City of Glass, Cassandra Clare, Simon and Schuster, 541 pages

What can I say except I <3 <3 <3 this series. Am I heartbroken that the series is over? I was for about a nano-second until I heard there was going to be a fourth! City of Fallen Angels comes out March 31, 2011. I am assuming that’s Simon on the cover since it alternates between characters. BUT that is for another review. We are talking about CoG!
And what really IS there to say? Except that it was awesome. As always. The characters have grown and come into themselves. The plot thickened. The unraveling of major points was done masterfully. And yeah, just loved it.

I really wanted to give you more of a variety, more snarky, sarcastic comments from the characters that I’ve grown to love. But...have I mentioned before that I’m a sap? Yeah...

"There is no pretending," Jace said with absolute clarity. "I love you, and I will love you until I die, and if there is life after that, I'll love you then."

"And I'm suppose to sit by while you date boys and fall in love with someone else, get married...?" His voice tightened. "And meanwhile, I'll die a little bit more every day, watching."

"I was thinking about the first time I ever saw you," he said, "and how after that I couldn't forget you. I wanted to, but I couldn't stop myself. I forced Hodge to let me be the one who came to find you and bring you back to the Institue. And even back then, in that stupid coffee shop, when I saw you sitting on that couch with Simon, even then that felt wrong to me-- I should have been the one sitting with you. The one who made you laugh like that. I couldn't get rid of that feeling. That it should have been me. And the more I knew you, the more I felt it--it had never been like that for me before. I'd always wanted a girl and then gotten to know her and not wanted her anymore, but with you the feeling just got stronger and stronger until that night when you showed up at Renwick's and I knew."

""You said you were going for a walk!? What kind of walk takes six hours?"
""A long one?"

"And now I’m looking at you,” he said, “and you’re asking me if I still want you, as if I could stop loving you. As if I would want to give up the thing that makes me stronger than anything else ever has. I never dared give much of myself to anyone before – bits of myself to the Lightwoods, to Isabelle and Alec, but it took years to do it – but, Clary, since the first time I saw you, I have belonged to you completely. I still do. If you want me.

"I wouldn't change it," Simon said. "I wouldn't give up loving you. Not for anything. You know what Raphael told me? That I didn't know how to be a good vampire, that vampires accept that they're dead. But as long as I remember what it was like to love you, I'll always feel like I'm alive."

"...there was an electric anger in his gaze, and a sort of challenge that made Simon long to hit him with something heavy. Like a pickup truck.”

Shiver, Maggie Stiefvater, Scholastic, 390 pages

Yes, I am finally posting this review. I picked this book up the day it was released without knowing what it as about really, and without having read anything else by Maggie, or having people around me to say, “Oh, Maggie Stiefvater wrote that, you should totally get it.” Pretty much I saw the cover and went, “Huh, that’s cool.” read the sleeve, and said, “Oh a wolf, cool. Okay.” Then bought it.

This book sealed the deal for me and I have been a fan ever since, reading both Lament and Ballad as quickly as I could get my hands on them.

I think this was probably the first book that really flipped back and forth between the main characters. I’ve read books since Shiver that did this and were released before Shiver, but this one introduced me to that style and I was happy to have Sam’s perspective.

The way Sam shifted was unique and I thought the backstory on how young he was, and what happened with his parents helped me to “feel closer” to him. He wasn’t just some boy that was a wolf, he was a boy with demons and that made him more real.

Grace was alright.

No, I’m kidding. I thought the fact that Grace’s parent’s neglection was there set it apart from most stories like this. Usually parents are non-existent, or dead, or abusive. But I liked how there scatteredness was actually a reason why Grace was how she was, was clever. Was that cryptic enough?

I thought that bit of info was clever. Very clever Mrs. Stiefvater.

I do have questions, of course, since this is a trilogy, I suppose that’s the point. Give me a little now so I’ll want more.

And I do.

Linger comes out July 20th, so we have to wait another 5 months, *sigh*

and now for the beautiful quotes I loved...

"You're beautiful and sad," I said finally, not looking at him when I did. "Just like your eyes. You're like a song that I heard when I was a little kid but forgot I knew until I heard it again." For a long moment there was only the whirring sound of the tires on the road, and then Sam said softly, "Thank you."

"Sam,' the girl said. “Sam.”

She was the past present and future. I wanted to answer , but I was broken.

"So, Grace, how's school?" I asked myself.

Dad nodded, eyes on the baby koala now struggling in the guest's arms.

"Oh, it's fine," I continued, and Dad made a mumbling noise of agreement. I added, "Nothing special, aside from the load of pandas they brought in, and the teachers abandoning us to cannibalistic savages-" I paused to see if I'd caught his attention yet, then pressed on. "The whole building caught fire, then I failed drama, and then sex, sex, sex."

Dad's eyes abruptly focused, and he turned to me and frowned. "What did you say they were teaching you in school?"

“You two are too cute,” the counter girl said, setting two cups piled with whipped cream on the counter. She had a sort of lopsided, open smile that made me think she laughed a lot. “Seriously. How long have you been going out?”

Sam let go of my hands to get his wallet and took out some bills. “Six years.”

I wrinkled my nose to cover a laugh. Of course he would count the time that we’d been two entirely different species.

“Whoa.” Counter girl nodded appreciatively. “That’s pretty amazing for a couple your age.

Sam handed me my hot chocolate and didn’t answer. But his yellow eyes gazed at me possessively—I wondered if he realized that the way he looked at me was far more intimate than copping a feel could ever be.

I crouched to look at the almond bark on the bottom shelf in the counter. I wasn’t quite bold enough to look at either of them when I admitted, “Well, it was love at first sight.”

The girl sighed. “That is just so romantic. Do me a favor, and don’t you two ever change. The world needs more love at first sight.”

I said uselessly, "Sam, don't go."

Sam cupped my face in his hands and looked me in the eyes. His eyes were yellow, sad, wolf, mine. "These stay the same. Remember that when you look at me. Remember it's me. Please."

“Please don't go."

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."

The Demon’s Lexicon, Sarah Rees Brennan, Simon and Schuster, 322 pages

This book was. . . I’m not really quite sure. I loved it, against all odds. I say that I suppose because I am a romantic sap at heart, I love anything Jane Austen and when a couple I want doesn’t get together it saddens me so much. Sometimes for days I can’t think about anything else. Case in point, Peter Pan (seriously? um yea) You know the movie with Jeremy Sumpter and Rachel Hurd Wood. I have no idea why, except maybe how well they acted together, but at the end when Wendy didn’t stay with Peter, IT stayed with me for days. I was sad for days. How ridiculous is that? Especially when you take into consideration the fact that they were like 12 or 13.

That being said, I really loved this book despite the fact *SPOILER* that Nick and Mae didn’t get together. Not really. There was such a lack of romance in this book and that is the only reason why I’m not sure how to explain succinctly how I feel about it.

The characters were well written, and despite not getting to know Mae that well, I really liked her, Jamie I thought had some of the best lines. And Alan and Nick were pretty awesome.

The supernatural aspect was well thought out and the twist at the end, well I actually guessed it pretty early on, but it was still clever. The details surrounding it were the surprise for me. And although I was pretty satisfied with the ending, there were still parts of it that saddened me.

Now for my quote section.

Jamie was staring at Alan. “You helped me find Catcher in the Rye today and now you shoot people?”

“He only shot one person,” Nick remarked. “But the night is young.”

(a paragraph down) “Forgive him, he has no manners.”

“I get by on good looks,” Nick said.

“It’s the safest and easiest way to get more power, but there’re also rituals with the dead, and-”

“Rituals with the dead,” Jamie repeated in a faint, stunned voice. Nick turned and looked at him coldly. “I mean,” Jamie said, and swallowed, “how interesting and not at all creepy! Please go on!”

They stopped on a dirt road a few fields away from Cranmore Castle, which was now nothing but a mound, gray in the night but green under a daytime sky, a lump in the ground where people had once lived, and lived no longer.

“I expected something a little more castle-shaped,” said Jamie.

“Nothing lasts forever,” Nick said. “Except demons, of course.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a charming conversationalist?” Jamie asked.

“No,” Nick replied honestly.

“I cannot tell you how much that surprises me,” Jamie told him, and Nick gave him a half smile.

On the morning of the fourth day, Jamie tipped a switchblade out of his box of cornflakes.

“I think these promotional campaigns have really got out of hand,” he said, freezing with his hand on the milk carton.

Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter, J. Anderson, Harper Collins, 327 pages

I picked this one up because I’d heard really amazing things about it. I started reading it and was disappointed. It was sooo slow and nothing was really happening. I mean obviously stuff was happening but. . .you know what I mean.

Well, then something happened.

And I couldn’t put it down. And then I realized that the author was just laying the foundation for all the stuff that was going to happen.

And I was sucked in until the last page.

I loved this book despite it’s slow beginning.

I loved the twists, and the characters were all really amazing, full of character (ha) and deeper than I first thought.

I was impressed with Paul and all his conflicting feelings and damage.

I think that may have been when I started enjoying the book, when Knife met him for the second time. Actually I’m pretty positive that’s when.

I’d say a quarter of the way through, maybe a little more.

I am anticipating Wayfarer, coming out this year. It is not about the same characters but a continuation of the story.

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.

Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins, Scholastic, 391 pages

Could this series get any better? Of course I know it can.

Catching Fire was just as good as The Hunger Games, if not better. The only thing I had a problem with was the lack of Peeta. Don’t get me wrong, he’s there, but for me it just wasn’t the same. And I really enjoyed him in HG. He was pretty awesome here too, but I am kind of tired of him being the “weak” one. Meaning he gets electrocuted and then with the apes/monkeys.

This book was clever, and intriguing and I couldn’t put it down. The Quarter Quell was such a good idea, and the addition of President Snow (I know he was in HG, just not as vocal) and his blood and roses smell. It was just all so...GOOD...

There were so many emotions in this book, I felt despair and anger and humor and love, etc.

I am so anticipating book 3, I cannot wait for August! And yet I’m a little sad as well because then it will be over.

Of course if you haven’t noticed I am Team Peeta, not that I don’t like Gale cause I do, but Peeta just seems right.

I hope he has a bigger role in the next book, as well as Gale.

Go buy it and devour it if you haven’t already.

and now for the quotes.

“Maybe if the whole country puts its mind to it, we can get you married before you’re thirty.”

“You’ll probably have to pass a new law,” I say with a giggle.

“If that’s what it takes,” says the president with conspiratorial good humor.

Oh, the fun we two have together.

“They’re playing with you because you’re so...you know.”

“No, I don’t know,” I say. And I really have no idea what he’s talking about.

“It’s like when you wouldn’t look at me naked in the arena even though I was half dead. You’re so...pure,” he says finally.

“I am not!” I say. “I’ve been practically ripping your clothes off every time there’s been a camera for the last year!”

“Yeah, but...I mean, for the Capitol, you’re pure,” he says, clearly trying to mollify me. “For me, you’re perfect. They’re just teasing you.”

Really, the combination of the scabs and the ointment looks hideous. I can’t help enjoying his distress.

“Poor Finnick. Is this the first time in your life you haven’t looked pretty?” I say.

“It must be. The sensation’s completely new. How have you managed it all these years?” he asks.

“Just avoid mirrors. You’ll forget about it,” I say.

“Not if I keep looking at you,” he says.

Beautiful Creatures, Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl, Little Brown, 563 pages

I have heard nothing but amazing things, lots of hype and anticipation in regards to this debut novel. And for 98% of it I agree.
The story was amazingly well written, chock full of information. I read a review (can't remember who's, sorry) where she said every page, every paragraph had information you needed (paraphrasing), and I also agree with that.
Reading this story if felt like I had to keep turning the pages because the previous page had so much in it that I needed to know what was coming next.
The characters were well-written, I felt a connection to most of them. I loved the Sisters, Link was pretty fun, Uncle Macon in his own way, and of course Amma. I thought it was awesome how much family involvement there was. Especially in YA "fantasy" there usually isn't much so that was a nice change.
And although I felt like the two main characters were relatable enough, there just seemed to be something missing. I think maybe it had to do with the amount of information we had thrown at us, with all of that something had to be lacking a little.
The history that was woven into the story was deep, it was all so intricate. I was so sucked in and enjoyed it so much until...dun, dun, dun...pages 510 to 563, so basically the very end. To me it just seemed rushed. It seemed lacking in some way, and it seemed to me, a little confusing. There are questions that I have that I can't mention or it would give too much away and I don't think they have anything to do with a second book, if there is one. Which I am unsure of.
Over all an amazing first novel. Amazing.

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.

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.

The Hourglass Door, Lisa Mangum, Shadow Mountain, 398 pages

(Oct. 23) I have to say I’m surprised that I haven’t seen more about this book.

I know that I read it a little later than most but it is amazing!

The concept of the story is mind-boggling. I read somewhere that a reviewer didn’t think this story was unique (I’m paraphrasing) and I could not disagree more. I think that once the story starts to fall into place and you start understanding what exactly is happening that you will be blown away as well.

The prologue is what hooked me. I wish I could share it with you here but it’s 6 pages long, but here is a snippet because I’m sure it will intrigue you...

He counts the days he lived before coming to this place-how many days in seventeen years? How many years in a lifetime?

It’s hardest to keep track of the time. Without light, without variation, all the days blend into one seamless stretch of now. He longs for teh uncertainty of the future.

The light hurts his eyes. The unexpected bustling of activity beyond the bars rattles through his ears like chains. He dares a glance, wills his eyes to focus.

Two guards run past his cell. One more trails behind them, a blanket clutched in his fist.

He knows he shouldn’t be interested, shouldn’t be curious. It will only make things worse, distract him from his counting. But he can’t help himself. He stands on his toes, pressing his face to the cold bars.

And then he sees her. All the numbers run out of his head like sand through a sieve. All the images in his eyes fade until he can see only her. His heart beats in uncountable rhythms.

Now tell me honestly that you are uninterested...didn’t think so...

I thought the story was well told, it was mysterious and romantic, kind of like Dante, the Italian exchange student that Abby, the main character, is struggling not to fall for.

There were many twists and turns and I loved, Loved, LOVED what you find out about The Door, later in the book. To me that was just so stinking clever of Lisa. Really truly imaginative.

I thought the characters, even secondary ones, were well written, the story kept me guessing all the way through to the end and I am usually able to pick up on the foreshadowing in most stories I read. But not this one. I went back and skimmed through it to find some quotes and fell upon some hints that I totally didn’t catch.

All in all I think this is an amazing story, I think you should run out and buy a copy, now, run.

I am really excited about The Golden Spiral, which is the second book in the series. It’s set to be released early May of 2010. So read this before then, I promise you’ll want to continue with these characters.

One more thing that I really liked about this book, the prologue wasn’t even touched upon in this book. I’m assuming it will be explored in the next two, (I’m pretty sure it’s a trilogy) but as mentioned in a previous post I’m annoyed with prologues that tell you everything about the story before you even open to page 1.

Well done Lisa! Kudo’s to you. I am waiting with baited breath.

And now, since I gave you that snippet of the prologue, I’m not going to add any quotes down here.

Lament, Maggie Stiefvater, Flux, 325 pages

(Oct. 18) Such a good book!

This is the book that introduced me to Maggie. And I was not disappointed. Maggie has a way with words. I think it might have something to do with her music background but she sucks you in and doesn’t let go.

I really enjoyed Maggie’s take on faery’s and cloverhands, and how everything between our worlds really is. The “land” that she created was believeable to me. Totally and utterly.

Of course I thought James was hilarious, actually he was more than hilarious, he was awesome. I liked Dee and Luke together. Really anytime there was conversation between the two of them I was riveted.

The storyline wasn’t confusing but I did find myself trying to figure things out, like the information I had wasn’t quite enough. Left me guessing. I believe that quite a lot of research and thinking went into every aspect of this story. It just flowed so beautifully and and it surprised me how intricate the stories wove together. Lovely.

I’m super excited about Ballad, because even though I was broken-hearted at the end of Lament for reasons I will not share here, I really want to get to know these characters better. And besides, Maggie is one of my favourite authors this year.

This was such a great book and if you haven’t read this or any other book by Stiefvater you should run, RUN to your local bookstore or library and pick up a copy. You will not be disappointed.

And now for some quotes I enjoyed...

Delia surveyed his kilt, his unkempt hair, and his hands scrawled with various messages to himself.

“You’re the piper, aren’t you?” she asked coldly.

James smiled firmly. He had already identified her as a piper-hater. “Yes, but I do it against my will. The aliens won’t let me stop.”

Delia’s smile was iron. Not amused.

I said, “This is James, Delia. He’s the number two piper in the state of Virginia this year.”

“Soon to be number one,” James said with a charming smile. “I hired a hit man.”

James’ attire was a bit strange-he had accessorized a T-shirt that read You: Off My Planet with an iron fireplace ash scoop, which he held over his shoulder like a rifle. The combination was oddly appropriate.

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.