The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Roaring Brook Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: The Truth About Alice
Author: Jennifer Mathieu
Publication Date: June 3, 2014

My Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Everyone has a lot to say about Alice Franklin, and it’s stopped mattering whether it’s true. The rumors started at a party when Alice supposedly had sex with two guys in one night. When school starts everyone almost forgets about Alice until one of those guys, super-popular Brandon, dies in a car wreck that was allegedly all Alice’s fault. Now the only friend she has is a boy who may be the only other person who knows the truth, but is too afraid to admit it. 

Told from the perspectives of popular girl Elaine, football star Josh, former outcast Kelsie, and shy genius Kurt, we see how everyone has a motive to bring – and keep – Alice down.

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Review: I think this book is something that every kid in high school should be made to read. It doesn't have a fast moving plot or an epic world. Instead, it's very real. It shows what happens when rumors are started and how people can be hurt by the smallest amount of gossip. And how important the truth can be.

I didn't expect to actually enjoy this book as much as I did. It's told from four different perspectives, and it's really interesting to see how different people see the situation. Elaine and Josh don't really care about Alice to begin with; they tolerate her because she used to be moderately popular, but they're not all that interested in actually learning the truth. Kelsie is too worried about her reputation to sit down and actually talk to Alice. And then there's Kurt, the shy genius who lived next door to the football star Brandon. 

All of these people felt like people I've known or do know. Each character has his or her own distinct voice, but they all need to keep the truth about Alice a secret in order to be the top of the pecking order. It's crazy, but I can totally see something like this happening to a girl in real life. In fact, I'm sure it has happened. High school kids are often mean and don't think about the consequences of their actions and their words, and this book really shows that. 

I also found myself actually liking most of the characters in this book. I mean, I would never want to be friends with someone who would turn on me in an instant, but they all have their problems and their reasons. Kurt was definitely my favorite, although I wish he would have shared his truths sooner. Alice reacted to things pretty much exactly how I expected her to, but I'm glad she ended up with a decently happy ending. 

Overall, I would totally recommend this to anyone who is looking for a real contemporary book with real characters and real consequences. This is not your feel-good contemporary romance (even though there's a little bit of that in here), but it's definitely one that will make you think. And want to give to your teenage kids/friends/cousins/etc. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did, and I found that I just couldn't put it down as soon as I picked it up. A 4/5.


--Ashley

The Body in the Woods (Point Last Seen #1) by April Henry - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Henry Holt & Co (BYR) on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Body in the Woods (Point Last Seen #1)
Author: April Henry
Publication Date: June 17, 2014

My Pre-Reading

Synopsis: In this new series told from multiple perspectives, teen members of a search and rescue team discover a dead body in the woods.

Alexis, Nick, and Ruby have very different backgrounds: Alexis has spent her life covering for her mom’s mental illness, Nick’s bravado hides his fear of not being good enough, and Ruby just wants to pursue her eccentric interests in a world that doesn’t understand her. When the three teens join Portland County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, they are teamed up to search for a autistic man lost in the woods. What they find instead is a dead body. In a friendship that will be forged in danger, fear, and courage, the three team up to find the girl’s killer—before he can strike one of their own.

This first book in April Henry’s Point Last Seen YA mystery series is full of riveting suspense, putting readers in the middle of harrowing rescues and crime scene investigations

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Review: I've never really read a book about a search and rescue group. Not that they don't interest me... I just think they're underrepresented in a lot of contemporary YA fiction. So I was pretty excited when I came across this book that dealt with a search and rescue team! Plus some mystery, secrets, and an investigation? Count me in!

The plot and the story itself definitely held my attention. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen next, and I spent most of the book trying to figure out "whodunnit" on my own. There were times when I thought I had it figured out only to be proven wrong, and even a couple of times when I actually did have it figured out but somehow managed to convince myself otherwise. The mystery part is very well written, and it was really interesting to see snippets from the killer's point of view.

I didn't, however, really connect with any of the three main characters. Nick's chapters are very bland and he's always just trying to prove himself to his brother or his mom. I mean, I guess I can understand why, but you'd think after so many years he'd be over that. And I think there was a little bit of a crush on Alexis going on there, but that's not really developed at all either so I wasn't upset with how that worked out. Alexis has to deal with a mentally ill mother, but we're never really told HOW she deals with it, besides worrying all the time. So I missed a connection there as well. And the romance in her section feels so unnecessary. 

Ruby was the only character who I thought was actually really interesting. She's different, and she has certain obsessions, but she's very focused once she gets her mind set on something. I thought it was neat to follow along with her thought process and to find out what she remembered about...well, everything. Every time the detective blew her off, I felt her aggravation. I sympathized the most with her, and I almost wish there were more chapters from her perspective. 

I think this book is well written as far as the plot and the content goes (there was definitely a lot of research into how search and rescue teams do their job!), but it fell short for me when it came to the characters. I think maybe a younger crowd would enjoy this book more - it's not too gory or anything, and is pretty informative, but I'm not sure that the older YA readers would enjoy this as much. I'd recommend it if you like mysteries and are looking for something a little bit different though! 3/5.


--Ashley

Body in the Woods (Point Last Seen #1) by April Henry - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Henry Holt & Co (BYR) on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Body in the Woods (Point Last Seen #1)
Author: April Henry
Publication Date: June 17, 2014

Synopsis: In this new series told from multiple perspectives, teen members of a search and rescue team discover a dead body in the woods.

Alexis, Nick, and Ruby have very different backgrounds: Alexis has spent her life covering for her mom’s mental illness, Nick’s bravado hides his fear of not being good enough, and Ruby just wants to pursue her eccentric interests in a world that doesn’t understand her. When the three teens join Portland County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, they are teamed up to search for a autistic man lost in the woods. What they find instead is a dead body. In a friendship that will be forged in danger, fear, and courage, the three team up to find the girl’s killer—before he can strike one of their own.

This first book in April Henry’s Point Last Seen YA mystery series is full of riveting suspense, putting readers in the middle of harrowing rescues and crime scene investigations

Why?: Mystery, suspense, and a story told from multiple perspectives? Count me in! I've never read anything by April Henry, but the synopsis was enough to draw me in. 

Expectations: I'm honestly not sure what to expect. Definitely a murder mystery, but I'm not sure what else. I don't know how April writes or what will happen to the characters over the course of the book. I don't even know if I should expect this to be more of a horror book or not. I'm excited to be surprised!

Judging a book by its cover: I actually kind of like this cover. I love the ferns and how the girl's eye shadow matches them, and I like how you can't see most of her face. I also like how the font is white, since it stands out against the darker background. I think all of the green is enough to make this book stand out on a shelf, so I would probably pick it up if I saw it in a bookstore or library. 


--Ashley

Antigoddess (Goddess War #1) by Kendare Blake - Ashley's Review

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Title: Antigoddess (Goddess War #1)
Author: Kendare Blake
Year Published: 2013

My Pre-Reading

Synopsis: The Goddess War begins in Antigoddess, the first installment of the new series by acclaimed author of Anna Dressed in Blood, Kendare Blake.

Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god. 

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning. 

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out. 

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

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Review: I loved Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares, so I've been really excited to read Antigoddess. Kendare Blake tackles Greek mythology? Heck yes! And I was definitely not disappointed, this book was most excellent! 

This book felt like it was a lot of setup, and I didn't think the plot moved along very quickly. It took me a few chapters to get into, but once I finally did I really didn't want to put it down. There's a lot of character introduction, and background information on each of the characters. I did like how famous humans from mythology were incorporated, since I think they're overlooked much too often. I don't know much about Cassandra, Hector, or Andromache (past reading The Illiad and The Odyssey a really long time ago), so it was nice to have some of their background included as a refresher. I also really enjoyed how the relationship between Cassandra of Troy and Apollo plays out in this book. 

I didn't really connect with Athena for most of this book - sure she's dying, but so is every other god and goddess. Why should she be the heroine of the story? I eventually began to understand why Athena and Hermes were the better team to root for (Poseidon is ridiculously creepy, Aphrodite has lost her mind, and Hera doesn't care at all about the human population), and it was interesting to learn more about Aphrodite and Hermes and their opinions of each other. I think there's a lot more to learn about them, and I'm looking forward to meeting more of the gods and goddesses as the series progresses.

Although the plot doesn't race along at a breakneck speed, I really enjoyed how the pacing matched up with the two interwoven story lines (one follows Athena and the other follow Cassandra). They run pretty parallel for a while, and then eventually converge into one crazy story. I think it will be really interesting to see how far Cassandra is willing to go after the end of the book, and what Athena might have to do to rein her in. 

Overall, I think this was a really great start to what will be an excellent series! If you like books that have Greek mythology, you should definitely check out Antigoddess. While it's definitely different from Anna Dressed in Blood, this book is still filled to the brim with Kendare's beautiful writing and incredible characters. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book! 4/5. 

--Ashley

The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Roaring Brook Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: The Truth About Alice
Author: Jennifer Mathieu
Publication Date: June 3, 2014

Synopsis: Everyone has a lot to say about Alice Franklin, and it’s stopped mattering whether it’s true. The rumors started at a party when Alice supposedly had sex with two guys in one night. When school starts everyone almost forgets about Alice until one of those guys, super-popular Brandon, dies in a car wreck that was allegedly all Alice’s fault. Now the only friend she has is a boy who may be the only other person who knows the truth, but is too afraid to admit it. 

Told from the perspectives of popular girl Elaine, football star Josh, former outcast Kelsie, and shy genius Kurt, we see how everyone has a motive to bring – and keep – Alice down.

Why?: This is not normally a book I would pick up, but I've heard really excellent things about it so I couldn't pass on it. I think it will be interesting to see one girl's story from the perspective of four different people, and to learn the truth about Alice and find out the secrets surrounding her. 

Expectations: I'm expecting a really powerful book. I think it will deal heavily with rumors and their effect on people, as well as how teenagers in different cliques view those in other cliques. I'm also kind of expecting a pretty dark book, since there are secrets and death and pretty bad rumors being spread.

Judging a book by its cover: I actually really like this cover. I like that the girl is just a silhouette and that we don't really know anything about her. I like the graffiti in the background that looks like a bathroom stall. The colors all work really well, and I love how the title is written on the girl. I would likely pick this book up based solely on the cover if I saw it in a bookstore or a library.


--Ashley

Antigoddess (Goddess War #1) by Kendare Blake - Ashley's Pre-Reading

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Antigoddess (Goddess War #1)
Author: Kendare Blake
Year Published: 2013

Synopsis: The Goddess War begins in Antigoddess, the first installment of the new series by acclaimed author of Anna Dressed in Blood, Kendare Blake.

Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god. 

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning. 

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out. 

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

Why?: I loved Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares, so I was super excited when I found out about Kendare Blake's newest series. I really enjoy Greek mythology and stories based around it, so I knew I just had to read Antigoddess! 

Expectations: I have really high expectations for this book, since I loved the Anna Dressed in Blood books so much. I expect this to be a pretty dark book, since it involves the gods dying. I'm just so excited to read this book that I hope it's everything I think it will be!

Judging a book by its cover: I really love this cover. I love that it doesn't give anything away, but the feathers are still related to the book. I also love how stark the white is against the black background and how this cover is totally unlike most other YA book covers out there. I'd totally pick it up if I saw it on a shelf in a bookstore or library somewhere.


--Ashley

One Man Guy by Michael Barakiva - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (BYR) on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: One Man Guy
Author: Michael Barakiva
Publication Date: May 27, 2014

My Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Alek Khederian should have guessed something was wrong when his parents took him to a restaurant. Everyone knows that Armenians never eat out. Why bother, when their home cooking is far superior to anything "these Americans" could come up with? Between bouts of interrogating the waitress and criticizing the menu, Alek’s parents announce that he’ll be attending summer school in order to bring up his grades. Alek is sure this experience will be the perfect hellish end to his hellish freshmen year of high school. He never could’ve predicted that he’d meet someone like Ethan.

Ethan is everything Alek wishes he were: confident, free-spirited, and irreverent. When Ethan gets Alek to cut school and go to a Rufus Wainwright concert in New York City’s Central Park, Alek embarks on his first adventure outside the confines of his suburban New Jersey existence. He can’t believe a guy this cool wants to be his friend. And before long, it seems like Ethan wants to be more than friends. Alek has never thought about having a boyfriend—he’s barely ever had a girlfriend—but maybe it’s time to think again.

Michael Barakiva's One Man Guy is a romantic, moving, laugh-out-loud-funny story about what happens when one person cracks open your world and helps you see everything—and, most of all, yourself--like you never have before.

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Review: This is a super cute summer romance that would be a good book to read while sitting out on the beach or in a hammock enjoying some gorgeous summer weather. It's a quick easy read, and it was fun to watch Alek rediscover himself. 

I think this book has really good intentions. I've never read another book about an Armenian main character, so I think that it was neat to be able to glimpse a part of the Armenian-American heritage. I also really enjoyed that, even though Alex hated parts of his Armenian upbringing, it was still so deeply ingrained within him that he could recall the stories and the manners without a second thought. Although he hates his parents for being so strict, he's really a good kid. 

Another thing I enjoyed about this book was how accepting everyone was. The D.O.s accept Ethan for who he is, and even the people you think might be the least likely people to accept Alek and Ethan are incredibly open and caring and loving. It's just really nice to see in a YA book, especially as it's becoming more common in every day life. Just because Alek starts to fall for a boy doesn't make him any different than any of his peers. 

There were some really good, strong things about this book, but as a whole it just wasn't anything spectacular. Even though it's a gay teen romance, it's still a teen romance, and I'm not sure that having "gay" stamped on it is enough to make it stand out from all of the other contemporary YA romances. It's cute, it's sweet, and it makes a lot of good points... but then again so do most other books in its genre. I would probably recommend it to anyone looking for a nice summer romance without much suspense, mystery, magic, or any of that jazz. I'd give One Man Guy a 3/5.


--Ashley

One Man Guy by Michael Barakiva - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (BYR) on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: One Man Guy
Author: Michael Barakiva
Publication Date: May 27, 2014

Synopsis: Alek Khederian should have guessed something was wrong when his parents took him to a restaurant. Everyone knows that Armenians never eat out. Why bother, when their home cooking is far superior to anything "these Americans" could come up with? Between bouts of interrogating the waitress and criticizing the menu, Alek’s parents announce that he’ll be attending summer school in order to bring up his grades. Alek is sure this experience will be the perfect hellish end to his hellish freshmen year of high school. He never could’ve predicted that he’d meet someone like Ethan.

Ethan is everything Alek wishes he were: confident, free-spirited, and irreverent. When Ethan gets Alek to cut school and go to a Rufus Wainwright concert in New York City’s Central Park, Alek embarks on his first adventure outside the confines of his suburban New Jersey existence. He can’t believe a guy this cool wants to be his friend. And before long, it seems like Ethan wants to be more than friends. Alek has never thought about having a boyfriend—he’s barely ever had a girlfriend—but maybe it’s time to think again.

Michael Barakiva's One Man Guy is a romantic, moving, laugh-out-loud-funny story about what happens when one person cracks open your world and helps you see everything—and, most of all, yourself--like you never have before.

Why?: This book sounds like a really cute summer romance, and it's been a while since I've read a good one. The synopsis also promises humor, which is always a plus! 

Expectations: Other than a light, humorous, contemporary romance, I'm not really sure what else to expect. I've never read anything from this author, so I can't say anything about what I hope the writing will be like or anything, and it's been so long since I've read a book like this that I don't know what to compare it to as far as what I think it will be like. 

Judging a book by its cover: I kind of like this cover. I like that the boys are paper dolls, and I like how bright the yellow is. I think the yellow would help it stand out on a shelf, so I'd probably at least notice it and maybe pick it up.


--Ashley

The Rain is a Lie (Crewel World #1.5) by Gennifer Albin - Ashley's Review

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Title: The Rain is a Lie
Author: Gennifer Albin
Year Published: 2013

My Crewel review
My Altered review
Paul's Crewel review

Synopsis: In Arras, space and time aren't ideas, they are tangible substances woven together by beautiful girls into the very fabric of reality. The looms that create Arras are as controlled as the Spinsters who work them, ensuring a near idyllic world for the average citizen. But at what price? 

As an election approaches, a surprise weather forecast and a mysterious stranger hint that not all is as it seems, and a young boy learns that in Arras nothing can be trusted, not even memories. "The Rain is a Lie" is an original short story set in the world of Gennifer Albin's Crewel.

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Review: I love short stories set in known worlds, so I was really excited when I found out about this one! Crewel was one of my favorite books this year, and I am so glad I was able to learn a little bit more about Arras and its people before Altered was released. It definitely helps to ease the anticipation! 

This story was a lot more tame than Altered, but I think it still gave the same message - that things are not always as they seem. Instead of a young woman, we follow a small boy as he goes to meet his mother at the market. He sees and hears things that he finds strange and doesn't understand, but no one is willing to listen to him or explain anything. I think it also says something about parents and adults in this society. Sometimes children hear and see things that the adults miss or pretend are not there, but end up being right. 

I really want to know the significance of the rain being a lie, and how this story ties in to the main books. I think I need to reread Crewel at the very least, but it was still a good story and expansion on the world nonetheless. I definitely recommend this to anyone who has read any of the other books/stories in the Crewel World series! Especially because you can read it for free on Tor's website! 3/5. 


--Ashley

Of Triton (Of Poseidon #2) by Anna Banks - Paul's Review

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Title: Of Triton (Of Poseidon #2)
Author: Anna Banks
Year Published: 2013

My PRE READING
My REVIEW of Of Poseidon 
Ashley's REVIEW of Of Poseidon

Synopsis: In this sequel to Of Poseidon, Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half-Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?


Review: I really enjoyed this sequel. I'm glad we got to learn more about the Syrena. We also got to meet a lot more of them. I enjoyed seeing them all especially Grom and the Archives.

Just like the first book, I was surprised by how sad certain chapters were. Although, the book is mostly a light fun read. I had to leave my degree in marine biology behind yet again and just accept the world Banks created.

There are a lot of parallels to current civil rights issues. The same arguments used in the book could be used today. Or during the Civil Rights Movement. All people should be accepted as people, no matter their differences.

I am very excited for the sequel. Mountains? I give this book a 4/5. If you read Of Poseidon, you should definitely pick this up.

-PAUL

Of Triton (Of Poseidon #2) by Anna Banks - Paul's Pre-Reading

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Title: Of Triton (Of Poseidon #2)
Author: Anna Banks
Year Published: 2013

Synopsis: In this sequel to Of Poseidon, Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half-Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?

Why?:  I enjoyed Of Poseidon. It was a light and fun read and it left me craving more. I want to learn more about Emma's mother. I am also intrigued by the half breeds. And I want more of the Syrena.

Expectations: I expect another light fun read. I'm hoping the world will be expanded more and we will learn new things. Since this book is called Of Triton, maybe we will see the Gift of Triton.   

Judging a book by its cover:  The cover has a similar feel to the first book. They aren't anything special to me. I think there are many similar covers out there.

-PAUL

Delia's Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan/Tor-Forge on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Delia's Shadow
Author: Jaime Lee Moyer
Year Published: 2013

My Pre-Reading

Synopsis: A dark, romantic fantasy set against the backdrop of San Francisco devastated by the Great Quake.

It is the dawn of a new century in San Francisco and Delia Martin is a wealthy young woman whose life appears ideal. But a dark secret colors her life, for Delia’s most loyal companions are ghosts, as she has been gifted (or some would say cursed) with an ability to peer across to the other side.

Since the great quake rocked her city in 1906, Delia has been haunted by an avalanche of the dead clamoring for her help. Delia flees to the other side of the continent, hoping to gain some peace. After several years in New York, Delia believes she is free…until one determined specter appears and she realizes that she must return to the City by the Bay in order to put this tortured soul to rest.

It will not be easy, as the ghost is only one of the many victims of a serial killer who was never caught. A killer who after thirty years is killing again. 

And who is now aware of Delia’s existence.

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Review: You know when you love a book so much that you just can't into words how you feel about it? Yeah. That's this book. I mean, I knew it was going to be dark and have romance and ghosts and a serial killer, but it just blew me away how well everything is woven together. I felt all of the feels in this book, and it was absolutely wonderful.

Ghost stories have been done before. Some people can see ghosts, others can't. People are haunted by certain ghosts. But somehow Jaime manages to take this popular plot and turn it into something completely different. Delia's ghost, her Shadow if you will, wants something from her. So badly, in fact, that she traveled across the country to get Delia back to San Francisco. I loved how her story is intertwined with Delia's and her friends' stories. There are so many little details that I didn't pick up on until later that made me realize just how ridiculously connected everything is. 

The mystery part, to me, felt like it was split into two segments. First, who is Shadow and what happened to her? Then, once we figure that out, the mystery becomes finding out who the serial killer is. Although both have several twists and are not immediately obvious, I do think the first was more shocking than the second. It took me a little longer to figure out all the twists with the first one, and I was surprised when information was revealed. I thought the romance part was done very well too - Sadie & Jack's story is super sweet and I love them together, and Delia & Gabe's budding romance begins slowly and reluctantly and evolves as the two become better and better friends. Nothing happens too quickly, and if things progress a little fast it's always explained well.

I'm still not really used to switching perspectives and switching narration styles at the same time, so it took me a little while to get into the transitions from Delia's first person to Gabe's third person. I think it works very well in this book, but it's just very jarring the first couple of times. I think Gabe's sections helped give a more complete picture of all of the characters, since we view them from an outside source, but I really liked being inside Delia's mind and seeing the ghosts as she saw them and feeling the things she felt. I don't think it would have worked if we had been outside of Delia's mind, since I don't think I would have been so completely immersed in the whole ghost experience.

I really just loved everything about this book, and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a dark, gritty, romance full of mystery and ghosts. I would NOT recommend this to a younger audience though, because there is a lot of blood and death and gruesome descriptions of how the victims were tortured before they died. So anyone with a weak stomach should probably avoid this book as well. This book reminded me quite a bit of Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard, so I think fans of that series would also enjoy this one. A 5/5 from me, and I can't wait for the sequel! 

--Ashley

Delia's Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan/Tor-Forge on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*


Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Delia's Shadow
Author: Jaime Lee Moyer
Year Published: 2013

Synopsis: A dark, romantic fantasy set against the backdrop of San Francisco devastated by the Great Quake

It is the dawn of a new century in San Francisco and Delia Martin is a wealthy young woman whose life appears ideal. But a dark secret colors her life, for Delia’s most loyal companions are ghosts, as she has been gifted (or some would say cursed) with an ability to peer across to the other side.

Since the great quake rocked her city in 1906, Delia has been haunted by an avalanche of the dead clamoring for her help. Delia flees to the other side of the continent, hoping to gain some peace. After several years in New York, Delia believes she is free…until one determined specter appears and she realizes that she must return to the City by the Bay in order to put this tortured soul to rest.

It will not be easy, as the ghost is only one of the many victims of a serial killer who was never caught. A killer who after thirty years is killing again. 

And who is now aware of Delia’s existence.

Why?: Umm... hello! Paranormal fantasy set in 1906 San Francisco only a few years after a tremendous natural disaster? With ghosts and a serial killer and a girl who can stop one by listening to the others? This sounds like my type of book! I've heard so many good things about this already, so I can't wait to dive right in.

Expectations: Definitely mystery and ghosts and an exciting story colored with elements of the Victorian era. Even though this is only Moyer's debut novel, I've already heard so many excellent things that my expectations are pretty high. Plus, there are some pretty fantastic ghost stories out there that I've already read, and I really want this one to measure up to those. 

Judging a book by its cover: This cover reminds me of the cover for the Something Strange and Deadly books, and I kind of love it. Her dress is not quite as extravagant, but I like the dark colors and how shadow-y it looks. It's very fitting! And, since it isn't just a close up of a girl's face and doesn't look like your typical YA cover, I would most likely pick it up off a shelf. I love how the lettering stands out against the dark background too. 


--Ashley

Crewel (Crewel World #1) by Gennifer Albin - Ashley's Review

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Title: Crewel
Author: Gennifer Albin
Year Published: 2012

My Pre-Reading
My Department of Alterations Review

Synopsis: Enter a tangled world of secrets and intrigue where a girl is in charge of other’s destinies, but not her own.

Sixteen-year-old Adelice Lewys has always been special. When her parents discover her gift—the ability to weave the very fabric of reality—they train her to hide it. For good reason, they don’t want her to become a Spinster — one of the elite, beautiful, and deadly women who determine what people eat, where they live, how many children they have, and even when they die.

Thrust into the opulent Western Coventry, Adelice will be tried, tested and tempted as she navigates the deadly politics at play behind its walls.  Now caught in a web of lies and forbidden romance, she must unravel the sinister truth behind her own unspeakable power.  Her world is hanging by a thread, and Adelice, alone, can decide to save it — or destroy it.

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Review: This book was everything I hoped it would be and also so much more. I wish more books were like Crewel - it was seriously that good. Everything about the world building and the characters and the story and all of the minor details that start to come together make this book beautiful and thrilling and completely unforgettable.

I loved so much about this book that I don't even know where to start. I guess with the world-building? Albin's world is simple, but complex. The Guild controls everything, with the help of the Spinsters, and normal people lead pretty normal and simple lives. It's amazing how Albin weaves (haha) all of these different things together to make a society that isn't terribly unbelievable. If there were people who could weave the very fabric of time and the universe, I imagine it would result in something exactly like what Albin writes about. And then when Adelice describes hat the weave looks like... I seriously felt like I could see it myself. It's awesome, and I want to know so much more about this world.

The characters in the world are also incredible. Adelice is confused, but she's still strong. The more I read, the more invested I became in her well-being and in her story. I wanted to hug her when she was sad, and celebrate with her when she was happy. She grows up quite a bit in this book, and she learns things that no normal girl should have to learn (not that Adelice is anywhere close to normal). She has to deal with so many different things, and never gives up on wanting to learn the truth - even if it means sacrificing the things she holds dearest. I admire her, and can't wait to find out more about her in the rest of the series. 

The more minor characters are all very nicely written as well. Jost and Erik are surprising and charming, and although I'm definitely Team Jost right now, I'm interested to see where the romance goes in the next book. Speaking of the romance, it was slow-paced and believable, and that was a really nice change of pace from the whole "love at first sight" thing. While I also enjoyed the heroes and the villains, I think my favorite characters were the ones who were somewhere in the middle. They waiver between which "side" they support, and I think that really helped move the story along.

Albin's pacing is also very well done. She takes time to give you necessary and important details, and to drop hints about future events, but it never slows the story down. Things also don't happen so quickly that you might miss something if you aren't paying close enough attention. This was a fairly easy read, and I found myself not wanting to put it down to even sleep or eat. 

I could really gush about how beautifully written this book is all day, but I don't think it will do it enough justice. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an excellent sci-fi read, regardless of if you're a fan of YA or not. I don't even know what to compare this book to, because it's not like anything I've ever read. I'm so excited to read the next book in this series, especially since it comes out soon! Definitely do  NOT miss this book. A 5/5 from me. One of my favorites I've read this year. 


--Ashley

Crewel (Crewel World #1) by Gennifer Albin - Ashley's Pre-Reading

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Crewel
Author: Gennifer Albin
Year Published: 2012

Synopsis: Enter a tangled world of secrets and intrigue where a girl is in charge of other’s destinies, but not her own.

Sixteen-year-old Adelice Lewys has always been special. When her parents discover her gift—the ability to weave the very fabric of reality—they train her to hide it. For good reason, they don’t want her to become a Spinster — one of the elite, beautiful, and deadly women who determine what people eat, where they live, how many children they have, and even when they die.

Thrust into the opulent Western Coventry, Adelice will be tried, tested and tempted as she navigates the deadly politics at play behind its walls.  Now caught in a web of lies and forbidden romance, she must unravel the sinister truth behind her own unspeakable power.  Her world is hanging by a thread, and Adelice, alone, can decide to save it — or destroy it.

Why?: A girl who can weave destinies, a group of highly powerful women that are apparently also very dangerous, a mystery, forbidden romance, and all sorts of other things? This book sounds so epic! YA Fantasy books are my favorite, and I'm really interested in this one. I'm also curious as to if there will be any references to the Fates and to ancient Greek/Roman mythology. I have so many questions just from reading the description, and I hope that this book contains at least most of the answers!

Expectations: I expect a pretty epic story with a lot of world building. Also, I expect there to be quite a few twists to keep me on my toes. I'm not really sure what else to expect - I haven't read many reviews or anything to try and figure anything out. I'm hoping for a good story with even better characters.

Judging a book by its cover: I really love this cover! Everything about it is just gorgeous, and it definitely caught my eye as I was browsing on Amazon. I would pick this up off a shelf in a heartbeat if I  saw it in a bookstore or in a library. So much cover love.


--Ashley

Endurance (Razorland #1.5) by Ann Aguirre - Ashley's Review

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Title: Endurance
Author: Ann Aguirre
Year Published: 2012

Synopsis: When rebellion destroys the underground world in which Thimble and Stone have grown up, they take Stone’s son and try to escape the chaos. Along the way, they must evade the Freaks, beings who feed on human flesh. Leaving behind the roles of Builder and Breeder which they were assigned at birth, they wander the underground tunnels, looking for safety yet afraid to go “topside” where legend has it that the light and water will burn their skin from their bones.

Their journey takes them upward to an unimagined world of tinned food, comfortable furniture, and books. Away from their regimented society for the first time, and still facing imminent danger, Thimble and Stone acknowledge the forbidden attraction which both have denied for years.

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Review: I'm such a sucker for short stories about minor characters, and this one was definitely no exception. Like Deuce, I wondered what happened to Thimble and Stone after Deuce and Fade leave the enclave. Did the Freaks attack and take over College? Did Thimble and Stone survive? Did they even know that Deuce lied for Stone? This story answered all my questions and even gave me answers to questions I didn't even know I had! 

I really liked that the chapters went back and forth between Stone and Thimble, and that we get to see the rebellion from both of their perspectives. We also get to see how they finally come to accept and admit their feelings for each other, and the little bit of romance included in this story was actually nice. Both characters have their strengths, and I enjoyed learning about how they were able to play off of each other and survive. 

Hopefully we get to learn more about Stone and Thimble, and Robin too!, because I still want to know what happens to them after the end of this story. I love this world and the characters and the story and everything, and I can't wait to read more. I would give this story a 4/5 and recommend it to anyway who has read any of the Razorland series. 


--Ashley