City of Ashes, Cassandra Clare, Margaret K. McElderry Books, 453 pages

Of course I loved this book. I mean what’s not to love after City of Bones? It just built right on top of that brilliantly. Jace has to deal with finding out who he really is, Clary’s dealing with Simon’s growing affections. Simon is now a Vampire. Jace and Clary have to figure out how to be around each other, and all while trying to guess Valentine’s next move.

Full of Vamps, Werewolves, Warlocks and demons I think this series will definitly appeal to both sexes. I can’t say much more or I’ll give to much away. Looking forward to City of Glass.

"You Might want to lie down," Magnus advised. "I find that it helps when the crushing sense of horrible realization sets in."

Isabelle drifted over, Jace a pace behind her. She was wearing a long black dress with boots and an even longer cutaway coat of soft green velvet, the color of moss. "I can't believe you did it!" she exclaimed. "How did you get Magnus to let Jace leave?"

"Traded him for Alec," Clary said.

Isabelle looked mildly alarmed. "Not permanently?"

"No," said Jace. "Just for a few hours. Unless I don't come back," he added thoughtfully. "In which case, maybe he does get to keep Alec. Think of it as a lease with an option to buy."

Isabelle looked dubious. "Mom and Dad won't be pleased if they find out."

"That you freed a possible criminal by trading away your brother to a warlock who looks like a gay Sonic the Hedgehog and dresses like the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?" Simon inquired. "No, probably not."

Jace put his head in his hands. "Tell Isabelle no."

"But she thinks it's a good idea," Alec protested.

"Then tell her no twice."

Magnus got to his feet. "I do believe that's my cue to leave as well," he said. Clary noticed he was avoiding looking at Alec. "I'd say it's been nice meeting you all, but, in fact, it hasn't. It's been quite awkward, and frankly, the next time I see a single one of you will be far too soon."

"Every time you almost die, I almost die myself."

Jellicoe Road, Melina Marchetta, Penguin (Oz), 300 pages

Freakin’ PHENOMENAL!!! I am in love with this writer. I read Jellicoe Road a while back so I’m having to skim over it to remember what specifically I loved about it. Cause I can’t just say it was phenomenal and I loved it and leave it at that, can I?

Wait! CAN I? ;) Of course I could it’s my site. But I won’t.

I can honestly say that I was a bit confused in the beginning of reading this book, only because it goes back and forth between a story about 5 teens 17 years ago, and some teens in present day and how their lives are connected.

I did not want to put it down though. It had me at hello.

And once you start figuring things out and following along, you truly don’t want to put it down. I can understand why this book has received the awards it has. They are well deserved.

The author has 3 other books, I have read her first two, hopefully I’ll get reviews up this year, Finding Alibrandi is actually a bit older but still a really great read, and then Saving Francesca was superb as well.

Finnikin of the Rock comes out in the US in February, and I’m so there. Her newest book is called The Piper’s Son and revisits one of the secondary characters from Saving Francesca. Since I have family in Oz, I’ve already asked if they could send it to me when it’s released so I don’t have to wait another year. :)

She’s agreed, so we’ll see.

If you have not read this book, or any of Melina’s for that matter, I suggest you high-tail it to your local bookstore and pick it up. It’s very much worth the money.

"When I turn around, he cups my face in his hands and he kisses me so deeply that I don't know who is breathing for who, but his mouth and tongue taste like warm honey. I don't know how long it lasts, but when I let go of him, I miss it already."

"'Guess what?' Fitz said.

'I don't know,' Jude said. 'What? Narnie smiled?' He glanced at her for the first time.

'When you guys see a Narnie smile, it's like a revalation,' Webb said, gathering her towards him.

Jude stopped in front of her and, with both hands cupping her face, tried to make a smile. Narnie flinched.

'Leave her alone,' Tate said.

'I need a revelation,' Jude said. 'And you're the only one that can give me one, Narns.' "

"It's funny how you can forget everything except people loving you. Maybe that's why humans find it so hard getting over love affairs. It's not the pain they're getting over, it's the love."

"Sometimes Webb believed that he would never experience a better feeling than when he was looking at her, would never see anything or anybody bursting with more life and spirit. Sometimes he felt he needed to inhale it and place it in a storage area in his soul. Just in case. "

"I'm very disturbed to find out that the leader of the Townies has a soul and I'm beginning to develop a bit of a crush on him."

"Hold my hand because I might disappear."

"How can you just forget a person completely until the moment you see his face again?"

"Santangelo is irritated. 'We're not suppose to be collaborating. It's supposed to be a war and you're supposed to stick to the boundaries.'

'We've seen you in your jocks,' she reminds him. 'Taylor and Griggs have pashed. You've broken into your father's police station for us. Don't you think the war has lost a bit of its tension?'"

""This is the best night of my life," Raffy says, crying.

"Raffy, half our House has burnt down," I say wearily. "We don't have a kitchen."

"Why do you always have to be so pessimistic?" she asks. "We can double up in our rooms and have a barbecue every night like the Cadets."

Silently I vow to keep Raffy around for the rest of my life."

Wings, Aprilynne Pike, HarperTeen, 290 pages

So unexpectedly brilliant. Seriously!

I thought this book would be good.

I did not expect it to be so, clever. NO, not clever, I mean, yes, but, more. SO much more.

I’m having such a hard time finding the words to express how much I loved this book.

It was so believable in a fantasy sort of way.

AM I EVEN MAKING ANY SENSE?!

Buy this book. Don’t get it from your library. Don’t borrow it from a friend. Get the money together and purchase it.

It is outstanding.

I loved the biology behind Laurel, and the fae, and how they are and what they are.

I loved David and how awesomely geeky, yet not, he was. What an awesome friend who wants more.

I loved Tamani and how charming and confident he was. And how open.

Aprilynne did an amazing, BLOODY BRILLIANT, job on the love triangle because honestly, I am Team nobody, or Team everybody. I want Laurel with both of them.

I love rooting for the “underdog”, which is kind of what David is. I want her with him.

But how can you deny a love like Tamani’s?

And, just for the record, I thought it was so cool about the different seasonal fairies. And how they get their coloring, and the pollenation. You’ll understand once you read it.

It was all just so stinkin’ cool.

I mean, really, have you ever seen me “yell” in my posts?

Go Get It.

"It's your call," he said softly, "but whatever you decide, I'll help you." He placed a soft, warm hand at the back of her neck and Laurel's breath caught in her chest. "Whatever you need, I'll be. If you need the science geek to give you answers from a textbook, I'm your guy; if you just want a friend to sit by you in bio and help you feel better when you're sad, I'm still your guy." His thumb slowly stroked across her earlobe and down her cheek. "And if you need someone to hold you and protect you from anyone in the world who might want to hurt you, then I am definitely your guy." His pale-blue eyes bore into hers, and for a second she couldn't breath. "But it's all up to you," he whispered."

“Doesn’t sound very romantic.”

“There’s nothng romantic about it at all.” Tamani replied, a confident smile spreading across his face. “That’s what sex is for.”

“You still...” she let the question hang.

City of Bones, Cassandra Clare, Simon Pulse, 485 pages

(Dec. 4) So when I first read this book back in 2007, I thought it was good but because of the twist between the two main characters I put it back. I mean, ugh, and how could I continue with the series? It was just too upsetting. I like a good love story, I like happy endings.

And so for the next two years I ignored the really amazing covers of the next two books. Kept telling myself to stay away.

Then Kristi, The Story Siren, convinced me to pick them up again.

And boy did I ever.

I couldn’t put them down. Seriously. I’ve finished all three books in like a week. And now I can’t wait for the “prequel” series, The Infernal Devices, to start coming out. Or the fourth “surprise” book in The Mortal Instruments series, City of Fallen Angels.

City of Bones has so much going for it, intrigue, monsters, warriors, normal people, the warriors call Mundanes. And of course that bit of romance I was talking about earlier, plus unsettling twists, adventure, and magic.

The main character of Clary, pulls you in and makes you feel like you are apart of the story. Each and every character is well fleshed out, relateable, and even funny in their own ways. That’s something I actually really enjoyed about the characters, the main ones and even a few of the secondary ones, they each had their moments of humour. Most of the time that’s focused in on one character. You know, he’s the funny one, usually the best friend of the girl (mc) and while Simon did have quite a few funnies, so did Clary, Jace, Alec, Magnus, Luke, and even Isabelle.

In fact, for my quotes section, it was so hard to leave some of them out, but for the sake of time and space I did.

So here they are, and if you haven’t read the series, I suggest you do so.

Right now.

Why are you still here?

Oh yea, the quotes. That’s why...

"How did you know I had Shadowhunter blood? Was there some way you could tell?"

"It seemed the most likely explanation."

"You guessed? You must have been pretty sure, considering you could have killed me."

"I was ninety percent sure."

"I see," Clary said. Her hand cracked across his face, a slap that rocked him back on his heels.

He put his hand to his cheek, more in surprise than pain. "What the hell was that for?"

"The other ten percent," she said. -Clary and Jace pg. 84-85

"You hate the Silent Brothers," protested Isabelle.

"I don't hate them," said Jace candidly. "I'm afraid of them. It's not the same thing."

"I thought you said they were librarians,"said Clary.

"They are librarians."

Simon whistled. "Those must be some killer late fees." -Isabelle, Jace, Clary and Simon pg. 158

Jace's grin was a white flash in the darkness. "It means 'Shadowhunters: Looking Better in Black Than the Widows of our Enemies since 1234.'"

"Jace--"

It means, said Brother Jeremiah, The descent into Hell is easy. Jace, Clary, and Brother Jeremiah pg. 179

"The other ten percent," she said. -Clary and Jace pg. 84-85

Betrayals, Lili St. Crow, RazorBill, 296 pages

(Dec. 2) I do so enjoy this series and where Betrayals was a little slower in moving forward I felt like it was worth it.

Dru is now stuck in a school, out in the middle of nowhere, full of vampire and werewolf boys.

This book is pretty much all about Dru trying to come to grips with how her life has changed since Strange Angels, why she is where she is, and why, despite what Christophe told her when he sent her to the school, no one at the school is trying to help train her.

She distances herself from everyone, not really wanting to be there. Even a little from her best friend Graves, because he seems to be fitting in better.

Dru did bug me a little bit with her moping.

She wasn’t as talkative to Graves as she usually is and he had to drag a lot out of her. Do I understand why? Sure. But it still bugged me to read it chapter after chapter.

The ending of the story, say the last 10-12 chapters were pretty action packed and ended the story well.

I thought the twist in there about Ash and the Broken was intriguing.

And am curious when we will learn Graves’ first name. Does it matter? Not really, just curious. (I tweeted Ms. St. Crow and she said we find out in book 3!)

Also, just so you know, in case you are wanting to purchase this book for someone younger, or if you are a parent, there was more cussing in this book than the last. And not just hell’s and damn’s. I personally didn’t think a lot of it was necessary to further the story or show how “bad*ss” a person was supposed to be.

Mind you, this was set in a school for the “delinquents” so some of it did lend to the overall feel of the story.

I will absolutely be waiting for Jealousy, in June of 2010.

Now for some quotes

“You wanted to be a physics professor.” My throat closed up; I could only whisper.

“Yeah, well, things change. Now I want to be here.” Another long, seconds-ticking pause. Dust danced in one fading gleam of gold coming through a low window, following long lazy swirls down to the ground. “With you.”

“Doesn’t it bother you? That I...well, that I wanted to...suck his blood?”

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. The silver earring winked mischievously at me, catching a stray gleam of sun. “Nah. You wouldn’t, you’d have stopped yourself.”- “Besides,” he said, flipping open the first huge leather-bound book with a thump, “it’s kind of hot.” A smile hovered around the corners of his mouth, fighting to stay hidden.

Impossible, Nancy Werlin, Dial Books, 366 pages

(Nov. 29) Okay guys, sorry for the hiatus but I have been sick. And over Thanksgiving. Let’s just say we didn’t do anything. No turkey, no family, nothing. It was nice. :)

That being said I’m gonna try and get a few reviews up. Starting with this one.

I read this book right after it came out so it’s been a while but I loved it. It was one of the first (I bought it along with Graceling) that got me started reading YA again.

So thank you Nancy.

Lucy Scarborough is trying to lead a typical teenage life despite the fact that she lives with foster parents, her mom is insane, and pops in and out of her life singing the same song she always has, and that she’s in love with the boy she grew up with.

I’m trying not to give away too much so let’s just say she becomes pregnant under unusual circumstances and that’s when things start falling into place.

She finds a letter and journal from when her mom was pregnant with her and it starts to explain what’s really happened and what will happen if she doesn’t figure out the answers to the riddle her mom has been singing to her her whole life.

With the help of her foster parents and Zach (the boy) she sets out to unravel the three impossible tasks that have been placed upon her before her daughter is born or else she will go insane just like her mom.

Such a good book. I love the use of the folk song as a foundation for the plot. The story was enthralling, it sucks you in. The characters, especially Lucy, feels like a true friend. You want to help her, you want to be there for her.

The story was clever and the riddle and answers even more so.

Highly, highly recommend this book.

and I know I’ve been slacking...

Zach grinned. And even though Lucy was not looking at him, she knew, because when somebody grins and your cheek is pressed against their chest, you can feel the smile right there in their body. Right in the muscle movement.

Lucy turned away abruptly. But not before she was suddenly aware that Zach was looking at her, too.

A Curse as Dark as Gold, Elizabeth Bunce, Arthur A. Levine Books, 392 pages

(Nov. 20) I was amazed. Despite being a smidge bored at some parts.

Elizabeth Bunce is incredible at storytelling. If you can’t guess or haven’t heard this is a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. And quite a believeable one at that.

I loved the characters, some a little more than others but they were all extremely well written. The main character, Charlotte, was strong, yet unsure. Rosie, her sister, was sassy and didn’t hold back. I loved the romance between Charlotte and Randall, of course cause I’m a sap. And the slowly budding relationship between Rosie and Harte. The villains were, well, villains. :)

I felt like I was there, like I was transported to this quaint little country village. I thought the descriptions of mill life were intricate and well researched.

Great story. Really.

The suspense just kept building and I didn’t want to put it down.

Amazing! Amazing! Amazing!

Read this book.

Intertwined, Gena Showalter, HarlequinTeen, 440 pages

(Nov. 2) For me this book was a little difficult to get in to. It took me longer than most. Not because it opened up boring. I’m not sure why actually. I put it down and picked up another book, but once I picked it up again, and got a little further in, I had to finish it.

I needed to know what the connection really was between Aden and Mary Ann. Honestly I thought maybe they were twins seperated at birth even though they looked nothing alike. I thought maybe Mary Ann looked like her mom and Aden like Morris Gray, Mary Ann’s dad. Because it mentions Aden has blond roots and Mr. Gray was blond, etc.

There were a few twists I didn’t see coming so that was nice. The storyline was very intricate and executed well.

I did feel a connection with these characters, even the body-less ones.

I’m not sure I liked how it ended, and have looked around but not found any info on if there is going to be a sequel. Does anyone know?

Update-Unraveled will be coming out Sept. 2010!! I will be buying this one.

Fire, Kristin Cashore, Dial Books, 461 pages

(Oct. 29)Fire, Graceling's prequel-ish companion book, takes place across the mountains to the east of the seven kingdoms, in a rocky, war-torn land called the Dells.

Beautiful creatures called monsters live in the Dells. Monsters have the shape of normal animals: mountain lions, dragonflies, horses, fish. But the hair or scales or feathers of monsters are gorgeously colored-- fuchsia, turquoise, sparkly bronze, iridescent green-- and their minds have the power to control the minds of humans.

Seventeen-year-old Fire is the last remaining human-shaped monster in the Dells. Gorgeously monstrous in body and mind but with a human appreciation of right and wrong, she is hated and mistrusted by just about everyone, and this book is her story.

Not many storytellers can transport you to a new world, yet Kristin Cashore has succeeded in doing just that...again.

The story was lyrical and filled with wonderful imagery.

The characters were all well-written I felt, except maybe Immiker/King Leck, I don’t know why but he just didn’t seem as terrifying as I imagined him to be. Maybe it’s because he’s around 11, but no, he has this quiet terror about him. I don’t know. He just didn’t do it for me.

There were quite a few bits of the story that I figured out before they were really touched upon by the author, and then there were a few that I didn’t see coming at all.

I can say that I did feel invested in these characters and what was happening to and with them. That never changed, but there were a few nit-picky things on my part that I just can’t not mention...

If, when Bitterblue wants to chop off her hair or not marry and have children I will scream and THROW THE BOOK ACROSS THE ROOM. I will then pick it back up and continue to devour it, but seriuosly. Why can’t you love having long hair and fall in love and desire children and want to be married? Is there an agenda? A point to get across? We got it. Also, the fact that there was so much sharing of people. Really?

That being said, it is such a good story and I am always impressed with her ability to grab you and not let go until the last page is turned.

Really great job, again Ms. Cashore. I will run out and purchase anything you write. You have a lifelong reader in me.

Ballad, Maggie Stiefvater, Flux, 352 pages

(Oct. 27)So it seems that Maggie Stiefvater is one of my favourite authors...ever...to date.

I’m amazed at how much of a 180 Maggie did for me in regards to these two characters. In Lament, I enjoyed Dee and really wanted her to somehow get with Luke (I’m a sap, I know) and I liked James just fine. In Ballad, Dee just annoyed the snot out of me, every time she turned up I just wanted her gone and she really irked me with how she interacted with James. Speaking of James, I fell in love with him even more.

He is such a sarcastic, witty character, smart, funny, doesn’t seem to take crap from anyone and it was fun seeing his interaction with his mom.

The story was intriguing and well written, just like her other two books. She seems to be getting better and better with each book and that just doesn’t sound right because each book has been amazing.

Stiefvater breaks your heart, (there was an actual moment of teary eyes) without getting histerical. It’s this deep ache, I remember it when I finished Lament, and it’s back in full force with Ballad. My heart hurt, literally, throughout the book. It hurt for Dee (despite what I said earlier) it hurt for Nuala at different times despite the fact that she probably would have punched me in the face for it, it hurt for James especially after the incident with Dee (you’ll know).

The secondary characters were awesome as well. A lot of times they just kind of fall by the wayside but James’ roommate Paul was pretty great, and Mr. Sullivan was the kind of teacher I wished I’d had more of (thanks Mrs. Cawvey).

Now for my favourite part...the thing is is that I can literally open the book to any page and find a passage I’d like to share with you. There were so many good moments throughout this book. I will try to keep it short...sigh...

“James?”

My face was nicely smashed into my pillow. Without moving, I pressed my phone against my ear. “Mmmm. Yeah. What”

“James, is that you?”

I rolled onto my back and stared at the pale morning light that striped across the ceiling. I readjusted the phone so that I didn’t accidentally hang up. “Mom, why is it that every time you call my cell phone, you ask if it’s really me? Are there hundreds of other misplaced calls that you’re not telling me about, where you almost dial my number but it’s not quite right and you get guys who are almost me but not quite right?”

“Your voice never sounds the same on the phone,” Mom said. “It souds mushy or something. Are you hungover?”

I felt like throwing up.

I was only spared from hurling by Paul, making his way toward us.

“Dude,” he said. “What the hell.”

I clapped my hand on his shoulder. “That phrase applies to so many things at the moment that I’m not sure which you’re referring to in particular.”

Rampant, Diana Peterfreund, Harper Teen, 402 pages

(Oct. 22) Wow! Where to start?

What an intricate tale. There was a lot to digest, so it took me longer than normal to read this book. But it wasn’t for lack of desire.

I think there was a lot of information that we, as readers, needed to get before the story could really take off but once we had that information, boy did it!

The story was original, the premise pretty amazing and once I went to Diana’s website and read up on the history of unicorns I was blown away by it.

I really like Astrid and Phil, the cousins were more like sisters, a little bickering but when it came down to it extremely protective.

Of course I liked any time Giovanni was in the picture, never really liked Seth, but had a feeling about Neil.

I hated, passionately, Astrid’s mother, even in the end, she didn’t redeem herself to me.

The other hunter’s were so diverse. It was nice to see.

I can’t say much more because I don’t want to ruin it for you if you haven’t read it yet, but once you get past the first 100 pages or so you’ll be sucked in.

Go get a copy.

And now a couple passages from the book...

Melissande nodded. “In my family, they say that Alexander’s military power was due to Bucephalus. That he planned his strategy with the unicorn, carried on conversations with it. That’s why he couldn’t conquer anymore after Bucephalus was gone.”

“A talking unicorn?” Cory said skeptically. “I think that’s a tad unrealistic.”

I let out a bark of laughter. That was the unrealistic part?

“I should be extra careful around here, though,” he said. “Someone from teh program could catch us.” He kept his voice low when he spoke to me, and occasionally broke into Italian when teh door to the restaurant opened.

“Ferrari, espresso, Dolce e Gabbana, biscotti, fettuccini,” I said one time in response.

He burst out laughing.

Hush, Hush, Becca Fitzpatrick, Simon & Schuster, 391 pages

(Oct. 17) I’m not even exactly sure how to begin this one...words seem a bit inadequate. To say that I loved it would be an understatement. Maybe not the understatement of the year...but maybe close third.

Let’s start with the cover...in Becca’s acknowledgment section she thanks James Porto for “a cover that blew away my expectations.” I’d have to second that. What an awesome cover. It tells you enough without giving too much away. Just like the Prologue. I have recently read some books (I’m sure you’ll know em when you see the reviews) that were very enjoyable but the whole story (slight exaggeration) was right there in the prologue. Why would I want to read the book? I did. And still enjoyed them, but it was a bit annoying.

Speaking of annoying, did anyone else find Vee that way? I mean I liked her alright, but there was just something about her that bugged me. I think it may have been the fact that she seemed like a true friend sometimes and like someone who was friends with Nora just because, other times. Am I making sense? Maybe not. Now that could just be me and the way I took some of the conversations between the two of them. Like the camping trip. But I haven’t seen much if any complaints about Vee in other reviews I’ve read.

The story was a pretty awesome one. I liked the fact that Becca brought in The Book of Enoch and some other information about the fallen angels, like Nephilim. I’m glad she did her research because it was more believable that way. The one thing that I thought was a little...underdone...I guess that’s the word I’m looking for...and this might be a bit spoiler-ish so skip to the next paragraph if you don’t want to know...is the whole save a life/guardian angel thing. It just seemed too simple for me. But then when I think about it...I guess because the fallen angels are no longer good, saving a life wouldn’t be in their thoughts? Maybe that’s why none of the fallen’s knew about it. I guess that makes sense, but like I said it still seemed too easy.

I’ve read that some people think Patch was too mean to Nora, after reading the story I really wonder why? He didn’t seem mean to me at all, not, I guess, how I was assuming with all the comments about it. He just seemed like he was taunting her to get her attention, to get her to think about him when he wasn’t around. I mean, that’s what guys do when they like a girl, right? Revert back to 5th grade. And where he didn’t pull her hair or anything he was that mysterious guy who smolders when he looks at you. Makes you hot and blush because you can just imagine what he’s thinking. Or can you?

Overall I thought it was awesome. I’m really excited for Crescendo which I’ll have to wait a full year for. *sigh* Oh well. I’ll reread Hush, Hush to tide me over.

Great job Becca! Really glad you got the writing class and not the Japanese cooking class.

Tell your hubby we all appreciate his listening skills and forthought. :)

Now one of my favourite things, if you are new to the site I always try and give you a couple quotes from the book that I enjoyed...

I had my eyes pinned forward, but I heard the soft glide of his pen. He was writing, and I wanted to know what. Ten minutes of sitting together didn’t qualify him to make any assumptions about me. Flitting a look sideways, I saw that his paper was several lines deep and growing.

“What are you writing?” I asked.

“And she speaks English,” he said while scrawling it down, each stroke of his hand both smooth and lazy at once.

“Religion?” I asked more firmly.

Patch dragged a hand thoughtfully along the line of his jaw. “Not religion...cult.”

“You belong to a cult?” I realized too late that while I sounded surprised, I shouldn’t have.

“As it turns out, I’m in need of a healthy female sacrifice. I’d planned on luring her into trusting me first, but if you’re ready now...”

and I’ll stop there because if I give any more I’ll be giving too much away. I loved each and every interaction between Patch and Nora. Literally. Great chemistry Becca, amazing book.

Stargazer, Claudia Gray, HarperTeen, 329 pages

(Oct. 11) I liked this one so much more than the first. And I liked the first one.

Stargazer, I don’t know, it just had more. Deeper characters, deeper plot, more action, more Balthazar, more Vic, more Raquel, even more Ranulf. It did not have more Lucas, but it worked.

There were twists and turns I didn’t see coming, Vic is super smart, Raquel actually smiled, Bianca was depressed...

I was able to follow the story from start to finish without a question of what was going on and even though I still have questions I’m pretty sure I’ll get most of my answers.

Eduardo is sketchy and so I’d like to know what his deal is. I would like to know why Mrs. Bethany, one smells like lavendar and two invited the humans in to Evernight.

I want to know what happened to Vic, Ranulf and Balthazar. I want Vic to be in the next book more. He’s my comic relief, I like his sense of humor and his mellowness.

So, I thought this was an excellent sequel in an already pretty awesome story.

“Yo Binks!”

Nobody had ever called me “Binks” before in my life, bu I knew who it had to be even before I recognized the voice. “Vic!”

“It takes time to figure out what the arrows mean,” Balthazar protested, moving stiffly through the steps on the beginner level of Dance Dance Revolution.

“You have to internalize that so your body knows what to do the second your eye sees the arrow. Your brain can’t even come into it.” I sat cross-legged on the floor next to the game mat, watching him in dismay. “You’re a good dancer, Balthazar. How come you’re so bad at this?”

“This isn’t dancing. These days, it’s merely-rhythmic twitching.”

Eyes Like Stars, Lisa Mantchev, Feiwel and Friends, 352 Pages

(Oct. 10) If I loved Graceling and The Hunger Games I L O V E Eyes Like Stars.

Lisa Mantchev has written a book that I think I’ll re-read multiple times throughout the years.

I have to say that the “reason” I bought the book was the cover. I’ve heard many people say similar things, and I’m sorry to be redundant, but for me it’s true. I went into my local bookstore and saw the cover, was drawn to it, thought it sounded interesting enough to buy, but didn’t. I went back again, and again, and again over I think a week and a half.

I mean LOOK at it! It is amazing. Blue hair, pert little nose, full lips, awesome top, the glowing fairies.The illustrator is Justin Chan, go check him out. livepage.apple.com He’s pretty amazing and I can’t wait to see what the cover of the second book in the series, Perchance to Dream, will look like.

Finally I bought the book and I think I had it read in a day or two.

The only thing that I can say negatively about it, and it’s not Lisa’s fault, is that I didn’t understand all of the “theatre speak” like the scene changes and who belonged to what play. Again, my fault. Not hers. BUT, that being said, it didn’t take away from the story at all. I think if you understand theatre you may have an edge in reading this, but it is easily accessable to all.

The main character is Bertie, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith, and she rocks. She was funny and self-depricating but also strong and sweet. There is a bit of romance, a bit of a love triangle. Kind of. It’s hard to explain.

The fairies are the ones from A Midsummer Nights Dream, and they also rocked. They seemed to be pretty great to have around for comic relief, but you knew they also really cared about Bertie. I think Cobweb was my favourite.

I loved all of the characters and there are many, but you don’t get lost, you know who is speaking because each one has such a unique voice, I seriously loved them all. Well...maybe not the director, he has somewhat of an agenda against Bertie. And maybe Hamlet was a bit arrogant...Okay, let me change that...I loved most of the characters and felt what I was supposed to feel towards others by the way they are written. Of course I am Team Nate.

I want to live at The Theatre Illuminata. Really I do.

It is a well written, well rounded story. The intricate storyline, I mean seriously, my highest compliment, it was so different. So unique, it blows my mind that she came up with this story.

Blows my mind!

I thought, just the way the different plays are intertwined, how she incorporates how they are in the Theatre and why they are there and the “outside” world.

I’m so stoaked for the next book. I think, if I remember rightly, it’s June 2010. It is taking too long to come out if you ask me. Sorry Lisa, I know you are probably writing your little heart out.

Oh, and Lisa is really sweet, too. Which is always nice. She responds to every message I post to her on FB and Twitter, and she thinks my daughters name rocks, which it does. :D

So I love her for that. Plus, she’s saving me a seat next to her on the “author-ess” bench for when I get off my duff and join her. How nice is that?

I highly, Highly, HIGHLY, recommend this series. Go out and get one.

I can’t believe I almost forgot...if you are just visiting for the first time then this is where I post some of my favourite quotes that don’t give too much away.

“If you make me spill this stuff on the stage,” she said, “I’ll squeeze you until your heads pop off.”

Berie looked up at Nate through the blue fringe of her bangs. “Will you help me?”

He nodded, “With my last breath.”

“I might as well make the announcement to the entire Company. They don’t need to get it secondhand through the rumor mill.”

“That’s th’ spirit,” Nate said. “Now go an’...er...do whatever ‘tis ye plan t’ do.”

“Thanks, Nate. Truly inspirational.” Bertie tossed him the rest of her doughnut and absconded with the wooden crate from under the refreshment table.

Graceling, Kristin Cashore, Harcourt, Inc. 471 Pages

(Oct. 10) Loved, loved, loved this book! I wish my laptop keyboard had musical note keys so you could have gotten the full effect of me singing how much I loved it.

Okay, granted compared to quite a few other books it was longer, but, but, but that didn’t matter. I didn’t put it down.

And I picked it up, actually a while ago (sorry it’s taken so long to review) without really having heard any hype about it.

Kristin’s world of the Seven Kingdoms is so believable. And as you all know I enjoy it when an author adds something to the book like a map or as in the case of Wondrous Strange which I will be reviewing shortly, a playbook. It just makes me happy and I understand things a bit better.

I was about to go through and list all of the things I felt were believable when I realized I would have been listing everything.

Such a great story, such great characters, I enjoyed the twists, and the romance and even the evil.

I want a Grace. Hmmmm, what would it be? And what color would my eyes be? Maybe someone could make a Grace generator. You know where I type in my name and it randomly picks my eye color and Grace. Could you get right on that Kristin? Since it is your imagination at work. :D

I would say I’m excited for Fire but that would be an huge understatement, plus it is already available at my local bookstore. I just don’t have the moolah yet. I’ll see if the library has it though. Maybe I’ll get it faster.

The relationship/banter between Katsa and Po was awesome. I’m a sucker for good banter. I liked that she could kick his butt, and that he wasn’t easy on her in fights, and yet they both had an incredibly soft side for each other.

I thought the ending was amazing in how they figured out what was going on. I was heartbroken as well. And I can’t say anything. It’s so hard sometimes.

Go Get This Book!

Again, too many things I’d like to quote but too much would be given away so...

“You’re not the most perceptive person I’ve ever known, Kat,” Raffin said, “if you don’t mind my saying so. Your capacity for missing the obvious is astonishing.”

She threw her arms into the air. She turned to go. She turned back suddenly, at a shocking thought. “You’re not in love with me, are you?”

He stared at her for a moment, speechless. Then he burst into laughter.

Evernight, Claudia Gray, Harper Teen, 327 Pages

(Oct 9) Really enjoyed this story for the most part.

And I promise I’m not nitpicking or anything. There’s just one part of the book, about 120 pages in, a twist in the story that I felt like, “what the hell?” It came out of nowhere. I thought I knew this character, thought I knew what was happening, where things were going, and then BAM!, complete 180 that wasn’t even hinted at.

So other than that little surprise I can say that I recommend this book. It was a great read, the characters and setting were well written and believeable. The “adults” in the book seemed to act like adults, what I mean by that is a lot of times in books when an adult is mentioned they are not really in the picture. They don’t give advice or act like parents with boundaries, etc. These adults actually did, which was kind of refreshing.

I’ve already started Stargazer and can’t wait to see how things are going to turn out for the whole crew.

Interesting, interesting. I like it.

Now for the quotes...

“Whoa, the rooms are going coed? That’s made of awesome.” Vic came in behind me. I gave him a wan smile before turning back to watch Lucas’s car driving away. The car was speeding off as if they were in a hurry. “Good job sneaking in. You guys just said good-bye, huh?”

“Uh-huh.” What else could I say?

“Don’t get too depressed, all right? Vic gave me a little punch on the shoulder. “Some guys know what to say to girls when they’re upset, but man, I’m not one of them.”

and pretty much all the others I want to say will give too much away so enjoy that one.

North of Beautiful, Justina Chen Headley, Little Brown, 373 Pages

(Oct. 6) Oh My GOODNESS!!!

Wow!

It took me a full week, A FULL WEEK! to finish this book. Not because it was bad, completely opposite actually. It is one of the most complicated, beautiful, intricate stories I’ve read.

The story of Terra’s family and friends and the transformation from who they were to who they become was amazing, heart-wrenching even.

I loved the relationship between Terra and Jacob from word go. They had such great chemistry, good banter but not overdone.

The disfunction of Terra’s family was so real, so raw, so truthful it made me think of mine. Not that my family is like hers exactly, but it was nice to see a real family portrayal where family is actually a part of the story.

I highly, Highly, HIGHLY recommend this book, and will pick up her other two at some point.

I only have one quote, although there were many, I picked a long one that I do not believe will ruin it for you.

In their own haphazard, clumsy ways, they were trying to tell me that I was fine the way I was. That I wasn’t alone. I didn’t have the language to communicate that to this little girl-or to communicate beauty-real everlasting beauty-lives not on our faces, but in our attitude and our actions. It lives in what we do for ourselves and for others.

So I did the best thing I could.

For a long moment, I waited for her gaze to lift away from my birthmark and back to my faded blue eyes. When she did, I realized I knew all the Mandarin I needed to express myself to this girl.

In my faltering Chinese, I used the same words Jacob’s caretaker had when she saw him. I told her in words that I struggled to say to myself whenever I looked in a mirror.

“Hao kan,” I said gently, quietly, firmly as if it was a pact between the two of us.

She blinked. I wasn’t sure if she understood. Or if she believed that she was beautiful. So I pointed to her and then to me. And I repeated with utter conviction, “Hao kan.”

Those words, my pronouncement, won me the girl’s slow nod. I nodded back. And when she smiled, wide and open, I tell you, there was nothing more beautiful than that.

Perfect Chemistry, Simone Elkeles, Walker & Company, 357 Pages

(Oct. 1) At Fairfield High School, on the outskirts of Chicago, everyone knows that south siders and north siders aren’t exactly compatible elements. So when head cheerleader Brittany Ellis and gang member Alex Fuentes are forced to be lab partners in chemistry class, the results are bound to be explosive.

I have to admit I was a bit skeptical when I picked this book up to read. I’d looked at it a couple of times but decided I probably wouldn’t be that interested. I’m always worried about reading a book full of “teen speak”, just because I know me and I’d probably get bored and put it down.

That being said, I totally misjudged this book. It was amazing! I couldn’t put it down. And there was only one “ohmygod” moment. It was refreshing. It also had cussing throughout, which you will come to find I’m not a fan of. Not because I’m naive or whatever, I just usually find it not necessary to tell a story. It WAS crucial in this book. To make it believable, to make me see the characters as real people, in real life situations.

I also should mention that there are Spanish phrases throughout the book and although there were many times that I thought to myself either I really need to learn Spanish, or I really need to google that, I just took it in context hoping I kind of got what was meant and kept on. The fact that I can’t speak it didn’t detour me from continuing to read it or enjoying it.

The story kept my attention. It’s told in alternating chapters between the two main characters, Brittany and Alex. I really enjoyed that format for this story because I think if it had all been in Brit’s voice it wouldn’t have been as good.

I think my favourite character was Alex, because he is that bad boy that’s actually a good boy deep down. He cares a lot about his family, and friends. But he is also really smart and determined to be the first in his family to graduate high school.

Brittany is likeable, don’t get me wrong, she has a lot of guilt placed on her by herself, but also by her mom. She doesn’t have a perfect life even if she wants everyone to think so. She keeps a lot inside so no one can see it and I felt like screaming at the top of my lungs for her. Just to get it all out ya know? But by the end of the book I liked her a lot more. When she was finding herself.

I also liked many of the secondary characters like the chemistry teacher Mrs. P, Isa, and Paco, I liked what little we had of Doug too. I liked when he fell out of the window.

“What?”, you may ask, well I guess you’ll just have to go get your own copy.

I am going to be purchasing her first book, Leaving Paradise, as soon as I can get to the bookstore. Which may not be for a couple days yet. But, I suggest that you make Simone one of your picks if you’re out looking for a good read.

And now a few of my favourite quotes...

“Did I do anything stupid?” I ask.

Isa shrugs. “I’m not sure. Alex wouldn’t really let anyone get close enough to you. If you want to call passing out in his arms stupid, then I think you’ve managed it.”

All eyes are on me as I witness the vandalism to my motorcycle. They’re expecting me to be in a rage. After all, who would dare attach a pink tricycle horn to the handlebars and tape sparkling streamers from the ends of the handles? Nobody can get away with this s**t.

Except Brittany.

I want to know how to make this girl laugh. I want to know what makes her cry. I want to know what it feels like to have her look at me as if I’m her knight in shining armor.