Day 254 - Wings [ARC Review]

Wings

Aprilynne Pike

Series or Stand Alone: Laurel series, book one

Release Date: May 5, 2009

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 304

Author Site: http://www.aprilynnepike.com/

My Rating: 3.75/5



Synopsis [from harperteen.com]:

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.

Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.


*author interview*

Review:

Laurel has always been a little different. She's on a strictly vegan diet even though she doesn't really eat much. She does however enjoy Sprite and canned peaches with the juice. She doesn't need much sleep either. Laurel's been home schooled her entire life. It's in her sophomore year that she has moved with her "hippie-ish" parents to Crescent City, California, which isn't too far from her first home near Orick. Her parents have decided to send her to public school while they pursue their dream business at a bookstore.

Laurel has some adjustments to make. She absolutely loves the outdoors and seems to have a real affinity for sunlight, but despite that she gets along pretty well. It doesn't take too long someone to take interest in Laurel. David is sweet and handsome and he just knows there's something special and different about Laurel. It takes some time for Laurel to warm up to him but she finally warms up to idea of having someone to call a close friend.

Things are going quite smoothly until Laurel notices a small bump right between her shoulder blades. She shrugs it off after first showing it to her mother, who suggests its just a zit. However, it continues to grow until one day, beautiful wing-like petals bloom from the softball-size bump. Although stunning, the wing-like blossom scares Laurel. Feeling utterly alone she turns to David for comfort and help. Together they are determined to figure out where Laurel's "wings" came from and what they mean.

I must say that Laurel was a great character. She's strong-willed and isn't necessarily interested in fitting in. I enjoyed seeing her take each situation she was given in stride without melting down. And although she's somewhat hesitant about asking for help, she is reasonable enough to know when she needs it. David is such a sweet guy. I gotta admit though I found him a bit creepy and/or stalker-ish in the beginning. But the feeling quickly faded - probably too many creepy guy vibes at work that fuddled my brain. I quickly found myself swooning over his kindness and understanding.

I'm sure most of you know by now from the many reviews already out about Wings that a love triangle forms in the book. Tamani is the other guy competing for Laurel's heart. Tam holds an appeal for Laurel that David just can't compare to. Terribly charming and alluring, Laurel still finds a way to hold her wits about her. I definitely sympathize with her. Love triangles and me rarely get along. I always end up wanting both guys because I'm greedy =) Anywho, I really appreciate the fact that this particular triangle isn't based on obsession or anything. I mean Laurel is very cautious with her emotions, which I really admire. (It's more than I can say about myself and my emotions)

This is my very first novel with faeries in it. And while I know a little bit of faery folklore, Aprilynne's interpretation of faeries is entirely different and unique. I did think the plot was somewhat stretched out and had it's slow moments. But I have a good feeling that with the upcoming installments, the series will continue to blossom into a unique world filled with Aprilynne's magical twists.

Day 225 - Wake

Wake

Lisa McMann

Series or Stand Alone: Wake Trilogy, book one

Release Date: December, 2008 (Paperback Reprint)

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Pages: 224

My Rating: 5/5

Synopsis [from bn.com]:

Not all dreams are sweet.

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does — they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant....

Review:

First off, I gotta say Wow! I totally loved this book. I got through it so quickly and I had such a hard time putting it down. I loved the characters and their development. I loved the unique premise of the story and how well Lisa McMann told it through the main character - Janie.

Janie can remember the first dream she was dragged into. She was eight years old and on a train with her mother to Chicago. She slips into a dream without even knowing it. It's about a bald man standing in front of a room holding a briefcase. Everyone in the room has nice suits on except for him. He's completely embarrassed and everyone is laughing at him. He looks to Janie with a look of panic. When she comes out of the dream the train whistle is blowing and it's time to get off. But not before she sees the same bald man with his briefcase in the aisle. I think Janie sums it up perfectly...

He wipes his face with a handkerchief.

Janie stares at him.

Her jaw drops. "Whoa," she whispers.

The man give her a blank look when he sees her staring, and
turns to exit the train.

(6)

Janie never understood why she gets pulled into people's dreams. And to be honest the typical falling dream and standing-naked-in-front-of-a-crowd dream are seriously getting old. Janie finds ways around it though. She makes excuses to leave her class when someone falls asleep and she memorizes her surroundings so she can try to "walk her way" out of the dreams. Because Janie doesn't fall asleep with the other person, she still has a grip on her body and where she's at although her vision is completely gone.

She can't tell anybody though. Her alcoholic mother doesn't really care, so she has no protective mom to deal with. And although Janie's a real sweet girl, her dirt-poor life is too much for the kids at school. Janie doesn't have many friends so no besties to deal with either. Even after befriending a new neighbor (that becomes pretty popular herself) Janie is still able to work around things. Her unwanted secret is safe.

While the concept of slipping into dreams may sound fun, it's something that really gets in Janie's way. When the nightmares start to happen, Janie finds herself shoved into violent and scary dreams. And when she starts to have feelings for one of her classmates, Cabel, things seem to only get more complicated.

This was such a great book! I loved how it was written in the present tense in short passages that were dated and time stamped. It had a feeling of urgency and it made me feel like I was right there with Janie, along for the ride. I can't wait to pick up Fade and I've seen the cover for the final book, Gone, which will be released February 2010! Definitely check it out, it features my favorite color - green <3!!>

Day 205 - The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening

L.J. Smith

Series or Stand Alone: The Vampire Diaries Series, book one

Release Date: June 26, 2007 (Omnibus Edition)

Publisher: Harperteen (Originally published by Harper in paperback - September, 1991)

Pages: 253 (Omnibus Edition)

My Rating: 3.25/5

Synopsis [from bn.com]:

A Love Triangle of Unspeakable Horror...

Elena: Searching for the ultimate thrill, she vowed to have Stefan.

Stefan:Haunted by his tragic past, he struggled to resist her passion.

Damon:Driven by revenge, he hunted the brother who betrayed him.

The terrifying story of two vampire brothers and the beautiful girl torn between them.

Review:

Elena has just returned home from her European vacation. It's the beginning of her senior year in High School in Fells Church, Virginia and she's looking forward to returning to her rightful place as the "Queen Bee". But it's quickly apparent that things aren't going to be the same this year...

First off, it seems Elena is just plain bored with the boys around her. She can never seem to feel that "extra something" with any of them, including her most recent try, Matt. Although he's sweet and not at all the arrogant jerk that most other boys seem to be, Elena just feels there's no solid connection. Matt is just a friend, she needs something more... And this year there is a new student: Stefan. A mysterious and darkly handsome guy that just transferred in from Italy.

Elena is immediately attracted to Stefan and sets out after him like the tigress she seems to be. But no matter what she does, her mojo magic seems to be falling flat. Stefan remains aloof throughout Elena's many attempts to get his attention. This only makes Elena more determined to have him. She starts plotting a plan with her girlfriends, sweet Bonnie and sensible Meredith (who I really like for some reason). But while Elena's mind is constantly on Stefan and her plans to obtain him, some mysterious attacks start to happen.

Stefan ends up giving in to Elena as the story reveals his reasons for being so standoffish... I'll end my summary there for those who have yet to read it but just be careful for future reviews. I tend to write them assuming the book before was already read.

So I had a tough time liking Elena. Popular, privileged, beautiful, and just totally self-centered, she definitely didn't get any sympathy from me when she was brushed off by Stefan. I couldn't belive the way this girl thinks. She was just flat out appalled that the world didn't revolve around her. I admit that I somehow ended up getting used to Elena and how her brain worked. I don't like it but I guess that doesn't really matter.

I do like Stefan however, his story and his struggle to find a place to call home really sat well with me. From the background information of Stefan's past I was introduced to Damon and how crappy he was as a human. Now a vampire, like his brother, I'm sure he hasn't changed. It seems I'll have no problem loving Stefan and loving to hate Damon.

Although Elena's character really dragged the score down on the book, I gotta say I enjoyed it. Even if I didn't have the omnibus edition, I would still have picked up book two, The Struggle. I'm already well into it and liking it =)

Day 195 - Strange Angels [ARC Review]

Strange Angels

Lili St. Crow

Series or Stand Alone: Strange Angels Series, book one

Release Date: May 14, 2009

Synopsis [from penguin.com]:

Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called “the touch.” (Comes in handy when you’re traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)

Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she’s next. Even worse, she’s got two guys hungry for her affections, and they’re not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her?

Review:

I haven't read any of Lili St. Crow's other novels yet but they are on my list and I'll get to them eventually. So I'm not familiar with her writing but I felt Strange Angels was a pretty good start to this YA series.

I found myself a little hesitant about Dru in the beginning. Her and her father have been jumping around from place to place ever since her Gran died. He's a hunter of all paranormal entities that go bump in the night and has been doing so every since Dru's mother died years ago. Dru is slowly learning what she can about hunting since her father only allows her to tag along sometimes as back up. She's got a gift, kinda like a sixth sense, or the "touch" as her Gran likes to call it. She does have skills in fighting and knows how to use a gun. But at sixteen, she's pretty much mad at the world when she's introduced. Having to jump from school to school so many times she longs to be normal.

At school Dru tries to remain as aloof as possible. It doesn't help much when she meets Graves, a half-Asian goth kid who wants to befriend her despite her reluctance. She tries to push him away but he's one persistent boy. Kinda like a stray puppy that keeps begging, Graves just doesn't refuses to take "No" for an answer. Despite all that there's just something about him that calls to Dru. It may be the fact that she just longs for a friend to confide in, but how can she possible tell Graves anything about her life?

Tragedy strikes after Dru's dad doesn't come home after one of his solo missions. Dru is left on her own and quickly becomes a target for all the paranormal boogiemen. She ends up relying on Graves whether she wants to or not. And Graves becomes deeply involved after he gets bit by a werewulf. So they are pretty much stuck together and Dru continuously blames herself for Graves' predicament.

Later on they are helped by Christophe, a half-breed vampire called a djamhir, who knows more about Dru than she could ever imagine. She doesn't want to trust him but he seems determined to look out for her... And it is here where I will stop with the summary and leave the rest for you to find out =) Evil I know lol

I do want to say that the beginning really didn't do a lot for me. While I liked the story, I didn't really get into it until the last third of the book when Christophe was introduced. Not that he was my favorite character - I just felt the story really came alive in the last part. While I didn't love the novel I'm probably going to be picking up Betrayals which comes out in November.

Day 144 - 1st to Die

1st to Die

James Patterson

Series or Stand Alone: The Women's Murder Club series, book one

Synopsis: [from back cover]

In San Francisco newlyweds are being stalked - and slaughtered. Enter four unforgettable women, all friends ... Lindsay, a homicide inspector in the city's police department ... Claire, a medical examiner ... Jill, an assistant D.A. ... and Cindy, a reporter who has just started working the crime desk of the San Francisco Chronicle. Joining forces, pooling their talents, courage, and brains, they have one gaol. To find, trap, and outwit the most diabolical and terrifying killer ever imagined.

Review:

I've heard how great a writer James Patterson is. I've seen one or two movies based on some of his books. And yet this is the first time I actually picked up a novel by him. I should have a long time ago! I was totally sucked into the Women's Murder Club and it's characters. 1st to Die is a fast paced and thrilling ride that I really didn't want to end.

The book opens up into an emotional scene with Lindsay Boxer as she stands on the balcony of her apartment holding her SFPD revolver. She starts thinking about the events of the past couple of weeks and what led her to be in her current position. Lindsay is the only female homicide inspector of the San Francisco Police Department. She finds herself working more harder to earn the respect she deserves from her male driven department.

Philip Campbell, a seriously twisted killer, has just killed a newlywed couple in their hotel suite. Lindsay is first on the scene and there doesn't seem to be many clues left behind. Meanwhile, Cindy Thomas, a local reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, is dying for her bring break. After hearing about the murders over a police radio at the office, she heads over to the hotel with no real plan in mind. Somehow she sneaks up to the crime scene and gets caught after seeing the groom's body. Lindsay admires Cindy for being able to by all the cops.

She invites Cindy out for drinks and they meet up with Lindsay's best friend Claire, who happens to know exactly what Lindsay's has to go through on a daily basis since she's the medical examiner. The trio decide to form a "club" to help solve the murders, and they only become more determined as more newlyweds are killed.

1st to Die mainly concentrated on Lindsay. And I didn't mind that at all. I found myself really liking Lindsay and I completely sympathized for her when she started having feelings for her temporary partner, Chris Raleigh.

I totally loved this book and read half of it the first night I picked it up. I would have finished it if I didn't have to wake up for work the next morning. No worries though because I quickly finished it at work. I just had to know who the killer was because I had my suspicions but the end really threw my head for a loop. I can easily see why Patterson and his books are such a huge success. I hope the series continuous to be just as good as the first because I'm definitely going to be continuing!

Reviewed Elsewhere:
DeSeRt RoSe

Day 139 - One for the Money

One for the Money

Janet Evanovich

Series or Stand Alone: Stephanie Plum series, book one

Synopsis: [from bookcover]

Trenton native Stephanie Plum is out of work, out of m oney, and her car's in repo-hell. So who does a hardly working girl turn to when the going gets tough? Meet cousin Vinnie, bail bondsman. Stephanie figures it's nice work if you can get it - shagging bail jumpers for $10,000 a pop. So she joins up.

Her first assignment: nail Joe Morelli, a former vice cop on the run from a charge of murder one. There's also a cranky ex-prize fighter dogging her and a nasty habit she has of leaping first and looking later. If Stephanie doesn't wise up fast, the first dead body in her future could be her own.

Review:

I've seen these books everywhere for years and have never picked one up. I don't really know why I decided to do so now, but I'm very glad I did. And I'm a little miffed I waited so long.

Set in Trenton, New Jersey, the "burg" to be precise, Stephanie Plum is seriously down on her luck. Losing her job as a lingerie buyer she's desperately looking for a new job - any job really. Her Miata is being repossesed and she even has to sell her furniture to pay her bills, basically she's more than broke. So why not pay cousin Vinnie a visit? Stephanie ends up blackmailing convincing Vinnie to let her join him in his bail bondsmen business. It doesn't matter than she has no idea how to be a bounty hunter, what matters is the 10% cut she gets after bringing in a FTA (fail to appear).

Her first case? A $100,000 bond which will give her a nice $10,000 to help her get out of the debt pit she's in. The bad thing is who that bond belongs to - a one Joe Morelli, a former vice cop running from a charge of muder one. Now Stephanie and Joe go way back and she's not necessarily all warm and toasty of her thoughts of him. He's the type of man Stephanie's mother warned her about and still she didn't listen. After a hot and steamy night behind the pastry counter of her teenage job, she hasn't seen or heard from him since. That is if you don't count that one time afterwards when Stephanie hit Joe with her car. He was definitely in the way, even if she had to drive up on the sidewalk to strike him.

With some help from her new buddy and fellow bounty hounter, Ranger, she learns a few tricks to help her along the way. But the number one thing that saves her butt many a time is pure and simple luck! Stephanie's got a lot to learn in this new world. Joe is smarter than a crook, he used to be a cop for crying out loud. He's not just gonna let Stephanie take him into the waiting arms of the police.

While on the hunt for Morelli, Stephanie encounters Benito Ramirez, a heavyweight prize fighter that doesn't know how to take no for an answer after expressing his interest in Stephanie. Known to get a little (okay a lot) rough with women, Ramirez soon shows Stephanie what it feels like to be hunted down.

This book is jam-packed with hilarious and unforgettable characters. From her quirky and crazy family, to Stephanie and Joe, I totally should have started this ages ago. If you haven't picked up a Plum novel, why not start with the first one?? I promise you Stephanie's down to earth character will grab you and not let go. I'm really looking forward to continuing in the series.

Day 136 - The Duke and I

The Duke and I

Julia Quinn

Series or Stand Alone: Bridgerton series, book one

Synopsis: [fantasticfiction.co.uk]

Simon Basset, the irresistible Duke of Hastings, has hatched a plan to keep himself free from the town's marriage-minded society mothers. He pretends to be engaged to the lovely Daphne Bridgerton. After all, it isn't as if the brooding rogue has any real plans to marry-though there is something about the alluring Miss Bridgerton that sets Simon's heart beating a bit faster. And as for Daphne, surely the clever debutante will attract some very worthy suitors now that is seems a duke has declared her desirable. But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, she soon forgets that their courtship is a complete sham. And now she has to do the impossible and keep herself from losing her heart and soul completely to the handsome hell-raiser who has sworn off marriage forever!

Review:

I have recently become interested in starting some historical romances and I'm happy to report that my first experience has been a most excellent one. I really really enjoyed The Duke and I.

The first character to meet is Simon Basset (who really has a much longer name than should be legal - Simon Arthur Henry Fitzranulph Basset, talk about a mouthful). Some background information about him is provided as the prologue talks about how hard it was for him at birth and his early childhood with his father who, at the time, is the Duke of Hastings. Wanting an utterly perfect son, the Duke is very hard to please and totally unforgiving. Simon spent his first 4 years of life not speaking, and after the Duke realizes Simon has a stutter he totally rejects him.

Simon grows up hating his father and to further smite him Simon refuses to get married. He never wants to fall in love! He never wants to get married! And he has absolutey no plans on having any children so the family line of Dukes will end with his death. Shouldn't be a problem, right? ... Well, not exactly. The mothers in this time are on brutal missions to marry off their daughters to well-to-do eligible men. And Simon is pretty high on that list since he is now the Duke.

This is where Daphne Bridgerton and her family comes in. The Bridgerton family consists of eight children which isn't too terribly unique. The fun part is the way Violet has named her children: Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth. (I'm curious as to how to correctly pronounce the youngest girl's name) I love the ABC naming style. So anywho, Violet is on her own mission to marry off her oldest son and oldest daughter. She's even made lists of eligible people for both children, which definitely made me giggle.

After meeting Daphne, Simon comes up with a brilliant plan to keep away the persistant mothers and their trailing daughters: fake a courtship! This idea could even help Daphne in gaining more suitors since many haven't had an interest in her of late. Not that there is anything wrong with Daphne. She's quite pretty and extremely nice. It's just that most men think of her as a good "friend" and nothing more. But that does change after Simon's fake interest in her. But to make this pretend courtship even more complicated, it turns out Simon is Anthony's best friend. And ever since the father of the Bridgerton children died, Anthony has been the man of the house, looking after his mother and siblings. So of course he's furious at the idea of Simon and Daphne together at all!

As you probaly guessed by reading the blurb, Simon and Daphne end up falling for each other. And while they do get married (not really a spoiler, I promise), they don't quite do it for the right reasons. Their story is filled with humor, hardships, trust, and of course love in the most unexpected places. I thought it was such a great story and I really enjoyed it. The characters were great and I adored the chemistry between Dapne and Simon. I had no trouble with Julia Quinn's writing style. I must admit, I was always afraid I wouldn't like historical romances because of the "old" feeling to writing of certain time periods. But this was nothing like I imagined.

One character I just have to point out is the ficticious Lady Whistledown. She writes a gossip column that everyone absolutely hates and yet always finds the time to read (sound familar?). There are passages included in the beginning of every chapter and I'm dieing to find out who it is. I'll definitley be reading on in this series to see if she is ever revealed and to follow the rest of the Bridgerton family.

Day 119 - Ariel's Journey

Ariel's Journey

Doug Kane and Christy Wood

Series or Stand Alone: The Ice Horse Adventures, book one

Synopsis: [from book cover]

Five very different young women sent to the woods to learn about Icelandic horses; beautiful, fluffly, stocky horses with an uncanny ability to survive harsh climates and dangerous terrain. But this summer camping trip reveals their true power - the horses and their young riders travel centuries into the past to save the village of their ancestors.

Uncovering amazing abilities, the girls and their horses work together to challenge a ruthless enemy, rescue a young princess, and realize their destinies include a prophecy only they can fulfill.

Will the girls develop the trust and friendship necessary to battle together? Are the horses going to survive a battle plan sure to end in disaster? Can the young princess be saved before the evil chieftain destroys her? Can true love cross the distance of 800 years? Their very lives will depend on the magic only the Ice Horses can provide, and the courage within their hearts.

Review:

A very fun and light read, Ariel's Journey took me on an adventure that was both enjoyable and informative. The story first starts out as a teen rivalry but soon turns into a tale of magic, friendship, courage, and loyalty. All of these elements are wrapped around the authors' love of horses which clearly shows in the characters and their actions. I think horses are beautiful animals and it was a lot of fun to learn about Icelandic horses in particular, who may be smaller than other breeds but certainly have traits that make them unique.

After a confrontation between Emily and Andrea at an equestrian meeting, Emily's mother decides enough is enough. The girls obviously cannot get along, which will only cause trouble between all the 4-H members. So Karen decides to send her daughter on a trail ride along with Andrea and each of their sets of friends. She hopes that in having the ride unsupervised by adults, the teens will learn to tolerate each other enough to see past their differences. Karen isn't expecting a miracle where the two will become best friends, but she hopes they can mature a little.

The five girls that end up going reluctantly set out on the overnight ride and soon find themselves transported 800 years in the past to Iceland. Each of their "Iceys" have special abilities and can speak to the girls. The lead horse, Princessa, explains to them what has happened. It seems the horses and their young riders are needed to help save a princess and the Icelandic village of the horses' ancestors. It is in this part of the book that each of the girl's and horse's personalities come out. But the adventure really belongs to Ariel and her rider, Laura, as the two set out to rescue the princess on their own.

I recommend this to anyone with a love of horses and teen adventure but I do suggest it for the younger teen crowd, especially.

Book two, Princessa's Mission, is supposed to come out sometime this month.

You can find more information at the series' website by clicking here.

**Thank you J. Kaye for sending me this book to read.**

Day 115 - Close Encounters [ARC Review]

Close Encounters

Katherine Allred

Series or Stand Alone: Alien Affairs, book one

Summary: [from katherinallred.com]

Kiera Smith is not like ordinary Genetically Engineered Persons...

The Bureau of Alien Affairs needed a special GEP agent with empathic abilities to handle their most extraordinary assignments - and a rogue geneticist saw to it that Kiera fit their specifications. But she turned out stronger, faster, smarter, and more impervious to harm than anyone anticipated. A reluctant "superhero", Kiera wishes she were normal, but it is not to be.

On Orpheus 2, the indigenous Buri race faces extinction, a prospect the powerful Dynatec corporation welcomes and, in fact, may be actively hastening. As a special agent for the Bureau of Alien Affairs, it is Kiera's job to protect these beautiful, exotic aliens... and to discover what there is on Orpheus 2 that Dynatec feels is worth killing for.

But the magnetic allure of the breathtaking Buri leader is proving a dangerous distraction. And now, to save Thor's people, Kiera will need a power she's never before possessed - something hidden in the unexplored recesses of her heart.

Review:

I gotta admit that this was my first science fiction romance, but definitely not my last! Kiera Smith is a GEP(genetically engineered person) who only wants to be normal. She's not only different from her non-enhanced human counterparts, the Naturals, but she's different from other GEPs as well. It seems geneticist Dr. Gertz created her to be stronger, faster, and much more harder to damage than her fellow GEPs. Kiera works for the Bureau of Alien Affairs. After a new alien species is located and studied, she comes in to help them negotiate with independent trade companies in order to market their resources. She also makes sure that none of these companies try to breach the Equality Edict and take advantage of the newly discovered species.

As the book opens Kiera is on vacation with her ship, Max, whose artificial intelligence doesn't hinder him from having his own quirky personality. Crigo, a rock-cat, is more Kiera's companion than her pet, and he's with them as well. But the vacation is cut short as Dr. Daniels, Kiera's boss, contacts her with a new assignment. It seems that one of the biggest trade companies around has a big interest in a new planet called Orpheus Two. Dynatec wants complete ownership of Orpheus Two, which is something Kiera has never encountered. The only way the company can gain full ownership is if the indigenous species is expected to die out in a period no more than 100 cycles.

The indigenous species of Orpheus Two are the Buri. A beautiful and gentle race very similar to humans. Kiera must find a way to keep the Buri from going extinct and find the true intentions of Dynatec. As she gets to know the Buri she ends up discovering the things she's always been searching for.

I thought the characters were really interesting. When Kiera first meet the Buri she nicknames them because they speak a language full of grunts and noises. I thought that was a really unique idea and I loved seeing what Kiera came up with. There isn't much conversation between the Buri and Kiera through the first half of the book, but I loved seeing things change as the story unraveled.

I really enjoyed the world of Orpheus Two including the environment and the creatures. I'm personally attached to the dragon birds. (= A small, feathered dragon-look a like. They had the cutest personalities. I'm really looking forward to seeing where the next book in this series will go. I'm curious to see if it will continue with Kiera, introduce a new hero/heroine, or continue with a current character.

I want to thank Heather from The Galaxy Express for sending me this ARC. This is my very first ARC and I was so excited to receive it (= Also a huge thank you to Katherine Allred herself for signing my book for me. It was such a pleasant surprise to find when I opened the book.

I definitely recommend giving Close Encounters a read. The book will be released tomorrow, March 31st from HarperCollins.

Day 98 - Eragon/Eldest Omnibus Part I

Eragon/Eldest Omnibus
Christopher Paolini

Series or Stand Alone: The Inheritance Cycle, book one & two

Synopsis for Eragon: [from bn.com]

When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands....

Review for Eragon:

Since the book is a combination of book one and two of the Inheritance Cycle, I decided to do the reviews after I finished each book rather than waiting until I finished the entire thing so I would have the events fresh in my mind as I wrote each review. And yes I have seen the movie Eragon, and since this is a review for the book I'm going to try to limit my comparisons between the movie and book.

First off I have to say WOW! The magical world of Alagaesia and all of its inhabitants is simply amazing. I thought Christopher Paolini did a superb job in detailing his characters and their surroundings. After Eragon, a young farm boy, finds a mysterious blue stone in the Spine near his home, his destiny begins as a Dragon Rider. After a dragon hatches out of the blue stone Eragon's world turns upside down.

The king of the Empire, Galbatorix, is the one of the last Riders left and he has the remaining two dragon eggs in all of Alagaesia. He will do anything to get his hands on Eragon and his new dragon Saphira. Two of his minions known as the Ra'zac, are in Eragon's hometown and after they discover Eragon they lash out and kill his uncle and destroy the farm he has always known as home. With the loss of his uncle, Eragon becomes enraged and vows his revenge on the Ra'zac. He sets out after them along with the town storyteller, Brom, who turns out to be more wrapped up in Eragon's fate then he lets on.

Their long and perilous journey is a dangerous one as they travel leagues to different cities trying to find the Ra'zac. Along the way Brom slowly and reluctantly relinquishes details of his past and his true involvement with Eragon's life. He teaches Eragon the ancient language of the Elves and how to use the language to produce magic. He also spars with him every night in hopes of developing Eragon's combat skills.

As the team confronts the Ra'zac Brom is fatally wounded and a new character is introduced, Murtagh. Brom's death is a devastating blow to both Eragon and Saphira and they must continue on their journey after the Ra'zac escape. Their new destination is to rescue the elf, Arya, that was in charge of Saphira while she was still in the egg. This new journey is much more difficult for Eragon and Saphira without Brom and it's more physically exhausting as they race to find the Varden after finding Arya. The Varden is a group of rebels that have fought against Galbatorix since the last of the Dragon Riders were wiped out.

To make matters worse Arya has been poisoned by a Shade; a vicious and evil creature that uses nothing but the darkest magic. Durza is a formidable enemy indeed. His poison is slowly killing Arya. Eragon, Murtagh, and Saphira must find the Varden before she dies and before they are found by the army of Urgals that are on their trail. Will they make it in time? And what will happen if Eragon does reach the Varden? Can he fulfill his destiny without Brom's guidance?

I have to say if I never saw the movie I would never have heard of Christopher or his books. I did like the movie, even though it pales in comparison to this book. There is so much the movie left out! And I did feel that the characters were portrayed very differently, which I must admit is very understandable. I suppose I'm very lenient when it comes to movies that are based from books. I know there's no possible way to fit everything in a movie and the book is usually always better. There are a lot of characters that I would like to discuss but I think I'll save it for the review on Eldest. I don't want to spoil the entire story of the first book for anyone that hasn't read it yet. That way if anyone joins me for Part II of this review I won't feel like I'm spoiling anything for anyone.

One thing I did love about this edition is that it included a map of Alagaesia and a pronunication guide. I'm not sure if these were in the original books but I know I had them both bookmarked and looked at them frequently. It was nice to see a spread of the land as I followed Eragon on his travels. And I wasn't confused when he used the ancient language because most of it was translated in the back as well. Definitely a nice touch (=

If you haven't read Eragon I suggest you do, whether you've seen the movie or not. Forget the movie in fact. Even though I liked it, I hardly thought about it as I got lost in Alagaesia with Eragon and Saphira. Stay tuned for Part II when I'll be reviewing Eldest.

Day 84 - Bad Blood

Bad Blood

L.A. Banks

Stand Alone or Series: Crimson Moon Series, book one

Synopsis: [from back cover]

Sasha Trudeau knows all about working beneath the shadows, back-alley deals, and things that go bump in the night. She also knows that the world is unaware of the existence of the paranormal - and that the government would like to keep it that way.

As a highly trained Special Ops soldier, Sasha and her team are an elite group of individuals who are survivors of werewolf attacks, now trained to be loyal to only each other and their government. But when she returns from a solo mission, she finds that her team was mysteriously gone missing. Shocking government conspiracies, double-dealing vampires, and a host of stunning revelations about who - and what - she really is are only just the beginning...

Review:

I'm such a fan of L.A. Banks and her Vampire Huntress books! With the final book, The Thirteenth having been released earlier this month. So I was super excited to hear that she was starting a new series - about werewolves, yay! Bad Blood was published last year so just bear with me since I'm a little on the slow side of getting my hands on books I want to read.

Sasha Trudeau (I'm so curious as to how correctly pronounce her last name) and her teammates have a unique bond that holds them together and keeps them loyal to each other and the government they work for; they are all survivors of werewolf attacks. As long as they take the medicine provided by Dr. Xavier Holland they will be safe from turning, or so they thought. When Sasha is sent on a solo mission in Korea she briefly worries about being separated from her team but follows through with the orders without question. The rest of her team is sent on a separate mission that results in a terrible tragedy and few survivors. Government secrets and betrayals weigh heavily on Sasha and the dwindling number of her team as they find out who they really are and how they came to be.

I love the characters. It was great getting to know Sasha and getting introduced to Max Hunter was fun. Silver Hawk, Max's grandfather was also a strong character that provides a lot of background information on the Shadow wolves. And the mysterious Shogun was an interesting character. Something I really loved about the book and continue to love about L.A. Banks' writing is the earth-shattering attraction and passion of her couples. Max and Sasha have such a strong connection that I instantly became jealous. But I must add that the two don't get along all the time. But no matter how often they bicker and argue they are continually pulled to each other with such a great force.

I had a really hard time visualizing the "shadow-jumping" that the couple does along with all other Shadow wolves. Basically they can disappear in whatever casts shadows both in daylight and at night. And in one scene Max and Sasha are shadow jumping very quickly through the forest and onto the highway. I just didn't really grasp the concept well.

I have to admit I was terribly confused while reading the book. While the concepts were original and exciting, I felt that most of the storytelling and information was rushed through too quickly. Pretty much every paranormal anomaly exists in this book and they were tossed into it very haphazardly; from dragons and psychics to vampires and fae entities, with a number of different councils that governed all that is paranormal. It didn't sit well with me. And it wasn't until the very end of the book (and with a visit to the book's website) that I sort of understood the differences between a Shadow wolf, a werewolf, and a demon-infected werewolf. I still don't have a firm grip on it yet. But the second book is helping.

The characters really made me enjoy the book enough to overlook the (way too) fast paced action scenes and the back story that was sort of jammed together. I'd say give this book a try, maybe by borrowing at the library. Visit the book's website here for some reference while reading and it will really help. I know that's a lot of trouble to go through for a paranormal romance but I think this series has potential to become a fan favorite.

Day 68 - Dark Nights, Dark Dreams

Dark Nights, Dark Dreams

Savannah Russe

Series or Stand Alone: Sisterhood of the Sight, Book One

Synopsis: [from back cover]

U.S. foreign agent Sam Chase has always kept her psychic abilities a secret - until now. Recruited to solve a case so macabre and chilling that it can't be rationally explained, she joins an elite unit with three other young women who rank among the top mediums in the world. But these amazing psychics are definitely no angels. One is a voodoo priestess, another is a witch, and the third has a secret, dangerous past.

Like it or not, Same is part of a new sisterhood - and she's been teamed with Lance "Bear" Rutledge, a sexy forensic investigator who thinks this supernatural stuff is all bunk. Unfortunately he's not only getting under Sam's skin, but he has also started invading her dreams - and her heart. As Sam and Bear combat their forbidden passion, they find themselves fighting for their country and their lives in a battle against the darkest evil of all...

Review:

Susan Ann Marie (Sam) Chase has the 'sight'. A gift that has helped save her life and the lives of others numerous times. More like a warning system inside her head, a voice speaks to her and gives her visions of things that are happening at the moment or things that will happen in the future. As the novel opens up, a fast-paced action scene, set in Iraq, takes place where the reader can see first-hand how Sam's gift comes into play.

But everything changes when she is chosen to be apart of a new program created by the CIA. AngelWay will be headed by the enigmatic Ms. Z and will include Sam along with three other women with some sort of psychic ability. Rina is a voodoo priestess who can communicate with the dead, Frankie is a witch, and Aurora can talk to animals and use psychometry. Their first case? Arlington cemetery: Find out where the body of a recently deceased military hero has gone to.

Sam has another partner that will be "assisting" on the case. Bear Rutledge, sent in for the Department of Defense, is a skeptic from the beginning of the investigation. As the team starts to uncover the mystery, more bodies go missing and murders start to take place. The idea of zombies and a world of voodoo leaves Bear in a sour mood. Sam must find a way to convince him that the only thing that can explain the mystery is something supernatural. Throw in some strong sexual tension into the equation and you get a big ole' mess for Sam.

I like the "who-dun-it" feel and the twists that the author tried to incorporate into the book. It did seem a pit predictable but it was still exciting enough to keep me interested. However, I just feel the book was lacking in creativity. The characters were interesting and the whole paranormal situation was good. I just wasn't sucked into the book like I was hoping to be. I might have just been expecting more since I enjoy her other series so much (Darkwing Chronicles).

I will keep a look out for the second installment and give it a chance. Hopefully I'll have a better reaction to whoever's book will be next.

Day 51 - Marked

Marked

P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Synopsis: [from back cover]

Enter the dark, magical world of the house of night, a world very much like our own, except here vampyres have always existed. Sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird has just been Marked as a fledgling vampyre and joins the House of Night, a school where she will train to become and adult vampyre. That is, if she makes it through the Change - and not all of those who are Marked do. It sucks to begin a new life, especially away from her friends, and on top of that, Zoey is no average fledgling. She has been chosen as special by the vampyre Goddess Nyx. Zoey discovers she has amazing powers, but along with her powers come blood lust and an unfortunate ability to Imprint her human ex-boyfriend. To add to her stress, she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers: When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite group, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny - with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

Review:

I have to say I enjoyed the pace and writing style of this book. It was a nice change from other books I've been reading in it's simplified format. It definitely seemed that both Cast ladies weren't really all that worked up about writing a perfect-sounding book. It was simple in its delivery and it made it easy for me to get through so quickly.

I found myself easily liking and relating to Zoey. Even though I'm not a sixteen-year old Marked vampyre fledgling, she just seemed like a very real character to me; someone I would love to have around everyday. I thought she did very well for herself after being thrown into a whole new life where she knew no one. But that doesn't last for long. She quickly comes across new people/vampyres that make the book interesting. A myriad of characters that I quickly came to love, to hate, and to giggle about with Zoey and her repetitive mental sidecracks (which I adored). Zoey tends to explain herself every other page and it's too cute.

I absolutely love the idea of the tattoo markings and the emblems of the students and professors at the House of Night. Without going into too many details, I just really loved how creative the authors got when they came up with this world. **Sidenote: If you go to the here, you can take a look at all the fun goodies at the House of Night. If you haven't heard of these books, it's a nice place to start to see if you'd enjoy them. And if you have read them or thought about reading them, it's fun to see some of the ideas in the book illustrated.

I have yet to read anything by P.C. Cast and I'm not sure if Kristin has written any novels herself, so I don't know who to credit for the constant touches of modern pop culture into the book. It may be both of them. Either way, it was cute and a nice touch to this vampyre world. I also liked the fact that the characters in this book weren't too "young" for me. I don't normally like to read YA. In fact, I'm trying to get more into it. However, they sounded and acted like people I would like to be around. With their sometimes colorful language and hilarious cracks, it made me comfortable with the fact that I liked this book. The characters were defined well and made me want to keep getting to know them.

I'm not going to summarize the book, even though I want to (= I feel as if I started doing that I would just write out everything that happens and it would be pointless to read the story. But I will say that this was a fun and exciting start for a promising series.

Day 3 - Random Additions

So while browsing the internet I came across this on CollegeHumor. Definitely a new favorite website. I felt the need to document this. It made waking up this morning worth it.


Planes, Trains, and Plantains - the author is my new hero.



On another note, I will be joining some more book challenges in hopes of completing at least one for the upcoming year.

• 1st in Series Challenge 2009
• 2nds Challenge, 2009

Basically read 12 books that are the first or second book in a series between Jan 1 09 - Dec 31 09, respectively. I got so excited I made lists for them already. Hopefully I will be able to stick to them and complete them.

1st in Series Challenge 2009

1. P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast :: Marked
2. L.A. Banks :: Bad Blood
3. Savannah Russe :: Dark Nights, Dark Dreams
4. James Patterson :: 1st to Die
5. Lili St. Crow :: Strange Angels
6. Julia Quinn :: The Duke and I
7. Christopher Paolini :: Eragon
8. L.J. Smith :: The Awakening
9. Ariel's Journey :: Doug Kane and Christy Wood
10. Wake :: Lisa McMann
11. Wings :: Aprilynne Pike
12. Katherine Allred :: Close Encounters

2nds Challenge, 2009

1. Kelley Armstrong :: Stolen
2. P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast :: Betrayed
3. L.A. Banks :: Bite the Bullet
4. Susan Hubbard :: The Year of Disappearances
5. Janet Evanovich :: Two for the Dough
6. L.J. Smith :: The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle
7. Christopher Paolini :: Eldest
8. Philip Pullman :: The Subtle Knife
9. C.L. Wilson :: Lady of Light and Shadows
10. Colleen Gleason :: Rises the Night
11. James Patterson :: 2nd Chance
12. Laurell K. Hamilton :: The Laughing Corpse