Review: Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare

Synopsis: Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.
 
Review
Plot: After much research, I was finally to obtain this book at the library. I was excited to finally another series with Shadowhunters. Clockwork Angel is the first installment in the Infernal Devices series and it follows Tessa who just arrived to England. Right when she gets there, she's kidnapped by the Dark Sisters and told that she has the power to shift into other people. She only complies because she hears that they have her brother and they'll let her see him if she goes along with their plan. Before long, she is rescued by Shadowhunters and taken to the Institute where she meets Will and Jem. They have a bond between one another, Jem tries to keep Will out of trouble and Will tries to care for Jem when he's sick. The book follows their search for Tessa's brother, a plan that one Downworlder is developing, and a budding romance. This gives a whole knew take on Shadowhunters and how they lived in a different location and time period, but still let's the characters have the same snark and spunkiness we expect from Clare's books.
 
Characters: Tessa - Tessa is a character I easily related to. She was used to her life before that the discoveries she makes about herself and her family are hard for her to accept. She isn't used to how the Shadowhunters live and the attitudes of some of them...*cough* Will. I definitely started to love reading about her and her emotions throughout each experience.
Will and Jem - Will is definitely irritating but lovable. I did get tired of him pushing away Tessa and his actions towards her, however, there was his sense of charm that seemed to keep me hooked. Jem is too cute and compassionate in this book. I loved when he would stick up for himself as well as stick up for Will and Tessa. Even though he is not fully healthy, he still can stand on his own and help those he cares for.
 
Cover: I always love Cassandra's covers for her books. This one reminds me somewhat of Clockwork Orange with London in the background and the boy wearing a top hat. To me, I see that the boy is Will and his tipping of the top hat shows his charm even though he is a Shadowhunter.
 
Overall Rating: I'm giving this book a four out of four. I absolutely loved the book and couldn't think of a better plot line to start off a new series. It does have Clare's signatures like a possible love triangle and elaborate characters we will fall in love with. If you're thinking of reading this series and have read MI, I would happily say to hurry and get this series. If you haven't read MI, this series isn't twisted into the plot line of MI, you can read either one first and not be lost in the other.

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha

Review: City of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare

Synopsis: The Mortal War is over, and Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most important of all—Clary can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary’s best friend, Simon, can’t help her. His mother just found out he’s a vampire and now he’s homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side—along with the power of the curse wrecking his life. And they’re willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he’s dating two beautiful, dangerous girls—neither of whom knows about the other.

When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: She herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.
 
Review
Plot: I was very hesitant going into this book because I heard that Simon would be a major part of the story. I loved Simon, but I was so used to Clary being in the spotlight that it would be weird to read about someone else. However, Clare did an amazing job with Simon's story. It seemed sensible with sharing his story since he was a vampire with a Shadowhunter best friend and two girls vying for his attention, who have no idea about each other. The plot continues with the other characters' stories as well as new secrets revealed, which is a nice breather rather than reading one person's story. But, Simon was interesting to read about because usually with vampire stories, they leave their families behind or their families were never really around. With Simon's family, he tries to think of a way to tell them, but is too afraid of what they'll think of him. Also, with Simon's abilities, more evil tries to capture Simon's power, which is great for a wedding!
 
Characters: Simon - His storyline was great! I felt like it went in the right direction, however, I felt like it was sort of predictable. I loved that he wasn't afraid to say how he felt and show his love for Clary. When it came to his love triangle, I was very confused. I won't give away spoilers, but it was very obvious which girl he truly liked and the other one he just dated because he still cared for her. Even if he did end up with the same girl, I wish the road there would be a little less predictable.
Clary - Overall, Clary still has a very important storyline in here with dealing with her new Shadowhunter status and Jace's weird behavior. I felt like I was Clary when dealing with Jace because even though you knew things she didn't know, you were still trying to figure out his motives and thoughts in certain scenes.
 
Cover: Clare never disappoints us with brilliant covers. I love Simon and Clary on here and the colors. my only problem is with the dress Clary is wearing. It doesn't necessarily change my mind on the cover; it just doesn't seem as beautiful as described in the book.
 
Overall Rating: I'm giving this book a three out of four. This book was not the best out of the series, but it was nice to get a different perspective and character to look at. Clare appeased my reluctance to read this book. Even though this book didn't fully hit my expectations, I'm so excited for the last two installments. If you haven't read the MI series yet, I would advise you to. It is the kind of series that hits every different type of audience and has something everyone can relate to.

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha

Review: Betrayed (House of Night #2) by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Synopsis: Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night. She's come to terms with the vast powers the vampyre goddess, Nyx, has given her, and is getting a handle on being the new Leader of the Dark Daughters. Best of all, Zoey finally feels like she belongs--like she really fits in. She actually has a boyfriend…or two. Then the unthinkable happens: Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey's old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night, and Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world.

Review

Plot: I was happy to finally continue this series and see if the series would go on a good path that the first book left us off with. I was, however, very disappointed with the second installment. I was hoping that we got to see Zoey grow up to be the Dark Daughers' leader and grow into her own. It was hard to see if any of that was happening with the many immature situations going on. I wanted to like this book as much as I liked the first installment, but I couldn't get over the teen angst that was evident in all of the characters. The plot line was intriguing and is very well-developed. I could definitely see issues that will pop up in the third installment and new tensions forming.

Characters: Zoey - There are so many characters, I'll stick with Zoey for now. I loved Zoey in the first book. She was very feisty and passionate about the ones she loved and helping others. It was nice to see a strong character and comfortable with herself. In this installment, I saw that Zoey start to diminish. She seemed to start lacking maturity or just thinking through her decisions. I'm hoping it will get better as the series goes on, but this book did not do her justice.

Cover: I love the series' covers. The intricate designs and dark hues truly make the reader grab the atmosphere of what House of Night is like. Plus, they do an amazing job with getting the models to look like the actual characters.

Overall Rating: I'm giving this book a two out of four. I couldn't get into it and was questioning almost every action Zoey or someone else made. I wish I could get into this series, but after this book, I don't think I can continue. The Casts do an amazing job with their descriptions and writing, but it wasn't enough to keep me drawn in.

Peace and Fangs,

Alisha

Review: Captivate (Need #2) by Carrie Jones

Synopsis: Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town.

A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure -- despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It's her life -- and his. Source

 

Review

Plot: I was so excited to finally get back into the world of pixies when I bought Captivate. I was not disappointed when I was instantly dropped back into the war with the pixies. It was refreshing to have new and old characters talk more about the pixies. In Need, Zara and her friends painted the pixies as monsters and that was that. There were no if, ands, or buts about it. Since it is fiction and about myths, Jones can paint the pixies however she wants, so I thought that all pixies in this series are bad because Zara and her friends did. But, in this installment, we see that Zara and her friends are oblivious to the pixie world. They made assumptions about the whole race by what Zara's father did. Astley, a new pixie to Maine, has Zara start to open her eyes and make her rethink everything she believed. I am glad with the new character and can already guess that there will be a love-triangle, however, Astley is interesting and mysterious, so I know it won't be a smooth ride with him. Since we're on the topic of romance, I have to mention Nick and Zara's relationship. I love them together and every time Nick comes along I want to squeal with joy. However, I couldn't take the nicknames or the lovey dovey phrases. I love romance and I can deal with the squishy romance that you can only find in books, but I felt like their's was too much. However, they are such a cute couple and loved every minute they were together.

 

Characters: Zara - Zara is very logical. She likes to think things through and go through all of her options in every situation. It was hard to read sometimes when it was a high-intense situation and we'd hear every thought she had. But, she would speak them too. I'm not sure whether I like that or not. Sometimes, I do want to hear what she was thinking and how she felt, but I also did want them to get down to business. I'll have to see if I'll like this in the long run for her.

 

Nick - Nick is absolutely adorable. I could eat him up. I love how protective and loving he is towards Zara. He isn't perfect, which is what I love, because I can't stand the flawless love interests. Just like Zara, I got fustrated with him sometimes too, but I also wanted to squeel every time he said or did something romantic.

 

Astley - Loving him as the new character. It was hard to keep up with what he wanted, but I loved his personality. Since he is a pixie, he lives a different lifestyle and has better knowledge of the pixie world. I'm hoping I see more of him in Entice.

 

Cover: I love the Need series' covers. They are so simple and elegant with the black background and gold accents to the girl. I view the girrl as Zara since she is mostly human, but has pixie in her. So, the lips and tear are part of her as a pixie, plus giving a hint to the book's plot.

 

Overall Rating: I'm giving this book a three out of four. The plot was a great continuation from the first and a great opener to the third installment. Captivate brings back all the characters we love and adds growth to them while having the war of the pixies continue with even more surprises.

 

Peace and Fangs,

Alisha

Review: Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy #6) by Richelle Mead

Synopsis: Rose Hathaway has always played by her own rules.

She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir’s Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir Princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardian to come.

Now the law has finally caught up with Rose- for a crime she didn’t even commit. She’s in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She’ll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir.

But the clock on Rose’s life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back… and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your life is about saving others, who will save you? Source

Plot: Many of you know how much I love this series. I don't think I have given any of these books less than four nail polishes. But, I have to say that this is officially one of my favorite series and this finale of the series is the best one. I loved the relationship between Rose and Dimitri. It was such a give and take between them that I was waiting for one of them to finally yell and say, "Just kiss me, you fool!" The quest for Tatiana's murder seemed like a lost cause, and then...well, the true murder was shocking! I especially loved the discussions and scenes with Spirit. Throughout the series, we've learned more and more about Spirit, but I think this one we actually saw the darkness of Spirit and how it effects Spirit users. Lastly, the monarch search for the new queen/king was amazing and so complex, you truly thought that Mead based this on a real event.

Characters: Rose-I love Rose. She developed so much from when we saw her in Vampire Academy to Last Sacrifice. I love when characters grow and Rose did just that. She learned what her heart truly wants and what she wants out of life. However, Mead does not disappoint us and gives us the usual Rose jokes and behavior, which I love.
Lissa-Lissa made me proud. She was finding herself as well and grew up. She knew what her position was in the world of vampires and wanted to make her family proud. I loved when she looked back upon her family, she never looked at them in the negative, but wanted to make them proud.
Dimitri-*swoon* As always, I am Team Dimitri and proud of it. I missed the gentle and romantic side of Dimitri and we got to see it in here. He's still struggling with his crimes as a Strigoi and you finally get to see what those feelings are. Rose helps them through those things and gives him an ultimatum which I loved.

Cover: I'm guessing the girl on the front is Rose. I love these new covers for the books and this one is gorgeous. The model is stunning and the trademark fence and Vampire Academy font never stops me from smiling.

Overall Rating: Of course, I will give this a four out of four. This series is so beautifully written that I still don't want the series to end. I recommend anyone who wants to write to read this series, it has things for everyone. Mystery, crime, romance, action/adventure, drama, etc. Plus, it has amazing characters and a beautiful plot.

Richelle Mead is going to have a short story on Rose and Dimitri which has a 2012 release date and Bloodlines is expected to be released August 23, 2011.

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha

Review: In the Blood (Maker's Song #2) by Adrian Phoenix

Synopsis:
DANTE LIVES.


Vampire. Rock star. Begotten son of the fallen angel Lucien. Dante Baptiste still struggles with nightmares and seizures, searching for the truth about his past. It is a quest as seductive as his kiss, as uncontrollable as his thirst, and as unforgiving as his determination to protect one mortal woman at any cost.

KNOWLEDGE KILLS.

FBI Special Agent Heather Wallace now knows the extent of the Bureau corruption that surrounds her, but worries she is losing the battle. And when Dante and his band Inferno come to Seattle on tour, Heather can't help but be drawn back to the beautiful, dangerous nightkind. But what Heather and Dante don't know is that new enemies lurk in the shadows, closer than they think...and even deadlier than they fear.

DESTINY UNFOLDS.

Shadowy government forces have pledged to eliminate all loose ends from Project Bad Seed -- and Heather and Dante are at the top of the list. Elsewhere, the Fallen gather in Gehenna, intent on finding their long-awaited savior, the True Blood nightkind whom Lucien DeNoir would die to protect. And a damaged and desperate adversary, with powers as strange and perilous as Dante's own, plots to use Dante as a pawn in a violent scheme for revenge. But only one of these lethal forces holds the key to Dante's past -- a key that could finally unlock the secret of his birth and the truth of his existence...or destroy him completely. Source

Review
Plot: I love this series from Adrian Phoenix. Ever since reading Rush of Wings, I always had a little soft spot for Cajun. I'm glad to say that In the Blood has made an amazing sequel. I loved how the book didn't revolved around Heather's and Dante's relationship. There was enough romance to keep your heart singing, but, at the same time, it wasn't like Adrian tried to act like that was the only important issue. She flipped to each character to keep you updated on what was happening with each. I'm glad she uses third-person for the series because it makes it that much easier. (Plus, the location titles help a bunch.) I like this series mostly because the romance scenes are so...sentimental and rare that when they show up, it lasts you through the mystery and action. The ending will definitely have you pumped for the third installment.

Characters: Heather-Heather is a admirable heroine. She worries not only about Dante, but her sister and friends. She doesn't keep her mind focused on Dante, but it does take up most of her thoughts. That's not a bad thing though. Both of them have had so much drama and struggling in their lives and it's nice to see that they found someone to go to.
Dante-I almost couldn't bare Dante's pain. I felt so bad that he was in constant pain. It's hard to read how much pain he's in. When it's not a migrane, it's a seizure. It keeps going and all I want is peace for him. And, then the three or four groups who want him fo their own selfish reasons? Angered me. I just want him to find peace. Hopefully, he does soon.

Cover: I love the covers for these. I wish their was more going on in this one, but it is pretty nonetheless.

Overall Rating: I give this book a four out of four. I loved this book and can't wait to read the rest of the series. If I had to pick one flaw, I craved for more romance. Yes, it does last you, but sometimes you want that little peck or beautiful "say nothings." However, every time Heather and Dante woke up they asked about each other. If you love romance and mystery, I think that this is a good adult series for vampire and romance lovers.

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha

Review: The Replacement (The Replacement #1) by Brenna Yovanoff

Synopsis: "Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.

Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs." Source

Review
Plot: I went into the book with a clear head. I heard good things about the book, but, for me, it did resonate when I read it. It was way too hard to get through this book. I dreaded reading it. The plot was good and the writing was amazing, but it was dragging. The one thing that frustrated me with this book is that they wouldn't say what he is! Right when I got to around page 150, I had to stop. They still did not reveal what he was and I couldn't take anymore of it. I think that if I knew what he was from the beginning, I would have enjoyed the book more and understood what was going on. They kept dragging about how sick Mackie was and what he was, but never actually said it soon enough. I had to find out from spoiler sites what he was.

Characters: Mackie-He was definitely a great character. He was going through immense pain and didn't know his true self while everyone knew it. It was nice to see a character who was still isolated even though he had friends, but also had a life for the most part. Excluding his personality, I felt like Mackie was a little cliche. He liked the popular girl, but then started liking the outcast. Been there, read that. And, he kept dwelling in his pain and what he was. I know that is the key to the book, but it was hard to read over 300 pages about a guy who doesn't like their life.

Cover: The cover was what mainly pulled me in. I always thought (still do!) that this cover was extremely gorgeous and interesting. It's not every day you see a baby cradle with weapons hanging over it. This cover is undeniably one of the best I've seen.

Overall Rating: I give this book a two out of four. Before you boo me, I got really frustrated with this book. Now that I have found out what he is, I will probably go back to this book. Right now, I will give this book a two out of four, but I promise I will give this book one more shot in the future, but I don't know when. Probably when I go on a road trip or have spare time, but, for now, I'm done with it.

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha

Review: Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #5) by Richelle Mead

Synopsis: Salvation has its price.

The words stunned Adrian for a moment, but he kept going. "You're lying. What you're describing is impossible. There's no way to save a Strigoi. When they're gone, they're gone. They're dead. Undead. Forever."

Robert's next words weren't directed at Adrian. They were spoken to me. "That which is dead doesn't always stay dead...."

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa Dragomir. It's graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives outside of the Academy’s cold iron gates to finally begin. But even with the intrigue and excitement of court life looming, Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri. He's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance, and now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her...forever.

But Rose can't forget what she learned on her journey—whispers of a magic too impossible and terrifying to comprehend. A magic inextricably tied to Lissa that could hold the answer to all of Rose's prayers, but not without devastating consequences. Now Rose will have to decide what—and who—matters most to her. In the end, is true love really worth the price?

Fall in love with Rose and Dimitri all over again in Spirit Bound, the eagerly awaited fifth novel in Richelle Mead's enthralling Vampire Academy series. Source

Plot: I love the VA series and I was excited I finally got my hands on Spirit Bound. I have to say that this is my favorite book out of the series so far. Don't get me wrong, I loved the rest of the books. But, I will admit...I balled over this book. I was glad that the book had it's large amount of action like it always does, but there were so many plot twists and intense romance that I had some tears slip. This book had so many plot twists that I was confused on my feelings towards some of the characters. Like, for instance, Lissa. You do see her become stronger throughout the book, but that starts to hurt Rose. I was glad that Lissa was growing a backbone for herself, but it seemed like she was pushing the right people away and letting the wrong people in. I did, however, like the ending and can't wait to see what happens next.

Characters: Rose-I'll do just Rose since she was the lead character. As always, I love Rose. She reminds me of myself: outspoken, persistent, and...well, let's face it...nosy. Rose was the one that really caused my tears. She's so used to composing her emotions to become a guardian that when her fears are brought to life and her hopes are diminished, she doesn't know how to deal with it. She gets herself into enough terrible situations and more are coming for her.

Cover: Loved this cover! I'm guessing that it's Dimitri and Rose, but I was thinking that Rose's hair was more of a chocolate color and Dimitri's hair was longer. But, then again, it's just a cover, so I won't criticize every little thing. This cover is beautiful though, just like all the rest.

Overall Rating: I give this book a four out of four. If you can make me cry over writing on a page, you get a four in my book. I'm so excited for the last book, Last Sacrifice. Spirit Bound has gotten me jazzed up for what's coming and I'm truly hoping that some more raw lovin' goes down!

Peace and Fangs,

Alisha

Review: Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush #1) by Becca Fitzpatrick

Synopsis: For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along.
With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life. Source
 
Plot: I finally was able to get my hands on this book and I am so glad I did. Hush, Hush is a book that surrounds the theme of fallen angels. I thought that this was a very well thought out perspective of fallen angels. Fitzpatrick did an amazing job with not just making the book about fallen angels, but about romance and revenge. I was a little sketchy when I started reading and Nora meets Patch in a science class (Whose there? Twilight.) But, as I read, it seemed like the class was an underlying theme that helped the characters develop around one another. You saw that Vee is outspoken, Patch is a pervertic jerk, and Nora wanted to go to college just from that class. But, as I read, other than seeing that the two characters meet in science class, this book was nowhere near Twilight.
 
Characters: Nora-She made a whole new spin on the heroin. She was confused on what and what not to do. She wanted to be with Patch, but there was something about him that scared her. She was such a brave and defining character though. I can grow to love her and she develops throughout the story to open her mind and decide whose good for her and whose not.
Patch-I'm not going to lie. I thought Patch was an ass to me. I was interested and intrigued when he was in the scenes and I was praying he would show up soon, but he bothered me. Some things he would say would make my mouth drop. Even after I learned about him, he still wasn't right with me. He never had a genuine smile, I wanted to reach in the book and smack him and tell him to smile for Nora. I did start to like him though, but I wish he would just show a millimeter more emotion. Please, Patch?
 
Cover: You know I have to mention the cover. It is absolutely stunning. I love the color scheme of the book because it kind of shows you the outlook of a fallen angels world, full of gray clouds. I like how you see Patch kind of being thrown to Earth and his wings are tattered. Amazing cover...love it!
 
Overall Rating: I give this book a four out of four. It was a new take on fallen angels that I loved and was very raw for a YA, but I liked it! I was impressed with Fitzpatrick, she is a new favorite of mine and has created such an originial series that I'm craving for more.

Peace and Fangs,

Alisha

Review: Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey

Synopsis: Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents rules;especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father's office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be the key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship.

To improve her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen's sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill's accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything, even Tristen's love just for the thrill of being . . . bad. Source
 
Review
Plot: I am a huge fan of Beth Fantaskey, so I was excited when I got my hands on JLH finally. I'm glad I got the chance to take a break from the UF and paranormal world for awhile, and Jekel Loves Hyde was an amazing read. I loved the book because it was a great romantic adaption of the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story. I was scared to see Jill's bad side, I automatically knew it would be something with her being more..."easy". When I read her on her "Hyde" side, she was "easy", but she used it to help her kill. It was kind of interesting to see Tristen because at some points, you thought he had a mental illness but you also knew there was something more to it. The most interesting part of the book had to be that it was two characters instead of one. Usually with the Jekyll and Hyde story, it's just one person going through it. This book shows one person trying to save the other, but it happens to both of them. I liked it because both characters were the victims and the heroes.
 
Characters: Jill-I liked Jill in the aspect of a strong and brave heroin. Jill was sort of the stereotypical smart girl: glasses, loves chemistry, and is lonely. However, I did like that she was sort of stereotypical because Dr. Jekyll was a scientist and you couldn't have a Jekel that went to parties every weekend and wore short skirts or else when she did change, you couldn't see a difference.
Tristen-Thank you, Beth, for making this boy British. I love British boys and their accents, so Tristen had my vote from the very beginning. He was different from other romantic interests because he was so distant with Jill, but not... He wold share his deep feelings about how he felt about the "beast" inside of him with Jill, but keep some things from her. He was very sweet though and I almost melted when he called Jill "beautiful" or "dear". If I was her, I would have toppled over every time his British behind said those things.
 
Cover: This cover is absolutely stunning. The only thing I wanted was to see Tristen's face. I've noticed that the protagonists (Jill and Jessica from Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side) have their face shown, but you only see the guys' body. I like that she kind has her own trademark. Now when I see that kind of thing, I'll think of Beth Fantaskey. But,Tristen, please show me your face!
 
Overall Rating: I give this book a four! It was amazing, I love Beth Fantaskey's stuff. The ending to this book was a nice happily ever after. I am kind of hoping Beth has a sequel to this because I feel like stuff is just beginning between Jill and Tristen. Usually when I wish, there is no sequel...but I can only hope. If you have read this and liked it...please read Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, it is absolutely amazing and I am so ready for the sequel. You can read Jessica's and Lucius' wedding here.

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha

Review: Shadowland (The Immortals #3) by Alyson Noël

Synopsis: At the start of this breathtaking novel, Damen and Ever travel to Summerland in search of an antidote to reverse a powerful poison. But instead of the cure they seek, they find something far more sinister: the truth about their existence and the fate lying in wait of an immortal’s soul.

Now, with Damen fighting to save them from the Shadowland, Ever turns to magick, hoping to break Damen’s curse. Along the way Ever encounters the mysterious Jude, finding herself drawn to him in a way that will test her love for Damen like never before . . .

Review
Plot: A nice continuation to the series. I'm glad that the series is not jumping from one problem to the next as I thought it might be. Ever and Damen aren't able to touch or kiss each other still, which makes the romance a verbal thing. That isn't a bad thing at all, I love Damen's little whispers of endearment to Ever. However, this one seemed to have dragged. I didn't like the endless cycle Ever and Roman would do. Roman would talk about a riddle he had and Ever still kept trying to solve it. I did like the trips to Summerland, they seemed to bring more insight into Ever's past and secrets Damen had kept. But, in the end, Roman is like a virus and never just stops! That does make things interesting though, but it doesn't stop me from hating him.

Characters: Ever-Again, I loved Ever because she always keeps trying. No matter what, she knows what she wants, even if there are obstacles getting in her way. It seemed like she was more determined for her and Damen to be together than Damen was. However, I wish that she was more loving and honest with Miles and Haven, it seems like she loves them but doesn't share with them anything while they always do with her.
Damen-I wanted to see more of Damen, he was out of the book more than usual. Even in Blue Moon, he was in the book, just not the way we would have liked. It seemed like he was more a stranger in here. I did love when he was in the scenes though, and couldn't help but love when he was getting jealous. It was too cute!
Roman-Hate him! Which is a good thing, if an author is able to make me hate an evil character than they're doing a great job. I wish he would just move along. The boy needs to get a life and move on from Drina. And, I hated his little perv comments to Ever. I hope Ever deals with him soon!
Jude-I hope Jude is in the next few books. He is a good character and I feel like we didn't get to really know him because Ever didn't want to and it was in her POV. I hope that I do get to know him because he seems genuine and he doesn't seem like a bad guy.

Cover: I love the series' covers. This one truly fits with the book like the others do with theirs. I can't say why Ever has he crystals without spoiling, but they fit the theme of this book. However, I was thinking that showing a certain book that is continuously mentioned in Shadowland might have been better.

Overall Rating: I give this book a three out of four. It was a nice continuation, but it was dragging in some parts. Hopefully, Dark Flame will pick up from Shadowland and answer my questions!

Peace and Fangs,

Alisha

Review: Bad Blood (Blood Coven #4) by Mari Mancusi

Synopsis: Sunny McDonald is in the ultimate forbidden relationship. Her boyfriend Magnus is a vampire, and the leader of the Blood Coven. And when the Coven decides that Magnus needs a mate to be his co-ruler, Sunny's humanity puts her out of the running. The Coven's chosen candidate is Jane Johnson, a magna cum laude graduate of Oxford University who just happens to look like a vampiric supermodel.
Sunny is suspicious of a Rhodes Scholar who can't answer the most basic poli-sci questions, but Magnus brushes it off as petty jealousy. Still, when the Blood Coven goes to Las Vegas for a vampire convention, Sunny and her twin sister Rayne secretly tag along. And Sunny's not going home before she learns the truth about Jane. Because not everything stays in Vegas-especially bad blood. Source

Review
Plot: I haven't gotten back to the series for awhile, so when I saw it on the shelf, I grabbed it before anyone could take it. I was absolutely glad I did because this series continues to not disappoint. When I saw that it was in Sunny's view, I wasn't sure I was going to like it because I was so used to reading Rayne's POV. However, I did like Sunny's view because it was nice to see a human's POV in a vampire series that doesn't want to be a vampire, but feels in some situations that she was when she was battling against vampires. Her name does explain her, she finds the good in people and is determined to make her and Magnus' relationship bright up despite what is happening. I will say that I didn't like the constant "likes" and the "totallys" and all the teenage lingo. I'm a teenager, but I don't like when an author tries to make up lingo for their characters. We don't all talk like that. I haven't heard anyone talk in text for a few years now. But, I did like the plot and Sunny's view really made things interesting, including when she branches off to the theater where she meets a cast playing Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'.

Characters: Sunny-Sunny was a great character for this installment. I couldn't help but be drawn into her and Magnus' relationship. It was refreshing to see that she didn't want to be a vampire, but she also didn't want to be old and wrinkled while Magnus was still young. Sunny was great at finding the good at people and knowing when something was going on.
Rayne-I will admit, I was kind of disappointed in Rayne this time around. She kept bailing on her own sister to gamble, what? I wasn't too fond when I read Rayne coming in the scene. She only seemed to care if what she had to do would benefit her. By the end, I did warm up to her and saw what I usually love in Rayne, but I thought it was pitiful that I had to wait until after everything transpired to see the good in Rayne.
Magnus-Magnus was....oh, I honestly don't know. I loved him most of the time, but some things he said to Sunny, I gaped at. I did love how sweet and romantic he was when he talked about his love for Sunny. But, I couldn't stand him when he didn't believe Sunny or at least give her a chance to explain anything. He rather side with someone he barely knows than the girl he loves.
Jayden-Oh, you will love Jayden! I surely did. I can't give away too much without revealing spoilers, but he will definitely be in the series more and I am so glad. He is romantic and the sweetest guy! I loved when him and Sunny would hang out. I know some people would probably hate him, but I can't wait to see how his and Sunny's relationship develops.

Cover: I loved the cover on this. I was used to the old covers from the previous books, but these are stunning. I don't know who the cover is suppose to be of, maybe Sunny (even though she has blonde hair) or Jane. But, the cover is lovely, as well as the others.

Overall Rating: I give this book a three out of four. I love this series and can not wait to read Night School, but the lingo really gets to me. The characters made the book though and I would love to read more in Sunny's POV.

Peace and Fangs,

Alisha

Review: Betrayal (Immortal #2) by Gillian Shields

Synopsis: "There are the small betrayals: the unkind word, the petty lies. And there are the betrayals that break hearts, destroy worlds, and turn the strong sweet light of day into bitter dust."

When Evie Johnson started at Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies, her life changed in ways she couldn't possibly have envisioned: the discovery of her link with Lady Agnes, her special bond with Helen and Sarah, and their sisterhood in the astonishing secrets of the Mystic Way. Above all, Evie's love for Sebastian has turned her world upside down.

Now Evie returns to Wyldcliffe for another term and more danger. Surrounded by enemies, she lives every day in fear that Sebastian will fall into the darkness of servitude to the Unconquered Lords. The Wyldcliffe coven is plotting to destroy Evie and use Sebastian to secure their own immortality. Evie and her sisters must master the power of the Talisman before it is too late. But could it be Sebastian himself who will ultimately betray Evie?

In this companion to Gillian Shields's dazzling Immortal, magic and sweeping romance cross the bounds of time to deliver heart-stopping emotion and suspense. Source

Review
Plot: This is the sequel to Immortal and I was excited to finally get my hands on Betrayal. I was a bit confused when I started to read it. I haven't read Immortal in almost a year and Betrayal took some time to recount what happened. Evie would just say that she couldn't believe what happened and how horrible she felt for what she had done and I'm staring at the book trying to remember what happened in Immortal. I did, however, love the concept of the book. It was a nice take to see the heroin trying to save her love. I was getting really into the book. Some points, I was actually fighting tears because the book was getting to me. The ending was something I was NOT expecting and I have to say that I loved the way it was written, but not how it was written. Shields did a beautiful job at the end, but I hated how it ended. I won't say how it ends because it would give away everything, but I had a total love-hate relationship with the ending.

Characters: Evie-I have always loved Evie, she was such a great heroin. I loved how she was sure on her powers and helping Sebastian, but questioned herself when she wasn't able to accomplish something. She was determined to cure Sebastian and she wouldn't stop he was. When Evie was questioning her life at the moment and a life she could have was very refreshing. It was nice to know that she was in love with Sebastian, but wanted to have a normal life as well.
Sebastian-Shields was amazing when it came to Sebastian. Sebastian was still in the book and the plot line with his writing to Evie. You could see the pain Sebastian was going through with struggling to keep his humanity. He was a bit dramatic at times, but it just showed you how tormented he was. I was praying for the next chapter to have Sebsatian or one of his letters because I loved him so much. I can honestly see why Evie called him her first and only love. (One of the reasons I was close to crying.)

Cover: I loved the two covered to the Immortal series. The first one represented Evie's powers for the element of Water and the Tailsman. Betrayal was a nice cover to go along with the book. It had fire which represented Agnes' element of Fire and short of showed the fire of betrayal that some of the characters felt in their heart.

Overall Rating: I give this book four out of four. Even though the ending peeved me off, I still loved Shields' writing and how elegantly the story flowed. My only precaution with this book is try to read the books closely together. They are both great to read, but it was hard to get back on the series when it has been so long.

Peace and Fangs,

Alisha

Review: The Reckoning (Darkest Powers #3) by Kelley Armstrong

Synopsis: Only two weeks ago, life was all too predictable. But that was before I saw my first ghost. Now, along with my supernatural friends Tori, Derek, and Simon, I’m on the run from the Edison Group, which genetically altered us as part of their sinister experiment. We’re hiding in a safe house that might not be as safe as it seems. We’ll be gone soon anyway, back to rescue those we’d left behind and to take out the Edison Group . . . or so we hope. Source

Review
Plot: I've been loving the Darkest Powers series so far and The Reckoning was like the cherry on top for the series. I loved how this series wrapped up the questions and mysteries that some of us have had throughout. I loved the constant twists and turns that truly surprised me. Allies are enemies and real allies are nowhere in sight. I did like the romance underlies. You knew they were there and so did the other characters, but there were other things they had to deal with first. The ending was something that I was pleased with, but I wanted more! I wanted to see how everything panned out from there and what would happen to Chloe, Derek, Simon, and Tori. There is also one secret that is revealed to the readers that is not revealed to two certain characters that I wish was brought up.

Characters: Chloe-As always, I love Chloe. She is a great character to describe as a character who develops throughout the series. In The Summoning, everyone thinks that Chloe is childlike girl and in The Reckoning, she actually stnds up for herself. Everyone that thought her as innocent and harmless, retract their thoughts when they see her again.
Derek-Did I mention I love Derek? Well, I'll say it. I LOVE DEREK! He is sweet to Chloe, but stern with her when she does something he doesn't agree with. I will say I agree with Chloe that he does jump on her every move, but as The Reckoning progresses, you see why he acts the way he does.
Simon and Tori-I loved them. Tori seems like she is warming up to Chloe and they are slowly becoming better friends. She does start to stick up for Chloe and not chastise her as much. Simon is very lovable, like always. I do love how he starts coming into his own and doesn't need Derek to stand up for him anymore. He does need Derek to put him in check at times because of his diabetes, but you do see a new Simon in this book.

Cover: The cover is very beautiful. I loved how each of the covers were of Chloe and her necklace. I did like how the other two did show when the necklace changed colors in the book, but The Reckoning's covr confused me. I didn't know if I wasn't paying attention when they said it or if it wasn't in there, but I didn't see anything about the necklace changing colors. However, the cover is very beautiful.
 Overall Rating: I give this book a four out of four. I loved the main issues that were at hand, but also the budding romance that is finally happening. The characters were amazing and each one developed in their own way.

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha

Review: Evermore (The Immortals #1) by Alyson Noël

Synopsis: Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste…

Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies. Source
 
Review This is my first read for 2011! I'm going to try to do something different for my reviews and split them up into categories: plot, characters, cover, and overall rating.
Plot: The plot was different from what I ususally read. I can't say a lot without givng away spoilers, but it is definitely not what you think. I thought it was one thing, but it something else, which caused me to be confused for a second because I thought Damen was lying. Also, for me, the plot and climax were not...deep enough. It seemed like half of the book was spent trying to figure out just what was up with Damen and what he was. Then the last quarter of the book is spent trying to solve this issue that I knew something was going on, but it was just a blimp on my radar. I think that most of the surprises and twists in the book were flung in there. It seemed like Noël didn't want Ever to be harmed, so she pulled stuff out so thatEver wasn't hurt, so there was no true action that conspired. There was probably two quick fights that didn't last, but nothing that made you jump out of your skin. The ending was good though, I liked how it ended on a good note but it seemed as though it could have just been finished with the first book. All of the problems were resolved, so it seems like it could have just ended. I'm ready for the rest of the series, but I was just confused on how it will move on.

Characters: Ever-I loved Ever. She was a good realistic character. She was someone you could relate to and get how she acted. There were times that I got fustrated with her though because she always blamed herself for everything that happened in the past. Ever was blaming herself so much that it was affecting her relationships. She was, however, a good main character that I did love all in all and you could kind of see why she acted the way she did.
Damen-Damen was...Damen. He was extraodinarily beautiful, which I kind of guessed at the beginning because there was not one person who didn't think otherwise. Damen was amazing though; he was always honest to Ever, but just had problems of his own which made him even more likable.
Haven and Miles-They both give this book some life. With all of the "heated" romance and "drama", they definitely give some "umph" to the book. I loved Miles, he always had me giggling and making me wish I had a friend like him. Haven was...different for a best friend. She seemed against Ever from the very beginning. I grew to hate her, even though she did bring a different view of a "best friend", she reminded me of Jessica Stanley and Angela from Twilight.

Cover: The cover was beautiful. I loved the deep purple background with the tulips being the main focus. It definitely showed the main topic of the books, which was Ever's and Damen's love. (If you read the book, you'll understand.) I did like the lettering as well for the book's title, it seemed to have a fictional glow that kind of reminded me of Ever's powers.

Overall Rating: I give this book a 2 out of 4. I liked the characters and the romance when you could really feel it, but it reminded me too much of Twilight. I've read the intense gazing, bed sleeping, absent adults, impossible ways to get out of school before. It was a good read and I will admit that I was engrossed in the book and I will continue with the series to see how it pans out, but it was not the best paranormal YA books I've read.

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha

Horror & Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge 2011 presented by Book Chick City

(Click on the icon to go to the official challenge post)I have never done a book challenge before and haven't done one for BNR yet either. I decided that for 2011 I would at least do three challenges so that I can read more and to have more to blog about. I came upon one of Book Chick City's 2011 Challenges that I would love to join. It is her Horror and Urban Fantasy book challenge! The rules are simple, read 24 books in 2011 under one or both of these two genres.

If you want to join, you can join at any time during 2011 and do not have to have a blog to enter. If you don't have a blog and would like to enter, click here.

I haven't picked out the books I will be reading yet for the challenge but I will post up a list soon!

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha