Jenn's Review: The Book of Life

Author: Deborah Harkness
Series: All Souls Trilogy #3
Publication Date: July 15, 2014
Publisher: Viking Adult
Pages: 561
Obtained: purchased
Genre:  contempory paranormal
Rating: 4.0
Bottom Line: Captivating
Grab, Just get it at the library, or Remove from your TBR list? Grab

 Blurb:  After traveling through time in Shadow of Night, the second book in Deborah Harkness’s enchanting series, historian and witch Diana Bishop and vampire scientist Matthew Clairmont return to the present to face new crises and old enemies. At Matthew’s ancestral home at Sept-Tours, they reunite with the cast of characters from A Discovery of Witches--with one significant exception. But the real threat to their future has yet to be revealed, and when it is, the search for Ashmole 782 and its missing pages takes on even more urgency. In the trilogy’s final volume, Harkness deepens her themes of power and passion, family and caring, past deeds and their present consequences. In ancestral homes and university laboratories, using ancient knowledge and modern science, from the hills of the Auvergne to the palaces of Venice and beyond, the couple at last learn what the witches discovered so many centuries ago.   

Review:  This is the final book in the trilogy and I have been looking forward to it for a long time.  Perhaps too long a time.  I wish I had had time to go back and read the first two books again -or even listen to them as audio books (but the library doesn't have them on tape)- because I think that would have helped to reconnect to the story.

For me the first book in this trilogy, A Discovery of Witches, was spectacular.  The second, Shadow of Night, though cumbersome was really intriguing.  The Book of Life is a good solid finish to the series, but nothing is as stellar as the first book.   Deborah Harkness has a fluid style that pulls you in as a reader.  I loved how things from the last book came into the third book as the travel to the past affected the future.  Some of the major plot points were resolved and tied up neatly however there were so many things I wanted to know more about.  I felt like The Book was never properly explained.  I hated how things ended with certain characters... especially Gallowglass.  I was not satisfied with the conclusion on Blood Rage especially with all the time spent researching it.  While I enjoyed the read, I ended up with a bit of a "that's it?" feeling at the end.  

That being said, I think the All Souls Trilogy is worth the read.  The first two books outshine the last book, but it's still a fantastic story.  Will I read Deborah Harkness again?  You bet.

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Jenn's Review: Stolen Nights

Summary: A new year is beginning at Wickham Boarding School. A new chance at life, at reversing the evil in my past. But nothing is ever as simple it seems...

Last year, the love of my life died performing a ritual to fulfill my one wish and make me human. And now I’ve performed the same ritual for my friend Vicken – and survived. Why am I here, back safe on Wickham campus?

The strong magic I used in the ritual did more than just make Vicken human. It drew someone to Lover’s Bay who does not belong here. She wants the ritual. Then she wants me dead. And she will take down any and everyone in my life to get what she wants.

As if that weren’t enough, the ritual has also summoned the anger of the Aeris, the four elements and most fundamental powers on earth. They have a surprise and an unbearable punishment for me – like stepping into the sun for the first time, only to be put into a cage. And now I have to make an impossible choice – between love or life, yearning or having, present or past…~blurb 

Review: I have been waiting for Stolen Nights since I closed the cover on Infinite Days three years ago.  Infinite Days was the novel that made me fall in love with vampires again. Needless to say, Stolen Nights  had a lot to live up too. Did it meet my expectations? Not in the least. It exceeded my expectations and completely blew me away.

It is rare anymore that I read just for the love of reading... one of the downfalls of blogging about books is constantly analyzing as I go, but I was so enthralled with Rebecca Maizel's story that I lost myself in it. Her storytelling is masterful and I had no idea where she was taking me; any theories I may have had were blown out of the water in the first few chapters. There was foreshadowing I zeroed in on, then promptly forgot until it resurfaced later in the story.  That's not to say there weren't a couple rough patches and things I wanted explained in greater depth, but they were easily forgiven. I expect more will be revealed in the third and final novel.  Honestly, there were many things about Lenah's world I want to know more about just in exposition, purely for my own edification  (I want to know more about Aeris and the Hollow Ones.)  Ms. Maizel has created a world I can't help but want to know everything about.

It was very different meeting characters that the I had previously only known through Lenah's memories. Ms. Maizel's vampires aren't all sweet and sparkly; they're vicious.  However, their ruthlessness is not who they are it's a product of what they are so it was also incredible to see Vicken as a human.  It was amazing how quickly relationships changed and how easy it was to accept them.  I love the way Ms. Maizel weaves character exploration into her stories.  I love her concept of the Irish Anam Cara, soul mates, too; it was just breathtaking.

I really don't want to spoil the story by going much further, but things are actually wrapped up fairly neatly by the end of the novel ...until the last mind melting chapter.  So now, once again, I must patiently await the next book in the series.

Final Take:  5/5

Stolen Nights is due out  January 29, 2013.  Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my ARC of this novel.

 

Jenn's Review: Shadow of Night

Summary:  A Discovery of Witches introduced Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and the handsome geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont; together they found themselves at the center of a supernatural battle over an enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782. Drawn to one another despite longstanding taboos, and in pursuit of Diana’s spellbound powers, the two embark upon a time-walking journey.  Book Two of the All Souls Trilogy plunges Diana and Matthew into  Elizabethan London, a world of spies and subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night.  The mission is to locate a witch to tutor  Diana and to find traces of Ashmole 782, but as the net of Matthew’s past tightens around them they embark on a very different journey, one that takes them into heart of the 1,500 year old vampire’s shadowed history and secrets. For Matthew Clairmont, time travel is no simple matter; nor is Diana’s search for the key to understanding her legacy. Shadow of Night brings us a rich and splendid tapestry of alchemy, magic, and history, taking us through the loop of time to deliver a deepening love story, a tale of blood, passion, and the knotted strands of the past. ~blurb

Review:  While my love of the All Souls Trilogy hasn't abated, I will say that Shadow of Night was much slower going than I expected.  Because the character's have traveled back in time, I am suddenly reading historical fiction, which means I'm a little out of my element.  I don't usually enjoy historical fiction unless it's a topic I am well versed in so that I can sort the fact from the fiction.  Luckily, Deborah Harkness is an erudite historian which is valuable to the authenticity of the plot, however it also bogged things down considerably.

Although it isn't necessary to have a rudimentary knowledge of the politics and culture of  Elizabethan England, it certainly helps.  At times I found the need to go and look up bits of European 16th century history just to make sure I was getting all the references.  While I enjoyed getting to know the School of Night, I had trouble keeping all of them straight, and I missed all of the characters that were left behind in the present.  There were several chapters that flashed back to the present, but I craved more.  The one character I loved meeting was Matthew's father.  Philippe sheds a brilliant and entirely new light on Matthew and the de Clermonts.  I loved every moment of this part of the story.  (There is also another surprise character that I was glad to get to know.)  Watching Diana and Matthew learn to function as a couple was wonderful, and their moments together made the entire novel.

For the most part, though, I felt that Diana and Matthew lost focus of their mission and many times I found myself chiding the characters to get a move on.  So many months are spent educating Diana to keep her from seeming out of place that I was relieved when she finally found a teacher for witchcraft.  Unfortunately, Ms. Harkness spends very little time on Diana's lessons so, sadly, much of the magic goes by the wayside.  I also got a little lost in Diana's alchemical studies which were interesting, but perhaps too detailed and too much plot exposition.

When the return to the present arrives, it is a year after they left, and I'm not sure I understand why they didn't return to the moment they left, save for plot advancement.  If this was meant to be the climax of the novel, it rather missed the mark.  Much has happened in their absence, but very little is explained.  I would have preferred a shorter visit to the past and a longer reunion at home.  I know there is another novel yet to come that will encompass this but I felt a little cheated.  (For example, I really wanted to see Gallowglass' reunion with the de Clermont's in the present.)  Another factor that contributes to this, I think, is that the novel ends with a chapter in the Old World two years after the de Clermont's departure.  While this gives us perspective on historical characters and the title of the book, it seemed like a bit of a let down after all that occurs.

It is a testament to how much I truly adored A Discovery of Witches, that Deborah Harkness could get me to read an historical fiction novel.  While Shadow of Night had it's faults, it is a huge building block in the All Souls Trilogy and I can't wait to see the repercussions from the time walking and will be happy to be back in the present in the third book.

Final Take:  4.0/5

 

Jenn's Review: A Discovery of Witches

Summary:  Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.

Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism. ~Goodreads.com


Review: There was a lot of hype surrounding A Discovery of Witches, but we all know that's no guarantee of a fantastic book. Such is the case here. It's not fantastic; it's fabulous.

It is one of the few reads where I wasn't analyzing as I go, I was just enjoying the story. As a matter of fact, the only time I was aware of the fact that it was a story at all was when I was bothered by that troublesome need to flip the page. It's so rare that I loose myself in a novel like that. I didn't identify bits of foreshadowing or archetypes, I just read and enjoyed the journey. And if anything, it is a journey. On the surface, it may seem like not much is happening, but things are constantly evolving. If you aren't smitten with Deborah Harkness' style of writing, I perhaps could see not enjoying the novel. Ms. Harkness delights in the details and glories in thoroughness, but that's what made me love it. She doesn't gloss over the science or the history of it, but she doesn't get so bogged down in semantics that she looses the reader. Deborah Harkness knows her stuff.

Honestly I am having trouble writing my review because I don't want to deconstruct it and examine the parts that made it work so beautifully as a whole. In a way it reminds me of Rebecca Maizel's Infinite Days (the YA book that made me fall back in love with vampire stories) in that it's a refreshing twist on the paranormal genre. Sometimes I feel like paranormal books are paranormal for the sake of being showy paranormal. But there is no splashiness here just an ever evolving story with enigmatic characters that just happen to be paranormal. And that is what I love most of all. The romance of it all and the blossoming of the story are beautiful. A Discovery of Witches is not pretentious; it just is.

And while Deborah Harkness leaves us on the cusp of another huge adventure, she doesn't end the novel too soon.  There were plenty of places she could have stopped where things were far more precarious, but she sees the plot through to it's natural pausing place. Am I still itching to continue the All Souls Trilogy?  Absolutely!  It will not be long before I pick up Shadow of Night, but I don't need to jump right into it. I'm still too busy savoring A Discovery of Witches and rereading my favorite little bits of it.  It's one of those novels that stays with you long after you put it down.  It's one of those books I will re-visit for years to come. I can't wait to see where the rest if the journey will take me.

Final Take:  5/5

 

Jenn's Review: Charmfall

Summary:  High school can be a battlefield, but for Lily Parker, surviving at St. Sophia’s School for Girls is a matter of life and death…

Protecting Chicago from the dark side can be an exhausting job, especially when you’re a junior. So when the girls of St. Sophia’s start gearing up for Sneak, their fall formal, Lily decides to join in on some good, old-fashioned party prep—even if it means not giving demons, vampires and the twisted magic users known as Reapers her undivided attention.

But when a Reaper infiltrates the school, Lily doesn’t forget what she’s sworn to protect. She reaches deep into herself to draw out her magic—and finds that it’s gone. And it turns out she’s not alone. A magical blackout has slammed through paranormal Chicago, and no one knows what—or who—caused it. But Lily knows getting back her magic is worth the risk of going behind enemy lines…

Review:  Lily is frantic upon getting into a battle with a Reaper and discovering her magic is gone. But it's not just her, magic is disappearing all over, and she may be the only one willing to cooperate with the Reapers in order to find the answers to save it. Lily is bringing change to the battle between the Adepts and the Reapers. Perhaps because she grew up outside of it all, she doesn't see things as black and white... And she's teaching everyone to see some shades of grey.

The Adepts get their first taste of what life will be like without magic, and they aren't handling it all that well. I was kind of surprised by this. It is, after all, what they're fighting for, to let go of the magic gracefully when it is time. So the reaction of each of the characters is interesting.

I like Sebastian more and more, the more we learn about him as the series progresses, the more of a mystery he becomes. He's definitely not all bad, which lends credibility to Lily's shades of grey... There are fanatics on both sides of the battle... Maybe they are both wrong?!? Or is it just Sebastian's interest in Lily that makes him seem like he's not such a bad guy?

As, usual, I got to the end and found myself craving more. Honestly, if Chloe Neill had combined all three of these books into one, it would have suited me fine. Instead they are nice quick read-in-a-sitting books ...and they always have me looking forward to the next installment.

Final Take:  4/5

 

Jenn's Review: Taken at Dusk

Summary:  Kylie Galen wants the truth so badly she can taste it. The truth about who her real family is, the truth about which boy she's meant to be with-and the truth about what her emerging powers mean. But she's about to discover that some secrets can change your life forever ~and not always for the better.

Just when she and Lucas are finally getting close, she learns that his pack has forbidden them from being together. Was it a mistake to pick him over Derek? And it's not just romance troubling Kylie. An amnesia-stricken ghost is haunting her, delivering the frightful warning, someone lives and someone dies. As Kylie races to unravel the mystery and protect those she loves, she finally unlocks the truth about her supernatural identity, which is far different-and more astonishing-than she ever could have imagined.

Review:  The Shadow Falls books from C.C. Hunter make up one of my favorite YA series.  I don't think it gets the recognition it deserves either. C.C. Hunter has created a fascinating world where all paranormals coexist, but not always peacefully.

Shadow Falls is a camp for supernaturals where they can learn to harness their abilities and break down prejudices towards each other. It's about to enter its fledgling year as a year-round school, if they can just keep things from falling apart. The story is fast paced and full of constant developments but not to the point where it's overly intense. It's not so fast that the reader feels rushed either; it's taken us three books to cover one summer's worth of time but it's worth every page. I find Ms. Hunter's Shadow Falls books hard to put down once I've started them.  Given the opportunity I could devour them in a sitting.  I reach then end and I'm craving more.

Taken at Dusk is the no exception.  Awake at Dawn left Kylie in a rather precarious place and Taken at Dusk picks up right where we left off.  Someone is out to get Kylie and she is having a hard time figuring out who to trust, not to mention her new ghost visitor isnt much of a talker.  I love the way the characters are developing and growing. Kylie's roommates are still bickering, but they are also friends who have each others back no matter what.  They are still mystified by boys (who isn't?), but they have learned how to recognize a friend in need. There are love triangles that aren't whiney and heroines that are strong.   The only thing that I find slightly aggravating is the lengths Hunter's characters go to to avoid swearing.  And really, how minor is that?

If you're looking for an engaging, fast-paced paranormal YA series, this is for you.  Every time I start one of her books, I wish it would just keep going.  Personally, I can hardly wait until October for Whispers at Moonrise.

Final Take:  5/5

Jenn's Review: Hexbound

Summary:  Lily Parker is new to St. Sophia's School for Girls, but she's already learned that magic can be your best friend-or your worst enemy. That's why Lily has to learn how to control her newly discovered paranormal abilities while fighting the good fight with her best friend Scout as they take on Chicago's nastiest nightlife-including the tainted magic users known as Reapers...

Review:  This is the second book in the Dark Elite series from Chloe Neill.  I started reading this series because the publisher sent me two ARCs (yes, there is a chance one will be yours in the very near future) of book three, Charmfall and it looked good enough that I wanted to dive in at the beginning.  While Firespell seemed to be over just as it began, Hexbound picks up right where things left off, and the action continues to roll.

In Firespell  Lily is discovering her world; in Hexbound Lily is living in it and beginning to question it.  I love Chloe Neill's writing style.  I love the wit and the banter between Lily and Scout. The mysteries and little sub-plots are fascinating.  I love that Neill can mention just a part of St. Sophia's school day, but with a few snide or flippant comments from the girls, it feels fully inclusive.  My only complaint with these books is that they're too short.  There is such a wealth of story in the plot and the characters, I wish she'd expand upon everything and double the length of each book, because believe me, everyone would still be captivated.  That being said, at no time do I feel the story is lacking, I just really want to know more!

I think this would be a great series for a reluctant reader.  It's short, to the point, and never lagging.  I look forward to starting the recently released Charmfall in the next few weeks... and I promise there will be a giveaway to go with it!

Final Take:  3.75/5

Jenn's Review: Firespell

Summary:  Lily's parents have sent her to a fancy boarding school in Chicago filled with the ultra-rich. If that wasn't bad enough, she's hearing and seeing bizarre things on St. Sophie's creepy campus. Her roommate, Scout, keeps her sane, but keeps disappearing at night. When one day Lily finds Scout running from real-life monsters, she learns the hard way that Scout is involved in a splinter group of rebel teens.

They protect Chicago from demons, vamps, and dark magic users. It's too bad Lily doesn't have powers of her own to help. At least, none that she's discovered yet...

Review: There seems to be an abundance of books about magical kids at boarding schools right now with no one story being the same, each finding a way to distinguish itself.   This story is no exception.  This is not a boarding school for the magically inclined... it's a school for girls from wealthy families.  Here it's the popular girls versus the nerdy misfits... a few of whom just happen to have magical powers.  As a nerd who wishes she were a witch, I certainly can appreciate that.

While I found the concept rather intriguing, it seemed largely underdeveloped which resulted in my liking the characters but not loving them, though I grew more attached to them as the novel progressed. I found myself craving more descriptive detail and depth.  Chloe Neill has several pop-culture references which can dangerously date a book, but I enjoyed them.  Actually, I thought some of the pop-culture references in the book were already a little dated -dated being my era or prior, but any book that references ALIAS can't be all bad, right?

I felt like just as things started to get rolling, the book came to and end.  However it's one of those stories that sticks with you and I have been thinking about it ever since I finished it.  It is a fun, quick read and I will be interested to see how things progress.  The third novel, Charmfall, is coming out in January and I have a shiny ARC of it sitting on my desk, so you can be sure I will be reading book two, Hexbound, soon.

Final Take:  3.75/5

Jenn's Review: Awake at Dawn

Summary:  From the moment Kylie Galen arrived at Shadow Falls Camp, she’s had one burning question:  What am I?  Surrounded by vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, fairies and witches, Kylie longs to figure out her own supernatural identity…and what her burgeoning powers mean.  And now she’ll need them more than ever, because she’s being haunted by a new spirit who insists that someone Kylie knows—and loves—will die before the end of the summer. If only she only knew who she was supposed to save.  And how…


But giving Kylie the most trouble is her aching heart.   Gorgeous werewolf Lucas left camp with another girl, but he’s still visiting Kylie in her dreams.  And Derek, a sexy half Fae who’s always been there for her when she needed him, is pushing to get more serious—and growing impatient, especially when Lucas returns.  Kylie knows she needs to decide between the boys, and it’s tearing her up inside. 


Yet romance will have to wait, because something from the dark side of the supernatural world is hiding in Shadow Falls.  It’s about to threaten everything she holds dear…and bring her closer to her destiny. ~product description

Review:  I absolutely adore this series!  I am very grateful to our friends at St. Martin's Press for turning me on to it by sending me the first book of the Shadow Falls series to review as an ARC last year, because it's one I may not have come across on my own ...and, oh, do I love these books!

I was glad to see the story picked up shortly after things left off in Born at Midnight.  I was afraid that C.C. Hunter might jump ahead to the fall,  when the camp was promised to turn into a boarding school.   It would have been easy to gloss over the rest of the summer, and I'm glad the author did not choose this route.   There we're many loose ends in Born at Midnight and Awake at Dawn spends some time wrapping those up, while unraveling some others.

I'm not a huge fan of angst-y love triangles and this one isn't.  It's one of the many things Hunter does so beautifully.  Yes, Kylie is interested in two boys, but she knows she needs to sort herself out first before she makes any big decisions, not to mention the boys need to figure some some things out for themselves as well.  

Hunter's characters are all flawed but likable.  Kylie is hard on herself, but not as down on herself as she used to be. She's making great strides at being comfortable with who she is, even though what she truly is seems to be more elusive than ever before.  Kylie's vampire friend and roommate Della's story is becoming more interesting too, and I hope we will be spending more time with her in the future.  I love Derek and I love who he and Kylie become when they are around with each other, but I'm worried that his ever growing powers will be more than he can handle. I still don't quite trust Lucas, but I look forward to him proving himself. ...And here I am talking about the characters as if they're real people, again.  A sure sign that the author has hooked me.

There are a plethora of supernaturals at camp and that makes for a story that is deep with layers.  It's wonderful to watch all the side stories develop, and see which ones the author brings into center stage now, and which ones will simmer on the back burner for a later book in the series.  At the same time, Hunter keeps introducing new facets to keep things interesting.

The many dimensions pulls the reader in and makes it hard to put down.  I wanted to savor this one since  book three, Taken at Dusk, won't be released until April, but every time I tried to put it down, I found myself returning to it.   Luckily, there is a preview of Taken at Dusk at the end of Awake at Dawn, so I'll have something to tide me over until April...

Final Take:  5/5

Jenn's Review: Hex Hall

Summary:  Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.  -product description


Review: I have been wanting to read this book for a while because the hype has been great.  Plus the cover is gorgeous! -While I would never judge a book by it's cover, I mention it because there are several adult reviewers out there that think it makes the book look "too young." However, the colors and the concept are incredible, even if the girl on the cover looks young. Oh, and the book's good too...

I love the idea behind the plot. Rachel Hawkins has created a fascinating world where all magical creatures, or Prodigium, go to school together, although this particular school is more like reform school. The only paranormal being that is not welcome at Prodigium schools are vampires, though there is a new exchange program and Sophie is rooming with the only teen vampire at school. As outcasts, they become fast friends.  There were lots of nice developments in the story that made this a quick, fun read.  Though I didn't find any of the plot twists surprising, none of them were obvious and I did enjoy watching them come to fruition.

Sophie is a likable character, though I don't think I completely connected with her, perhaps because she seemed so accepting of her situation.  While I did appreciate that she tried to get to the bottom of the attacks at school to clear her roommates name, I was surprised she wasn't doing more research about being a witch, especially as her classes aren't really teaching that.  Actually, I was surprised she hadn't been in a Prodigium school prior to this.  As we discover more about her, I can see that there may be an argument against sending her to one, but I see a stronger case for helping her hone her powers.  I hope this is something that gets addressed in the sequel.  Jenna, her vampire best friend, is intriguing and I hope that we get to learn more about her too.   Elodie makes a wonderful nemesis, and I would like to explore her history further as well - and I'm sure we will learn more about Archer, who is at the heart of Sophie's and Elodie's conflict.

Although my expectations may have been a little inflated, I think this was a solid debut novel for the beginning of the series.  This book is the tip of the iceberg and I can't wait to get a more involved with all of Ms. Hawkin's world of Prodigium.  I look forward to starting Demonglass -though I hear there is a killer cliff hanger, so maybe I'll hold off until the the release of book three (2012) gets a little closer...

Final Take:  3.75/5.0

Jenn's Review: Born at Midnight

Summary:  One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…  ~product description

Review: You know a book is good when it ingrains itself in your thoughts for days afterwards, making you want to go back and re-read the good bits to savor them a little longer. Born at Midnight is one of those books -an amazing read- and probably one I wouldn't have picked up on my own, so a huge thank you to Brittney at St. Martin's Press for forwarding this one to me!

Often times when the teen protagonist is dealing with divorced parents in a book, the teen is so consumed by it that s/he loose sight of  her/his own life, but such is not the case here.  Kylie is concerned about her parent's divorce, but before she has time to dwell on it she is swept off to a camp for troubled teens where they keep telling her she's not human.  Now she's on a quest to discover who she really is and what she wants out of life.

Kylie is an incredibly likable heroine.  She accepts her situation and tries to deal with it as best as she can, though she is not sure she believes any of it.  Actually, she thinks she'd rather have a brain tumor than be only part human.  And while it becomes more and more obvious that she's in denial, you do want to shake her just a little, but you can at least understand her fear of the unknown.  She starts to realize that maybe she's made assumptions about her family, friends, and even herself and, above all, Shadow Falls Camp will challenge them.

Kylie's love life is a mess, and in true teen fashion she is attracted to more than one guy, but she knows herself well enough to know that she's confused and not ready for a relationship, let alone a serious one.  I love that she's not full of angst and completely self-absorbed about it, it's just another dimension of complication in the story.

C.C. Hunter's writing is approachable and unassuming -and her take on the supernatural is Medium with a whole lot of Buffy humor and sarcasm thrown in. I love reading YA's that are original and not full of obsessive angst, and The Shadow Falls series is the perfect example of that.  I love all of the characters and I am anxious to find out more about each of them as they grow into themselves as supernaturals, and as adults.  There are many stories still to be told about these teens, and I anticipate this being a fabulous series.

C.C. Hunter has created a refreshing and fascinating series. The second book in the series, Awake at Dawn, will hit stores October 11, 2011 and I'm headed to pre-order it right now.  If you love YA paranormal in the vein of Amanda Hocking, you're going to love this series.

Edited to add:  The criticism I've seen for this book is that the story is "all over the place", the protagonist is whiney, or that the mystery is resolved rather quickly at the end, and I feel like I should address these things.  The story is about Kylie finding herself and her way, so yes, it meanders around, but since when is discovering yourself a straight path?!?  I really didn't find Kylie to be whiney.  I'm always straightforward if I find a protagonist unlikeable, but she wasn't. She wasn't self-absorbed, but she did have a lot on her plate ...and she dealt with it. As for the mystery at the camp, it was a sub-plot and not the focus of the story.  

Want more to persuade you?  Check out the Shadow Falls free prequel short story, Turned at Dark.

Final Take:  5/5

Jenn's Review: Ninth Grade Slays

Summary:  High school totally bites when you're half human, half vampire.

Freshman year stinks for Vlad Tod. Bullies still harass him. The photographer from the school newspaper is tailing him. And failing his studies could be deadly. A trip to Siberia gives “study abroad” a whole new meaning as Vlad connects with other vampires and advances his mind-control abilities, but will he return home with the skills to recognize a vampire slayer when he sees one? In this thrilling sequel to Eighth Grade Bites, Vlad must confront the secrets of the past and battle forces that once again threaten his life.

Review:  This is an endearing middle grade series, and I completely agree with that ALA that it is a great series for reluctant readers.  It's also a great read for the Joss Whedon's Buffy generation.  There are lots of  references to Whedon's series but I don't think Buffy's a prerequisite for enjoying Brewer's books.  Just a bonus.

Though I saw where this book was going from the opening chapter, I still enjoyed the journey.  We get to know all of the characters a little better and investigate Vlad's vampiric abilities right along with Vlad.  Now that Vlad is developing his telepathic skills, we also get a peek into the minds of the characters around him.  I love Otis and it was wonderful to meet more of Brewer's brand of vampires, especially ones that aren't out to kill Vlad.

Vlad has been living around humans so long that he is reluctant to use his abilities.  While I can understand that in regards to friends and family, I cannot understand his reluctance to use them to protect himself.  He needs to be able to protect himself from the bullies, yes, but he also needs to keep from being discovered.  I'm sure Ms. Brewer will be addressing this in the books to follow, but I was starting to get a little frustrated with Vlad on this point.

As with Whedon's world, you have to have a certain sense of humor to appreciate Brewer's writing.  Needless to say, I fit the bill.  I think this series is a hoot and a great read for parents and kids together or solo.  I am looking forward to Tenth Grade Bleeds.

Final Take:  3.5/5

Jenn's Review: Eighth Grade Bites

Summary: Vlad has to keep his vampire urges under control while dealing with the pressures of middle school.

Thirteen-year-old Vladimir Tod really hates junior high. Bullies harass him, the principal is dogging him, and the girl he likes prefers his best friend. Oh, and Vlad has a secret: His mother was human, but his father was a vampire. With no idea of the extent of his powers, Vlad struggles daily with his blood cravings and his enlarged fangs. When a substitute teacher begins to question him a little too closely, Vlad worries that his cover is about to be blown. But then he faces a much bigger problem: He’s being hunted by a vampire killer who is closing in . . . fast!

Review: This is a series that I've wanted to read for a while, but just hadn't gotten around to, and I'm sorry that it took me so long.  There is much to love in this witty, original vampiric creation from author Heather Brewer.

The character of Vlad is empathetic to the core. Not only does he have to deal with all the struggles of being an adolescent in eighth grade, but Vlad also has to deal with being an adolescent vampire.  Forbidden child of a vampire and a human, he's one of a kind. His hunger is growing, and so are his questions and though his secret is shared with his best friend and guardian, they can only help him so much. In search for answers, he digs into his father's journal, but the answers may not come soon enough to save his friends, or himself.

I adored the characters and the writing. A good YA read for guys as well as girls, Brewer approaches middle school with a sense of humor (which is really the only way you can approach it, isn't it?!?). Her mythology is her own, which is refreshing and a bit of an accomplishment in a vampire book. It has all the dark humor of Whedon and the thrill of Stine or Pike. My only complaint is that it was over way too quickly. It felt like things were just getting rolling, not that the story wasn't sufficiently resolved, but it certainly left me wanting more.

I am looking forward to the rest of the series and watching the books mature with the characters. Ninth grade, here I come! --Did I really just say that? Pretty big compliment because I wouldn't return to freshman year of high school for anything but Ninth Grade Slays.

Final Take: 4.0/5.0

Jenn's Review: Infinite Days

Summary:  "Throughout all my histories, I found no one I loved more than you...no one."

Those were some of Rhode's last words to me. The last time he would pronounce his love. The last time I would see his face.

It was the first time in 592 years I could take a breath. Lay in the sun. Taste.

Rhode sacrificed himself so I, Lenah Beaudonte, could be human again. So I could stop the blood lust.

I never expected to fall in love with someone else that wasn't Rhode.

But Justin was...daring. Exciting. More beautiful than I could dream.

I never expected to be sixteen again...then again, I never expected my past to come back and haunt me...



Review:  To tell the truth, I've been a little vampired-out so it took me a while to get around to reading this.  I shouldn't have waited; I adore this book!  Rebecca Maizel brings a fresh and fascinating take on vampires.

The story begins after Lenah's human transformation with well chosen flashbacks to her vampire life. It's a difficult style of storytelling (it can get so mired and bogged down), but Ms. Maizel pulls it off beautifully.  This way we experience Lenah from two perspectives, as the terrifying Vampire Queen, and as a teenager dumped in the wrong century.  The reader is taken along as Lenah grows and adapts to life in the twenty first century.  Lenah is endearing as she becomes human and her Vampire instincts begin to fade.

But the coven is looking for her, and what chance does a mere mortal stand against a vicious set of Vampires?  How do you protect your friends let alone yourself?

Ms. Maizel has created some fascinating vampires too. I am enthralled with Rhode, both his unusual vampiric nature and his ultimate sacrifice. Suleen is another vampire drifting in and out of the story, that I can't wait to learn more about. I have read some criticism for her characters being underdeveloped, and I think it's unfounded.  One of the caveats of writing in the first person, is that you only get to see the story from one person's point of view, the narrator.  Ms. Maizel has brilliantly given us two points of view through the narrator, and I think asking for more is a bit much.  Yes, some things are left to the imagination, but the readers perspective of each character changes as Lenah's does.  It is subtly, but cleverly accomplished.

This book is an enchanting twist on an, albeit, overrun subject. Rebecca Maizel made me fall in love with Vampires again.  I didn't think that was possible.  I anxiously await the second installment of the Vampire Queen series, Stolen Nights, due out June 22, 2011.

Final Take: 4.5/5.0 

Jenn's Review: Blood Bar

Summary: Vampires don't exist... yet, on the brownstone back alley side streets of New York, a vampire dies. Desperate, his lover turns to Kim Bennett, author Norm Applegate's (Into the Basement) quintessential heroine whose passion for S&M led to celebrity status as a hell-and-back murder mystery sleuth who's been there, done that, and then some. This time, Kim finds herself caught between a secret vampire society's attempts to locate The Black Testament (a sacred document written by Jack the Ripper), the modern-day vampire hunters bent on their destruction, and a white-knuckled journey of self-discovery that catapults her into the bowels of hell and the arms of the ultimate vampire... ...courtesy of The Haven, New York's ultimate BLOOD BAR...

Review: It's been a long time since I've read a book like this. How best to describe it to you? Think Anne Rice meets Thomas Harris and Stanley Kubrick in a dark alley. This is a gripping tale of blood lust, sex, and violence that combines two of my fascinations: vampires and Jack the Ripper. Any regular to our blog knows that I'm no fan of starting in the middle of a series, but that was not a problem here at all. Norm Applegate puts in just enough plot exposition from his prior books to help bring the new reader up to speed. And speed we did. This fast paced and complicated adventure reads like a script that twists and turns through to the very end. The death toll is high and the trysts plentiful. Though the prose aren't polished and the loopholes in the plot are several, it is easy to gloss over the details because Applegate is a master at weaving a dark tale. Besides, if you're reading Dark Fantasy Horror, it's for the thrill anyway, right?

My one disappointment with this book is poor editing. There are several open ended sets of quotation marks and, in some places, quotation marks in other fonts. While this shouldn't reflect on the novel, it detracted from my reading experience because I couldn't help but notice.

His first two books in the series (Into the Basement and Into the Spell), while not about vampires, do sound interesting and the first one is already being made into a movie. This is definitely an author on the forefront. While I don't recommend this book for the faint of heart, I do think if you're looking for something incredibly dark and forbidden, that you should put this on your nightstand... just don't expect a lot of sleep.

Final Take 4/5.0