager!
-I often wondered throughout the book how she gets so much past her parents….
Overview:
I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus from reading for a while as real life was a bit chaotic. Through all of it, this book remained in my mind. The eerie, interesting description of the tale kept me looking back. Every time I would visit Barnes and Noble my hands would run over the cover. The book drew me in as it seemed to tease many philosophical concepts – what happens after death? What makes us, ‘us’? Do we really live on through our memories after death? Is there a way to see back into past lives? Is our mind just on a ‘shelf’? Mystery, a library of memories, paranormal, and the whole ‘world within a world’ concept kept me intrigued. And this was the first fiction book I read once I came back to reading.
Reading the book is very easy, as the plot flows really well. As the mystery unveils, the character occasionally slacks off from giving us another tidbit. This irritated me a little bit, as I wanted more, but that’s all because we as human beings want instant gratification. Some books give into that and then we complain that it is too instant. There is a small range of where this is kept at balance. This book does a good job at that, with the exception that one of the ‘romantic’ choices seems to be a bit ‘insta’. But by the end it was something I understood.
While I did love the story and am looking forward to the next, it is not a full five wands for me. To get that, the story has to be purely unique and creative. The author did create a unique underworld with the Archives, but we spent too much time on the outside of it. Luckily, the author pairs the underworld with a hotel murder mystery on the outer. If she hadn’t, I would have had much more to complain about. The book does follow the very similar YA plot, so in that sense it is predictable.
As for the characters, the protagonist, Mack, was passionate about what she was chosen to do. While she wasn’t a super strong character that I really connected with, I did appreciate parts of her. Her affection and loyalty to her grandfather is truly touching. Her identity is found in what she does with the Histories and remains true to that. I hate when there is a female character that is all gung-ho about her conviction and then goes back to her high school friends and is a social butterfly. It just seems too common. Mack instead kept to her own and was quiet despite having a chatty friend. She felt like someone you could be content sitting in a room and just being quiet with.
Her father doesn’t really trigger much for me, positive or negative. Her mother, though, was a great representation of one way people grieve. In fact, her obsessive ‘ignoring’ of the issue is something that I do sometimes, and it was nice to see that this didn’t let up through the book. Things like that don’t go away easy.
As for the boys in the book? I know all of you want to know if they are swoon-worthy. Honestly, the romance in this book was ‘meh’. It seemed the other aspects of the book were more important. The way she was drawn to either interest didn’t feel like ‘romance’ or ‘love’. They felt led by other reasons – ‘loneliness’ and ‘distraction’. Which actually as I write that, I find that sort of refreshing. I won’t say much more, other than that I hope there is more Wesley in the next book. I feel like I didn’t get to know his character much, but I love his uniqueness so far.
To sum it up, the story has very similar parts to other current YA books, but the author does put a fresh twist on it. She includes a solution for pitfalls that other authors often fall into with YA fiction. I am excited for more and am currently waiting for my library to get it in!
Rating: 3.5 wands
Recommended to:
-Mystery/Paranormal lovers – the Histories/Archived world plus the hotel murder plot. Great combination.
-YA lovers who don’t mind the typical plot.
-Those who love a creepy atmosphere.
Not Recommended to:
-Readers who can’t stand typical plots in YA.
-Those that look for ‘original’ romances.
-The story mainly takes place in the hotel in and the ‘Archives’. So if limited scenery/settings bother you, this might not be your thing.Let me know what you thought!
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