Twisted (Pretty Little Liars #9) by Sara Shepard - Ashley's Review

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Title: Twisted (Pretty Little Liars #9)
Author: Sara Shepard
Publication Date: July 5, 2011

Synopsis: It’s been a year since the torturous notes from A stopped and the mystery of Alison DiLaurentis’s disappearance was finally put to rest. Now seniors in high school, Aria, Spencer, Hanna, and Emily are older, but they’re not any wiser. The pretty little liars have more secrets than ever - twisted secrets that could destroy the perfect lives they’ve worked so hard to rebuild.

Aria’s jealous of her boyfriend’s new exchange student. Spencer’s getting a little too cozy with her soon-to-be-stepbrother. Hanna’s one scandalous photo away from ruining her dad’s Senate campaign. And Emily will do anything to get a swim scholarship.

Worst of all: Last spring break in Jamaica, they did something unforgivable. The girls are desperate to forget that fateful night, but they should know better than anyone that all secrets wash ashore... eventually.  

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Review: I started reading the Pretty Little Liars books a few months before the TV show aired on ABC Family, because I wanted to know if the show was still worth watching. Then, I kind of gave up on the books for a while because I finished the first eight and thought the series was done.... only to find out that there were like eight more. Plus some other books that were prequels and short stories. So of course I knew I had to read them.

It took me a little bit to get back into this book. Everything was pretty much wrapped up at the end of Wanted, so I didn't make any effort to really try to remember what happened. I forgot who was in what relationship and who had done what terrible things, so I felt like the beginning of this book chugged along really slowly. There's some flashbacks to things that happened before, but I feel like this book would have been better had I read it closer to when I read Wanted.

A lot of this book was ridiculous drama that was helped along by the anonymous "I know what you did" messages from A, but I felt like the girls were just creating their own problems without any help from A. Sure, the stuff from Jamaica was big, but Aria being jealous of Noel's exchange student is something that any normal high school girl would go through. Hanna didn't need A's coaxing to get herself into trouble with her dad's campaign. Spencer and Emily would also have gotten themselves into the same situations with or without A.

I didn't feel any of the danger from previous books or feel like the girls were getting some unjust punishment. Because really, there's not that much here for them to be punished for except bad decision making. A good slap in the face would have solved a lot of their problems, honestly.

Don't get me wrong though, I still enjoyed this book because I'm already invested in these characters. I've read eight books and watched 5 season of the TV show, and now I have to know who this new A is and if Ali is back or if she's gone for good and what's going to happen with the Liars next. It is a terrible cycle to be stuck in, but it could definitely be worse.
If you're looking for a contemporary series filled with drama, revenge, secrets, and lies, you should definitely pick up the Pretty Little Liars series. Although Twisted felt like an unnecessary continuation of the series, I'm still looking forward to picking up the next book and reading more of this series. A 3/5!


--Ashley

Twisted (Pretty Little Liars #9) by Sara Shepard - Ashley's Pre-Reading

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Title: Twisted (Pretty Little Liars #9)
Author: Sara Shepard
Publication Date: July 5, 2011

Synopsis: It’s been a year since the torturous notes from A stopped and the mystery of Alison DiLaurentis’s disappearance was finally put to rest. Now seniors in high school, Aria, Spencer, Hanna, and Emily are older, but they’re not any wiser. The pretty little liars have more secrets than ever - twisted secrets that could destroy the perfect lives they’ve worked so hard to rebuild. 

Aria’s jealous of her boyfriend’s new exchange student. Spencer’s getting a little too cozy with her soon-to-be-stepbrother. Hanna’s one scandalous photo away from ruining her dad’s Senate campaign. And Emily will do anything to get a swim scholarship. 

Worst of all: Last spring break in Jamaica, they did something unforgivable. The girls are desperate to forget that fateful night, but they should know better than anyone that all secrets wash ashore... eventually.

Why?: I read the first eight Pretty Little Liars books and enjoyed them, and I also watch the TV show. So I guess it's about time I get around to reading the rest of the books that are out. When I read them, the books ended at book #8, so I'm really interested to see what's coming next for the girls and how it differs from the show.

Expectations: I'm expecting this book to be a lot like the other ones. Lots of secrets, lies, and mystery. Also quite a bit of high school drama and the girls getting themselves into situations they should know better about. And obviously lots of messages from A! 

Judging a book by its cover: I like that this cover goes back to the style of book #1-4. I also really like the color of the background and the title - I think it makes it really stand out. It's very bright! I like the way the letters from the title twist around the girl too. I would be pretty likely to pick up this book based on the cover alone.


--Ashley

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Last Gleaming (Season 8, #8) by Joss Whedon - Ashley's Review

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Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Last Gleaming (Season 8, #8)
Authors: Joss Whedon, Georges Jeanty, & Scott Allie
Publication Date: June 1, 2011

Synopsis: The season finale is here! At long last, the Big Bad stands revealed--Angel is back, and it’s tearing the Scoobies apart, testing the limits of their friendship. But Twilight’s unmasking is only the beginning, and Buffy must still face the ultimate betrayal.

Series creator Joss Whedon writes the final story arc of Buffy Season 8, taking  his greatest characters to places only he can! Teamed with series artist Georges Jeanty, Joss reunites the dysfunctional gang of Buffy, Angel, and Spike, in the thick of it together for the first time since Season 3, and gives the Scoobies their gravest challenge ever, defending reality itself from the onslaught of demons. It’s the biggest Buffy finale ever!

* Collecting issues #36-40 of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight series.

* This volume also includes the spy-thriller Riley one-shot by Buffy series writer Jane Espenson and artist Karl Moline

My The Long Way Home (#1) Review                  My Predators and Prey (#5) Review
My No Future For You (#2) Review                    My Retreat (#6) Review
My Wolves at the Gate (#3) Review                   My Twilight (#7) ReviewMy Time of Your Life (#4) Review

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Review: While I've actually enjoyed this season despite its twists and turns and the unexpected Big Bad reveal, I feel like this last volume - the season finale - should have been significantly more coherent and just... better. I mean, don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed it, but it was just all over the place and kind of a mess.

Since the plot has been kind of wacky this whole season, this volume had a pretty large task in store for it in terms of wrapping up all the loose ends. Buffy and Angel have superpowers and are fighting for magic to stay in this world, but there are demons and other beasties trying to make them leave (I think?). The world that was created by Buffy and Angel wants its parents back and is trying to make Angel force Buffy back into the parallel dimension. The Slayers are fighting a losing battle. Faith is under-utilized. The rest of the Scoobies don't trust Angel (with good reason).

Oh, and the Master is back? And so is Spike, which was awesome. Because Spike is Spike and true to the character created in the show. But I don't understand why the Master came back... because this story would have been completely fine without him. Especially because he doesn't stick around very long. I wish there was more of Spike instead of going off on this random thing with the Master (the incident wasn't terribly random, just the Master being a part of it).

I think it's interesting that this volume ended the way that it did - with a major character death, Buffy making a choice and dealing with the consequences, and all that jazz - and I'm glad that Joss was able to tie everything up. I didn't really think it would be possible after all of the little rabbit trails going on this season, but it worked. I enjoyed seeing all the characters back together, and the heart-to-heart between Buffy and Faith. 

I'm excited to see where Season 9 goes, and it seems like it will be more reminiscent of the Sunnydale days. I'm not sure whether this will be a good thing or not, but it sounds like Joss has a clearer picture of where he wants to take Season 9 than he did with Season 9 Especially now that he's gotten used to telling the story in comic book form. I would still recommend this season to fans of the television show, and can't wait to get my hands on Season 9! 3/5.

--Ashley

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (audiobook) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: The Night Circus
Author: Erin Morgenstern
Year Published: 2011

Narrator: Jim Dale
Audiobook Length: 13 hours 39 minutes

My Pre-Reading for The Night Circus

Synopsis: The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. 

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.

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Review: I listened to this audiobook over the course of a long road trip. I took breaks to listen to music pretty often at the beginning, but towards the end I didn't even want to stop for a restroom break. This audiobook really pulled me in. 

This novel covers a large amount of time, following this mysterious duel from its newest initiation on. The story mainly follows the two young magicians participating in the duel, but there are other stories interspersed. I really enjoyed the chapters in second perspective of the reader visiting the Night Circus itself. The storytelling is done so well. At first it may be confusing, but by the end it all came together so perfectly. 

The characters that are involved in the Night Circus are all so interesting. A circus is a perfect place for quirky characters. The way the characters interact with the magic is also done so cool. The magic is so subtle and mysterious. It is the type of magic that makes you feel like magic could really exist in the real world, just under your radar. 

I highly recommend this book. And if you are looking for an audiobook for a long car trip, this book worked perfectly for me. I give this book a 5/5. This book is definitely worth the read!


--PAUL

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (audiobook) - Paul's pre-reading

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Title: The Night Circus
Author: Erin Morgenstern
Year Published: 2011

Narrator: Jim Dale
Audiobook Length: 13 hours 39 minutes

Synopsis: The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. 

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.

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Why?: This is one of those books that I've seen in the bookstore and picked it up, browsing so many times. I've always been interested in reading it so when I was looking for an audiobook for a long car drive, I picked this one! I've heard it has a Harry Potter feel to it. And circuses are always interesting with the many social outcasts that inhabit its tents. 

Expectations:  I'm expecting a magical duel that covers a vast area and time. I'm hoping for some interesting characters with some cool abilities.   

Judging a book by its cover: I really like this cover. The black and white with pops of red really catches my eyes. The circus itself being in a hand is also very intriguing.    


--PAUL

A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire #5) by George R. R. Martin - Paul's pre-reading

--I've read the other 4 books in this series, but I didn't do blog posts for them as we were still figuring out this blog. We used to each have a monthly pick. And we used to do pretty much only Young Adult reviews. We have since diverged. So, I'll post posts for this book that I am so excited to read!--

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Title: A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire #5)
Author: George R.R. Martin
Year Published: 2011

Synopsis: In the aftermath of a colossal battle, the future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance — beset by newly emerging threats from every direction. In the east, Daenerys Targaryen, the last scion of House Targaryen, rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has thousands of enemies, and many have set out to find her. As they gather, one young man embarks upon his own quest for the queen, with an entirely different goal in mind.

Fleeing from Westeros with a price on his head, Tyrion Lannister, too, is making his way to Daenerys. But his newest allies in this quest are not the rag-tag band they seem, and at their heart lies one who could undo Daenerys's claim to Westeros forever.

Meanwhile, to the north lies the mammoth Wall of ice and stone — a structure only as strong as those guarding it. There, Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, will face his greatest challenge. For he has powerful foes not only within the Watch but also beyond, in the land of the creatures of ice.

From all corners, bitter conflicts reignite, intimate betrayals are perpetrated, and a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, will face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Some will fail, others will grow in the strength of darkness. But in a time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics will lead inevitably to the greatest dance of all.

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Why?: I've absolutely loved every book so far in this series. Martin tells such an epic tale and in doing so tells so many different stories. The characters and locations are so interesting. I have also loved the HBO tv series and I've mostly been ahead of the series. The current season, which is the fourth, loosely adapts the second half of the third book, but some of the stories have diverted more. Since the fourth and fifth books take place at the same time, just from different perspectives,  the tv series is catching up to my reading. I pre-ordered this book when it came out in mass market paperback.    

Expectations: I'm expecting more of the same. This series has only gotten better as I've grown to learn more about these characters and locations. I'm also expecting some unexpected surprises, whether they be deaths or crazy awesome reveals.    

Judging a book by its cover: This cover is similar to the other mass amrket paperbacks I have. I like that it matches, but it's not all that unique.  


--PAUL

The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor by Robert Kirkman & Jay Bonansinga - Ashley's Review

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Title: The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor (The Governor Series #1)
Author: Robert Kirkman & Jay Bonansinga
Year Published: 2011

My Pre-Reading
My The Walking Dead: Compendium 1 Review

Synopsis: Based on The Walking Dead graphic novels/comic books and the series starring Andrew Lincoln (Teachers, This Life and Love, and Love Actually) and written/produced by Frank Darabont whose previous credits include The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, this is a new trilogy of books written by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga, author of Perfect Victim and Shattered. 

Set in the world created by Robert Kirkman, this standalone trilogy is fast-paced, action-packed storytelling about the lengths some men will go to survive. With new characters, new storylines and with the same in-depth character-based plotting that has made the television series such an immediate hit, this trilogy of novels is sure to be a hit with those who love zombies and those who have loved the TV series and comic books.

In the Walking Dead universe, there is no greater villain than The Governor. The despot who runs the walled-off town of Woodbury, he has his own sick sense of justice: whether it’s forcing prisoners to battle zombies in an arena for the townspeople’s amusement, or chopping off the appendages of those who cross him. The Governor was voted “Villain of the Year” by Wizardmagazine the year he debuted, and his story arc was the most controversial in the history of the Walking Dead comic book series. Now, for the first time, fans of The Walking Dead will discover how The Governor became the man he is, and what drove him to such extremes.

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Review: Oh. My. Goodness. This book completely changed everything I thought I knew about The Governor and blew my mind into like a million different pieces. And I absolutely loved every single second and every single twist that was thrown at me. It kept me on the edge of my seat, and every time I thought I had it all figured out I was thrown for another loop. Or three. 

I think one of the most interesting things about this book was seeing The Governor transform into the ruthless leader and monster he is in the comics and the show. He's a huge villain in the series, but looking back we actually know very little about him. I loved seeing him start out a as a man trying to care for Penny and protect his brother and friends, knowing that he ends up being incredibly terrifying. It's hard to put the before and after together, but I think this series will really help with that missing middle section. 

Although we learn quite a bit about Phillip Blake - like what happened to his wife before the zombies and who his friends are and how Penny dies and what happens to him over the course of trying to find safety, I actually preferred reading about Brian Blake, Phillip's brother. Phillip begins as a single father who has had to work two jobs to make ends meet for him and Penny and ends up losing a lot of his humanity over the course of trying to protect her from the biters, but Brian's transformation is so much more subtle and I think more interesting.

Brian is the weaker of the brothers - Phillip is the natural-born leader, whereas Brian is content to sit back and take orders and keep Penny out of danger. He's a failure in pretty much everything, and nobody really expects him to survive very long. Slowly, he actually comes out of his shell and starts succeeding at things and even begins to question Phillip's leadership skills and decisions. I just really enjoyed watching him grow and change and end up as a totally different person by the end of the book.

Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was how it read like the comics. It's dark and gritty and when I pictured things, I saw them in the black and white that the comics are written in. I definitely would recommend this to any fans of The Walking Dead, whether you enjoy the show or the comics or both. Some parts of this book are kind of slow, but just give it a chance. Read until the end. You won't be disappointed! 5/5. 


--Ashley

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff - Ashley's Review

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Title: The Space Between
Author: Brenna Yovanoff
Year Published: 2011

My Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped - and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible.

Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

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Review: I cannot believe I waited so long to read this book! I loved Brenna's Paper Valentine, and The Space Between was just as good (although radically different). Her writing is gorgeous and flawless, and everything about this book was just excellent. The characters, the world building, the plot... I loved it all. 

My favorite part of this book was the world building. Brenna puts her own spin on Hell (which she calls Pandemonium), and it's hauntingly beautiful. Everything is made of steel and the only things that can survive when the furnace is open are things that have been made in Pandemonium or are protected behind closed doors. Any clothes or objects from Earth are incinerated or melted immediately. Even the inhabitants of Pandemonium are steel-like (unless they're fallen angels). The fire and brimstone that are stereotypical of hellish settings is still there, but Pandemonium is still its own place, unique and terrifying.

Another thing that I really enjoyed about this book was how we're able to see things happening from both Daphne's and Truman's perspectives. The switch between first person and third person is a little jarring at first, but the chapters are clearly marked and I got used to it after about the second time. After reading this book, I definitely think the third person perspective for Truman's sections really helped develop his character in a way that first person wouldn't have been. He's sad and broken, and I feel like being completely immersed in his thoughts would have been really confusing.

I think that, while Daphne and Truman are complicated and very multi-dimensional, some of the other minor characters fell kind of flat. I wish we knew more about Obie and about Lilith. I kind of just want a whole book about Lilith because I think it would be really interesting to learn more of her thoughts and her wants and her needs. But maybe taking away the mystery about her would take away from her character in this book. 

There are quite a few twists and turns in this plot, and I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that I couldn't guess them all. Some were more obvious, but there are some secrets that run pretty deep and aren't as easily deciphered. It kept me hooked, and I found myself staying up until the wee hours of the morning just to finish reading and to find out what was going to happen next. 

This book is pretty intense, and I wouldn't recommend it for a young audience. I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in angels and demons and the war between them. I thought Brenna Yovanoff did an excellent job of taking well known entities and making them completely her own, and I can't wait to get my hands on more of her books! I would also recommend this book to anyone who enjoys darker books with love and loss and characters questioning themselves. Definitely a 5/5 from me! 


--Ashley

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff - Ashley's Pre-Reading

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Title: The Space Between
Author: Brenna Yovanoff
Year Published: 2011

Synopsis: Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped - and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. 

Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

Why?: I recently read Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff and really enjoyed it. This book has been on my TBR list for a while now based on the synopsis alone, but reading Paper Valentine made me want to get my hands on a copy of this book ASAP. 

Expectations: Since I enjoyed Paper Valentine so much, I have pretty high expectations for this book. I expect the plot to be totally different, but the writing style to be pretty similar. I expect an engaging story that is a little creepy, a little mysterious, and has excellent world-building. 

Judging a book by its cover: I love everything about this cover. I love that everything is made of steel, I love the girl on the bench, I love how the red makes everything look really creepy... I would totally pick this up off a shelf if I saw it somewhere. It's gorgeous! 


--Ashley

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann - Ashley's Review

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Title: Cryer's Cross
Author: Lisa McMann
Year Published: 2011

My Pre-Reading
Paul's Review
Paul's Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Kendall loves her life in small town Cryer's Cross, Montana, but she also longs for something more. She knows the chances of going to school in New York are small, but she's not the type to give up easily. Even though it will mean leaving Nico, the world's sweetest boyfriend, behind.

But when Cryer's Cross is rocked by unspeakable tragedy, Kendall shoves her dreams aside and focuses on just one goal: help find her missing friends. Even if it means spending time with the one boy she shouldn't get close to... the one boy who makes her question everything she feels for Nico.

Determined to help and to stay true to the boy she's always loved, Kendall keeps up the search--and stumbles upon some frightening local history. She knows she can't stop digging, but Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried...

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Review: I really loved McMann's Wake/Fade/Gone series, and I was really looking forward to this being the horror equivalent of them. While it is reminiscent of that series, I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much, although it was still a nice, easy read.


I think one of my biggest problems with this book was with the main character, Kendall. She's a teenager growing up in a small town who also happens to have OCD. Her best friend, Nico, is also her boyfriend, although she doesn't like to use labels like that because it implies commitment. And that was my first issue with her - if you don't want to be committed to Nico, you shouldn't be in a relationship with him just because it's easy and comfortable and your parents always talk about how you'll be together forever. He's a super nice guy and a great boyfriend, but don't lead him on if you aren't in love with him. 


Another problem I had with Kendall was that her OCD is talked about and said to be the cause of many things, but I just didn't feel like it was dealt with very well. I know it's an important plot point, but I wanted to be shown how it affected her life and her actions instead of just being told "Kendall's OCD kicked in and she did this." There was so much telling like that, and to me it just makes things drag on. 


I actually really liked Jacian and Marlena, although I wish we had seen more of Marlena. Jacian almost seems too good to be true, and I was annoyed at first with him because it seemed like Nico's disappearance was just a way to slap Kendall and Jacian together. Most of the book ends up being more romance than horror, with Kendall trying to hold out hope that Nico will return, and then her slowly falling for Jacian and him for her, but I don't think that it felt rushed or unrealistic. Jacian is understanding, but he tells it like it is.


The horror part of this book to me felt really... cheesy, I guess. The whole thing boils down to a haunted desk. Like, really? There could have been so much more to it than that. And Kendall doesn't even know WHY the desk is haunted until the very end. The place it comes from is briefly mentioned, but I really wanted her to go there and explore or do some research or something... not wind up doing exactly what the other kids did and end up being saved because her "OCD kicked in" again. I wouldn't even really classify this as horror.


I think overall, this book is a nice weekend read. It's short and simple and pretty easy to get through if you don't mind third person present tense. If you're looking for a contemporary romance with a little bit of supernatural thriller/horror thrown in, this is the book for you. Not the best, but certainly not the worst. I'll still be looking for more of McMann's books in the future. 3/5

--Ashley

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann - Ashley's Pre-Reading

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Title: Cryer's Cross
Author: Lisa McMann
Year Published: 2011

Paul's Review
Paul's Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Kendall loves her life in small town Cryer's Cross, Montana, but she also longs for something more. She knows the chances of going to school in New York are small, but she's not the type to give up easily. Even though it will mean leaving Nico, the world's sweetest boyfriend, behind.

But when Cryer's Cross is rocked by unspeakable tragedy, Kendall shoves her dreams aside and focuses on just one goal: help find her missing friends. Even if it means spending time with the one boy she shouldn't get close to... the one boy who makes her question everything she feels for Nico.

Determined to help and to stay true to the boy she's always loved, Kendall keeps up the search--and stumbles upon some frightening local history. She knows she can't stop digging, but Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried...

Why?: I've read several of Lisa McMann's books and enjoyed them all, so I was excited when I stumbled across this one. I want to know what the "unspeakable tragedy" is, and what all the buried secrets are. The synopsis is so intriguing, I can't help but want to read this book.

Expectations: I have kind of high expectations for this book, since I've read some of McMann's other books. I think it will be an easy read, but still have lots of twists and excellent character building and development. Maybe even a supernatural element? 

Judging a book by its cover: This cover is actually pretty simplistic. The desk does stand out against the dark background, but I don't know if it's enough to catch my eye. If I saw it on a shelf, I might pick it up, but no guarantees. 


--Ashley

Hereafter (Hereafter #1) by Tara Hudson - Ashley's Review

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Title: Hereafter
Author: Tara Hudson
Year Published: 2011

My Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.

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Review: I went into this expecting a fun ghost story, and that's pretty much what I was given. I'm always down for a good ghost story, and I definitely enjoyed this one! It had mystery, romance, a bad guy, teenage angst, and so much more. I did have a hard time getting into it, but once I finally got past all of the introductions I found myself not wanting to put the book down. 

Most of this book focuses on the romance between Amelia and Joshua. How they meet, how they start to fall in love, what happens once they do. Although everything happens a little fast for my tastes, I think it's written in a way that doesn't make it seem so fast. I mean, it's pretty much love at first sight, but at least they spent hours talking to each other and getting to know one another. I guess. I also thought Joshua was a little too accepting of the fact that Amelia is dead.

The rest of the plot seemed a little like filler to me though. Amelia finding out who she really is and how she died all came about way too easily. Eli was more of a nuisance than a really bad guy; there was so much potential for his character and he's treated like some small problem that is left for someone else to take care of. The Seers are also something that could have been a huge problem from Amelia and Joshua and then... aren't. I wish there had been more of the bad guys being bad, the Seers being more aggressive, and the mysteries being more mysterious.

While Amelia and Joshua are pretty well developed, I think the minor characters are left too much by the wayside. We learn  a little bit about Eli and his background, but I wanted to know more. I don't think enough was explained about why he is the way he is, and I think it should have been. I also wish he would have stayed around for the next book. And Jillian is painted as just an annoying younger sister, when I think she should have been so much more. Don't get me wrong, I loved them and I'm glad they were included (because who DOESN'T love a sexy rocker guy), I just wish they had been more dimensional. 

Overall, I think I was looking forward to something more Anna Dressed in Blood with the creepy, spooky, hauntings and malevolent ghosts even though I knew this was a lighter romance. It was a nice spin on a ghost story though, and I think it would appeal to someone looking for a paranormal romance. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't anything spectacular in my opinion, so I would give this book a 3/5. 


--Ashley

Hereafter (Hereafter #1) by Tara Hudson - Ashley's Pre-Reading

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Title: Hereafter
Author: Tara Hudson
Year Published: 2011

Synopsis: Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.

Why?: I won the second book in this series in a contest on Twitter, so I figured I should probably read this one before I start that one. Also, ghost stories are really interesting to me, and this one sounds like it will be fun but mysterious. But definitely not as dark and gritty as some of the other ghost stories I've read recently.

Expectations: I expect a fun ghost story with mystery and secrets. Definitely a lot of romance too, which I hope isn't tacky or overdone. I've never read anything by Hudson before though, so I'm not sure what else to expect.

Judging a book by its cover: This cover doesn't really feel like anything special to me, although I do like the effect of the ghost in front of the water. It seems like a very typical YA cover, so I don't think I would pick it up based solely on the cover.


--Ashley

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab - Ashley's Review

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Title: The Near Witch
Author: Victoria Schwab
Year Published: 2011

My Pre-Reading

Synopsis: The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. 

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. 

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life. 

But when an actual stranger-a boy who seems to fade like smoke-appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi's need to know-about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab's debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won't soon forget.

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Review: The synopsis for this book calls it "part fairy tale, part love story," but it is SO much more than that. There's loss and sadness and mystery and horror and lessons about understanding and acceptance and beautiful world building and so many other things that are all woven together so intricately that this story is unlike anything I've ever read. This book gave me all of the feels, and had me laughing one minute and crying the next. Victoria Schwab is a literary genius (and this was her debut!). 

Fairy tales are my favorite kind of stories, and I especially love when there are new stories incorporated into books. The story of the Near Witch is terrifying enough to be a true fairy tale, but it's still different enough to be its own thing. If I was a child and I heard the story that Lexi tells Wren, I would be scared enough not to go out onto the moors. That witch is crazy - especially after how she was treated. And speaking of witches, I love how there are hints of magic and their "craft," but most of what they do is connected to the Earth and its elements, which I love. I mean, I love witches of the Harry Potter variety too, but I think those that are more connected to nature are the most interesting.

Victoria creates characters that are deep and dynamic and is constantly molding and changing them throughout the book. Lexi is strong-willed, independent, and hurting, but she also cares deeply for her mother, sister, and friends. She is willing to go to great lengths to protect them, even if it means defying her uncle's orders. And even though she remains those things, she matures quite a bit and becomes a more well-rounded version of herself. And then there's the stranger boy. He's mysterious and quiet, but he holds so much pain within himself that it's kind of ridiculous. I think he's my favorite character in this book, and I love his relationship and interactions with Lexi. All of the more minor characters are excellently crafted as well, and I found myself wanting to know more about their background and their lives and more of why they do the things they do. 

As I was reading this book, I never wanted to put it down. The whole story flows just like a fairy tale, and never gives too much detail or not enough. I can't even begin to fathom how Victoria pulled this out of her imagination, because the world and character building are phenomenal, and everything about Near is just so gorgeous and precise. I felt like I was walking around the village, or out on the moors, or in the sisters' cottage. I could feel the wind and smell the dirt and the wildflowers. Everything about this book is just wonderful.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who has read and loved any of Victoria's other works, but hasn't read this one yet. And to anyone who enjoys fairy tale books or books about witches or love stories or fantasy books... and to pretty much anyone. Because I honestly think there is something in this book for everyone. This book is one of my favorite reads this year, and I'm so glad I finally got around to buying and reading it. Definitely a 5/5 from me! 

--Ashley

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab - Ashley's Pre-Reading

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Title: The Near Witch
Author: Victoria Schwab
Year Published: 2011

Synopsis: The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. 

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. 

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life. 

But when an actual stranger-a boy who seems to fade like smoke-appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi's need to know-about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab's debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won't soon forget.

Why?: I really enjoyed The Archived, and it pretty much made me want to read everything Victoria has ever written and will ever write (I'm anxiously awaiting Vicious). I've only heard excellent things about this book, which just made me want to get my grabby little hands on it. Plus, it sounds like a fantastic mix of horror and fairy-tale, which is definitely right up my alley.

Expectations: I kind of have really high expectations for this novel. I know Victoria's writing is beautiful, and I expect that her debut will reflect that. Well developed characters, an imaginative world, and a story that has me on the edge of my seat and not wanting it to end. 

Judging a book by its cover: I really like this cover. It looks spooky but is still really pretty. It's kind of stereotypical with the girl on the front, but I think it works alright in this case. I would definitely stop and pick this book up off of a shelf if I saw it somewhere. 


--Ashley

Legend by Marie Lu - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Legend
Author: Marie Lu
Year Published: 2011

My Legend REVIEW

Synopsis: What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Review: I finally read this book! I had heard so many good things about it. And although I did really enjoy it, I don't think it lived up to my expectations which is totally my fault. It is a great book. 

Another Dystopian YA, but this book changes some things up. I liked that June was a member of the government. With two POVs, it was nice to have different, contrasting perspectives on this interesting world. I feel like this world has only just been established. It appears to take place in a future United States, but there are only whispers of what created this world. Colonists? I'm sure we will see a lot more in the next two books. This makes me even more excited to read the next book. 

There is a lot of violence in this book, but it is dealt with in the right way. It is necessary to portray a possibly evil government. The main characters are almost like super humans with their abilities of stealth and agility.I didn't really relate to either characters. The romance seemed a little insta-love, but it wasn't that bad. I did like that family was a big part of the story though. 

I have to share a story. I started to read this book before bed and got through four chapters before falling asleep. Once asleep, I continued the story into my dreams. The story was nothing like what it ended up to be. Upon waking up, I was confused as to what even has really happened in the book. I had to reread a few pages before continuing. In my dream, Day ended up to be a chick undercover as a guy, which did not happen in the book. 

Although, I really did enjoy this book. I didn't really connect with it and I wanted more of the world building. I know the world building will be fleshed out more in the sequel, so I am really looking forward to reading it. And, I have already bought the kindle version! I give this novel a 4/5.

-PAUL