Tag Archives: Paranormal

by

Review: A Radiant Sky by Jocelyn Davies

Title: A Radiant Sky
Author: Jocelyn Davies
Series: A Beautiful Dark
Rating: ★★★★

The Beautiful Dark series has been one of my favorite angel-centered young adult series and I’m sad to see it end. There was character growth, a great plot, two swoon worthy guys, and a main character who isn’t perfect but doesn’t let that get in her way. A Radiant Sky was a wonderful ending to this series, and even though it had a couple moments that were a little cheesy, I loved it.

Skye has grown up a lot in the past year. Since discovering she is the daughter of angels, one from the Order and the other from the Rebellion, she’s had attempts on her life, on her friends’ lives, and watched as people she cares about suffer. Instead of taking the easy way out by picking a side to fight for, she defies everyone and chooses to fight for herself, for her cause. She will not belong to either faction and allow herself to be controlled as a means to an end. Making this choice puts both sides against her and puts the lives of those around her at risk.

Skye has really come into her own power. She’s embracing her powers, learning how to fight and control them. She’s playing an active role now, making her decisions and not allowing them to be made for her. She’s standing up to her fears and learning how to fight past them, even if she can’t get rid of them. Her family and friends are what make her strong and she uses those bonds to motivate her. It was wonderful to read her becoming the woman she needed to be in order to fight for the world she loves.

Asher is a little absent in this novel, but I don’t really mind. It forced Skye to realize who was important and worth fighting for. The moment they come back together is completely worth every moment of Asher being gone. Devin also plays an interesting role in this novel. The love triangle is gone, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t in Skye’s life anymore. They come to an agreement about their relationship, one that they both can live with, and in the end it makes them both stronger.

There were only a couple moments that took me out of the novel. I’m all for personal reflection and realization, but there were times when it went past reflection and moved into nearly eye-roll inducing. It didn’t happen enough to really hurt the book for me, but I could have done without them. There were also a few things that fell into place a little too perfectly; a little more challenge surrounding those moments would have been nice.

A Radiant Sky is a fantastic conclusion to a great series. It is the showdown between order and chaos, where the outcome isn’t known until the very end. It kept me guessing and intrigued, wondering how things would unfold and what the losses would be. And when I finally reached those last words, everything felt right. It was the ending Skye earned.

If A Radiant Sky sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound

by

Review: Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

Title: Hemlock
Author: Kathleen Peacock
Series: Hemlock
Rating: ★★★★

I really wasn’t sure about Hemlock. It had an interesting idea behind it, but I felt like the werewolf storyline could really go bad. It had the potential to end up kind of cheesy and unbelievable. Somewhere between the first few chapters and a third of the way through the novel, all my fears were gone and I was hooked. I stayed up way too late to finish this book, but it was completely worth it.

Mackenzie lost her best friend Amy to a werewolf attack five months ago. The wolf was never found and without a sense of closure, Amy is haunting Mac’s dreams. Jason, Amy’s boyfriend at the time, has turned to drinking and bad life choices to forget. Kyle, the last member of their group, has tried to be there for his friends, but he’s had to deal with Amy’s death as well. When there’s another werewolf attack in town, the past is brought back up and the three of them must face secrets that threaten not only their friendships, but the town as well.

Mac is a perfectly flawed character that works to overcome her demons. She’s not a strong fighter or the best thinker, and she lets the past cloud her judgment, but she fights as hard as she can for those she cares about. She isn’t softhearted, but she is sympathetic to the werewolf plight, even though one killed her best friend. She knows one is not a reflection of them all and she believes they still deserve to have rights. She’s worried about the people she loves leaving her because her mother left when she was a baby and her father took off a few years later. She keeps everyone at a slight distance so it supposedly won’t hurt as much when they leave her. All of these little pieces come together to create one of the best characters I’ve read in a Young Adult novel.

Jason and Kyle are the not-really-a-love-triangle counterparts. Mac cares for both of them, but it is obvious where her heart lies, at least in Hemlock. Jason’s idea of honoring Amy’s death is revenge. He loses himself in the bottom of an alcohol bottle and vows to destroy the creatures that destroyed Amy. Kyle feels responsible for Amy’s death and beats himself up over that guilt every day. He doesn’t self-destruct, though, and vows to never let something like that happen to someone he cares about again. Each boy takes drastically different paths when it comes to how they deal with Amy’s death. Having these two complete opposites was interesting to read and made for some extremely tense moments.

Hemlock completely surprised me. I really was not expecting to find myself so invested and involved with these characters. The ending has me needing the next book and I’m very happy I waited to read Hemlock because I don’t have to wait for Thornhill. This is a fantastic read that blends the real world and the world Peacock has created perfectly. This is an amazing start to what I hope is an equally amazing series.

If Hemlock sounds like your kind of book, you can purchase it here:
Amazon
Audible
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound

by

Review: Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Title: Wings
Author: Aprilynne Pike
Series: Wings
Rating: ★★★★

I had not heard of Aprilynne Pike until I was in a small conversation with her and a couple other authors on Twitter. After that conversation, I looked into her books and decided to give them a try. Wings is the first of a series and the first book of Pike’s that I read. I went in expecting nothing and was pleasantly surprised.

Laurel has always been just a little different, but it was always explainable. She stood out, but not too much. She’s starting public school for the first time after being homeschooled for most of her life. She’s making friends and trying to blend in. She never expected to be so different from everyone else. When she starts growing petals out of her back, she can’t run from the truth. She turns to David, her first friend, to help her understand what is happening and from there the story grows.

Laurel isn’t quite the strong character I love, but I can understand why. She’s young, starting public school for the first time, dealing with things she expected and some things she never expected. She grows through the novel, though, and that’s why I don’t mind it. She’s gaining strength and confidence and that’s what I find important. She’s learning to accept her new life and find a way to live her human life while accepting her faerie life. I’m looking forward to seeing where Pike takes her in the next novels.

David is the perfect first relationship. They start as friends and grow from there. It’s sweet and swoony, and I’m glad Pike has written a relationship like this. It feels real and is a good connection for Laurel to the human world. David keeps her thinking and rational, when everything happening around her screams at her to lose that rational side. I’ll be interested to see how this relationship grows and changes in the coming novels after what happened at the end of Wings.

As far as a first novel goes, this provides great set-up and world building. There was a little action and plot development, but for the most part, Wings is centered on establishing the faerie world and Laurel’s journey to accepting who she is. There is plenty of time to create action and drama, so I’m relived Pike focused instead on her characters in this novel. I feel like I know them and that’s a good feeling to have when I read the rest of the series.

Wings was a great first novel. Pike has built an interesting world that has drawn me in and made me care about her characters. There are puzzle pieces being dropped and it’ll be fun to see where Pike takes the rest of the story.

If Wings sounds like your kind of book, you can purchase it here:
Amazon
Audible
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound

by

Review: Changeling by Philippa Gregory

Title: Changeling
Author: Philippa Gregory
Series: Order of Darkness
Rating: ★★★★

This is Gregory’s first venture into the world of Young Adult. I know she can write adult historical fiction novels I love, so I decided to give her Young Adult novel a try and see if she could write that genre as well. As it turns out, she can.

17-year-old Luca has grown up in the monastery, but when he starts asking questions, he’s cast out and accused of heresy. He is recruited by a mysterious order to travel and investigate the evils and dangers people are seeing in the world around them. He must do as he is told and not question his orders, although in his role of inquisitor he will be asking many questions of others. He agrees to become a part of the order; understanding that he is one step away from death and this is his salvation.

Isolde is only 17 when her father dies, leaving her to her brother’s care. Despite being raised to know how to run the home just as well as any man, upon his death her father had changed his will to say she would either marry or be sent to the nunnery. She choses to be sent to the nunnery, but as soon as she arrives, strange things begin to happen that make everyone in the nunnery frightened.

It is these strange occurrences that bring Luca to Isolde, but it is a respect for each other and the truth that keeps them together. I’m glad there’s a slow build between these two. I think anything else wouldn’t feel right, especially given the time period in which the story takes place. I think I can see where this relationship is going and I think I’m going to like it.

The plot is interesting and has me drawn in. I want to see where Luca and Isolde travel and what they face. There were only a couple inquisitions in this novel, but Luca clearly has a level head and thinks things out before taking action. He might be serving the Pope, but he is not going to let emotions cloud his judgment. It will be interesting to see where Gregory takes these characters next.

Changeling is Gregory’s first Young Adult novel, but not her first historical fiction. I knew she’d be able to get the historical feelings across, and I’m happy to say she can write Young Adult just as well as she writes for adults. Gregory has proved, once again, why she’s one of my favorite authors to read.

If Changeling sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
Amazon
Audible
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound

by

Review: The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Dream Thieves
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Series: The Raven Cycle
Rating: ★★★★★

I was better prepared this time. I had a feeling the beginning would feel a little disjointed but then everything would suddenly come out and it would be wonderful. I was ready. And The Dream Thieves did not disappoint.

Things are different for the group now. Their roles aren’t as defined and no one really knows what that means for their quest or their friendships. Tensions are rising, secrets are coming out, and the truth is getting muddled. Blue is still in a sort-of relationship with Adam, but her feelings about Gansey are getting confusing. Ronan has demons to face and a secret that could get him in trouble. Gansey is empowered by the successes of their quest, but unprepared for the failures. All of this is only made more important by the arrival of people searching for the same thing the raven boys and Blue are looking for.

Something I am really enjoying about this series is the slow build. Not everything has to happen right away. Things take their time unfolding, letting the idea grow before coming to fruition. Blue and Adam are a friendship, but maybe more, but Blue won’t let herself fall for any boy, even though Adam tries. Blue and Gansey are building a friendship build on trust and respect, even as things start to get confusing for them. Even Blue and Ronan are finding a groove in their relationship. Things aren’t perfect, of course, but it all feels real. Nothing is forced in these relationships and that’s refreshing to read.

I feel like The Dream Thieves is more of Adam and Ronan’s stories. Adam is trying to find a way to be equal in the group and Ronan is trying to find a way to deal with the truth.

Adam has always felt like less than because he doesn’t come from money like the other boys. He’s had to work for everything, he’s had to think about how his actions affect others, and he’s had to make choices for himself that he didn’t want to. It’s left him feeling unequal in the circle of friends. In The Dream Thieves, he finds what makes him equal.

Ronan has carried a secret with him and now it’s threatening his way of life. He doesn’t understand what he is or how he affects the world. He’s blown off this secret any way he can, until it finally gets free and he must face it. He has to find a way to accept what he is and learn how to control himself. His struggle was fascinating to read and it really explains a lot about his character.

The Dream Thieves is a superb follow-up to The Raven Boys that only deepens the mystery. It will have you on the edge of your seat and holding your breath. Things are only just beginning and the wait for the next novel feels so incredibly long. There’s so much story left to tell.

If The Dream Thieves sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
Amazon
Audible
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound

Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic Press for an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

by

Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Series: The Raven Cycle
Rating: ★★★★★

So here’s the thing. For the first part of The Raven Boys, I was completely ready to share my disappointment in the book. I didn’t feel like anything was happening and it was just going to be a bunch of different stories that somehow connected. And then something happened. I’m not entire sure when things shifted, or how, but all of a sudden I couldn’t put it down. Any disappointment or confusion I felt at the beginning vanished.

There are several different stories being told in The Raven Boys. Blue, Gansey, and Adam are the main perspectives, but there are a few others as well. I think this is why I wasn’t sure where the story was headed in the beginning. The characters all seemed so different, and on different paths, that I wasn’t sure how they would end up together. I should have put more trust in Stiefvater because she brought everything together perfectly.

Blue’s family and home is filled with physics, but she has no real power. She amplifies things for everyone else, but she doesn’t have visions or powers of her own. She’s always felt a little left out, so when she sees a soul of a boy set to die in the next year, she is shocked. There are only two reasons why she would be able to see him and neither is comforting. He is either her true love or she is going to kill him. Unfortunately for Blue, her kiss is fated to kill her one true love.

Gansey, Adam, Ronan, and Noah are a group of friends that go to the prestigious all-boys school of Aglionby. They’re known as the raven boys. Blue has sworn off all boys, but especially raven boys. However, the quest the boys are on draws Blue in, despite her attempts to remain distant. Adam is the boy who brings her into the fold, but she forms a friendship with all of them and for the first time, she feels useful instead of just used. With Blue added to their group of adventurers, things begin to happen for the group.

I don’t want to give too much of the plot away because you really need to experience the entire thing without prior knowledge, but I will say the plot fascinates me. The tie to Earth’s energy and ancient history is something I’ve come across before and find incredibly interesting. I really can’t wait to see what more Stiefvater does with this concept.

The Raven Boys came out of nowhere and hit me hard. I went from being extremely meh about it, to absolutely in love with it. There is so much more story to tell and my only regret is that I can’t go forward in time to get my hands on the remaining novels. This is a beautiful start to the series and I can’t wait to read more.

If The Raven Boys sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
Amazon
Audible
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound

by

Review: Awaken by Meg Cabot

Title: Awaken
Author: Meg Cabot
Series: Abandon series
Rating: ★★★★

After being left wanting a little something more with Abandon and Underworld, Awaken really stepped it up and made an impact. It was the culmination of everything that had happened in the previous two novels and when things finally happened, it was wonderful.

Pierce has accepted her role as consort to the ruler of the Underworld. She’s made her decisions based on how she felt and what she thought was right for her. She’s finally found a place where she feels at home, like herself, and she’s happy to be there. When something goes horribly wrong, she must take on a new role and fight for the ones she loves. She must rely on the help of her new friends to face this new evil and save those she cares about.

The supporting characters are what really make this novel stand out to me. They don’t let Pierce shy away or ignore them. They make sure she knows she can rely on them for help, and they’ll be there for her whenever she needs help, sometimes even before she knows she needs it. They’re a different group of people, I wouldn’t call them normal, but they are there for Pierce and John when they need to be. They provide the real element of the novel.

I’m so relieved the storyline went where it did. Most of the little pieces that had been dropped in the first two novels were put in place. There were still a few things that seemed to fall too perfectly into place, and I wish the rules of the Underworld and real world were fleshed out more, but for what it was, the story was great. I had gone into this series thinking it was a modern take on the Persephone and Hades myth, and in a way it was. But it was more about figuring out how to fit into the world and deal with the things thrown your way.

Sadly, the relationship between Pierce and John still felt off. The spark just wasn’t there for me. They said they loved each other, but I just didn’t feel like it was really there. There was development, though, and I can see how down the road, there will be a great love between them. They finally trust and respect each other. I still don’t feel like it was love, but I can sense the potential and that was enough for me.

The Abandon series was not what I expected, but Awaken was the best ending to the series I could have imagined. It put nearly all the missing puzzle pieces back together and left me with a satisfied feeling at the end. This part of Pierce and John’s story is over, but it’s easy to imagine their future together. Overall a good series, even if it wasn’t quite what I thought it would be.

If Awaken sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
Amazon
Audible
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound

Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic Inc. for an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

by

Review: Underworld by Meg Cabot

Title: Underworld
Author: Meg Cabot
Series: Abandon series
Rating: ★★★

Like Abandon, Underworld wasn’t quite what I expected. It’s still not the Persephone and Hades myth I was expecting, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Underworld definitely has more of the myth elements, and the new characters that are introduced are fantastic, but I’m still wishing there was a little more myth influence.

John has taken Pierce away from the physical world and placed her in the safer Underworld. Here, at least, he can work to protect her from the Furies. In this, Underworld is like the Hades and Persephone myth. Pierce understands why John has done this, but that doesn’t mean she likes it. She’s a little in over her head with her new life and has trouble adjusting to the idea of leaving her old life behind. When she sees that her cousin Alex might be in trouble, all she wants to do is help him, not understanding the possible consequences.

A few of my favorite parts of this novel were the cast of characters introduced in the Underworld. The shipmates John relies on to do his job are all interesting, funny characters and they provide a light note, especially little Henry. I wouldn’t mind reading a book about the adventures this little group had gotten into. They were dynamic and really added something to the novel.

The relationship between John and Pierce still feels a little off to me. Maybe it’s because there hasn’t been much focus on it, but things feel rushed and stiff. I don’t see this love they proclaim to have for each other. A deep caring, I see. Love I don’t. It makes it difficult for me to understand the reasoning behind some of their choices. There’s still a lot of miscommunication and misunderstanding between them and even though I enjoy the sweet moments, I can’t believe it’s love. It just doesn’t feel that way. I’m holding out hope that Awaken has the relationship development I’m looking for.

I find myself confused by the major plot of Underworld as well. I’m not sure the part Alex and his misadventures will play in the overall storyline, but I do see pieces of a puzzle falling into place. That didn’t stop me from being confused as to the Alex plot, though. It makes the novel feel as though it has split personality. Everything either has to do with the Underworld or with Alex, but not really both. I wish there was a better blend between the two.

Underworld was closer to the Persephone and Hades myth I keep hoping for, but there are still things holding it back. The relationship between John and Pierce doesn’t feel authentic yet and there’s a little bit of a problem with the flow of the novel, in my opinion. Those issues don’t stop it from being an enjoyable novel to read, though. I’m looking forward to finishing the series with Awaken and seeing how John and Pierce work together to figure out their lives in the Underworld.

If Underworld sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
Amazon
Audible
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound

by

Review: Abandon by Meg Cabot

Title: Abandon
Author: Meg Cabot
Series: Abandon series
Rating: ★★★

I’m all about mythology and modern takes on mythology. The Greek myths are especially interesting to read because they come filled with all their own drama. You don’t really have to look far to find a scandal. That’s why I was excited to give Cabot’s version of the Persephone myth a try.The story of Abandon takes place in two ways. We look at Pierce’s life now and how people think she’s adjusted after a near death experience, and we look at what happened during that near death experience through flashbacks. Pierce has her reasons for what has happened in the year and a half since she nearly died, but she can’t fully explain them to people. Her trip to the underworld has given her questions and problems she isn’t sure how to handle.

Not only is she struggling to understand what happened to her, but trouble keeps finding her and John magically appears ready to save her. Pierce’s heart is good and she cares a lot for people, but that caring let’s bad things follow her. I’m hoping that in the next novel, she finds some strength in standing up for herself and being a little bit selfish. I can overlook it because I can sense Pierce’s confusion about what is going on in her life. She doesn’t have the ability to think for herself when she’s trying to protect those around her.

The romance between Pierce and John felt a little stilted, but they weren’t the real focus of this novel, in my opinion. Their relationship felt a little rushed, but I’m hoping Underworld takes the time to flesh it out and make it bloom. The focus of this novel felt more centered on the necklace and setting up Pierce’s history, which worked well for me. It gave me the background to understand Pierce and where she is coming from.

As a retelling or reworking of the Hades and Persephone myth, it didn’t quite stand up. It does however, provide the set-up for the myth. I’m hoping to have more of the mythology come into play in the next novel. From how Abandon ends, I think this is where Cabot is taking it and I hope I’m right.

Abandon is a good novel to begin a new mythology series. It provides an excellent set-up for the world we are about to enter and leaves questions and puzzles open. It wasn’t quite what I had been expecting, but it was still good. I’m looking forward to reading what comes next for Pierce and John.

If Abandon sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
Amazon
Audible
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound

by

Review: A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

Title: A Certain Slant of Light
Author: Laura Whitcomb
Series: Light series
Rating: ★★★★

A Certain Slant of Light is not what I thought it would be, but that’s not a bad thing. It had been a while since I had read the book description, so I went in a little blind. I’m very glad I did.

Hellen has been Light for well over 150 years. She’s attached herself to different Hosts over the years, trying to stay out of her personal hell. Mr. Brown is her current host, but in one of his English classes, a boy sees her. He is Light, but he has stolen a body to live in. With his help. Helen steals the empty body of a girl at the same school.

James and Helen, the Light souls, learn to live in the bodies and lives of Billy and Jenny. Even though James and Helen find themselves falling in love, the bodies they inhabit are polar opposites and their families will do anything to keep them apart. Billy was a recovering drug addict and Jenny was raised in an extremely religious household. The only similarity between the two was the original souls left their bodies.

As James and Hellen try to continue their romance, the lives of Billy and Jenny continually get in the way. Billy’s brother is on her case constantly ands Jenny has been on the outside of her family’s religious looking in.

It was interesting to see how James and Helen tried to blend into the current world. To everyone else, they had some strange perks; to each other they made perfect sense. I really enjoyed the uniqueness of each side of the characters.

A Certain Slant of Light went a lot deeper than I expected. It is not a simply Young Adult novel; it’s more complex than that. I really think this is a book anyone can read and find meaning in.

If A Certain Slant of Light sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
Amazon
Audible
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound