Hallowed - Cynthia Hand

Torn between her love for boyfriend Tucker and her complicated feelings about the role she seems destined to play, sixteen-year-old part-angel Clara races to decipher a new vision that could signify the end for someone close to her.

Thrilled to have finally gotten my hands on this book!

From the moment I delved into Unearthly, I fell in love with Cynthia Hand and her writing skills. She has a wonderful way of taking you in her mind and not letting go until the final moment. I finished reading Hallowed and was completely spent.

What I love most about this novel was all of the characters have layers, even the so called 'bad guys'. There was so much depth to them that I had a hard time disliking any of them. I did however find some points of Clara to be annoying, especially the scenes with Christian but nothing bothersome. I still really enjoyed this read and can't wait for the next book to be released (in 2013! *sniff*)

Prized - Caragh M O'Brien

 (summary omitted to save spoiling someone!)

I didn't think this book would be as good as the first but I was very happily and pleasantly surprised! I think it totally held its own in the series and I would even dare say I liked it more than the first! The characters were believably vulnerable but were showcased in their strengths, and as always the writing was beautiful.

I loved Gaia as a character and also the love interests were finally believable! I love a slow build-up for them and it broke my heard and made me smile all at the same time. Will and Leon were great male characters and the build was agonizing.

There were so many controversial topics and action that I couldn't stop reading!

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Faery prince Ash--the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court--finally gets to tell his story: how he escaped the Winter Court with his life intact and the promise he made to the Iron Queen.

I finished this one a day or two ago and I've been sitting on it, trying to decide how I feel about it. The beginning lagged a bit for me, then it really picked up until about the last 100 or so pages. Three letters I can use to sum those pages up? W.T.F?! I felt like I had invested so much time into the characters and I felt the meetings were SO rushed and underwhelming. It was like "Oh, you're here! Let's forget about everything and hug! The end."

As I said, the writing in the middle was amazing and kept me wanting more but I felt very unsatisfied with the ending and that made the rating go so low. I wanted to know more about their meeting and have a little more emotion from Ash and Meghan in both the dream sequence and real life. The humor between Puck, Grimalkin and The Wolf is what kept me reading, as their wit and sarcasm made the book for me.

Even with that, I still felt very empty and impartial to the book and that saddens me!

***

Spellbound - Cara Lynn Shultz

When prep school newcomer Emma Conner meets the rich, charming Brendan Salinger, she is instantly attracted to him, but strange visions of her past lives begin warning her to stay away or face a cursed prophecy that she will die.

I've been super excited to read this one and when I began to read it, I was into it. After about one hundred pages I started to lose interest and then I just wanted to stop. I have to admiit that I sort of glazed over the pages and spoiled myself on GR.

Emma was too much a martyr in this book and I didn't find her inspiring or influential. She got herself in messes that were way over her head and wanted other people (Brendan) to get her out of it. She lived in NYC with an aunt that spoiled the crud out of her. Brendan was okay; didn't love him but didn't hate him either. Anthony - total douche. The end. Kristin, the same rich bitch you get in all novels.

I thought the plot was okay but the ending was too cliche for me and the ending too clean. I wish they had gone through something more than what they did - just to have a little more action. Maybe the second will be better but unfortunately I won't be holding my breath!

**

Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor

*Forgive me if this review is everywhere. I got my molars out yesterday and am hopped up on pain medication =P*

Seventeen-year-old Karou, a lovely, enigmatic art student in a Prague boarding school, carries a sketchbook of hideous, frightening monsters--the chimaerae who form the only family she has ever known.

I knew I was going to enjoy this book because it was getting so much hype. I don't think anyone was wrong! I loved Karou as a character, she is very curious and inquisitive as well as tremendously talented! I loved hearing her voice and found her very relate able.The side characters for me were anything but sides. They made the story for me. The idea that the devil's daughter fell for an angel is ingenious. I also really enjoyed the back and forth POV between Akiva and Karou.

The writing was wonderful, though I did find some parts a little slow. I'm looking forward to the next book though! I'm sure it's going to be great, as the ending to this one was explosive.

Deadly Little Voices - Laurie Faria Stolarz

High school junior Camelia's psychometric powers of touch seem to be changing when she starts to hear voices saying malicious things to her, and even focusing on her beloved pottery does not help, especially after her psychic, suicidal aunt comes to stay after being released from the hospital.

 Another great installment to the Touch series!

These books are the perfect way to spend a rainy Saturday morning. They are mysterious and creepy, but don't require too much thought. The writing is great as always, there weren't too many lulls in the book, which I really appreciated. I actually liked that there wasn't that much romance as I was more more interested in the plot and Camelia's 'visions'

Aunt Alexia was just gloriously creepy. I have a feeling there's more to her than meets the eye. There is one more book in the series, which is Deadly Little Lessons and I'm very intrigued to find out how this series will end.

Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

In post-apocalyptic New Orleans, now a sanctuary for supernatural beings, a hardened teenager on the run searches for the truth about her monstrous heritage and discovers a curse that could ignite the ancient war between gods and monsters.

I absolutely loved this novel and was so sad when it ended! I LOVED the setting the novel had, the feel was constantly creepy and eerie. It completely embodied the feel of New Orleans. The characters were well developed and very separate of each other. No one molded together which is a big factor for me.

Having a paranormal experience in New Orleans myself, I fell in love with this book and felt a connection to it. I absolutely can't WAIT for the next book, A Beautiful Evil, that's coming out in February (2 days before my birthday!)!

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Seventeen-year-old Mara cannot remember the accident that took the lives of three of her friends but, after moving from Rhode Island to Florida, finding love with Noah, and more deaths, she realizes uncovering something buried in her memory might save her family and her future.

The hype surrounding this book was absolutely insane, and I admit that I too was extremely pumped about this book.

Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed! I felt the idea of the mysterious, aloof, handsome guy who is a complete ass to you but you still find him attractive to be completely annoying. What does that teach girls? Even though this guy is a complete douche, if I remain his loyal puppy he'll grow to love me. Not cool.

There were some parts of the novel that I found creepy, but overall I didn't find it to live up to the hype it received. Maybe I'm too much of a critic for creepy YA books, but it fell flat for me. The only part that really freaked me out was the scene with the VooDoo man. I have to say that was awesomely written! I hated the part about the dog, it made my stomach turn and I almost stopped reading right there.

I'm really hoping now that the romance is established, the next book will be better. I thought the romance was too much of a focus and I ended the book wanting more of the plot. Disappointing, but I'm not going to lose hope just yet!

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick (Hush Hush #3)

Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for -- and their love -- forever.

I have to say that I'm glad I decided to go ahead and pick up this novel and give it a try!

I feel like it was a good addition to the series. I was a little hesitant to read this because of the lameness that was Crescendo, but I'm happy to say that Silence picked the series back up for me. There was action from the beginning and the plot kept me guessing. There were a few things that were obvious but others that surprised me a bit.

The writing was pretty good, but that usually isn't a problem for this author. With Crescendo, my main problem was it was very slow and the plot just wasn't interesting. Silence had more or what I was looking for with this series, and it seemed as though the author came back to the 'feel' of the first book. I wish there were more creepy scenarios in this one as the first but it still was a fun read!

The ending was a bit cheesy and sing-song but I suppose I have to put up with it for the others who like those sort of things. ;]

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Sixteen-year-old Clara Gardner's purpose as an angel-blood begins to manifest itself, forcing her family to pull up stakes and move to Jackson, Wyoming, where she learns that danger and heartbreak come with her powers.

 
I loved this book!

To be honest, it took me a day or so to get into it, but I blame that on my unwillingness to read period and not the book. Once I decided to sit down and read it however, it completely blew me away! A definite favorite in the paranormal/fantasy YA category for sure. I loved Cynthia's writing and when I began reading I'd look up and an hour would've passed!

I also loved Clara's character. I felt like she was a little annoying sometimes, but she is only sixteen and I got over it quickly. Love the blooming relationships between her, Christian, and Tucker. I don't know which one I like more as of yet. The plot was incredible and the ending...I want to know MORE! This book was amazing and I enjoyed every minute reading it. The action and suspense had my heart pounding at the end and I literally gasped when the truth was revealed.

Truly an excellent book and I really recommend it. The sequel, Hallowed, is coming in January of 2012 and I CAN'T WAIT!!

*****