Review: The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell

Title: The Princess Curse
Author: Merrie Haskell
Genre: YA, Juvi, fairy tale, light romance
Star Rating: 4/5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "Twelve princesses suffer from a puzzling (if silly) curse, and anyone who ends it will win a reward. Reveka, a sharp-witted and irreverent apprentice herbalist, wants that reward. But her investigations lead to deeper mysteries and a daunting choice--will she break the curse at the peril of her own soul?"

Well, this is a tough one. 'The Princess Curse' is a solid read, but is tarnished by the fact that it clearly reads like the first book in a series and not a standalone. If a sequel were being published, this wouldn't be a problem, but as there is no planned sequel... Storylines are tied up to a point, but there's a ton of things hinted at throughout the novel that are left open (and not all of those things are small, inconsequential things!).

The beginning of the novel was a little slow for me. I wasn't hooked until I was about 1/3rd into the story. Other than that, the storytelling was filled with some great lines, some of which gave me a laugh. The main character in this novel is only 13, so while romance is discussed, we don't see much of it. Honestly, though, it would have been a little weird for me if they'd gone further into the romance storyline, with the main character being so young. The final chapters (epilogue, if you will) seemed a little rushed, but the pacing over all wasn't too bad.

Speaking of the characters, I quite liked them. They weren't all developed to the extent they could have been (like the Gardners apprentice), but overall, the main leads seemed pretty solid.

The main problem with this novel is that it just isn't complete. There is a complete story that is told, but it's clear to me that this is just the first of what should be at least two novels. However, I think I still may recommend 'The Princess Curse' to young readers looking for a solid read. (At the very least, maybe it will help get us a sequel!)

Review: 'Stravaganza: City of Swords' by Mary Hoffman

Title: Stravaganza: City of Swords 
Author: Mary Hoffman 
Genre: YA, Juvi, fantasy, coming of age, friendship, 6th in series 
Star Rating: 3/5 stars 

 Borrowed from Goodreads, "Desperately unhappy, Laura has resorted to secretly self-harming. But Laura is a Stravagante, somebody who can travel in time and space. When she finds her talisman, a small silver dagger, she stravagates with it to sixteenth-century Fortezza, a town similar to Lucca in Italy, where she meets her Stravagante, who is a swordsmith. But Laura also meets the charming and attractive Ludo, and falls for him. Their love for each other is tested when Ludo lays claim to the crown of Fortezza, and Laura finds herself fighting on the side of the Stravaganti opposing him." 

'City of Swords', what to say... Let me start with this: I really do love the Stravaganza series as a whole. Everything from the characters to the settings to the overall concept-- I love it. 'City of Swords' is the sixth and final book in this under appreciated series by Mary Hoffman. I'll miss jumping into Talia with the Stravaganti for many reasons, most of all because every time I opened a Stravaganza book, it felt like I was back in Italy!

On to 'City of Swords'... Is it my favorite of the series? No. Is it as engaging and entertaining as other Stravaganza books? No. Is it a good read for those who have read the books before it? Yes. Is it a fitting close to a fantastic series? Minus a few loose ends, I think so. The writing style used in '...Swords' seemed different to me than the books before it.

The downsides of the novel? The majority of the story was spent in the real world, rather than Talia. Also, we learned what was going on through long paragraphs of explanation, as opposed to seeing the action or learning it through dialogue. I didn't find Laura's character to be as fleshed out as the rest and her story, strangely enough, didn't hold as much as importance as I would have expected. The romance was between Laura and a certain someone was a nice addition to the story, but we, as readers, didn't get to see it develop enough to care as much as we should about it, I think.

Besides those concerns (that mostly had to do with Laura's plotline), I loved the interaction between the past stravaganti and loved, loved, loved everything that had to do with Luciano! His parts made me smile! Do I wish this had been a more solid read? Of course. However, I'm glad I've taken these trips to Talia, seeing such wonderful places and meeting fun, interesting characters. While the future of the series is uncertain at the moment, one thing is for sure; I'll truly miss following new Stavaganti into the beautiful cities of Talia.

Review: Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

Title: Keeper of the Lost Cities
Author: Shannon Messenger
Genre: Juvi, fantasy, coming of age, first in series
Star Rating: 5/5 stars

'Fablehaven' by Brandon Mull. 'The Emerald Atlas' by John Stephens. 'Vampirates' by Justin Somper. 'Harry Potter' by JK Rowling. 'Knightley Academy' by Violet Haberdasher. These are all great juvi (middle grade) titles that entertain kids 8 to 108. After sailing through this amazing read, I must add 'Keeper of the Lost Cities' to that list!

'Keeper of the Lost Cities' by Shannon Messenger is a fantastic book. You don't want to miss out on the pure enjoyment found in this debut novel.  'Keeper of the Lost Cities' follows Sophie, a 12 year old girl with incredible smarts and the ability to hear peoples thoughts. She's a bit of an outsider, being a 12 year old high school senior and never really feeling like she fit in completely with her family, either. Until, that is, she meets a mysterious boy who tells her that she is far more than an ordinary human.

I won't lie-- I loved reading 'Keeper of the Lost Cities'. It was the most enjoyable read I've had in a long time. Everything from beginning to end was perfect. 'Keeper of the Lost Cities' literally had a little of everything-- awesome characters, a well paced plot, inklings of future romance, a very cool world and an addicting writing style.

The plot's pacing was perfect. I've found since starting this blog that one of my biggest pet peeves is when the plot is uneven (fast here, slow here, etc), but 'Keeper of the Lost Cities' was perfectly paced.

Another great thing about pacing? There is a complete story told in 'Keeper of the Lost Cities', even though it is the first of three novels. While there are still unanswered questions and there is clearly something happening in Sophie's new world we don't know about, there are other ideas and themes that do come full circle within the 500 pages of this debut novel.

The characters? Love them. Sophie was a 12 year old lead with a voice that was completely readable to readers of all ages. The secondary characters are equally as fantatic as Sophie. Fitz and Keefe, two of the three guys who may or may not find love in future volumes, made my favorite characters list almost instantly after they were introduced. And the good doctor (whose name I am forgetting at the moment)? I found myself looking forward to Sophie getting hurt just so we could have some of that quick witted dialogue between her and him. He might just be one of my favorite adult characters in a juvi novel!

I have no complaints about 'Keeper of the Lost Cities'. It deserves high honors.  I guarantee you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll fall in love, and you'll have a blast while reading.  It's a fantastic read!

'Keeper of the Lost Cities' gets five stars from me (surprise, surprise!).  If you like contemporary fantasy tales with heartfelt characters and great plots, you need to add 'Keeper of the Lost Cities' to your 'to read' list. You won't regret it!

Review: Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore

Title: Angel Eyes
Author: Shannon Dittemore
Genre: YA, Supernatural, Romance, Coming of Age, Religious undertones
Star Rating: 2/5

Taken from Goodreads, "Brielle’s a ballerina who went to the city to chase her dreams and found tragedy instead. She’s come home to shabby little Stratus, Oregon, to live with her grief and her guilt . . . and the incredible, numbing cold she can’t seem to shake. Jake’s the new guy at school. The boy next door with burning hands and an unbelievable gift that targets him for corruption. 


Something more than fate has brought them together. An evil bigger than both of them lurks in the shadows nearby, hiding in plain sight. Two angels stand guard, unsure what’s going to happen. And a beauty brighter than Jake or Brielle has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices start. A realm that only angels and demons—and Brielle—can perceive."

'Angel Eyes' by Shannon Dittemore is a supernatural, angel themed YA read with religious undertones.  While I didn't love this novel, there were some aspects I really did enjoy.  Jumping right to the point, I liked that Brielle wasn't your typical heroine.  Normally, our female leads are in a 'fish out of water' position.  In this case, Brielle was coming back from her 'fish out of water' experience.  She had lived and grown before the novel even started.  We are introduced to her when she's at a bit of a low point in her life, coming back from this big, life changing event.  I loved that.

Brielle, as a character, was a solid main character.  Her reactions and thoughts seemed natural and she was a pretty relatable character.  The other characters were also engaging.  Jake, the love interest, seemed to have more of a role in the story than most male leads in past angel themed novels.

The reason I didn't rate this novel higher mostly falls on pacing. The beginning and end were fine, but the middle dragged a bit.  I had to push through it, because I didn't want to give up on 'Angel Eyes' when I liked the characters and the overall storyline.  That being said, it took some skimming through the middle bits to get back to a point where I felt I should read word for word, page by page.

This novel isn't for everyone.  If you don't like books with slight religious undertones, 'Angel Eyes' might not be your cup of tea.  However, the characters and the overall storyline are worth giving this a looksie otherwise!  'Angel Eyes' gets 2 out of 5 stars and is available wherever books are sold.

Review: Starters by Lissa Price

Title: Starters 
Author: Lissa Price 
Genre: YA, Dystopian, Sci-fi 
Star Rating: 3/5 Stars 

Taken from Goodreads, "Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.


He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . ."


'Starters' had a lot of hype attached to it. It was being toted as the the next 'big' thing. Admittedly, I may have bought into that hype a bit, because I expected a little more than I got with this novel, 'Starters'. The concept is pretty cool-- the idea that people 'rent' bodies or lifestyles is intriguing and something I wouldn't put past people actually doing if the technology were really there.

As far as pro's, I liked the characters. Callie seemed like your typical 'protector' type. The book is told from her perspective and, while it does get a bit tiring being 'in her head' for so long, she's a pretty good lead character. Her supporting characters, enders in borrowed bodies, were, surprisingly great characters. With the first third of the book taking place in Callie's head, these supporting characters were totally welcome, in my opinion! The 'love interest', Blake, turned out to be pretty shallow in terms of characterization, but I think that might have something to do with the twist revealed later in the novel.

Despite the characters, I found issue with a few things in 'Starters'. While I finished the book pretty quickly, I found myself thinking 'where is this story going and when will we get there' a lot more than usual. The storytelling stalled a bit there in the middle, but thankfully picked up towards the end to a good conclusion with a surprising twist. The other con, I'd have to say, dealt with the world and history. I get that there was a war and that a large chunk of the middle aged population died, but everything else was a bit fuzzy. For example, why do people live so long in her society? The enders aren't just in their 80's or 90's, but in their hundreds. Also, it seemed like the world went downhill pretty quickly after this spore war, which I don't find completely believable.

All in all, 'Starters' was a decent novel with a good concept and some interesting characters, but fell short a bit. Was it a good enough novel for me to continue on with the series? I think so. Would I recommend it to others looking for a dystopian tale? Again, I think so. 'Starters' receives 3 out of 5 stars and is available everywhere books are sold.

Review: The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

Title: The Hunt
Author: Andrew Fukuda
Genre: YA, dystopian, action, slight romance
Star Rating: 2/5 stars

Taken from 'Goodreads', "Gene is different from everyone else around him. He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood. Gene is a human, and he knows the rules. Keep the truth a secret. It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood. 


When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him. He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity?"

'The Hunt' is a quick read with a slightly similar storyline to the Hunger Games.  The idea behind the 'human hunt' is that the human population be controlled through means of a battle royale (of sorts) between the thriving alien species and the remaining human population.

As far as covers go, I like the cover design on 'The Hunt'.  It's an engaging cover with some fun elements.  I love the ripped cut out showing the two lead characters.

In all honesty, it's not my favorite dystopian read.  The pacing was off through the entire novel.  The beginning felt slow and the ending felt rushed.  I wasn't surprised at the big reveal 200 pages in, either.  I had it pegged very early on.

The world was crafted well enough and, unlike some dystopian worlds, I had no problem figuring it out.  The world has some unique bits that separate it from other dystopian titles, but also suffers from having too much backstory.

The long and short of it?  While the idea was an interesting one, for me, 'The Hunt' just didn't hold up.  'The Hunt' wasn't my cup of tea and gets 2 out of 5 stars from this little blog.

Review: Meet Samantha by Susan Adler

Title: Meet Samantha
Author: Susan Adler
Genre: Juvi, historical fiction, friendship, growing up
Star Rating: 5/5 stars

Taken from Amazon, "Samantha Parkington is an orpan who lives with her rich grandmother in 1904. There are many servants in Grandmary's busy, bustling household, but there is no one for Samantha to play with. That's why she's so excited when Nellie moves in next door. Nellie has come to work so that she can send money back to her family in the city. Even though their lives are different, the two girls become good friends. One day Samantha discovers that Jessie, the seamstress, is leaving. No one will tell her why. So she and Nellie plan a secret midnight adventure to find out."

It is rare that two hobbies of mine collide, but that is exactly the case with 'Meet Samantha'. An avid doll collector, Samantha is one of my favorite American Girl dolls. Like many, I read this book series back in the early 90's when I was scrimping and saving my pennies for Pleasant Company's American Girl dolls. 2012, it seems, has been a year of re-reading for me, and I thought what better to re-read than Samantha's story?

Set in 1904, 'Meet Samantha' introduces us to 9 year old Samantha. Rich and upper class, Samantha is far from your typical socialite. She's full of spunk and not afraid to get dirty or speak her mind. This first book in this six book series is, for the most part, an introduction to the characters and settings. That's not to say there isn't a story, because there is, but a lot of this book concentrates on relationships.

What I love most about Samantha's story is the setting. 1904 was a time where you could realistically see cars and horse drawn carriages sharing roads. New things were being invented every day. Can you imagine?

I will forever recommend the Samantha book series to young readers.  They are great stories with great themes (ie: friendship, confidence, etc).  Even after all these years, I had a blast reading 'Meet Samantha' and your young reader will, too!  Because of that, this blog gives 'Meet Samantha' 5 out of 5 stars.

You can find 'Meet Samantha' at your local bookstore or library.

Review: Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Spell Bound
Author:: Rachel Hawkins
Genre: YA, Supernatural, Romance, Action, Adventure, 3rd in series
Star Rating: 5/5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident. Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?"

'Spell Bound', the third and final book (?*) in the fantastic Hex Hall series, can best be described as a whirlwind.  After the crazy cliffhanger found in 'Demon Glass', should I have expected any less?  As expected, Rachel Hawkins has treated us yet again to another funny, engaging, entertaining romp into Sophie's crazy world.

While it isn't without flaws, I had a great time reading 'Spell Bound' and that to me is one of the most important things that can be said about reading.  Without going into plot details (b/c who am I to spoil it for you!), I can say that you won't be disappointed in terms of entertainment value!

I'm giving this book five stars, but want to point out one thing that 'felt funny' about 'Spell Bound'.  The main issue I had was that this story, 'Spell Bound',  felt more like the third book in a four book series instead of the last novel in a trilogy.  There was a big set up (ie: the last few pages of 'Demon Glass') to what should be a big bang conclusion.  When we finally get to that conclusion, however, it doesn't seem as climatic as it should.  Loose ends are tied up, but not in the big bang sort of way I expected based off the other two books in the series.

The plotting issue nonewithstanding, I enjoyed this book immensely.  I can definitely say that Sophie's story is one that will stick with me and will be a 'go to' series for those looking for good YA reads!  'Spell Bound' gets 5 out of 5 stars.

(On a sidenote, I must petition Rachel Hawkins to continue on with this world she's created.  I'd love more books in this series, even if they don't involve Sophie and her gang!)

*I don't ever really recall this series being toted as a 'trilogy', so I'm not sure if this is the end all/be all of the Hex Hall series.  I know the author mentioned something about 'ending Sophie's story', but there are still so many stories to tell!  For that reason, I have inserted the ?'s, because it just doesn't feel like the end just yet!

What are your thoughts on 'Spell Bound'?  Share them in the comments!  (Spoilers ARE allowed in the comments, so newbies, you have been warned!)

Review: Immortal War by Justin Somper

Title: Immortal War
Author: Justin Somper
Genre: Juvi, YA, sixth in series, action, adventure, romance, supernatural
Star Rating:  5/5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "A bloody war is raging across the oceans, with the Pirate Federation and the Nocturnals allied against the renegade Vampirates led by Sidorio and a heavily pregnant Lady Lola. Meanwhile, Connor and Grace Tempest each have their own important roles to play- He as a pirate warrior at the heart of the battle, she as a powerful healer working with the war-wounded. As the twins face their greatest challenges yet, old allies and former foes return for the ultimate battle..."

I started this book with trepidation.  I loved the first five books in the 'Vampirates' series and knew full well that this was the last full length adventure I'd get to spend with Grace, Connor, Lorcan, and the rest of the Pirate and Vampirate crew.  Now that I've finished it, it is with a touch of sadness and a whole lotta love that I write this review.  I'm going to keep it short and sweet because I don't want to go into heavy spoiler territory by accident!  (It's just *that* good of a series!)

Justin Somper has crafted an epic finale to the series that started very simply with a book about two fouteen year old twins who were forced down two completely different paths.  'Immortal War' has everything-- action, romance, humor, and very readable battle scenes.  That last one is a huge thing for me-- I usually don't read books with heavy action scenes and if they're in a novel I'm reading, I usually just skim the passages.  I didn't do that with 'Immortal War'.  Better still, with so much happening to so many characters at one time, I still found it easy to understand what was going on where and to whom.

The big finale seemed a fitting send off to the characters I've grown to love.  Most loose ends are tied up.  Some are surprisingly left open making me wonder if we'll be seeing a few more novellas or even a companion series.  (Please, Mr. Somper!!!)  There are a ton of secondary characters who still have stories to tell and I, for one, would love to hear them (*cough*cowboy*cough*).

If you haven't read the 'Vampirates' series, go to your local library and tell the librarian you want to read 'Demons of the Ocean'.  You won't regret it.  And to those who have read the series and are putting this read off till 'next time', make 'next time' today.

I'm very happy I decided to follow Grace and Connor on their journey.  I have to laugh at myself-- I was hesitant to start this series back in the day.  'Vampire pirates? What are these authors going to think up next?', I said to myself.  But the beautiful cover and intriguing concept eventually won me over and the hardcovers now sit proudly on my bookshelf, ready for when I want to dive back into the lives of the Tempest twins.

'Immortal War' gets 5 stars and is available online and in stores.

Review: Pure by Julianna Baggott

Title: Pure
Author: Julianna Baggott
Genre: Older YA, dystopian, dark, gritty, slight romance
Star Rating: 2/5 stars

Taken from 'Goodreads', "We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . . Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run. 


There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. When a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her. 


When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again."

A friend of mine mentioned 'Pure' to me a while back.  Supposedly, it was the talk of the town at a book expo she attended.  Because of that, I decided to take a stab at reading this novel by Julianna Baggott.  Let me tell you first that I, personally, think this novel is best suited to older YA readers.  It's a dark read and might not please the younger YA set, even if they liked 'The Hunger Games'.

The Negatives:

As far as page count goes, this book was *way* too long.  It took me 300 pages (almost exactly) to get to a point where I cared about the story and even then, I wasn't too overly invested in the plot or characters.  Part of my trouble with 'Pure' was the voice.  I can count on one hand the number of books I've enjoyed that are in present tense.  My mind was auto-correcting to past tense throughout the entire novel.  As you can only imagine, that made it really hard to get 'sucked in'.  I finished this book not because I was on the edge of my seat, but because I had pushed through hundreds of pages and felt I needed to at least see the story through.

Pressia lives in a world where people are fused with objects.  You'll walk down the street and see a girl with a dolls head fused to her hand, a man with a fan in his throat, or even a boy with birds stuck to his back.  There were some cring-worthy and shocking combinations described in 'Pure', not all of them easy to grasp.  That was the most difficult part to understand about Pressia's world.

Also, purely subjective, I was a little turned off by how dark the novel was.  I'm okay with dark, but usually like a little happy mixed in.  I'm not talking a musical number, but something-- some little ray of hope.  I didn't get any of that in this novel.  I finished it feeling a lot like I did when I read 'Mockingjay'. 'Pure' started on one note and kind of continued on that same note.  The one tone storytelling made for a pretty lackluster finale.

The Positives:


Who could resist this cover?  The colors, font, and design are just perfect.

As far as characters, I enjoyed them well enough.  Pressia was the most likable character of the bunch, followed by Bradwell, Lyda, and then Partridge.  Lyda's character wasn't explored in much detail, though she plays a major role in 'Pure'.  Still, however, she has more personality than Partridge.  If I were to choose my favorite character, the award would go to Bradwell.  He came off a little flat to me, but you know what, he seemed like a cool guy.  He and Pressia's banter in his butcher shop early on in the book was probably my favorite part of the novel.

Each chapter was told in a certain persons point of view.  Unlike some authors, Baggott didn't try to stick to a pattern.  Personally, I prefer that.  Some novels I've read have had alternating characters point of view and because of that, events felt a little forced.  While some of the events in this novel did seem a bit, er, contrived, the fact that the point of view didn't change in a pattern helped a bit.

Overall:

I like dystopian novels.  I've read 'Matched', 'The Hunger Games', 'Legacy', and quite enjoyed them. However, 'Pure' just wasn't my kind of book.  I didn't finish wanting to read more or even looking forward to the sequel.  If you like gritty, dark worlds, you may like this novel.  It just wasn't my cup of tea.

Review: Marmalade Boy, Volume 1 by Wataru Yoshizumi

Title: Marmalade Boy, Volume 1
Author/Artist: Wataru Yoshizumi
Genre: Manga, Shoujo
Star Rating: 5/5

Taken from 'Amazon', "Talk about dysfunctional! Miki is horrified to learn that her parents have swapped with another couple, and that all four now plan to live under one roof. But when her new stepbrother, Yuu, shows up, he appears to be just the one to ease her mental anguish... that is, until she sees the bitterness beneath his cool exterior. The strange romance that follows would make any love triangle seem ordinary by comparison."

Originally published by the now defunct Toykopop, 'Marmalade Boy' is hands down my favorite manga series.  It's classic shoujo and something you don't want to miss out on!

Volume one introduces you to the main protagonist- Miki.  Miki is your typical high schooler.  That is, until her parents let her in on the news that they're divorcing. Not just divorcing, but swapping partners with a couple they met on a cruise.  Add the other couples high school son and a house they all share and you have some major life complications!

One of the things that makes or breaks manga for me is the drawing style and I love the style used in 'Marmalade Boy'.  Wataru's style is cutesy and comedic, but at the drop of the hat, a character will have an expression on their face that just draws you in.  I love it.

The story found in 'Marmalade Boy' is filled with humor, angst, memorable characters, and true love.  This is a manga you'll want to check out.

'Marmalade Boy' runs 8 volumes.  Currently, most of the run is 'out of print', but you can still find copies used at conventions, online, or in used bookshops.

Quick Review: Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien

Title: Prized
Author: Caragh M. O'Brien 
Genre: older YA, dystopian, romance, 2nd in series
Star Rating: 4/5 stars

From Goodreads, "Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime. In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole?"


Unlike the last 'middle book' I read (ie: 'Crossed'), this one actually had a plot, an interesting setting, and great dialogue! I enjoyed 'Prized' and am looking forward to the third book-- which needs to be published soon... Now, if possible! 


I'm not sure what it is about them, but I really love the characters in this series-- especially Leon. He may have his mood swings, but I'd take him if Gaia gave him up!  My advice?  Don't give up on this 'sleeper' series, it is just getting better!

Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Title: Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Genre: YA, Fairy tale, Steampunk, Scifi, Romance
Perfect for: a lazy afternoon
Star Rating: 3/5 stars

Borrowed from 'Goodreads', "Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future."


With loads of five star reviews, I expected a twinge more from 'Cinder'.  There are many points in which I'll give it credit.  As far as putting an original twist on a handful of popular fairy tales?  Author Marissa Meyer gets a gold star.  I loved the almost steampunk elements of Cinder's society and Cinder's own human/cyborg nature.  The world in which 'Cinder' was set was different enough for me to be intrigued by, while not making me terribly confused.


The cover art?  Love it.  That and the title are the reason I decided to read this novel.  


'Cinder' is a mixture of fairy tales.  Not just inspired by Cinderella, it also takes elements from other popular tales, which (without going into spoiler territory) make the story slightly more predictable than I would have liked.  I'd be lying if I said I hadn't figured out the story arc (even the 'surprise' elements) pretty early on.  


What saved the story, in my opinion, were the characters.  As a character, I latched onto Cinder right away.  I found her sarcasm amusing and character arc worthwhile enough to keep on reading, even though I had the story figured out. The good doctor, the Da Vinci of the novel (if I were to relate this to the movie 'Ever After'), was also quite endearing.  I liked him from the get go and look forward to seeing more of him in later installments.


Which brings me to my final point about this novel... It is the beginning of a series and you will know that by the time you get to the ending.  This book had one of those love/hate 'non endings'.  There was an almost ending, but then, boom, us readers are hit with something that takes the story in a complete 180, and then the book is over, leaving us waiting for book 2.  I see the strategy, but wish there had been a more solid ending in place.  Just a little more of a bow would have been great.


'Cinder' is a steampunky fairy tale that will, at the very least, help you get through a rainy or snowy day.  It gets 3 out of 5 stars.

Review: Bunheads by Sophie Flack

Title: Bunheads
Author: Sophie Flack
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Perfect for: anyone who took dance as a kid and dreamed of it being more than a hobby!
Star Rating: 3/5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "As a dancer with the ultra-prestigious Manhattan Ballet Company, nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward juggles intense rehearsals, dazzling performances and complicated backstage relationships. Up until now, Hannah has happily devoted her entire life to ballet. But when she meets a handsome musician named Jacob, Hannah's universe begins to change, and she must decide if she wants to compete against the other "bunheads" in the company for a star soloist spot or strike out on her own in the real world. Does she dare give up the gilded confines of the ballet for the freedoms of everyday life?" 


I took dance class for many years as a kid and young adult. Never did I think about becoming a professional dancer nor was I ever good enough to consider it, but still once a dancer, always a dancer. I'm not a reader of contemporary YA, but 'Bunheads' had me interested in it right from the get go. First off, the last book I read about a ballet school, 'Red Shoes Will Kill You' by Dorian Cirrone, entertained me quite a bit. It's few and far between that I see YA novels set in the traditional dance world, so I try to read them when they hit the shelves. Second, the cover is actually quite nice. It's eye catching and fits with the story well. (It also helps that I recently watched an Australian TV show about kids at a prestige's dance academy and have since had dance on the brain!)


'Bunheads' isn't a romance so much as a coming of age book with some romance. It's odd for me to describe it as a 'coming of age' kind of book, being that the characters are close to or over 20 years old, but in reality, they (specifically main character Hannah) have been secluded in the dance studio most of their life and haven't yet really grown into who they are supposed to be. Hence the coming of age theme! 'Bunheads' follows Hannah, already a professional dancer by the age of 19, as she slowly ventures out into the world and sees that while she may love dancing, it may not be her one and only.


I found the character of Hannah to be very relateable, almost too relatable! I can understand her point of view, striving to reach a goal, keeping her eye on the prize, while missing out on a whole world of things. Trust me when I say, I did that throughout most of my college days and it isn't the best way to go through life! Hannah isn't the most personable of YA leads (she's a bit Meredith Grey), but her reasons make sense and her point of view is clear. Anyone who has ever wanted something so bad that they blocked out everything else will understand her. The secondary characters are engaging, though the male leads could have had a bit more personality.


As far as plot is concerned, I found 'Bunheads' to flow well. I've been in a reading rut recently, where books are just not sticking, but 'Bunheads' didn't have that feel at all. If anything, I was excited to finally get to dive into the professional world of dancing. While non dancers might think some of the issues in this novel are bizarre (ie: instructors telling characters to lose weight-- in their chest-- as to not break their body's line), dancers will hear a ring of truth in the situations Hannah and her friends find themselves in.


Is this an awe inspiring, life changing read? No. Is it an enjoyable view into the world of professional dancing and into the life of a girl who thought she had found her place, but may need to go just a little further to find where she truly needs to be? Yes! 'Bunheads' gets 3 out of 5 stars and can be found on bookshelves everywhere.

Review: Rip Tide by Kat Falls

Title: Rip Tide
Author: Kat Falls
Genre: juvi, ya, dystopian, action, adventure, 2nd in series
Perfect for: those who read the original, 'Dark Life'
Star Rating: 4/5 Stars

Taken from Goodreads, "Return to the subsea frontier with Ty and Gemma! The mysteries of the deep are deadlier than ever when Ty'With time running out for his parents, Ty's desperation leads the two teenagers to the underwater underworld...and into an alliance with the outlaws of the Seablite Gang. But one mystery soon leads to another. How has an entire township disappered? Why is the local sealife suddenly so aggressive? And can the Seablite Gang be trusted...or are Ty and Gemma in deeper water than they realize?"


It's only been a few months since my last trip under the sea with Kat Falls and 'Dark Life' and, boy, am I happy I got to return so soon with 'Rip Tide'. 'Rip Tide' is a 'rip roaring adventure'! 


Just like the original, 'Rip Tide' starts with a bang.  Readers are thrust into an undersea adventure that doesn't let up.  The story is paced well and addictive in nature.  This book is truly one that will keep you reading hours on end.  Kat makes a smart decision with 'Rip Tide' and takes the story into a totally new setting.  Because of this choice, 'Rip Tide' is still a very fresh and almost standalone story.  I wouldn't read it before reading 'Dark Life', but it is nice that 'Rip Tide' has its own story, as opposed to just being a 'middle book'.


The banter between the two on again off again leads, Ty and Gemma,  is spot on and the secondary characters are interesting to read.  Gemma has some nice character development. I'm looking forward to seeing what might happen next in the series!


'Rip Tide' is an addictive, action, adventure set in a cool underwater world.  You won't regret reading this series!

Review: Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink

Title: Circle of Fire 
Author: Michelle Zink 
Genre: YA, Historical, Romance, Supernatural 
Perfect for: Readers of the original two novels-- don't start with this one!!! 
Star Rating: 4/5 stars


Taken from Goodreads, "With time dwindling but her will to end the Prophecy stronger than ever, Lia sets out on a journey to find the remaining keys, locate the missing pages of the Prophecy, and convince her sister Alice to help--or risk her life trying. Lia has her beloved Dimitri by her side, but Alice has James, the man who once loved her sister--and maybe still does. James doesn't know the truth about either sister, or the prophecy that divides them. And Alice intends to keep it that way. There are some secrets sisters aren't meant to share. Because when they do, it destroys them." 


 As this is the third and final book in a series, this review is going to be short and sweet. 'Circle of Fire' is a fitting ending to the 'Prophecy of the Sisters' trilogy, regardless of its faults. While the pacing of the story felt off, I sped through the pages. Lia and Dimitri had some cute moments, the interaction between Lia and Alice came as a welcome shock, and, overall, the story's end felt right. 


I didn't like all the elements of the story-- it was a little dark at the end (though I probably should have expected that!). Also, some of this story felt like it would have been better placed in the second book. Along the same lines, I didn't feel that we learned enough about the new keys to really care about them. 


If you've read the first two novels, you'll want to read 'Circle of Fire'. This is one ending that definitely brings closure to the story. 'Circle of Fire' gets 4 out of 5 stars.

Review: Passion by Lauren Kate

Title: Passion
Author: Lauren Kate
Genre: YA, Supernatural, Romance, 3rd in a series
Perfect for: those who have read the first two in the series. This does not work as a standalone.
Star Rating: 3/5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "Luce would die for Daniel.

And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . .

Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.

Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever."


I can't help it. When it comes to this series, I'm addicted. I can't help but enjoy stepping into the world Lauren Kate has crafted, but to be completely honest, I always finish these books (well, 'Torment' and the newest novel, 'Passion') with gripes. The best way to describe my thoughts about the Fallen series is that I want to love it so much that I hold it up to higher standards that it never seems to reach. I know I shouldn't, but I really liked 'Fallen'. The sequels.... There have been great parts and then not so great parts. But on to the topic at hand-- 'Passion'.


'Passion' is the third book in the Fallen series. It continues exactly where 'Torment' ended. Much of the storyline is centered around Luce learning about her and Daniel's past lives together in a search to find out why she loves him and why their cursed. I think anyone who's read the series has wondered about the past, so all in all, the concept sounds pretty good, right? Well, sort of.


At 430 some pages, 85% (ish) of the book showcased Luce and Daniel playing 'catch me if you can' back in time. While it was nice jumping into the past lives for a while, mid way through, I found myself wondering when we'd get on with the story. The time jumping was all fine and good, but there was just too much of it.


We got to see very little of the secondary characters in this novel, but Daniel, Miles, and Shelby had a good scene together and we did get a small peek into Cam's background, which was nice. 'Passion' will please those readers who can't get enough of Luce and Daniel's tragic love, but doesn't progress the story very much.


The best way to describe 'Passion' is that it reads like the middle of a story. It doesn't have a standalone intertwined into the big storyline. It's very 'Empire Strikes Back' in that way. The last 15% of the story is where most of the action happens and is a major set up for the fourth installment.


For me, 'Passion' read a whole lot like 'Torment'. It was a quick, addictive read, but left me wondering why it had to be so long. The more I think about it, 'Passion' would have been so much better as a novella. It's 400+ pages just seemed a bit repetitive and didn't move the story along as much as I expected.


Even though I had my gripes, I am not giving up on the series. The last 15% of the novel (where the plot really kicked in) caught my attention enough to make me look forward to the release of the final novel in the series. 'Passion' gets 3 out of 5 stars.

Review: Illusions by Aprilynn Pike

Title: Illusions (US), Wild (elsewhere)
Author: Aprilynn Pike
Genre: YA, Supernatural, Romance, 3rd in series
Perfect for: Readers who have read the first two books. This is *not* a standalone!
Star Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "Laurel hasn't seen Tamani since she begged him to let her go last year. Though her heart still aches, Laurel is confident that David was the right choice.

But just as life is returning to normal, Laurel discovers that a hidden enemy lies in wait. Once again, Laurel must turn to Tamani to protect and guide her, for the danger that now threatens Avalon is one that no faerie thought would ever be possible. And for the first time, Laurel cannot be sure that her side will prevail."


Being as this is the third in the series, this review will be short and sweet. I don't want to spoil anything for readers who might have stumbled upon this review and have not yet read the first two books, 'Wings' and 'Spells'. It is essential to read the first two novels in this series to get anything out of 'Illusions'. It's not a series book that could stand alone.


Just like the Fallen series, I find these books infuriating sometimes. They're addicting and really easy to get sucked into, but because of that, I always get frustrated by the characters actions and plot points. While the plot is executed much better than 'Spells', 'Illusions' still made me just as frustrated.


What did I like about 'Illusions'? I really enjoyed seeing Tamani and David in scenes with Laurel *together*. It always bugged me how Laurel was either with one or the other, but in this novel, we saw the whole crew interacting and I loved it. Adding Chelsea to the mix was a great idea. Her sarcasm was spot on and a nice break from the boys rivalries and Laurel's worrying.


The introduction of Yuki was a welcome plot point, too. While I still don't know enough about her to know if she's good or bad, she helped round out the group in 'Illusions'. I am looking forward to seeing what she brings to the table.


What bothered me about 'Illusions'? My main problem with 'Illusions' is that aside from Laurel taking an active interest in really figuring out her love life, not much more happens. Yes, we meet Yuki, but we don't learn anything about her. Yes, we see a troll, but we don't learn anything about it. The book suffered from 'Empire Strikes Back' syndrome-- it sets up the next book in the series, but on its own, it has no standalone story. Questions aren't answered. I finished the book trying to figure out why Pike couldn't have just created a trilogy.


'Illusions' gets 3 out of 5 stars. The scenes with Laurel and Tam were great, but not enough to really sell me on this book.  Still, I'm looking forward to the final book in the series!

Review: Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Title: Enclave
Author: Ann Aguirre
Genre: YA, dystopian, romance, sci-fi
Perfect for: dystopian readers (especially those that enjoyed 'Birthmarked'!)
Star Rating: 4/5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first she thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known."


Wow, a lengthy description for this novel. Here's what you really need to know: while this is great dystopian, do not read it expecting 'The Hunger Games'. It has a similar feeling, but the characters and environment are are quite different. Don't ruin this great novel by expecting 'The Hunger Games'. To be honest, I found this novel more like 'Birthmarked' or (to a lesser extent) 'Matched' in terms of storytelling than 'The Hunger Games'.


Now, onto 'Enclave'... I really like 'Enclave'. It is good dystopian and comes highly recommended! If it's not on your 'to-read' list and you like well done dystopian, then you should add this to your list! 'Enclave' is the beginning of a trilogy and will leave you wanting more!


What do I love about this novel? To begin with, the world is easy to settle into. It clearly separates itself from other dystopian titles. Main characters Deuce and Fade are likable and their relationship is believable, never crossing into 'sappy' territory! The secondary characters are characterized in a way where you really do form connections to them and care about their well-being.


Ann Aguirre knows how to tell a story. 'Enclave' doesn't follow the story you'd expect it to. Midway through it takes a turn that introduces (the before mentioned) great secondary characters and poses intriguing questions. And the ending? Well, it really shows you that the saga for Fade, Deuce, and the others is only just beginning.


All in all, 'Enclave' is a novel you want to check out. I think you'll enjoy it!  'Enclave' gets 4 out of 5 stars!

Review: The Lens and the Looker by Lory S. Kaufman

Title: The Lens and the Looker
Author: Lory S. Kaufman
Genre: YA, Juvi, Sci-fi
Perfect for: readers of time travel sci-fi and books that take place in Italy
Star Rating: 3/5 Stars

Taken from Goodreads, "THERE'S HOPE FOR THE FUTURE, 
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE PAST?

It’s the 24th century and humans, with the help of artificial intelligences (A.I.s) have finally created the perfect post-dystopian society. To make equally perfect citizens for this world, the elders have created History Camps, full sized recreations of cities from Earth’s distant pasts. Here teens live the way their ancestors did, doing the same dirty jobs and experiencing the same degradations. History Camps teach youths not to repeat the mistakes that almost caused the planet to die. But not everything goes to plan.

In this first of a trilogy, we meet three spoiled teens in the year 2347. Hansum almost 17, is good looking and athletic. Shamira, 15, is sassy, independent and an artistic genius. Lincoln, 14, is the smart-aleck. But you don’t have to scratch too far beneath the surface to find his insecurities.

These three “hard cases” refuse the valuable lessons History Camps teach. But when they are kidnapped and taken back in time to 1347 Verona, Italy, they only have two choices; adapt to the harsh medieval ways or die. The dangers are many, their enemies are powerful, and safety is a long way away. It’s hardly the ideal environment to fall in love – but that’s exactly what happens. In an attempt to survive, the trio risks introducing technology from the future. It could save them – or it could change history."

I'm a sucker for a good time travel story, especially when it deals with Italy or Italy like settings.  'The Lens and the Looker' is a solid read that is definitely something to consider if you are in the mood for a time traveling adventure aimed at Juvi/YA audiences.

The good bits?  The characters, for one thing.  Both main and secondary, the characters in 'The Lens and the Looker'  are likable, entertaining, and have purpose.  Author Lory S. Kaufman created noticeable character growth between the first and last page-- something that isn't always found in many juvi/ya books!

As mentioned before, the setting does not disappoint.  Kaufman's descriptions of Verona and Italy in general are done well.  Having been to Italy, I know a bit about the rich, vastness that is the beautiful country and Kaufman's descriptions rang true to me!

I don't know if I would consider this 'dystopian', but it is clearly sci-fi due to the time travel element and Genie.  The main concept is dystopian and the idea of History Camps is quite interesting  but once they skip to the time traveling, it goes straight to sci-fi.

My main issue with 'The Lens and the Looker' is the writing style.  My own personal reading preferences lead towards books that don't carry a lot of long descriptive paragraphs with dialogue between each one.  I like quick dialogue and quick descriptive lines that keep the action moving and give just the right amount of description.  'The Lens and the Looker' has good dialogue, but the long descriptions made me jump a bit, sometimes missing important details.  Course, some people love long descriptions (like Tolkien readers!), but me, not so much. 

All things considered, 'The Lens and the Looker' is a good read.  If you are in the mood for time travel and don't mind slightly too long descriptive passages, this is something you may want to consider!  'The Lens and the Looker' gets 3 out of 5 stars!