Review: The Mark by Jen Nadol

The Mark by Jen Nadol

Jen Nadol's website here // $11.55 from {amazon}

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (January 19, 2010)

Hardcover: 240 pages
Summary: from {goodreads}

Cassandra Renfield has always seen the mark—a glow around certain people reminiscent of candlelight. But the one time she mentioned it, it was dismissed as a trick of the light. Until the day she watches a man awash in the mark die. After searching her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person’s imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.

Armed with a vague understanding of the light, Cassie begins to explore her “gift,” seeking those marked for death and probing the line between decision and destiny. Though she’s careful to hide her secret—even from her new philosophy-obsessed boyfriend—with each impending death comes the temptation to test fate. But so many questions remain. How does the mark work? Why is she the only one who sees it? And finally, the most important of all: If you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?

Rating: View my rating system.

My Thoughts: I really wanted to like this one more. Really. But though The Mark was enjoyable to some extent, it just didn't suck me in the way I was hoping it would. However, The Mark does pose a very interesting question: if you know someone's going to die within 24 hours, what do you do? And as a side note, don't go in expecting an action-filled or even a fast-paced read because you won't be able to appreciate The Mark for the gradually developing and thought-probing story it is.

I'm going to divert from the norm here and start off with the positive. I really liked Jen Nadol's concept, though I do find it a bit ironic that a death is foreshadowed by light. It's nothing extremely weird, and in fact, it sort of makes me feel happier about the idea of death - it's not darkness, it's light. I clearly saw Cassie's internal debate between tell and don't-tell, and though I had my own opinion from the very beginning, I could understand her struggle and cheered when she reached her "larger insight." Lucas definitely played devil's advocate for Cassie, and I groaned every time she succumbed to what I knew, knew!, wouldn't yield pleasant results. That being said, Cassie isn't an extremely weak character, she's just naive (which can get annoying, though not majorly so) and a teenage girl with some believable flaws.

I mentioned Lucas, and I never, ever liked him. *wants to bash him a few times with a rock pebble*
...
Okay, so maybe I had a minor crush on him the first time he was described as the intellectual-coffee-shop-cute type, but my mind was waving player alert; I swear! Once I started getting around that, I found Lucas had an annoyingly strong sense of morality and mistrust and that, to put it simply, made him a jerk. I think he was mainly placed as an obstacle for Cassie, though, ugh, he was just so predictable and unlikable. As for the other characters, with the exclusion of Cassie, I had neutral feelings for. Cassie was brought to the forefront in The Mark, and the secondary characters faded into the background. There were mentions here-and-there, but the other characters would basically come in for some time, play their part when convenient, then leave. Like Lucas, they were more like obstacles and aids rather than characters with clearly defined personalities and motivations. The brief appearances were bad in that I didn't feel like there was enough support, but good because it set-up for a sequel.

Overall, I think what really determines how much you'll like The Mark is how much you like the focus of the book, which is ALL on Cassie. On the plus side, I really got an in-depth view of her, and I liked the varying philosophies Jen Nadol brought up. On the other hand, there were some very predictable parts and the middle section got monotonous; there was the introduction, a lull, then multiple surprising revelations at the end. My final verdict: interesting, but nothing in particular stood out or really captured my attention.

Romance: PG with a bit of emotional exploration. Into an apartment at night... then it skips to the morning. There's more focus on what relationships mean to Cassie and relatively little in the romance area.
Cover: 4.0 -Love the cover, though the blurbs don't really come into play until much, much later in the book.
Writing: 3.5
Characters: 2.5
Plot: 3.0

Bottom Line: The Mark was an enjoyable book, though there was never an extremely exciting or loveable part that made me feel fully invested in the story. It wasn't extremely thought provoking, but it was definitely thought probing and had an interesting mix of depth and simple teenage issues. In general, a good start for debut author Jen Nadol, and I'll be looking forward to where she takes this unique premise that will hopefully only improve from here on out. If you're looking for something that's light yet will keep your mind on its figurative toes, I recommend trying out The Mark.

Source: Bloomsbury Chilren's Books

Review: Captivate by Carrie Jones

Captivate (Need #2) by Carrie Jones

Carrie Jone's website here // $9.93 from {amazon}

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (January 5, 2010)

Hardcover: 288 pages

Summary: from {goodreads}

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. 

Rating: View my rating system.

** Note: This review does contain some spoilers if you have NOT read Need. If that is the case, I recommend skipping to the "Bottom Line" section.

My Thoughts: I read and liked Need, and Captivate certainly did not fail to meet my expectations. Captivate picks up soon after Need ends; Zara and her group of friends have been capturing more pixies and forcing them into their pixie house. All-in-all, not exactly smooth sailing, especially when some new pixie kings get in the picture.

I didn't have any big problems with Captivate, but the main reason I didn't love it more can be summed up in one word: Zara. I wasn't annoyed by her per se, but I also didn't find myself sympathizing with her very much. Yes, I can understand that she's in a difficult dilemma, but at times I just felt like screaming "can't you see you're a pixie too?!" So while I wasn't annoyed with Zara herself (I do like her personality), I did get irritated by her fixation on the negative aspects of pixies. It's not only Zara though; both Zara and Nick have this open disgust of pixies, and I felt that detracted from their characters. Who is Zara? A teenage girl that really, really, REALLY does not want to become a pixie. Who is Nick? A macho, protective sweetie that abhors pixies, even if that pixie is his girlfriend. Their disgust is understandable, but it was like their defining characteristic; without all the complaints and denial, a sixth of this book could probably be taken out. I still saw glimpses of the Zara I love, I just wish I could have seen more outside of the pixie-obsessed Zara.

Another minor issue was how mushy the romance was. *shiver* Take for instance, Zara and Nick constantly used "baby" in sentences such as "I love you, baby." Maybe I'm a bit out of the loop here, but it sounded cheesy on paper and made me cringe everytime I read it... though that might partly be because I wasn't exactly cheering for Nick here. Actually, I was glad when Nick wasn't there. I always seem to fall for the sweet but under-appreciated guy that I know won't get his affections returned any time soon, and Captivate was no exception. It's like an adorable little puppy that keeps on trying to please its owner but keeps on getting put down. *sigh* It doesn't help that he's gorgeous and swoon-worthy and has an unique name that's spelled "A-S-T-L-E-Y." In contrast to Nick, Astley is subtley strong and brave, and he has an unapostrophed way of speaking that sounds awkward in concept but endearing in Captivate; it's who he is. As for Nick, he shows up quite a bit, but he lost his attractive spark for me. I admit that Nick is extremely sweet and protective, but I didn't see anything other than those qualities. He's like a jawbreaker that only has many levels of sweet, but, ultimately, nothing inside. In case you couldn't tell: sorry, Nick, but I love Astley and can't wait to find out more about him. In fact, I would read Captivate for Astley alone.

Despite the so-so characters, I still couldn't put Captivate down. Why? I loved the well-paced, fast-moving plot with just enough action. Overall, the characters were just "fine," and the plot swept me up and allowed me to overlook any flaws. There were so many secrets being unveiled that I felt like I had to know more, especially because there were so many new mysteries introduced that I never saw coming! Some of them aren't even hinted at in Need, and I was definitely pleasantly surprised. There were a couple times that I could sort of predict what would happen, but mostly it was just new information that I'd never have expected and kept me guessing throughout the book. There's a little feeling of "where did that come from?" but everything ties in, so nothing unreasonable. Carrie Jones ends with a conclusion that definitely leaves you hanging and with many, many mysteries unsolved, but it also has some semblance of closure. All I know for sure right now is that it left me wanting to read book 3 - soon.

Romance: ... I don't know. *cries* Astley. The romance is definitely there though.
Cover: 4.0 - Very pretty, though it really doesn't tell much about the book.
Writing: 3.5 + .25 for the phobias! If that's what you loved about Need, there are a few mentions here and there.
Characters: 3.5
Plot: 4.5

Bottom Line: Captivate was a solid sequel to Need that while a bit lacking in the character section (excuse my ranting), more than made up for it in the fast-paced plot. And need I bring up Astley again? Captivate is definitely a light, fun read that you should look into if you're wanting try something with a bit of romance, faeries, and lore. As a side note, I would strongly recommend reading Need before beginning Captivate; I personally feel like it could get a little complex and confusing if you don't.

Source: Anna from Bloomsbury Children's Books

Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Lauren Kate's website here.

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (December 8, 2009)

Hardcover: 464 pages

Buy: {amazon}, {b&n}, {borders}, {book depository}
Summary: from {goodreads}

There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

Rating:

My Thoughts: I *think* I was disappointed by Fallen. I've heard tons of positive reviews along with numerous negative ones, so I didn't really know what to expect. It took me a long time to decide, but I finally read it. The little blurb on the flap was pretty accurate: the angel, the forbidden love, and the danger. But what it didn't mention were the murders, the heartbreaks, and aspects that, for me, were unrealistic and unbelievable. The characters and sometimes the situations had me going "are you really serious?!" Argh, some of the characters seriously made me want to bang my head a few times on my desk. I'm sorry, but it's true. I'll grant that I liked Lauren Kate's ideas and writing style, but plot organization and character development? Not so much.

So let me start off with my favorite characters: Cam and Miss Sophia. If you've already read the book, you might be thinking "what?" but I can definitively say that Miss Sophia has character. Yes, she's an absolute back-stabbing, vengeful bitch, but I can clearly define her personality and motivations, which is more than I can say for some other characters. I also adored Cam, Daniel's competitor in vying for Luce's attentions. I admit it, I have a soft spot for bad boys, and though Cam was described by others as misbehaved and a player, I only saw him as sweet and sensitive. He does have a violent edge, but he appears to truly love Luce and is always impulsively ditched by her. My heart broke a little for Cam every time that happened. Multiple times.

On the other hand, my least favorites: Daniel and Luce; the main characters. Daniel was horrible to Luce at the beginning and while there was a plausible reason given for that treatment, I don't know why any girl would go for a guy that treats her like absolute trash one minute but saves her the next. For the definition of Daniel, search up: Hot and Cold by Katy Perry. The only character I liked even less was Luce, who I thought was naive, weak, and very fickle. Can I mention Cam again? *sob* I mean, what girl just stands by and watches a deadly fight between an extremely caring boy who loves her, Cam, and a boy that usually pretends she doesn't even exist, Daniel? And watches it like a boxing match while cheering for that guy that treats her like week-old pizza? -Cue head smack here.- All-in-all, Luce just wasn't the type of girl for me, and I often felt embarrassed on behalf of her.

Now, like always, I hate putting down a book, and I admit that there were a few aspects that I liked. Towards the end, the full plot is revealed in all of its intricate and complicated glory and the action is fast-paced and unrelenting. Numerous plot twists are churned out one after another, and so much is happening at the same time that I just had to draw back a bit, and be like "woah, what?" But all in all, pretty intense and awesome, especially since I was reading the majority of the book begging for something exciting to happen. However, on that note, I think if you like the development of the romance, you won't find it boring at all. Also, since Lauren Kate is a beginning author, while there were some confusing uses of pronouns here-and-there and some blunt transitions, I liked her vivid descriptions and definitely see potential in future works. In particular, I loved the opening "In the Beginning" because of the beautiful scene and mysterious atmosphere Lauren manages to create. Now if only the entire book was like that...

Romance: Eh... I have a hard time rating this because I didn't like the characters, but if you do, I think you'll find it very intense and romantic. It'll definitely whet your appetite for the complicated paranormal romance!
Cover: 5.0!! -- All I can say is that books like Fallen is the reason I do not switch over to e-readers.
Writing: 3.0
Characters: 2.0
Plot: 3.5 

Bottom Line: Fallen was a book with potentially amazing ideas, though the flat characters were a major deduction from it's rating. Basically, not my cup of tea, but it might meet your expectations for a thrilling tale with underlying angel lore. As for Torment, I probably won't go out to buy it, though I'll try it if I somehow manage to obtain it without any costs on my side (ie. library). I'm interested to see where Lauren Kate will develop from here, and with her interesting concepts, I can definitely see potential in her future; the key lies in the execution.

Review: Betraying Season by Marissa Doyle

Betraying Season by Marissa Doyle

Series: Leland Sisters #2

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (September 29, 2009)

Hardcover: 336 pages

Price: $11.55 from {amazon}
Summary: view {goodreads}

Hidden for ones that haven't read Bewitching Season.

Rating:

Review: I read this one a few weeks ago, so while it might not be fresh in my mind, I still really wanted to share my thoughts on this one. Basically, in book two of the Leland Sisters series, Penelope heads off to Ireland to continue her magical studies with their now-pregant and married governess, Ally. She expects it to be quiet, a break from the societal happenings back in London, but that's not the case. As Pen's magic improves, she gets entangled in political strife yet again and maybe, just maybe, finds some love on the way.

First, I should say I thought Betraying Season was better than Bewitching Season (though there are many opposite opinions of that on the amazon page). The main reason for this was Pen. If my review of Bewitching Season, I mentioned that I was annoyed by how naive Persephone, Pen's twin, was. In Bewitching Season, Pen was characterized as the frivolous, society butterfly, but I found that to be anything but the case in the sequel. Granted, Pen knows how to look good and enjoy putting on an appearance, but while still vulnerable and relateable, she has a solid backbone coupled with amusing humor. I greatly appluad her for not turning into a pile of mush at her crush's feet and instead asserting her independence. I know it's hard to resist the utter charms of the object of your affections, but real feelings and getting to know someone should be the basis of any relationship, and I found that lacking in book 1.

I also felt that there was a perfect balance  between the three elements: romance, magic, and intrigue. The mystery was technically solved at the beginning, as in you see things from the plotter's side and Pen's side alternatively, but it was still interesting to see when and how Pen would put two-and-two together and figure things out. The plot moved at a good speed, neither too slow or too fast, but while it was enjoyable seeing Pen oblivious to the diabolical plot just simmering under her nose, I would have liked it even more without that element of predictability, especially since the ending was fairly obvious from the start. I was dissapointed by how gullible Pen was, how easily she fell for the plot - sort of justified, but I didn't admire her for it. And though I thought her strong, there were some sobbing-save-me times that made me want to slap some sense into her. Moving on, there was definitely a lot more about magic in Betraying Season, and you learn quite a bit about Irish lore concerning magic and the three goddesses, which I liked. And I know now the symptoms if I ever suspect I'm having a child with magical inclinations!

** Side-note: There is some talk of virginity/purity and scandalous affairs.

Romance: Cute. Niall, Pen's love interest, was supposedly hot (though I don't go for men with "whiskers") and cute in a dorky way. Interesting development here with very minor kissing, and Niall is definitely her prince in shining armor.
Cover: 4.0 -- Such pretty hair and dress! Love the textured background too.
Writing: 4.0
Characters: 4.0
Plot: 4.0

Bottom Line: Betraying Season was a fun read sprinkled with magic, mystery, and romance. I love reading historical fiction and magic, so those aspects combined with Pen were a great read for me! The characters were developed enough, though I would say Pen is the only one fully developed and therefore the one I liked, and the plot was solid with a few interesting pieces of lore thrown in. I would reccomend this book to fans of historical fiction and magic, especially when looking for a light read that isn't total chick-lit. I hope to see more of Marissa Doyle in the near future!

Related Reviews: Bewitching Season (Leland Sisters #1)

Review: Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Publisher: Speak; Reprint edition (August 11, 2009)

Paperback: 384 pages

Price: $9.99 from Amazon

Summary:

Lucy has nine months to break an ancient curse in order to save both herself and her unborn daughter.

Inspired by the ballad "Scarborough Fair", this riveting novel combines suspense, fantasy, and romance for an intensely page-turning and masterfully original tale.

Lucy is seventeen when she discovers that the women of her family have been cursed through the generations, forced to attempt three seemingly impossible tasks or to fall into madness upon their child's birth. But Lucy is the first girl who won't be alone as she tackles the list. She has her fiercely protective foster parents and her childhood friend Zach beside her. Do they have love and strength enough to overcome an age-old evil?

Rating:

Review: Impossible was a book that was impossible not to like. I’ve heard Scarborough Fair countless times, but reading Impossible was the first time I actually considered the history behind the song. I definitely loved the idea, and I applaud Nancy Werlin for being able to weave the legend into such a mesmerizing book!

I think I should probably start off with what made me check this book out in the first place. Two words: true love. I love the concept of true love (though I have yet to find out if it really exists); the idea of that one special person, the one who will always stand by you and understand you, is unbelievably romantic to me. Who knows? Maybe I just read too many fairytales as a kid. But that being said, Impossible is all about the power of true love and how it can and will overcome all obstacles, which grabbed a romantic like me right off the bat. For the paranormal fans out there, it does contain a bit about the Elfin Knight, but Impossible is mainly set in the modern world. I liked the idea that there could be so much hidden underneath what seems mundane and beautiful, like the song Scarborough Fair. The plot was definitely interesting, and the story unraveled at a good pace.

Probably the main thing that annoyed me, though it wasn’t extremely irritating, was the characters. The characters seemed fairly solid, but I felt like they were all so good. I know that might seem perfect and they do teach you some smart lessons, but I like my characters with some flaws; it just makes everything seem that much more realistic to me. Even Lucy’s best friend that seemed extremely superficial in the beginning did a magical transformation and become amazingly wise once Lucy got in trouble! It made the characters a bit hard to relate to at times, and occasionally made me want to ruin their flawless persons. On that note, the dialogue between the characters was well-developed, and I was able to effortlessly follow the flow of conversation.

Now, for what I would really have liked seen more of: the lore, especially the Elfin Knight. I felt a lot more of the book was centered on how Lucy dealt with the Scarborough curse versus how the curse came to be. The curse was explained, but very briefly, and I would definitely have liked to learn more. The Elfin Knight was also a bit of a mystery at the end. He showed up often and told his motive, but I wanted to know more about his line of elves and his past. What exactly occurred before the Elfin Knight started the curse? Overall, a good read, but it would have been even better if I could have known a little bit more lore. But I was so intrigued by Nancy’s interpretation of the legend behind Scarborough Fair that I might even search up the answer to my questions myself!

Bottom Line: Loved the idea. Completely. The book itself was good, but it definitely could have went even further with it's brilliant premise. The characters were a bit hard for me to relate to and though the writing was solid, it wasn't anything brilliant that blew me out of the water. Because of that, I have to say while I really liked Impossible as a whole, I can't say I absolutely loved it. However, I see the potential and hope to read more books by Nancy in the future!

Review: Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (October 13, 2009)

Harcover: 400 pages

Price: $11.46 from Amazon
Summary:

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. Not until Patch came 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 who 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 way 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.

Rating:

Review: There's a sexy bad boy. What more do I need to say to make this book good? ;)

But, anyways, on to the real review, I really did like this book. I know that there have been a lot of reviews on this one already, so I'm going to try and address some controversial points and basically what I liked and didn't like about Hush Hush.

Is Patch a confident bad boy, or is he an arrogant jerk?
I know for me, at least, this was a major concern I had about Hush Hush when I was considering whether or not I should buy it. After reading, I can say that I thought he was an arrogant jerk at first, but as the story developed, his motivations and other side were revealed and I was like oh! maybe he's not so bad after all. Basically, at the beginning, Patch came off as a single-sided sexual harrasser who Nora was getting obsessed about way too quickly (but doesn't that make it exciting for us?). But towards the end, I saw his sweeter side; he is extremely confident, but he's also a vulnerable bad boy that just won a place in my heart. After Edward, of course.

Problems:
Nora jumped to conclusions. Or more accurately, she leaped-across-the-Grand-Canyon to conclusions. Given her logic and aversion to other boys, I definitely expected her to go through some more reasoning before the abstract decisions that she did and acting on them. She's also a bit over-dramatic at times. But I guess that's all in the name of plot, which is going in my "successes" section, so I'm going to overlook those points. Another thing I'm going to overlook is my feeling that the first half was a bit too long. There was a lot of establishment, which did make the second half amazing but I didn't really feel like it was going anywhere, and I really wanted to like Patch earlier on.

And, because I don't like to compare books, I'm going to refrain from any Twilight comparisons here. But let's just say weak girl, strong guy, obsessive love. There's definitely a lot more I could go into, but I'll leave that for you guys.

Successes: 
Like I said earlier, the second half was amazing. The plot was great, and there were a lot of twists that I didn't see coming. Earlier in the book, I did have my suspicions, and they were pretty much right, but some in a sort of different way then I imagined. Props to Becca Fitzpatrick for being able to fit everything together so that it all made sense. I loved how mythology, basically God and Adam and Eve and such, tied in to the story; Becca established a great world for future books in the series. And, of course, there's Patch, which I talked about earlier. But he definitely goes in here!

Bottom Line: Hush Hush is a book that's been stirring up a lot of controversy. Personally, I enjoyed this book very much, and can't wait to read Crescendo, which better have a cover as gorgeous as this one! I've basically condensed everything into the above sections, but here they are again, simplified even more: Patch = yes. Nora = maybe. Setting and Plot = yes. I would say read Hush Hush, and see what you think (and if you don't like it, it will always look beautiful on your bookshelf). This is a book that I can see people either loving or hating, not in between, so I'm hoping you love it!

Review: Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda

And, yes, the cover shown at right is the UK cover because that's the one I have! :)

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (September 1, 2009)
Harcover: 336 pages
Price: $12.23 (hardcover) from Amazon
Summary: As the youngest and only female member of the Knights Templar, Bilquis SanGreal grew up knowing she wasn't normal. Instead of hanging out at the mall or going on dates, she spends her time training as a soldier in her order's ancient battle against the Unholy.
Billi's cloistered life is blasted apart when her childhood friend, Kay, returns from Jerusalem, gorgeous and with a dangerous chip on his shoulder. He's ready to reclaim his place in Billi's life, but she's met someone new: amber-eyed Michael, who seems to understand her like no one else, effortlessly claiming a stake in her heart.But the Templars are called to duty before Billi can enjoy the pleasant new twist to her life. One of the order's ancient enemies has resurfaced, searching for a treasure that the Templars have protected for hundreds of years -- a cursed mirror powerful enough to kill all of London's firstborn. To save her city from catastrophe, Billi will have to put her heart aside and make sacrifices greater than any of the Templars could have imagined.

Rating:

Review: All I can say is: wow. The book was like a sweeping whirlwind, and I still can’t believe it’s already finished. The Devil’s Kiss is fast-paced from beginning to end, and it had me literally lying on the edge of my bed.

It starts with Billi, the heroine, killing a possessed little boy, which, in case you’re wondering, is perfectly normal. After that, I thought the story was going to slow down a bit, but the slowing down never came. It was like fast-forwarding through the front of the book, and, though I was a bit like “what?” at the beginning, I was soon able to grasp the main gist and background. However, throughout the course of the whole book, new things just kept on jumping out at me. The never-ending string of action can be a little daunting, but it certainly makes the book exciting!

On that note, the action was pretty intense. There was never a still moment, always fighting or anticipation, and, just when you thought something was definitely going to happen next, there would be a twist and the outcome would be totally different. That’s a lot to be said right there, because this book brings something new to the table. Admittedly, there were parts where I was very tense because of the characters’ ignorance to what seemed to me to be obvious danger, but overall, the story was not very predictable.

As for romance, Billi’s relationships appealed to me since I always like some romance mixed in, but they weren’t very deep and were over very fast. Billi herself was a very strong character that I could admire, though the character development was pretty much limited to a select few.

Bottom Line: There was a lot going on, but, for me, that was most of the charm. I loved all the action and, though the romance wasn’t standout, it was a good mix for a girl like me. Though my main objection was that some things just seemed to come out of nowhere, it did make the story fairly unpredictable, which I liked. I would definitely say give this one a try if you’re into the paranormal (interesting lore here) and action, and I'll definitely be looking forward to the sequel!