Blog Tour: Touch Of Frost Review

Jennifer Estep's website here // $9.95 from {amazon}
Series: Mythos Academy #1
Publisher: Kensington (August 1, 2011)
Paperback: 336 pages
Source: Blog Tour
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Summary: 

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest. But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died...
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My Thoughts: 

These days it’s hard to impress the “boarding school paranormal or urban fantasy (BSP/UF)” series clique: HEX HALL, OH. MY. GODS., VAMPIRE ACADEMY, HOUSE OF NIGHT, DARK ELITE, etc. That’s not to say it’s impossible by any means, but there’s definitely some pressure; it’s like being the new kid among the snobby mean girls. So, has TOUCH OF FROST passed the entrance exam into the school of unique BSP/UF series to watch out for?* I think so.

TOUCH OF FROST begins as many others do – with death (and a caring grandmother). What’s different about TOUCH OF FROST is that Gwen, our go-to-girl, is a gypsy with past-revealing powers upon physical contact. And that’s only the tip of the mythological iceberg as Mythos Academy reveals Valkyries, Amazons, Spartans, and much, much more. Don’t know much about them? You’re covered, as TOUCH OF FROST seamlessly slips in enough mythology so that even you hobbits from Lonely Mountain will stay in the loop. Jennifer Estep expertly molds these traditional tales around the plot of TOUCH OF FROST, and though the story starts off slow and almost scarily cliché, the delightfully unexpected twist ending strongly hints at still undiscovered mythology and exciting action in books to come.

As for Gwen, she's the "perfect" YA protagonist. She maintains a strong, humorous voice throughout, and is a balanced mix of vulnerability, strength, and overall relateability. Yet she's just a little too perfect with no real personality quirks that can make me say THAT'S GWEN. Instead, Daphne, the traditional mean girl -- technically Valkyrie -- that turns out to be not so bad, ended up being my favorite character. Surprisingly so, since she's a little too pink for my taste, but I love her 'tude. And not so much the attitude of Logan, the traditional (do you see a trend here?) mysterious, tortured, and brooding** bad boy. Boy, get over yourself please.

TOUCH OF FROST was like Gwen herself: enjoyable, but not overly unique. The mythology was easily the highlight of TOUCH OF FROST, and without it, I can definitely see TOUCH OF FROST lost among the crowd. That being said, Jennifer Estep really does create an intriguing world and presents it in a fun, light-hearted manner that will doubtlessly attract many-a-teenager. 

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Bottom Line: I highly recommend TOUCH OF FROST for BSUF fans looking for a new series addiction or mythology fans in general. In movie terms, TOUCH OF FROST was like a trailer for me. It gives tantalizing glimpses of what the Mythos Academy promises and sets up a general stage for future action/romance/anything else Jennifer Estep decides to throw in there. Definite potential, but will it be a full-fledged member of the BSP/UF clique or just a lowly minion? Only time will tell.  

Cover: ...I like it? It's clean and suits TOUCH OF FROST. But, again, face shot... a little bit of background... where have I seen this before? (Answer: EVERYWHERE. So don't feel bad, TOUCH OF FROST. *pats*)

FOOTIES:
* ALL PUNS INTENTIONAL. Just saying.
** ...I need an acronym for this. Mysterious, tortured, brooding = MTB. Or simply E for Edward.

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This review is posted on behalf of The {Teen} Book Scene TOUCH OF FROST tour. Click to visit the rest of the tour stops (with interviews, reviews, and what fun have you) and check out Jennifer Estep's earlier guest post here. :)

Blog Tour: Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz -- Giveaways!

I'm taking a quick breather from The Four Flavors of Summer to spotlight upcoming YA debut, SPELLBOUND by Cara Lynn Shultz! Thanks to Kismet Book Touring for the great opportunity and you can stop by HERE for the rest of the tour stops. Scroll down for my review and giveaways! :)

You can find Cara on her: {website} · {twitter} · {facebook}

You can find Brendan on his: {twitter} · {facebook}

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Summary: 

What’s a girl to do when meeting The One means she’s cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn’t been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she’s irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can’t stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma’s been having the oddest dreams. Visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

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My Thoughts:

Honestly? I wasn’t that excited going into SPELLBOUND. As much as I love me some “rock-star good looks,” there wasn’t much that really popped out at me. New girl attracting the school’s “it” guy, true love reincarnated, and a prep school setting in NYC? What else is new? Actually, Cara Lynn Shultz had a few new tricks tucked up her sleeve...

The first third didn’t do much to prove me wrong. Brendan is hot and all, but he plays the hot-and-cold game à la Katy Perry. And like many YA girls out there, Emma falls for him in that inexplicable and annoyingly-superficial manner. The love-at-first-sight thing is my largest issue with love reincarnated plots and SPELLBOUND seemed to only serve as justification for my wariness. Everything else didn’t get off to a much better start. Emma quickly gets close-and-personal with the ice bitch, the gay friend, and the man ho and proceeds to feel lonely and isolated. Right.

BUT then I saw the light. I saw the sweet, understanding of Brendan and true basis for their feelings for each other. I saw Emma being brave and proactive. I saw then clinging on to that hope. I saw the plot thickening and moving away from an elite prep school and towards the more sinister paranormal workings. SPELLBOUND is definitely one of those books that had me on the brink of sighing in defeat but realy redeemed itself in the latter portion. The plot was fleshed out nicely and I had a hard time putting it down.

What I loved the most was SPELLBOUND's authentic teen voice. Cara Lynn Shultz is spot on with her humor and jokes, so spot on that it feels like I’m talking to a high school friend. The bits of funny kept me plowing through the dark times and shine as one the more memorable aspects of the book.

Ultimately, SPELLBOUND isn't exceptionally amazing, but it’s enjoyable. I didn’t connect that deeply with any of the characters and the ending was slightly anticlimactic, but it was a light, fun read that flowed easily in both writing and plot. And, hey, it's a standalone with a satisfying ending. :)

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY

 ·  In order to enter to win a iPod nano  including the Spellbound Playlist and covered in a GelaSkin of Spellbound's cover art, you must collect the pink highlighted words the text messages between Brendan and Emma that are provided each day at the individual tour stops.  The daily words can be joined together in sequential order to create the winning secret message.  Once you've constructed the winning secret message, you will need to enter that message on Spellbound's tour home page .

·  No purchase, affiliation, status as follower to a certain blog or any other association is required to enter.

·  Full rules for the contest can be found at the Spellbound tour home page 

·  Winner of the iPod give-away will be announced on Cara's homepage  on Tuesday, July 5th.

The rest of the tour dates:
June, 13th - The Page Turners / Character Interview , Brendan
June 14th - Candace's Book Blog / Guest Post
June 15th - Baffled Books
June 16th - Hooked To Books /Guest Post, Playlist
June 17th - Truly Bookish

June, 20th - Paranormal Opinion
June 21st - Mission to Read /Interview with Cara
June 22nd - Reading Angel / Character Interview, Emma
June 23rd - Miss Page Turners
June 24th - Books At Midnight

June, 27th - Pure Imagination
June 28th - (Spellbound Book Birthday!) - The Unread Reader special Guest post
June 29th - Bookish Delights
June 30th - Mimosa Stimulus / Guest post
July 1st - writers write, right? /special Guest post

Tuesday, July 5th: Announcement of the big prize winner on Cara's Site!

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 GIVEAWAY

In addition to participating in the grand prize giveaway, I also have the chance to giveaway one finished copy of SPELLBOUND!

Rules:
• To enter, fill out the form below.
** You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
• Open to U.S. and Canada addresses
• Contest ends Friday, July 1st at 11:59 EST
• For more information, please view my contest policy.

Review: Other by Karen Kincy

Karen Kincy's website here // $9.95 from {amazon}
Publisher: Flux (July 1, 2010)
Paperback: 336 pages
Summary: from {goodreads}

Seventeen-year-old Gwen hides a dangerous secret: she’s Other. Half-pooka, to be exact, thanks to the father she never met. Most Americans don’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for Others, especially not the small-town folks of Klikamuks, Washington. As if this isn’t bad enough, Gwen’s on the brink of revealing her true identity to her long-time boyfriend, Zack, but she’s scared he’ll lump her with the likes of bloodthirsty vampires and feral werewolves.

When a pack of werewolves chooses the national forest behind Gwen’s home as their new territory, the tensions in Klikamuks escalate-into murder. It soon becomes clear a serial killer is methodically slaying Others. The police turn a blind eye, leaving Gwen to find the killer before the killer finds her. As she hunts for clues, she uncovers more Others living nearby than she ever expected. Like Tavian, a sexy Japanese fox-spirit who rivals Zack and challenges her to embrace her Otherness. Gwen must struggle with her own conflicted identity, learn who she can trust, and-most importantly-stay alive.

 
Rating: View my rating system.
 


My Thoughts: Other is a thrilling debut by Karen Kincy. It’s chock-full of sweet romance, unrelenting danger, nail-biting action, and a certain kickass half-pooka, a refreshing change from the common vampire/werewolf theme. Other’s main detraction is its cumbersome beginning, but if you’re willing to hold through to the end, you’ll find a fast-paced, action-packed adventure that will likely prove impossible to put down.

The first half was difficult and frustrating to read for two reasons: 1) the awkward introduction and 2) Gwen’s prejudice against werewolves. Karen Kincy makes a decent attempt at developing Gwen’s teenage voice but it came across as contrived and, frankly, unauthentic. The liberal use of sarcasm and, er, kind of lame jokes sadly only serve to drag out the beginning. Fortunately, the writing quickly picks up and becomes smoother and more believable. But despite the better writing, Gwen’s perception of all werewolves as horrifying criminals continued to irk me for what felt like an extremely long time. I can understand a bit of prejudice, but Gwen constantly preaches how Others should be treated fairly – she even has a blog endorsing equal treatment – then turns around and is an exact example of why people continue to hold stereotypes against Others. Gah, it’s so hypocritical I could barely stand it. Luckily, Gwen’s hypocrisy only comes up a few times (the few pages I skipped) though I still felt she was occasionally shallow and never fully connected with her. Overall, my relationship was Gwen was both ying-and-yang; she’s not a detraction nor is she very annoying, if a bit dramatic. When she finally overcame her paranoia, I could finally and completely enjoy the book in all its glory. And it certainly does have its glory in a certain fox-spirit boy...

Getting past the rocky beginning, the end was gripping. Karen Kincy weaves an intriguing mystery with nail-biting action, but what really cinched the deal for me was Tavian. I would willingly go against Gwen’s insane pooka skills if I had a chance with Tavian, no joke. He’s only a couple inches over five feet but “don’t mess with me or my girl” fierce when he’s protective. He makes an adorable fox and is unbelievably sweet, sensitive, dorky, and funny. Oh, and did I mention he’s a Japanese Johnny Depp look-a-like? Right. I can’t say to what extent Tavian has made me biased in my opinions of Other, though I can say he’s topped my list of swoon-worthy nice guys. Setting Tavian aside, Karen Kincy definitely knows how to make a climactic ending with guns, blood, and the unexpected twist and how to keep the reader hooked as the clues fall into place.

Romance: A little kissing and sex. Nothing detailed but clothes comes off. AND I <3333 TAVIAN. :D
Cover: 4.5 -- It's very mysterious and matches the story perfectly. The cover makes red hair, golden eyes, and freckles look gorgeous; I can't say how happy I am that the publishers didn't just slap on a generic pretty face.
Writing: 3.0
Characters: 3.5
Plot: 4.0

Bottom Line: Other is a fairly solid debut that starts off rough but evens out and shines at the end. I love the mystery, love interest, and interesting setting (ie. paranormal creatures) much more than the characters or writing, but if you're looking for a fast-paced, unique paranormal read, I would recommend trying Other.

Source: Sent by the publisher for review.

Review: Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Anastasia Hopcus's website here // $12.23 from {amazon}
Publisher: EgmontUSA (July 13, 2010)
Hardcover: 400 pages
Summary: from {goodreads}

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.

After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.

But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life.

Shadow Hills is an intriguing mix of Greek mythology, mystery, romance, and a hint of suspense. From page one, readers will be sucked in to the captivating world

Rating: View my rating system.



My Thoughts:Shadow Hills is a prime example of YA paranormal romance; it has everything characteristic of the genre: the mystery, the intrigue, the swoon-worthy love interest, the conflicted and forbidden romance, with a unique twist, the Brevis Vitas. While Shadow Hills isn’t exactly a diamond in a densely-populated paranormal mine, the combination of tried-and-true aspects and a dash of Anastasia Hopcus’s originality make for an enjoyable and fast-paced read.

Shadow Hills opens with Persephone “Phe” Archer leaving sunny L.A. for Devenish Prep in damp Shadow Hills, Massachusetts. Phe’s haunted by vivid, strange dreams and her sister’s recent death and eighteen pages in, bumps into her handsome stranger. A little iPod incident with Zach, mysterious hottie, and she’s already suspecting the normalcy of some boarding school classmates. Shadow Hills plunges us head-first into the secrecy surrounding Shadow Hills, and though I felt a little woozy at first from the rapidity of events and pummeling of information – similar to Phe’s starting confusion – I soon found myself maniacally speculating with Phe over the hidden facets of Shadow Hills. Anastasia Hopcus definitely knows how to balance the romance and action, integrating the two elements and ensuring their quick development.

Phe is a bit of an enigma, despite Shadow Hills being narrated in first person from her perspective. On one hand, she’s one of the most mature characters I’ve encountered when it comes to accepting the existence of the supernatural; on the other, she’s surprisingly immature for her fifteen years. I connected to her emotionally to an extent but her impulsive actions and words made me feel older and slightly condescending – when we’re really the same age. For instance, Phe easily becomes irked and her following comebacks often come across as elementary and cringe-worthy. As in the type of comebacks that made me think, “Oh, I’ve heard that somewhere before” but in a better form. Instead, Phe’s instinctive, sarcastic commentary is infinitely superior, in both maturity level and humor value, to her manufactured retorts. Her overreactions, rash decisions, and almost annoyingly frequent remarks on Zach’s sexual appeal notwithstanding, I applaud Phe’s determination and drive in uncovering Shadow Hill’s secrets, which are a refreshing change from the helpless heroine. And, overall, Anastasia Hopcus does a good job of capturing the teenage voice.

For the most part, Shadow Hills is an enjoyable but fairly average paranormal romance. It has an interesting and diverse cast, an exciting dose of action, and a climactic ending. Anastasia Hopcus’s unique and original ideas are the one area where Shadow Hills has the ability to stand out, and the Brevis Vitas and well-developed history certainly do make it a step above the run-of-the-mill paranormal read. By itself, Shadow Hills’s potential is stunted by a slightly baffling main character and the convenience of some events – is Zach a little too perfect? – but Anastasia Hopcus has created a solid foundation that allows for great potential in the following book(s). All I know for sure is that she has me hooked on discovering the deeper mystery Phe is left to solve at the end of Shadow Hills, and I’ll be eagerly anticipating the sequel.

Romance: Kissing, hugging, deep staring into the eyes, and not much else. Romance-wise, Shadow Hills is safe for young teens. However, there is rather liberal alcohol, and more subtly drug, usage which isn't condemned. There are also instances suited for more mature or slightly older teens, such as a (humorous) instance with Pictionary and "self-service"... I leave the judgment on age to you.
Cover: 3.0 -- Simple, mysterious, and aesthetically pleasing, but it tells next to nothing about the book itself. Sorry.
Writing: 4.0
Characters: 3.5
Plot: 4.5

Bottom Line: Anastasia Hopcus's suspenseful debut provides original, fresh fodder for paranormal fans looking for something different than vampires and werewolves with all of the excitement, all of the mystery, and all of the juicy romance. Don't necessarily read Shadow Hills expecting something absolutely ground-breaking but do read it expecting an enjoyable, fast-paced, and thrilling ride.

Source: Thank you to Anastasia Hopcus and EgmontUSA for the review copy!

Review: Burned by P.C. and Kristin Cast

P. C. Cast's website here // $8.45 from {amazon}

Series: House of Night, #7

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (April 27, 2010)

Hardcover: 384 pages

Summary: from {goodreads}

Things have turned black at the House of Night. Zoey Redbird’s soul has shattered. With everything she’s ever stood for falling apart, and a broken heart making her want to stay in the Otherworld forever, Zoey’s fading fast. It’s seeming more and more doubtful that she will be able pull herself back together in time to rejoin her friends and set the world to rights. As the only living person who can reach her, Stark must find a way to get to her. But how? He will have to die to do so, the Vampire High Council stipulates. And then Zoey will give up for sure. There are only 7 days left…

Enter BFF Stevie Rae. She wants to help Z but she has massive problems of her own. The rogue Red Fledglings are acting up, and this time not even Stevie Rae can protect them from the consequences. Her kinda boyfriend, Dallas, is sweet but too nosy for his own good. The truth is, Stevie Rae’s hiding a secret that might be the key to getting Zoey home but also threatens to explode her whole world.

In the middle of the whole mess is Aphrodite: ex-Fledgling, trust-fund baby, total hag from Hell (and proud of it). She’s always been blessed (if you could call it that) with visions that can reveal the future, but now it seems Nyx has decided to speak through her with the goddess’s own voice, whether she wants it or not. Aphrodite’s loyalty can swing a lot of different ways, but right now Zoey’s fate hangs in the balance.

Three girls… playing with fire… if they don’t watch out, everyone will get Burned.

Rating: View my rating system.

WARNING: Contains spoilers from PREVIOUS books in the series.
My Thoughts: To be honest, I started Burned with very low expectations. Back when Zoey first became a Redbird and her biggest problem was the mystifying mark on her forehead, The House of Night series was a quickly devoured manifestation of unique ideas and unlimited potential. But potential is unrestrained, so my interest quickly disintegrated when it chose to take the path of Zoey’s doomed love triangles; books three through six involved different guys, same teenage angst. I expected Burned to be a continuation of this trend, but surprisingly – and fortunately – found it to be more of a return to the series’ plot-centric beginnings.

Burned opens with few males remaining: Eric is long out of the picture, Heath is freshly murdered, and Stark is left broken over Zoey’s impending death. The conclusion: Zoey may now practice monogamy – minus the jealous fits and tears. But since we all know how boring monogamy is, the focus shifts to Stevie Rae’s struggle between her new, conflicting feelings over Rephaim and her old sort of-boyfriend Dallas. In the previous books, Zoey’s relationship drama often overshadowed the plot and was characterized by meaningless make-out sessions between various males; in contrast, Stevie Rae’s relationship, though similarly sexual, reached semi-closure in the course of one book and took more of a backstage to the action. It's unusual for me to say this, but I felt the toned down romance was a major improvement.

In terms of writing and narration, I found Burned lacking. The multiple POV’s were an interesting aspect, though slightly disorienting, but did not contribute my enjoyment of Burned – at all. The narration was from different perspectives but the characters’ styles of narration were unexcitingly similar and in third person. I can understand the plot necessity, though it doesn’t change my opinion that the writing and the characters could desperately use more personality and less cliché. In fact, the only character that I felt had any degree of substantiality was Aphrodite. She’s the type of character made so readers can love to hate her and hate to love her, and love her I do. Aphrodite was refreshingly harsh in a world where everything seems a bit too perfect: the self-sacrificing Heath, the unerringly devoted Stark, etc. In Burned, Aphrodite was my fist of reason that I strongly wanted to knock against a few characters’ heads and since I couldn't, I'm glad she sometimes did.

At this point, what I see as The House of Night’s largest flaw is its relentless ability to drag things out. First it was Zoey’s love entanglements, now it threatens to be the Light versus Darkness struggle. Burned hardly mentions Neferet and Kalona and instead chooses to reveal more mysteries regarding the world’s possible demise. While the one aspect I really enjoyed was learning the mythology – especially the extremely vital role of the Scottish – it distracted me from the main evil/good conflict at hand; there are numerous sub-plots and simply not enough time. The lack of concentration in one area lead me to finish Burned feeling like I had just read about the solving of one minor conflict, though admittedly with much more knowledge. Ideally, in their future books the Casts will find a balance between fleshing out the plot with their original, intriguing ideas and pacing the main Light versus Darkness struggle appropriately.

Ultimately, despite my complaints, Burned was new -- period. Its focus on background markedly stood out from its recent predecessors, whether in a good or bad way is objective. For someone like me, who only tolerated Zoey’s indecisiveness and flightiness, Burned was a welcome change. However, it lost some of the series' dramatic tension and suspense, by-products of the strong romance, and breezed through some important past conflicts. Burned's role in the overall series seems to an informational one but as an independent book, the action was entertaining enough to keep my interest.

Romance: A little bit of sexual action, but it concentrates on Stevie Rae's emotional conflict. Given what I've read of The House of Night series already, it's fairly standard.
Cover: 3.0 -- It's pretty (and the inside of the cover is a mini-poster!), but it doesn't say much about the story itself.
Writing: 3.0
Characters: 2.0 
Plot: 3.5

Bottom Line: Burned suffers heavily from a lack of focus and authentic, three-dimensional YA characters; yes, we're partially back to the childish cussing again. However, if you're willing to overlook those flaws in favor of steady paranormal romance and an intricate, unique plotline, Burned may be your form of an enjoyable light read.

Thank you to Tara and St. Martin's Press for the review copy!

**Side-note: I would not recommend reading Burned if you haven't at least read up to the fifth book, Hunted. At the very least, I suggest reading plot summaries of the previous few books.

Double-Trouble Monday: Episode 4

Changing up my Double-Trouble Monday yet again. I sometimes feel like I'm obligated to do all these really literal ratings when I'm reading my books, so I'm going to make these posts: 1) two books and what I'm currently reading, 2) straight feelings and general rating(s), 3) EVERY WEEK (hopefully)! The idea's still the same, that I often read a lot of books that I want to get some reviews out for but don't really feel like writing a full-blown review. And it's a nice break from all my other formatted reviews. :)

Reviews: Oh. My. Gods. and Goddess Boot Camp

Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs

Series: Oh. My. Gods. #1

Published: Speak; Reprint edition (May 14, 2009)

Paperback: 288 pages

Links: {amazon}, {goodreads}

Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs

Series: Oh. My. Gods. #2

Published: Dutton Juvenile (June 11, 2009)

Hardcover: 224 pages

Links: {amazon}, {goodreads}

My thoughts on both: So adorable!! These were definitely fun, light reads, and I loved the mythical references. The main girl, Phoebe, starts off by traveling with her newly-married mom to her stepfather's house in an island far, far away. But this is no fairytale. On the boat ride there, she finds out that not only is her new stepfather a descendant from a Greek god, but she's also going to be the only human attending a boarding school that's 100% gods descended. Can you say "surprise?!"

I actually ended up enjoying these books a lot more than I thought I would. I went in looking, and literally looking at the cute covers, for a fluffy, read-once-and-you're-done kind of read. I knew that these two wouldn't be very deep books, since they're not intended to be, but I didn't bargain for some nicely mixed in gods' slang, intriguing romances and small mysteries, and a full-fledged gods' descendants' power and hierarchical system! I was definitely pleasantly surprised. I felt myself feeling with Phoebe as the new kid and got so caught up in the drama that I couldn't put the books down; I literally devoured them one after another. The drool-worthy, delectible Hercules boy is oh-my-gods, such a plus. It's obvious who Phoebe is going to end up with, but that didn't keep my from cheering for her when things were looking up, and sympathizing with her when her family and friend relationships reached some rocky grounds. I felt frustrated with her at times for how naive she was, but, generally, I liked her. And her running passion made her all the more relateable (my passion: books).

Two-Sentence Summary (one for each): Unbelieavably cute plots and setting! Not something that you should read if you're looking for a deep, tear-wrenching book, but these are definitely solid, light reads that teach some good lessons about family, friends, and ambition... I think I might be cheating (do ellipses count?), but I recommend having these two books at the same time if you peek at Oh. My. Gods. and decide you like it!

Overall Rating:

Currently Reading:

... I don't know. I just finished Eyes Like Stars (would you like a review?), and I'm sort of re-reading Hearts at Stake because I remembered I liked and wanted to review it. I'm planning on starting Scones and Sensibility soon, which I mentioned in this week's IMM-5, though I think I might finally get around to reading Hate List too. Really don't know what took me so long.

Any recently read books that you'd like to share your thoughts about? :)

Review: Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

Book of Faerie #2

Title: Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie

Publisher: Flux (October 1, 2009)

Paperback: 360 pages

Price: $9.95 from {amazon}

Summary: from {goodreads}

In this mesmerizing sequel to Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception, music prodigy James Morgan and his best friend, Deirdre, join a private conservatory for musicians. James' musical talent attracts Nuala, a soul-snatching faerie muse who fosters and feeds on the creative energies of exceptional humans until they die. Composing beautiful music together unexpectedly leads to mutual admiration and love. Haunted by fiery visions of death, James realizes that Deirdre and Nuala are being hunted by the Fey and plunges into a soul-scorching battle with the Queen of the Fey to save their lives.

Rating:

Review: I was hesitant about reading Ballad, because, face it, James isn't that major a character in Lament. He's cute, but basically this sad, background prop, doing his little, heart-breaking stunts in an effort to win Dee's heart. I'm going to admit that I can't pass a good deal, so when I managed to get my hands on a Borders coupon, I bought Ballad straight away because, well, it's Maggie Steifvater who is AWESOME. And I definitely wasn't dissapointed.

Ballad is concentrated all on James, from his and Naula's, the Leanan Sidhe, POV. Being honest here, at the beginning I thought James was a little overdramatic and my main feeling for him was pity. But I soon warmed up to him and his witty comments, which literally started from page 4 and lasted throughout the entire book. Though, overall, I enjoyed James' edgy remarks, I wish Maggie Stiefvater could have toned down the cursing and witty-ness a tad because I grew annoyed at how often they showed up, which was practically every page. It grew to be more like James had to constantly prove that he is this musical, sarcastical rebel that's okay without Dee. On the other hand, there were quite a few hilarious quotes that I applaud Maggie Stiefvater for thinking of. Case in point:

"Guys weren't allowed to bring girls into Seward Hall (under penalty of having your nuts chopped off and sent back to your parents in priority mail)..."

-from James' POV

My heart also went out to Naula, Jame's musical muse, while my opnion of Dee really went down. I liked the format of the book, how Dee was conveying what was happening to her through these unsent messages to James, but everytime she popped up, she did one of those typical "I'm a weak girl who needs someone strong to comfort me - like yoooouuuu" that got me extremely frusturated. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's an aggravatingly clingy, manipulative girl. Excuse me while I vent my frustration. Looking on the opposite side of the spectrum, I liked Naula's kick-ass exterior that hid an extremely sweet and lonely core. She's like the little girl around the corner that never had anyone to comfort her or to give her a shoulder to cry on. After Naula and James start getting closer, I clearly saw each of them softening toward each other and revealing their inner pain and turmoil, which was perfect. I loved how their realtionship developed, and at the end of Ballad I grew to see them as a sort of entity, two people that could never be apart.

I read Ballad in spurts and bursts, and it still amazes me how much Maggie Stiefvater managed to fit in the 352 pages. The plot moved and relationships developed so fast that when I thought I'd read 30-pages worth of development, I'd actually only read 10. And that's a good thing because it wasn't some weak foundation, but a testament to Maggie Stiefvater's writing skill that she could use a small amount of words to perfectly and poetically depict the characters' thoughts and feelings. She even manages to bring about a set of secondary or occasionally-appearing, vital characters and flesh them out, so that even though I didn't see or hear much of them, I still felt there was solid basis for their actions. I'm serious, if I could steal Maggie Stiefvater for my English papers, I would definitely get an A.

And for those of you who haven't read Lament, there is a beautiful world filled with prose, faeries, and supposed myths that are your greatest fears and wonders.

Romance: Intense. Can I say again how much I loved James and Naula's relationship? They were perfect for each other, and their romance was crazy, but sweet.
Cover: 4.0 - Pretty, pretty, buring leaf.
Writing: 4.5
Characters: 5.0
Plot: 4.0

Bottom Line: Ballad was a thrill. The plot was twisted, ethereal, and complex, the writing was lyrical and descriptive, and the characters (for the most part) were relateable and solid. I felt that the ending was a bit rushed - technically very climatic, but not enough time for me to savor it. In the end, I loved learning about James and seeing the world from his POV. I would definitely recommend Ballad to anyone in search of a good book, and highly recommend it to people who like reading of faeries and all things magical. While it would be helpful to read Lament, the first book in The Gathering of Faeries series, I don't think it's necessary because Ballad doesn't deal much with the past, with what happened in Lament. That being said, I would still recommend Lament, and I definitely hope Maggie Steifvater uses this setting again for future books!

Submitted as a Blog With Bite review. Check them out! :)

Review: Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books (October 1, 2009)

Hardcover: 272 pages

Price: $12.23 from Amazon

Summary:

Three tales of supernatural love, each pivoting on a kiss that is no mere kiss, but an action with profound consequences for the kissers' souls:

Goblin Fruit: In Victorian times, goblin men had only to offer young girls sumptuous fruits to tempt them to sell their souls. But what does it take to tempt today's savvy girls?
Spicy Little Curses: A demon and the ambassador to Hell tussle over the soul of a beautiful English girl in India. Matters become complicated when she falls in love and decides to test her curse.
Hatchling: Six days before Esme's fourteenth birthday, her left eye turns from brown to blue. She little suspects what the change heralds, but her small safe life begins to unravel at once. What does the beautiful, fanged man want with her, and how is her fate connected to a mysterious race of demons?

Rating:

Review: Lips Touch: Three Times was definitely a welcomed break from the usual. Laini Taylor’s take on myths from other cultures was interesting and unique, and I could tell a lot of research and effort was put into the subject. I actually wasn’t very familiar with even one out of the three myths/cultural beliefs mentioned in the book, so this book definitely gets extra points for going somewhere else.

The main objection I had about the book was probably that it was too short. Don’t be deceived by the back summary, which is actually just about the first story, lasting all of fifty pages. The stories get progressively longer, but, all in all, the stories were a lot shorter than I expected. And I would have liked it a bit more if the author had tied up with more decisive endings. I really enjoyed the last two stories and their endings, but the first one was so open-ended that it could have gone in a million different directions. Some might find that appealing, but it just made me annoyed and frustrated because I really wanted to know what would happen to Kizzy, the main character of story number one. Though I suppose that can be interpreted as a tribute to how engrossing the story was.

On the plus side of having short stories, it allowed room for about five pages of dark, gorgeous images by Jim Di Bartolo, Laini’s husband, at the beginning of each story, depicting key events in the following story. I loved the black drawings with minimalistic color, and I could have loved a whole book of those drawings alone. The text was also beautified, with a stylish gray chapter title and swirls around the beginning letter of each chapter. I simply adore beautiful books, so this one will definitely be going on my shelf and repeatedly taken down, not primarily because of re-reading, but so I can stare at the gorgeous thing that is mine.

Bottom Line: I loved the concept of Lips Touch: Three Times, how the kiss always served as the catalyst for dramatic change. The stories themselves, though short, were very intriguing and insightful, and I enjoyed reading as Laini shaped mystical stories around the legends and culture of various areas around the world. The writing wasn’t especially stand-out to me and it occasionally used some complex words that I don’t think most people will know (ie. novitiate), so while I might re-read it occasionally, I don’t envision myself re-reading this a lot. However, if you want to observe a beautiful book for prolonged periods of time without the store clerk staring oddly at you, I say buy it and you (hopefully) won’t be disappointed. Overall, Lips Touch: Three Times is an engrossing compilation of exotic fairy tales, and the beautifully woven, intricate web of love, loss, and slight touch of magic left me wanting more.