Review: Undeadly (The Reaper Diaries #1) by Michele Vail

Hi!

Undeadly (The Reaper Diaries #1) 
by Michele Vail

Release date: November 20th 2012
by Harlequin Teen
Format: Paperback, 272 pages

Goodreads: 

The day I turned 16, my boyfriend-to-be died. I brought him back to life. Then things got a little weird...

Molly Bartolucci wants to blend in, date hottie Rick and keep her zombie-raising abilities on the down-low. Then the god Anubis chooses her to become a reaper—and she accidentally undoes the work of another reaper, Rath. Within days, she's shipped off to the Nekyia Academy, an elite boarding school that trains the best necromancers in the world. And her personal reaping tutor? Rath.

Life at Nekyia has its plusses. Molly has her own personal ghoul, for one. Rick follows her there out of the blue, for another...except, there's something a little off about him. When students at the academy start to die and Rath disappears, Molly starts to wonder if anything is as it seems. Only one thing is certain—-Molly's got an undeadly knack for finding trouble....

My thoughts:

Undeadly was a quick, fun and very refreshing read. One that I really needed, after all the intense, emotional, angst-y books I've read lately. The heroine has a young, spunky attitude and a joyful voice that made reading this book a very entertaining experience. Yes, she deals with zombies, reapers, necromancers and death, but her feisty spirit and sarcastic lines make everything flow by at a fast pace and puts a smile on your face.

I haven't read that many zombie books before (I did ready many reaper books, as you know), but the way the author approached this subject and the mythology was very unique and interesting. The story about souls, reapers, necromancers, about how they were made and the powers they had was fascinating.

Molly had a normal life - well, as normal as it could be, in a world where everyone knew about the existence of the supernatural beings living (or not quite) among them and did their best to adapt.

Being a necro doesn’t make anyone really special, though. Everyone has to learn about necromancy, about zombies and SEER machines, and even Ancient Egyptian history (required course, like math and science). But it’s not exactly a big deal these days, not like it was waaaaay back.

She had the usual necromancer-in-training, family and and high school drama to deal with. And then her 16th birthday came along and everything changed. Suddenly, she had much more on her plate than she could take: family secrets revealed, new powers, prophecies, a maybe-boyfriend turned dead - and then brought back to life - who acted weird, a kind-of-dead, hot stalker, a new school to attend.... And more, but you'll have to read the book for yourself to find out about it. :) Scary, but exciting stuff all around!

This reaper stuff was like opening a beautifully wrapped present on my sixteenth birthday and getting a box full of scorpions. 

The first part of the book seemed a bit slow and confusing, but when Molly moved to the necromancer boarding school, things started to get more interesting and captivating! She could barely catch her breath - there was always something going on and she was always caught in the middle. And because she was new at everything, she was kind of clueless and overwhelmed. Even so, she had an impressive way of getting through it all. She's fun, feisty and resourceful and got a few reliable allies on the way. Of course, they couldn't solve her problems for her, but they proved to be very helpful when she needed them the most. And despite everything, she never backed down or hide or whine, not even in the most dire situations, which made it even easier to like her and to cheer her on. It was awesome to follow her on her adventures!

“Thanks, Ren. You’re a good friend.”
“I’m a ghost. You’ve got too much heart, Mol. You don’t turn away no matter how bad it gets.” He brushed the hair out of my face. “Leave the dead and the dying alone.”
“I can’t,” I said. “I’m a reaper.”

And like all that was not enough, she also had to deal with the usual teenager problems: family drama, mean girls, cute boys, being the new girl in school... Speaking of which, there's not that much of romance in the book. But there's potential. ;) I really liked Rath (I mean, hot reaper, bad boy attitude and mysterious appearances? Totally my kind of hero!) and I hope to see more of him in the next books. Molly's new friends were awesome as well and I could see a great bond forming between all of them already. And I'm pretty sure that will come in handy for Molly's next stories - she seems to be in for a big adventure!

All in all, Undeadly was a very enjoyable and interesting book. It was fun, fast-paced and the writing felt natural and flew smoothly. I'll admit thought that it took me a while to get into the story, to understand all the mythology and to get used to Molly's voice. She's very young, full of energy and sometimes immature, and adding to that her necro abilities, it took some time to connect with her and to adapt to the world building. But there's a lot of potential for growth and development for her and the mythology elements are fascinating, so I really recommend this to Young Adult Paranormal lovers who are looking for something fresh and original!

*Review copy provided by the blog tour host and the publisher Harlequin Teen via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you!

And I have a huge giveaway and the playlist for the book coming up next. Stay tuned!;)

Review: Undeadly (The Reaper Diaries #1) by Michele Vail

Hi!

Undeadly (The Reaper Diaries #1) 
by Michele Vail

Release date: November 20th 2012
by Harlequin Teen
Format: Paperback, 272 pages

Goodreads: 

The day I turned 16, my boyfriend-to-be died. I brought him back to life. Then things got a little weird...

Molly Bartolucci wants to blend in, date hottie Rick and keep her zombie-raising abilities on the down-low. Then the god Anubis chooses her to become a reaper—and she accidentally undoes the work of another reaper, Rath. Within days, she's shipped off to the Nekyia Academy, an elite boarding school that trains the best necromancers in the world. And her personal reaping tutor? Rath.

Life at Nekyia has its plusses. Molly has her own personal ghoul, for one. Rick follows her there out of the blue, for another...except, there's something a little off about him. When students at the academy start to die and Rath disappears, Molly starts to wonder if anything is as it seems. Only one thing is certain—-Molly's got an undeadly knack for finding trouble....

My thoughts:

Undeadly was a quick, fun and very refreshing read. One that I really needed, after all the intense, emotional, angst-y books I've read lately. The heroine has a young, spunky attitude and a joyful voice that made reading this book a very entertaining experience. Yes, she deals with zombies, reapers, necromancers and death, but her feisty spirit and sarcastic lines make everything flow by at a fast pace and puts a smile on your face.

I haven't read that many zombie books before (I did ready many reaper books, as you know), but the way the author approached this subject and the mythology was very unique and interesting. The story about souls, reapers, necromancers, about how they were made and the powers they had was fascinating.

Molly had a normal life - well, as normal as it could be, in a world where everyone knew about the existence of the supernatural beings living (or not quite) among them and did their best to adapt.

Being a necro doesn’t make anyone really special, though. Everyone has to learn about necromancy, about zombies and SEER machines, and even Ancient Egyptian history (required course, like math and science). But it’s not exactly a big deal these days, not like it was waaaaay back.

She had the usual necromancer-in-training, family and and high school drama to deal with. And then her 16th birthday came along and everything changed. Suddenly, she had much more on her plate than she could take: family secrets revealed, new powers, prophecies, a maybe-boyfriend turned dead - and then brought back to life - who acted weird, a kind-of-dead, hot stalker, a new school to attend.... And more, but you'll have to read the book for yourself to find out about it. :) Scary, but exciting stuff all around!

This reaper stuff was like opening a beautifully wrapped present on my sixteenth birthday and getting a box full of scorpions. 

The first part of the book seemed a bit slow and confusing, but when Molly moved to the necromancer boarding school, things started to get more interesting and captivating! She could barely catch her breath - there was always something going on and she was always caught in the middle. And because she was new at everything, she was kind of clueless and overwhelmed. Even so, she had an impressive way of getting through it all. She's fun, feisty and resourceful and got a few reliable allies on the way. Of course, they couldn't solve her problems for her, but they proved to be very helpful when she needed them the most. And despite everything, she never backed down or hide or whine, not even in the most dire situations, which made it even easier to like her and to cheer her on. It was awesome to follow her on her adventures!

“Thanks, Ren. You’re a good friend.”
“I’m a ghost. You’ve got too much heart, Mol. You don’t turn away no matter how bad it gets.” He brushed the hair out of my face. “Leave the dead and the dying alone.”
“I can’t,” I said. “I’m a reaper.”

And like all that was not enough, she also had to deal with the usual teenager problems: family drama, mean girls, cute boys, being the new girl in school... Speaking of which, there's not that much of romance in the book. But there's potential. ;) I really liked Rath (I mean, hot reaper, bad boy attitude and mysterious appearances? Totally my kind of hero!) and I hope to see more of him in the next books. Molly's new friends were awesome as well and I could see a great bond forming between all of them already. And I'm pretty sure that will come in handy for Molly's next stories - she seems to be in for a big adventure!

All in all, Undeadly was a very enjoyable and interesting book. It was fun, fast-paced and the writing felt natural and flew smoothly. I'll admit thought that it took me a while to get into the story, to understand all the mythology and to get used to Molly's voice. She's very young, full of energy and sometimes immature, and adding to that her necro abilities, it took some time to connect with her and to adapt to the world building. But there's a lot of potential for growth and development for her and the mythology elements are fascinating, so I really recommend this to Young Adult Paranormal lovers who are looking for something fresh and original!

*Review copy provided by the blog tour host and the publisher Harlequin Teen via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you!

And I have a huge giveaway and the playlist for the book coming up next. Stay tuned!;)

Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits

by Katie McGarry

Pub.:  July 31st 2012
by Harlequin Teen
Hardcover, 384 pages

Goodreads:

"I won't tell anyone, Echo. I promise." Noah tucked a curl behind my ear. It had been so long since someone touched me like he did. Why did it have to be Noah Hutchins? His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms. "You didn't do that-did you? It was done to you?" No one ever asked that question. They stared. They whispered. They laughed. But they never asked.

"An edgy romance that pulls you in and never lets go. I was hooked!"-Gena Showalter, New York Times bestselling author of the Intertwined series

So wrong for each other...and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible. Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

My thoughts:

(spoiler free)

First off, a big THANK YOU to Katie McGarry for reviving my love for YA Contemporary lit with her novel. I haven’t read  YA contemp since high school (I had this crazy idea that with all the paranormals, fantasies, dystopians etc out there lately, good old Contemporary can’t bring anything fresh, interesting and original enough to satisfy my book addiction – pff, like I said, CRAZY!), but ever since I read Pushing The Limits, I couldn’t read anything else but contemporaries. I guess I was a little burn out on paranormals and I wasn’t even aware of it – not until I read this awesomeness of a book. So, thank you Ms McGarry!:)

***

You might think this is the your typical YA story: outcast girl meets tough, hot boy (there’s even a school project that brings them together), they discover they have things in common and they get each other like no one else does, they fall in love and after a few bumps on the road, they live HEA. Well, you’d be WRONG. There’s sooo much more to this story than that, that I don’t even know where to begin!

***

Pushing The Limits is an edgy, intense story of finding oneself, of finding love, of learning how to trust someone, of finding the strength and the courage to fight – and beat - your inner demons and not to let anyone else tell you how to live your life. It’s a raw story about loss and redemption, love and friendship, betrayal and forgiveness, sorrow and joy, grief and learning how to let go and move on, about healing and hope and happiness and yes, about pushing the limits. Add to that an absolutely beautiful and compelling writing style, an original, yet very realistic plot and complex, real-life-like characters and you get yourself a book no one, and I mean, NO ONE should miss.

***

The story is told from both Echo and Noah’s POVs (Eeek! I LOVE books told from alternate POVs!), so it' s very easy to connect with the characters right away and to understand what they are feeling and what they are going through.

Echo used to be one of the perfect, popular girls, but after her ‘accident’ two years ago, her life turned upside down. Now she has these scars no one seems to know where they came from, she’s sad and withdrawn and just tries to get trough the day without too much drama (not an easy thing to do in high school and with a dysfunctional family like hers) and… well, to be normal. Enters Noah. *introduces failed attempt not to sigh and stare all dreamy eyed off into space here* He’s got his own issues, a troubled past, a questionable behavior, he’s hot and dark and brooding, and yet there’s something about him that draws Echo to him. And he’s intrigued by her as well. He wants to talk to her, to get to know her, to find out what’s the real story behind her scars, because he just knows that the rumors about her can’t be true. And don't even get me started on the crazy attraction! 

Though they had classes together, they kind of lived in their own little worlds and didn’t really interact. But after that first meeting, they bump into each other almost everywhere. And neither of them seems to be pleased about that – not at first, anyway.

(Noah’s POV):
“Mrs. Marcos?” asked an angelic voice. “Can you please tell me the upcoming dates for the ACT and SAT?”  […]
I snuck a peek and noticed red, silky, curly hair. I knew her. Echo Emerson. […] I didn’t know much about her other than she kept to herself, she was smart, a redhead and she had big tits. She wore large, long-sleeved shirts that hung off her shoulders and tank tops underneath that revealed just enough to get the fantasies flowing.  Like always, she stared straight ahead as if I didn’t exist. Hell, I probably didn’t exist in her mind. People like Echo Emerson irritated the crap out of me.
 “You’ve got a fucked-up name,” I mumbled. I didn’t know why I wanted to rattle her, I just did. 
“Shouldn’t you be getting high in the bathroom?” (eARC, pg. 20)

(Echo’s POV):
“As if he heard me from across the room, his dark eyes met mine. His shaggy brown hair fell over them, but I could tell he was looking at me. The stubble on his face moved as he smiled. Noah had muscles, looks and trouble stalking him. Somehow, he made jeans and a T-shirt look dangerous. Not that I was into girl-using  stoners.” (pg. 29)

*swoon*

So, don’t get me wrong, it’s an edgy, dramatic story, but there’s humor, sarcasm, easy banter, sweet romance and hot sexual tension in it as well. You know, a bit of everything to make a well balanced story:

His wicked grin made me smile. Not my fake smile—my real one.
“Funny.”
In a lightning-fast move, he placed both of his hands on the brick wall, caging me with his body. He leaned toward me and my heart shifted into a gear I didn’t know existed. His warm breath caressed my neck, melting my frozen skin. I tilted my head, waiting for the solid warmth of his body on mine. I could see his eyes again and those dark orbs screamed hunger.
“I heard a rumor.” 
“What’s that?” I struggled to get out.
“It’s your birthday.”
Terrified speaking would break the spell, I licked my suddenly dry lips and nodded.
“Happy birthday.”
Noah drew his lips closer to mine; that sweet musky smell overwhelmed my senses… (pg. 56)

*fans self*

They are drawn to each other, get each other and need each other on a level none of them is ready to accept yet.

(Noah POV): No doubt, Echo Emerson equaled siren. She gave me the same smile I’d seen on Saturday night. That type of smile caused men to write those pussy-ass songs that Isaiah and I made fun of. I’d sit in Mrs. Collins’s office for hours and wake my ass up early to go to calculus in order to see that smile again. This was fucked up. (pg. 81) 

They don’t even realize how much they help and depend on each other until their feelings are so strong, that there’s no going back - not without being completely broken and alone, anyway.

 (Noah POV): No pathetic sympathy crossed her face, only plain understanding. “Think Mrs. Collins put the two most depressed people together on purpose?” I flashed a smile to keep the honesty of the statement from corroding the remainder of my heart.  Her hand retreated. “Wow. I thought I was the only person at this school faking every moment.” (pg. 82)

They have a lot of issues to overcome, personal and family problems to solve, doubts and feelings to figure out, and the fact that everyone else misunderstand, mistreat, misjudge them and try to stand in their way makes it hard for them to open up and develop a relationship. Even their closest friends are skeptical about it. But it doesn't really matter, because in the end, they are stronger, they belong to each other and that's the end of it.

(Noah's POV):
But she appealed to me in more than a physical way. I loved her smile, the light in her eyes when she laughed, and damn if she couldn’t keep up with me. (pg. 124)

(Echo's POV):
Noah listened to me. He made me laugh and he made me feel special. He was strong and warm and caring and…everything. I loved him. I loved him more than I’d ever loved another person in my life. (pg. 232)

***

Echo’s parents basically suck (sorry, there's no other way to put it - they annoyed me to no end!), but her best friend is awesome. Lila brings a cheerfulness and a sense of belonging to the story with her constant chit chat and positive vibes that were very welcoming, considering Echo's problems. She' s always there for Echo, offering support, even when she doesn' t agree with her choices. (She made me miss high school!) Noah’s best friends are kind of crazy, bun fun crazy, not creepy crazy, and they are there for him when he needs them the most too. Mrs Collins, the high school therapist, was probably the only adult who was kind, patient, caring and believed in Echo and Noah and in their chance to overcome all the insanity surrounding them.

“I’m proud of you, Noah.”  […]
 “Why is it when people are proud of me that my life sucks?”
 “Because growing up means making tough choices, and doing the right thing doesn’t necessarily mean doing the thing that feels good.” (Mrs Collins, pg. 366)

(Oh, there's this one scene with Noah and Echo’s dad… *sigh* It was so touching! I cried and smiled and that’s when I fell in love with Noah all over again. When you read the book and get to that point, show it to your boyfriend and tell him "THIS is how it's done!" LOL *just kidding**not really*)

***

 I mentioned above that this was a story no one should miss and I really meant that. Everything seems so real, raw and personal, because it deals with real life stuff: high school drama, tragedies, family issues, grief, foster systems, drugs, but most importantly, love and hope for something better. It's the kind of book that gives you a life lesson, that makes you think and feel and just like Gena Showalter so accurately put it in her blurb, 'it pulls you in and never lets go' - not even after you’ve finished reading it. And did I mention the beautiful writing?! <3

*There's cussing, mentions of drugs use, abuse and sexual situations that are not appropriate for very young readers.
**Sorry about the quotes overload!
***Quotes are from the eARC version of the book, so they may differ in the final version. 
 ****Review copy provided by the publisher Harlequin Teen via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you! 

Buy the book: Amazon / The Book Depository

Stalk the author: Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter

xoxo

Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits

by Katie McGarry

Pub.:  July 31st 2012
by Harlequin Teen
Hardcover, 384 pages

Goodreads:

"I won't tell anyone, Echo. I promise." Noah tucked a curl behind my ear. It had been so long since someone touched me like he did. Why did it have to be Noah Hutchins? His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms. "You didn't do that-did you? It was done to you?" No one ever asked that question. They stared. They whispered. They laughed. But they never asked.

"An edgy romance that pulls you in and never lets go. I was hooked!"-Gena Showalter, New York Times bestselling author of the Intertwined series

So wrong for each other...and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible. Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

My thoughts:

(spoiler free)

First off, a big THANK YOU to Katie McGarry for reviving my love for YA Contemporary lit with her novel. I haven’t read  YA contemp since high school (I had this crazy idea that with all the paranormals, fantasies, dystopians etc out there lately, good old Contemporary can’t bring anything fresh, interesting and original enough to satisfy my book addiction – pff, like I said, CRAZY!), but ever since I read Pushing The Limits, I couldn’t read anything else but contemporaries. I guess I was a little burn out on paranormals and I wasn’t even aware of it – not until I read this awesomeness of a book. So, thank you Ms McGarry!:)

***

You might think this is the your typical YA story: outcast girl meets tough, hot boy (there’s even a school project that brings them together), they discover they have things in common and they get each other like no one else does, they fall in love and after a few bumps on the road, they live HEA. Well, you’d be WRONG. There’s sooo much more to this story than that, that I don’t even know where to begin!

***

Pushing The Limits is an edgy, intense story of finding oneself, of finding love, of learning how to trust someone, of finding the strength and the courage to fight – and beat - your inner demons and not to let anyone else tell you how to live your life. It’s a raw story about loss and redemption, love and friendship, betrayal and forgiveness, sorrow and joy, grief and learning how to let go and move on, about healing and hope and happiness and yes, about pushing the limits. Add to that an absolutely beautiful and compelling writing style, an original, yet very realistic plot and complex, real-life-like characters and you get yourself a book no one, and I mean, NO ONE should miss.

***

The story is told from both Echo and Noah’s POVs (Eeek! I LOVE books told from alternate POVs!), so it' s very easy to connect with the characters right away and to understand what they are feeling and what they are going through.

Echo used to be one of the perfect, popular girls, but after her ‘accident’ two years ago, her life turned upside down. Now she has these scars no one seems to know where they came from, she’s sad and withdrawn and just tries to get trough the day without too much drama (not an easy thing to do in high school and with a dysfunctional family like hers) and… well, to be normal. Enters Noah. *introduces failed attempt not to sigh and stare all dreamy eyed off into space here* He’s got his own issues, a troubled past, a questionable behavior, he’s hot and dark and brooding, and yet there’s something about him that draws Echo to him. And he’s intrigued by her as well. He wants to talk to her, to get to know her, to find out what’s the real story behind her scars, because he just knows that the rumors about her can’t be true. And don't even get me started on the crazy attraction! 

Though they had classes together, they kind of lived in their own little worlds and didn’t really interact. But after that first meeting, they bump into each other almost everywhere. And neither of them seems to be pleased about that – not at first, anyway.

(Noah’s POV):
“Mrs. Marcos?” asked an angelic voice. “Can you please tell me the upcoming dates for the ACT and SAT?”  […]
I snuck a peek and noticed red, silky, curly hair. I knew her. Echo Emerson. […] I didn’t know much about her other than she kept to herself, she was smart, a redhead and she had big tits. She wore large, long-sleeved shirts that hung off her shoulders and tank tops underneath that revealed just enough to get the fantasies flowing.  Like always, she stared straight ahead as if I didn’t exist. Hell, I probably didn’t exist in her mind. People like Echo Emerson irritated the crap out of me.
 “You’ve got a fucked-up name,” I mumbled. I didn’t know why I wanted to rattle her, I just did. 
“Shouldn’t you be getting high in the bathroom?” (eARC, pg. 20)

(Echo’s POV):
“As if he heard me from across the room, his dark eyes met mine. His shaggy brown hair fell over them, but I could tell he was looking at me. The stubble on his face moved as he smiled. Noah had muscles, looks and trouble stalking him. Somehow, he made jeans and a T-shirt look dangerous. Not that I was into girl-using  stoners.” (pg. 29)

*swoon*

So, don’t get me wrong, it’s an edgy, dramatic story, but there’s humor, sarcasm, easy banter, sweet romance and hot sexual tension in it as well. You know, a bit of everything to make a well balanced story:

His wicked grin made me smile. Not my fake smile—my real one.
“Funny.”
In a lightning-fast move, he placed both of his hands on the brick wall, caging me with his body. He leaned toward me and my heart shifted into a gear I didn’t know existed. His warm breath caressed my neck, melting my frozen skin. I tilted my head, waiting for the solid warmth of his body on mine. I could see his eyes again and those dark orbs screamed hunger.
“I heard a rumor.” 
“What’s that?” I struggled to get out.
“It’s your birthday.”
Terrified speaking would break the spell, I licked my suddenly dry lips and nodded.
“Happy birthday.”
Noah drew his lips closer to mine; that sweet musky smell overwhelmed my senses… (pg. 56)

*fans self*

They are drawn to each other, get each other and need each other on a level none of them is ready to accept yet.

(Noah POV): No doubt, Echo Emerson equaled siren. She gave me the same smile I’d seen on Saturday night. That type of smile caused men to write those pussy-ass songs that Isaiah and I made fun of. I’d sit in Mrs. Collins’s office for hours and wake my ass up early to go to calculus in order to see that smile again. This was fucked up. (pg. 81) 

They don’t even realize how much they help and depend on each other until their feelings are so strong, that there’s no going back - not without being completely broken and alone, anyway.

 (Noah POV): No pathetic sympathy crossed her face, only plain understanding. “Think Mrs. Collins put the two most depressed people together on purpose?” I flashed a smile to keep the honesty of the statement from corroding the remainder of my heart.  Her hand retreated. “Wow. I thought I was the only person at this school faking every moment.” (pg. 82)

They have a lot of issues to overcome, personal and family problems to solve, doubts and feelings to figure out, and the fact that everyone else misunderstand, mistreat, misjudge them and try to stand in their way makes it hard for them to open up and develop a relationship. Even their closest friends are skeptical about it. But it doesn't really matter, because in the end, they are stronger, they belong to each other and that's the end of it.

(Noah's POV):
But she appealed to me in more than a physical way. I loved her smile, the light in her eyes when she laughed, and damn if she couldn’t keep up with me. (pg. 124)

(Echo's POV):
Noah listened to me. He made me laugh and he made me feel special. He was strong and warm and caring and…everything. I loved him. I loved him more than I’d ever loved another person in my life. (pg. 232)

***

Echo’s parents basically suck (sorry, there's no other way to put it - they annoyed me to no end!), but her best friend is awesome. Lila brings a cheerfulness and a sense of belonging to the story with her constant chit chat and positive vibes that were very welcoming, considering Echo's problems. She' s always there for Echo, offering support, even when she doesn' t agree with her choices. (She made me miss high school!) Noah’s best friends are kind of crazy, bun fun crazy, not creepy crazy, and they are there for him when he needs them the most too. Mrs Collins, the high school therapist, was probably the only adult who was kind, patient, caring and believed in Echo and Noah and in their chance to overcome all the insanity surrounding them.

“I’m proud of you, Noah.”  […]
 “Why is it when people are proud of me that my life sucks?”
 “Because growing up means making tough choices, and doing the right thing doesn’t necessarily mean doing the thing that feels good.” (Mrs Collins, pg. 366)

(Oh, there's this one scene with Noah and Echo’s dad… *sigh* It was so touching! I cried and smiled and that’s when I fell in love with Noah all over again. When you read the book and get to that point, show it to your boyfriend and tell him "THIS is how it's done!" LOL *just kidding**not really*)

***

 I mentioned above that this was a story no one should miss and I really meant that. Everything seems so real, raw and personal, because it deals with real life stuff: high school drama, tragedies, family issues, grief, foster systems, drugs, but most importantly, love and hope for something better. It's the kind of book that gives you a life lesson, that makes you think and feel and just like Gena Showalter so accurately put it in her blurb, 'it pulls you in and never lets go' - not even after you’ve finished reading it. And did I mention the beautiful writing?! <3

*There's cussing, mentions of drugs use, abuse and sexual situations that are not appropriate for very young readers.
**Sorry about the quotes overload!
***Quotes are from the eARC version of the book, so they may differ in the final version. 
 ****Review copy provided by the publisher Harlequin Teen via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you! 

Buy the book: Amazon / The Book Depository

Stalk the author: Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter

xoxo

Review: Crave (The Clann #1) by Melissa Darnell

Hi!

Crave (The Clann #1)
by Melissa Darnell

Release Date: October 25th 2011 
by Harlequin Teen 
Paperback, 416 pages
Goodreads:

Savannah Colbert has never known why she's so hated by the kids of the Clann. Nor can she deny her instinct to get close to Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman. Especially when she recovers from a strange illness and the attraction becomes nearly irresistible. It's as if he's a magnet, pulling her gaze, her thoughts, even her dreams. Her family has warned her to have nothing to do with him, or any members of the Clann. But when Tristan is suddenly everywhere she goes, Savannah fears she's destined to fail.

For years, Tristan has been forbidden to even speak to Savannah Colbert. Then Savannah disappears from school for a week and comes back…different, and suddenly he can't stay away. Boys seem intoxicated just from looking at her. His own family becomes stricter than ever. And Tristan has to fight his own urge to protect her, to be near her no matter the consequences….

My thoughts: (spoiler free)

Told from both Savannah and Tristan’s POVs, Crave is a beautiful story of forbidden love, strong magic, games of power, painful loss and unimaginable danger.

Savannah and Tristan have always been drawn to each other. When they were kids, they used to be best friends and to spend all the time together. But one day, the Clann (formed from the town’s founding families who were rumored to have witchy powers) asked Tristan and all their other kids to stay away from Savannah for ever. None of them understood why, but they had to comply. Savannah never got the chance to find out why all her friends were avoiding her, so feeling hurt and betrayed, she never talked to Tristan again. But that didn’t mean she didn’t still feel his presence every time he was around her or that her feelings for him just disappeared – on the contrary. So every other day at her high school was a nightmare and the fact that she was shy, quiet and clumsy didn’t make it feel any better. Especially not when all the Clann’s kids seemed to hate her and made a routine from messing with her.

 But all of a sudden, everything changed. Savannah went sick and after a few confusing, painful days of staying at home, when she went back to school, everything was different. She was different. She felt better, stronger, she even looked prettier - and suddenly she was the center of attention. Tristan noticed too, because her presence was affecting him like it never did before. She was constantly on his mind and it even made him act weird. The pull between them became stronger and almost impossible to ignore. And though they knew better than to give in to the powerful attraction that drew them to each other and to ignore the danger their being together represented for everyone, they started to see each other and spend more and more time together. But the Clann and an even more dominant, evil, merciless force was lurking around, always watching, always testing and they were not happy with the turn of events, because Sav and Tristan seeing each other could start a war and the consequences could be disastrous. The two have to support the repercussions of their acts and of neglecting the rules - and things don't go well.

 There’s not a lot of action in this novel, but the suspense, the unpredictability, the twists and turns, the constant presence of danger and evil forces, the hidden truths, the perpetual changes, the annoying hold their powerful families had on Sav and Tristan, their strong feelings for each other and the way they affected them and everyone around them made of this book a very enjoyable, engaging read. Of course, Melissa’s beautiful and compelling writing had a lot  to do with it; the story was intense and flowed easily.

 Despite everything, Sav and Tristan are so adorable together! I love Tristan, he’s strong, snarky, protective and oh, so charming; reading from his POV was a delight! There was a lot of pain and difficult changes in Sav’s life, so her side of the story was a bit darker; it was grim and sad, yet understandable. She had a few moments when I just wanted to shake her, but… I got over it quickly. :)) She grew on me and became a more likeable character with every chapter, with every new development of the story.

 All in all, I really, really liked this book. There are some elements in it that I've always loved and I've always wanted to see combined (can't tell you what exactly I'm talking about, it would be spoilery) so THANK YOU  Melissa Darnell for making it happen! *hugs*

 Of course, the ending left me craving for the sequel – I can’t wait to see where Savannah and Tristan’s story goes and I wouldn’t mind a little more action in the next books in the series, those super bad ass powers should be put to work!:))

***Review copy provided by the publisher Harlequin Teen and NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you guys!

P.S. Isn't that cover gorgeous?<3


xoxo

Review: Crave (The Clann #1) by Melissa Darnell

Hi!

Crave (The Clann #1)
by Melissa Darnell

Release Date: October 25th 2011 
by Harlequin Teen 
Paperback, 416 pages
Goodreads:

Savannah Colbert has never known why she's so hated by the kids of the Clann. Nor can she deny her instinct to get close to Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman. Especially when she recovers from a strange illness and the attraction becomes nearly irresistible. It's as if he's a magnet, pulling her gaze, her thoughts, even her dreams. Her family has warned her to have nothing to do with him, or any members of the Clann. But when Tristan is suddenly everywhere she goes, Savannah fears she's destined to fail.

For years, Tristan has been forbidden to even speak to Savannah Colbert. Then Savannah disappears from school for a week and comes back…different, and suddenly he can't stay away. Boys seem intoxicated just from looking at her. His own family becomes stricter than ever. And Tristan has to fight his own urge to protect her, to be near her no matter the consequences….

My thoughts: (spoiler free)

Told from both Savannah and Tristan’s POVs, Crave is a beautiful story of forbidden love, strong magic, games of power, painful loss and unimaginable danger.

Savannah and Tristan have always been drawn to each other. When they were kids, they used to be best friends and to spend all the time together. But one day, the Clann (formed from the town’s founding families who were rumored to have witchy powers) asked Tristan and all their other kids to stay away from Savannah for ever. None of them understood why, but they had to comply. Savannah never got the chance to find out why all her friends were avoiding her, so feeling hurt and betrayed, she never talked to Tristan again. But that didn’t mean she didn’t still feel his presence every time he was around her or that her feelings for him just disappeared – on the contrary. So every other day at her high school was a nightmare and the fact that she was shy, quiet and clumsy didn’t make it feel any better. Especially not when all the Clann’s kids seemed to hate her and made a routine from messing with her.

 But all of a sudden, everything changed. Savannah went sick and after a few confusing, painful days of staying at home, when she went back to school, everything was different. She was different. She felt better, stronger, she even looked prettier - and suddenly she was the center of attention. Tristan noticed too, because her presence was affecting him like it never did before. She was constantly on his mind and it even made him act weird. The pull between them became stronger and almost impossible to ignore. And though they knew better than to give in to the powerful attraction that drew them to each other and to ignore the danger their being together represented for everyone, they started to see each other and spend more and more time together. But the Clann and an even more dominant, evil, merciless force was lurking around, always watching, always testing and they were not happy with the turn of events, because Sav and Tristan seeing each other could start a war and the consequences could be disastrous. The two have to support the repercussions of their acts and of neglecting the rules - and things don't go well.

 There’s not a lot of action in this novel, but the suspense, the unpredictability, the twists and turns, the constant presence of danger and evil forces, the hidden truths, the perpetual changes, the annoying hold their powerful families had on Sav and Tristan, their strong feelings for each other and the way they affected them and everyone around them made of this book a very enjoyable, engaging read. Of course, Melissa’s beautiful and compelling writing had a lot  to do with it; the story was intense and flowed easily.

 Despite everything, Sav and Tristan are so adorable together! I love Tristan, he’s strong, snarky, protective and oh, so charming; reading from his POV was a delight! There was a lot of pain and difficult changes in Sav’s life, so her side of the story was a bit darker; it was grim and sad, yet understandable. She had a few moments when I just wanted to shake her, but… I got over it quickly. :)) She grew on me and became a more likeable character with every chapter, with every new development of the story.

 All in all, I really, really liked this book. There are some elements in it that I've always loved and I've always wanted to see combined (can't tell you what exactly I'm talking about, it would be spoilery) so THANK YOU  Melissa Darnell for making it happen! *hugs*

 Of course, the ending left me craving for the sequel – I can’t wait to see where Savannah and Tristan’s story goes and I wouldn’t mind a little more action in the next books in the series, those super bad ass powers should be put to work!:))

***Review copy provided by the publisher Harlequin Teen and NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you guys!

P.S. Isn't that cover gorgeous?<3


xoxo

In My Mailbox #10: The AH-MAZING! edition

Hey!

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren and inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie, where we share the books we got in the mail the previous week.

So this should be part 2 of that long overdue IMM post. It's a few weeks worth of books and I think it's the best haul yet! So many amazing books (most of the books I already read/listened to got 5 stars!)
*Links send to Goodreads

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyerby Michelle Hodkin 

(Finally! Yes, there was a lot of squealing and book petting involved when I got it. 

The cover is gorgeous in person and the book was indeed mind blowing. 

My favorite debut of the year so far!)

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

*** 

Poison Study (Study, #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Storm Glass (Glass #1) by Maria V. Snyder  

(Thanks to Harlequin Teen Australia!)

The Emerald Talisman (Talisman, #1) by Brenda Pandos

Descended by Blood (Vampire Born #1) by Angeline Kace

Half-Blood (Covenant #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor 

Dark Eden by Patrick Carman (NetGalley)

Blood Rights (House of Comarré #1) by Kristen Painter (NetGalley)

Crave (The Clann #1) by Melissa Darnell (NetGalley)

Where Demons Fear to Tread by Stephanie Chong (NetGalley)

Dearly, Departed (Dearly #1) by Lia Habel (NetGalley)

The Pledge (The Pledge #1) by Kimberly Derting (S&S GalleyGrab)

Audiobooks:

Twisted (Intertwined #3) by Gena Showalter

Second Grave on the Left (Charley Davidson #2) by Darynda Jones 

Three Days to Dead (Dreg City #1) by Kelly Meding 

The Demonica Series by Larissa Ione

Phew, I should be back on track now!:)

What did you get in your mailbox?

Have a wonderful week!
xoxo
 

In My Mailbox #10: The AH-MAZING! edition

Hey!

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren and inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie, where we share the books we got in the mail the previous week.

So this should be part 2 of that long overdue IMM post. It's a few weeks worth of books and I think it's the best haul yet! So many amazing books (most of the books I already read/listened to got 5 stars!)
*Links send to Goodreads

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyerby Michelle Hodkin 

(Finally! Yes, there was a lot of squealing and book petting involved when I got it. 

The cover is gorgeous in person and the book was indeed mind blowing. 

My favorite debut of the year so far!)

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

*** 

Poison Study (Study, #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Storm Glass (Glass #1) by Maria V. Snyder  

(Thanks to Harlequin Teen Australia!)

The Emerald Talisman (Talisman, #1) by Brenda Pandos

Descended by Blood (Vampire Born #1) by Angeline Kace

Half-Blood (Covenant #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor 

Dark Eden by Patrick Carman (NetGalley)

Blood Rights (House of Comarré #1) by Kristen Painter (NetGalley)

Crave (The Clann #1) by Melissa Darnell (NetGalley)

Where Demons Fear to Tread by Stephanie Chong (NetGalley)

Dearly, Departed (Dearly #1) by Lia Habel (NetGalley)

The Pledge (The Pledge #1) by Kimberly Derting (S&S GalleyGrab)

Audiobooks:

Twisted (Intertwined #3) by Gena Showalter

Second Grave on the Left (Charley Davidson #2) by Darynda Jones 

Three Days to Dead (Dreg City #1) by Kelly Meding 

The Demonica Series by Larissa Ione

Phew, I should be back on track now!:)

What did you get in your mailbox?

Have a wonderful week!
xoxo
 

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa Book Trailer!

O.M.G. You guys! Did you seen the trailer for The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa?! If it isn't the best book trailer ever, then it's definitely in top 3! I'd say EPIC!


It's really, really well done in my opinion and captures the feeling of the book so freaking well! I got goose bumps and everything! Brilliant! The ice effects, the music, Iron Horse, Puck's smirk, Grimalkin... Awesomeness! It makes me want to read the book - or the entire series, for that matter - all over again! Love Ash!<3 *swoon**chills**fangirl**tear*

Source: Harlequin Teen Facebook Page

The Iron Knight  comes out in the US on October 25th 2011 at Harlequin Teen.

The Iron Fey on Goodreads







So...umm.. thoughts?:D

xoxo
 

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa Book Trailer!

O.M.G. You guys! Did you seen the trailer for The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa?! If it isn't the best book trailer ever, then it's definitely in top 3! I'd say EPIC!


It's really, really well done in my opinion and captures the feeling of the book so freaking well! I got goose bumps and everything! Brilliant! The ice effects, the music, Iron Horse, Puck's smirk, Grimalkin... Awesomeness! It makes me want to read the book - or the entire series, for that matter - all over again! Love Ash!<3 *swoon**chills**fangirl**tear*

Source: Harlequin Teen Facebook Page

The Iron Knight  comes out in the US on October 25th 2011 at Harlequin Teen.

The Iron Fey on Goodreads







So...umm.. thoughts?:D

xoxo
 

Spotted: Book Trailers: Crave, Dark Eden and more!

Hey!

Check out the book trailers for some YA fall releases I'm super excited about:

Dark Eden
by Patrick Carman

Release Date: November 1st 2011
by HarperCollins Children's Books, Hardcover, 336 pages
Official website; Goodreads Giveaway (US Only)

Goodreads blurb: 

Fifteen-year-old Will Besting is sent by his doctor to Fort Eden, an institution meant to help patients suffering from crippling phobias. Once there, Will and six other teenagers take turns in mysterious fear chambers and confront their worst nightmares—with the help of the group facilitator, Rainsford, an enigmatic guide. When the patients emerge from the chamber, they feel emboldened by the previous night's experiences. But each person soon discovers strange, unexplained aches and pains. . . . What is really happening to the seven teens trapped in this dark Eden?

Patrick Carman's Dark Eden is a provocative exploration of fear, betrayal, memory, and— ultimately—immortality. 

This isn't a book I'd pick up right away, but the blurb and trailer got me all intrigued here! It seems to be dark, scary and full of tension, which might be good for a change. (Check out the website, it's really cool and they also have an interesting phone application)

***

The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Fire and Thorns #1)
 by Rae Carson

Release Date: September 20th 2011
by Greenwillow Books, Hardcover, 432 pages
Goodreads Giveaway (US, CA only)

Goodreads Blurb:

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who needs her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

I've heard sooo many good things about this one! I've also seen various covers for it and I'm not sure which one is the final one, but they're all gorgeous!

***

Crave (The Clann #1)
by Melissa Darnell

Release Date: October 18th 2011
by Harlequin Teen, Paperback, 416 pages

Goodreads blurb:

Savannah Colbert has been shunned all her life by the kids of the Clann. And when she undergoes some drastic changes after a strange illness, Savannah learns secrets about the group and about herself—dangerous secrets. For the Clann are powerful magic users, and Savannah herself is half Clann and half vampire—a forbidden, unheard of combination. Falling for Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman isn't just a bad idea—it could be deadly if anyone finds out. But her attraction to Tristan—and his to her—isn't something either of them can resist for long.

I love the cover! Magic and vampires have always been my favorite supernatural elements, so this book seems to be right up my alley! I can't wait to read it!

What do you think about the trailers? Do they make you pick up the books? Are these books on your TBR list already?

Spotted: Book Trailers: Crave, Dark Eden and more!

Hey!

Check out the book trailers for some YA fall releases I'm super excited about:

Dark Eden
by Patrick Carman

Release Date: November 1st 2011
by HarperCollins Children's Books, Hardcover, 336 pages
Official website; Goodreads Giveaway (US Only)

Goodreads blurb: 

Fifteen-year-old Will Besting is sent by his doctor to Fort Eden, an institution meant to help patients suffering from crippling phobias. Once there, Will and six other teenagers take turns in mysterious fear chambers and confront their worst nightmares—with the help of the group facilitator, Rainsford, an enigmatic guide. When the patients emerge from the chamber, they feel emboldened by the previous night's experiences. But each person soon discovers strange, unexplained aches and pains. . . . What is really happening to the seven teens trapped in this dark Eden?

Patrick Carman's Dark Eden is a provocative exploration of fear, betrayal, memory, and— ultimately—immortality. 

This isn't a book I'd pick up right away, but the blurb and trailer got me all intrigued here! It seems to be dark, scary and full of tension, which might be good for a change. (Check out the website, it's really cool and they also have an interesting phone application)

***

The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Fire and Thorns #1)
 by Rae Carson

Release Date: September 20th 2011
by Greenwillow Books, Hardcover, 432 pages
Goodreads Giveaway (US, CA only)

Goodreads Blurb:

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who needs her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

I've heard sooo many good things about this one! I've also seen various covers for it and I'm not sure which one is the final one, but they're all gorgeous!

***

Crave (The Clann #1)
by Melissa Darnell

Release Date: October 18th 2011
by Harlequin Teen, Paperback, 416 pages

Goodreads blurb:

Savannah Colbert has been shunned all her life by the kids of the Clann. And when she undergoes some drastic changes after a strange illness, Savannah learns secrets about the group and about herself—dangerous secrets. For the Clann are powerful magic users, and Savannah herself is half Clann and half vampire—a forbidden, unheard of combination. Falling for Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman isn't just a bad idea—it could be deadly if anyone finds out. But her attraction to Tristan—and his to her—isn't something either of them can resist for long.

I love the cover! Magic and vampires have always been my favorite supernatural elements, so this book seems to be right up my alley! I can't wait to read it!

What do you think about the trailers? Do they make you pick up the books? Are these books on your TBR list already?