BLOG TOUR: The Princess & The Page by Christina Farley - Ashley's Review + GIVEAWAY!

Welcome to a world where magic spills from the tip of a pen. THE PRINCESS AND THE PAGE is Christina Farley's first middle grade, releasing from Scholastic Press. Make sure you enter the $25 gift card giveaway at the end of this post!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CHRISTINA FARLEY is the author of the bestselling Gilded series. Prior to that, she worked as an international teacher and at a top secret job for Disney where she was known to scatter pixie dust before the sun rose. When not traveling the world or creating imaginary ones, she spends time with her family in Clermont, Florida with her husband and two sons where they are busy preparing for the next World Cup, baking cheesecakes, and raising a pet dragon that's in disguise as a cockatiel. You can visit her online at ChristinaFarley.com.

MY REVIEW

I love a good fairy tale as much as the next princess and I was so excited to hear that Christina was writing one about a princess and a magical pen! It sounded like exactly the type of book my younger self would have loved, and I have been anxious to read it! A princess, an evil step-sister, a dragon, a magical castle (based on a real castle!), and a whole slew of other fairy tale characters? Definitely count me in!

From the very beginning, I felt like Keira was living in her own twisted version of a fairy tale. Her mother doesn't allow any pens in the house - only pencils - and she is not allowed to read or write any fiction. It's kind of crazy, and I can't really blame her for having a secret stash of writing supplies. There's a secret, magical pen though, and I actually kind of enjoyed how the explanation was spread throughout the book. It made for a great mystery and as the story progressed, made it easier to understand Keira's mom's crazy rules. 

Most of the characters are very likeable - at least the ones who aren't villains! I really enjoyed watching Keira's friendship with Chet develop and grow. They make a great team and it was fun to see them sleuthing together. It was also nice that there was no hints of romance or anything underneath their friendship. It seems like every fairy tale princess ends up with a prince at the end, but anything more than friendship would have felt forced, I think. Bella, on the other hand, kind of annoyed me, but I can definitely understand why she and Keira are such good friends. They seem to balance each other out and have each other's backs even when they disagree. I'd love to see more of Keira, Bella, and Chet! 

I think my favorite part of The Princess & The Page was the mystery surrounding the pen and the fairy tale. From the blue light emanating from the pen, to the WW symbol on the case and everywhere in Keira's story, to the ghosts in the castle and the people who are in both the story and real life, there was never a dull moment. Even when Keira is  going about her planned activities for the day, there's always something strange afoot and a mystery to be solved. If she doesn't continue writing stories, I think she'd make a great detective. 

Overall, this was a really fun story that kept me hooked and left me wanting more. I could definitely see this book being a standalone - the story wraps up nicely at the end and doesn't leave too many loose ends. I still have plenty of questions that I hope might be answered in a sequel - or a prequel about Keira's grandmother! - but at least there isn't a cliffhanger or anything that would make for a very agonizing wait. I would definitely recommend this to a younger crowd of readers, especially anyone who loves princesses, castles, magic, and even a good villain or two. It would be a really great book for a parent or older sibling or even babysitter to read with a younger child. I can't wait to see what Christina has up her sleeves next! A strong 4/5 from me.

CONTINUE THE BOOK TOUR

Mar. 23th - Ana Loves Books

Mar. 24^th - YA Book Madness

March 25^th - Literary Rambles

March 27^th - Twinning for Books

March 28^th - Mundie Kids

Mar. 29^th - All Things Christine

Mar. 30^th - YA Book Divas

Mar. 31^st- Miranda's Book Reviews

Mar. 31^st - Word Spelunking

Apr. 3^rd- Mine of Books

Apr. 4^th – The AP Book Club

Apr. 5^th – Middle Grade Ninja

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Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle #3) by Maggie Steifvater - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Scholastic Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Blue Lily, Lily Blue (Raven Cycle #3)
Author: Maggie Steifvater
Publication Date: October 21, 2014
 
My The Raven Boys Review
My The Dream Thieves Review
 
Paul's The Raven Boys Review
Paul's The Dream Thieves Review
Paul's Blue Lily, Lily Blue Pre-Reading

Synopsis: There is danger in dreaming. But there is even more danger in waking up.

Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs.

The trick with found things though, is how easily they can be lost.

Friends can betray.
Mothers can disappear.
Visions can mislead.
Certainties can unravel.

Why?: I've enjoyed the other two books in the Raven Cycle, and have been looking forward to reading this one since I finished The Dream Thieves. I can't wait to find out what's next for the group, especially after the end of The Dream Thieves. I have so many questions that I hope are answered in this book, although I'm sure I'll have even more after this one.

Expectations: Since I enjoyed the other two books so much, I have really high expectations for this book. I think this one will deal with a lot of loss, and a lot of things will go wrong for Blue and the Raven Boys. But honestly, the synopsis does not give much information at all, so I really don't know what else to expect and I'm looking forward to being surprised.

Judging a book by its cover: I really love everything about this cover. The colors, the way it matches the rest of the series, the birds and the flowers, and even the placement of the title. I would 100% pick this book up off of a shelf if I saw it in a bookstore or library, and I would probably even buy it even if I had no idea what it was about. Gorgeous!


--Ashley

Everyday Angel #2: Second Chances by Victoria Schwab - Ashley's Review

*I received an eARC of this book from Scholastic on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Everyday Angel #2: New Beginnings
Author: Victoria Schwab
Publication Date: August 26, 2014

My Everyday Angel #1: New Beginnings ReviewMy Everyday Angel #1: New Beginnings Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Meet a guardian angel like no other, from a writer like no other. Bold, rising star Victoria Schwab returns with the second book in this whimsical, inspiring, and clever middle-grade series.

There's more to Aria than meets the eye. She's a guardian angel. And to earn her wings, she'll have to help three different girls....

This time, Aria comes to Caroline Maso

When Aria arrives, she can see Caroline is suffering. But, to Aria's surprise, so is Lily. What is the story behind Lily's cruel actions? And can Aria help guide Caroline out of the darkness ... and into better, brighter future?

At her all-girls' prep school, Caroline is being bullied. She eats lunch alone and is picked on by her classmates every day. The ringleader of the mean girls is Lily Pierce. But Lily isn't an ordinary bully: she used to be Caroline's best friend.

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Review: I absolutely love Victoria Schwab's books. I pre-order them whenever they're available, and I read them as soon as I get them. Her Everyday Angel books are no exception - they're just as wonderful and powerful and the characters are just so well-developed that I always forget they're written for middle grade audiences. 

Aria is my favorite, and I'm glad the books are mostly focused around her. She's the only recurring character, although the girl and situations from the first book are mentioned in passing, so it was really easy to dive head first in to this one even though I'd read New Beginnings a while ago. Aria is a little different in this book - she's learned some things about the world and she's maturing. But her personality is still the same, and she's still spunky and colorful and incredibly helpful. 

I also really enjoyed that this book deals with bullying and friendships and how quickly relationships can change. I think it's an important lesson for young girls (and boys) to learn. Sometimes friends stop being your friends and bullies are mean, but just because one person or group is a bunch of bullies doesn't mean everyone is a bully. I felt so bad for Caroline, and then I actually started to feel bad for Lily too. I love how Victoria can just turn a villain into a misunderstood character, and no one is ever really bad or really good in her books. 

This book, and this series, is definitely written for a younger audience. The girls are very young and not interested in romantic relationships (which would feel ridiculously out of place if there were any in this series), and they're mostly still very close with their families. There are a lot of really good life lessons in these books for kids who might be struggling with any number of things, and it's presented in such a way that it isn't preachy or boring or anything like that.

I would definitely recommend Second Chances to anyone who has read New Beginnings, and I would recommend the series to fans of MG books that have a little bit of a paranormal twist but are mostly contemporary. I also think young girls would really enjoy these books - I know I would have loved them when I was in elementary school and going to the Scholastic book fairs! - and I'm sure there are some young boys out there who would like them too. I personally am looking forward to the last book in this series to see if Aria finally gets her wings! 4/5.


--Ashley

Everyday Angel #1: New Beginnings by Victoria Schwab - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Scholastic on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Everyday Angel #1: New Beginnings
Author: Victoria Schwab
Publication Date: May 27, 2014

Synopsis: Meet a guardian angel like no other, from a writer like no other. Bold rising star, Victoria Schwab, makes her whimsical, inspiring, and clever middle-grade debut.

At a first glance, Aria seems like your average twelve-year-old girl. She has coppery hair, colored shoelaces, and a passion for cupcakes. But there's more to Aria than meets the eye. She can dream things into existence, use her own shadow like a door, and change the world in small, important ways. Aria is a guardian angel. She's been sent here to earn her wings. But to do that, she'll have to help three different girls.

Aria's first mission is Gabby Torres. Gabby's always been quiet, but ever since her brother got sick, she's barely said a word.When a new school offers her a fresh start, Gabby wants badly to be someone new, but she quickly learns it's hard to make friends while keeping half her life a secret.

And then Aria shows up. Aria, who knows exactly what to say and do to make Gabby feel better. Will she be able to help Gabby find her voice? And will Gabby still trust Aria when she finds out exactly what she is?

Think John Green for middle grade, with a touch of magic!

Why?: I have loved everything that I've read from Victoria Schwab (which is basically everything she's published), so I was really excited to find out that she was writing a middle grade book about guardian angels! This book sounds different from any other guardian angel book I've seen, and I can't wait to read her take on them.

Expectations: Even though this is her middle grade debut, I still have ridiculously high expectations for New Beginnings. I still expect the writing to be gorgeous and for this book to deal with really hard topics (especially for a younger audience). Also, I'm pretty sure there will be lots of life lessons inside.

Judging a book by its cover: For what it is, I really like this cover. I like that the girls are nondescript and I like the colors. However, I do think that this cover is very girly and that many boys would avoid it based on that alone. Since I like it, I would probably pick it up off the shelf in a bookstore or library! 


--Ashley

The Shadow Throne (The Ascendance Trilogy #3) by Jennifer A. Nielsen - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Scholastic Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: The Shadow Throne (Ascendance Trilogy #3)
Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen
Date of Publication: February 25, 2014

My The Shadow Throne (#3) Pre-Reading
My The Runaway King (#2) Review
My The Runaway King (#2) Pre-Reading
My The False Prince (#1) Review
My The False Prince (#1) Pre-Reading

Paul's The False Prince (#1) Review
Synopsis: One war.
Too many deadly battles.
Can a king save his kingdom, when his own survival seems unlikely?

War has come to Carthya. It knocks at every door and window in the land. And when Jaron learns that King Vargan of Avenia has kidnapped Imogen in a plot to bring Carthya to its knees, Jaron knows it is up to him to embark on a daring rescue mission. But everything that can go wrong does.

His friends are flung far and wide across Carthya and its neighbouring lands. In a last-ditch effort to stave off what looks to be a devastating loss for the kingdom, Jaron undertakes what may be his last journey to save everything and everyone he loves. But even with his lightning-quick wit, Jaron cannot forestall the terrible danger that descends on him and his country. Along the way, will he lose what matters most? And in the end, who will sit on Carthya's throne?

Rousing and affecting, Jaron's adventures have thrilled and moved readers in The False Prince and The Runaway King. Journey once again with the Ascendant King of Carthya, as New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen brings his story to a stunning conclusion with The Shadow Throne.

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Review: I really thought that The Runaway King was going to be as good as it got. That The Shadow Throne would wrap up the story, but that it wouldn't be as intense, fast-paced, or insightful as The Runaway King. You guys. I was wrong. So, so wrong. Because The Shadow Throne was probably my favorite book of the series, and had so much going for it. I don't know how, but Jennifer Nielsen managed to write a series that only gets better as it goes along, and grows as Jaron does.

I knew that Jaron was going to get himself into quite a bit of trouble in this book. I mean, what would a book in this trilogy be if he wasn't in some ridiculous predicament that seemed impossible to get out of? Before, there was pretending to be an orphan pretending to be a king. Then, there were pirates and thieves. And now, Jaron has to try to pull his entire country through a war where all of the odds are stacked against him. And THEN, to make matters worse, he experiences one of the greatest losses he's ever been through. He's pretty much an emotional wreck this entire book, but he still manages fight for his country and his friends and his life. 

One of my favorite things about Jaron is how he always keeps everyone guessing. As readers, we all know he's got a plan stewing even when it seems like everything is hopeless. He drops hints and does things that should give away what he's going to do, but somehow Nielsen manages to add details that make it a surprise every time. I would love to spend a day in his head, or to be able to talk with him for an afternoon. That kid is crazy, and I loved every bit of it. It just amazed me how smart and cunning and resourceful Jaron is, and I loved reading about his situation and trying to pick out clues as to what his plan was.

Another thing that I really liked about this book was how much darker it seemed than The False Prince and even The Runaway King. There's so much death and violence and war is always a dark thing, and I was really impressed that Nielsen managed to write everything in a way that would still be alright for a younger audience. This book definitely felt older to me than the other two - closer to a YA book than a MG book, I think - but there's nothing too scary or gory or anything that a younger child wouldn't be able to handle. 

I could really go on about how incredible this book is for a long time, but I don't want to give too much away. The best way to experience the conclusion to this series is to read it yourself, and I don't think you'll be disappointed. The ending is satisfying and fits very much with the characters and the overall tone of the series, and I'm glad things worked out the way they did. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has read the rest of the series, and to anyone who is a fan of YA/MG fantasy. Especially for younger kids who are looking to get into a really good fantasy series. 5/5!

--Ashley

The Shadow Throne (Ascendance Trilogy #3) by Jennifer Nielsen - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Scholastic Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: The Shadow Throne (Ascendance Trilogy #3)
Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen
Date of Publication: February 25, 2014

My The Runaway King (#2) Review
My The Runaway King (#2) Pre-Reading
My The False Prince (#1) Review
My The False Prince (#1) Pre-Reading

Paul's The False Prince (#1) Review

Synopsis: One war.
Too many deadly battles.
Can a king save his kingdom, when his own survival seems unlikely?

War has come to Carthya. It knocks at every door and window in the land. And when Jaron learns that King Vargan of Avenia has kidnapped Imogen in a plot to bring Carthya to its knees, Jaron knows it is up to him to embark on a daring rescue mission. But everything that can go wrong does.

His friends are flung far and wide across Carthya and its neighbouring lands. In a last-ditch effort to stave off what looks to be a devastating loss for the kingdom, Jaron undertakes what may be his last journey to save everything and everyone he loves. But even with his lightning-quick wit, Jaron cannot forestall the terrible danger that descends on him and his country. Along the way, will he lose what matters most? And in the end, who will sit on Carthya's throne?

Rousing and affecting, Jaron's adventures have thrilled and moved readers in The False Prince and The Runaway King. Journey once again with the Ascendant King of Carthya, as New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen brings his story to a stunning conclusion with The Shadow Throne.

Why?: Having read the first two books in this series, I have to know how the story ends for Jaron and Imogen and the rest of Carthya! I have so many unanswered questions, and I hope this book answers them and ties everything up nicely.

Expectations: I have pretty high expectations for this book after reading the first two. This is such an engrossing fantasy world, and I hope that it continues to be so. War, a failing kingdom, a king willing to sacrifice everything for his country... I just want this last book to do the series justice!

Judging a book by its cover: I really like how the covers in this series have stayed consistent but have still been their own. The red really makes this cover pop, and I really want to know what the significance of the key is. I also really like that on each of the covers in this series, the item on the front has been damaged in some way. It's really interesting, and I'm pretty sure I'd pick this up if I saw it on a shelf in a bookstore or a library.


--Ashley

The Runaway King (Ascendance Trilogy #2) by Jennifer A. Nielsen - Ashley's Review

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: The Runaway King (Ascendance Trilogy #2)
Author: Jennifer Nielsen
Year Published: 2013

My The Runaway King Pre-Reading
My The False Prince Review
My The False Prince Pre-Reading

Paul's The False Prince Review

Synopsis: A kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction. A king gone missing. Who will survive? Find out in the highly anticipated sequel to Jennifer A. Nielsen's blockbuster The False Prince!

Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?

The stunning second installment of The Ascendance Trilogy takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of treason and murder, thrills and peril, as they journey with the Runaway King!

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Review: I didn't think it would be possible, but The Runaway King is even better than its predecessor! I found myself immediately drawn into Jaron's story and his world, and was so surprised when everything just.. ended. I was definitely not ready for this book to be over, and I'm so glad that Scholastic gave me an eARC of The Shadow Throne so that I don't have to wait to finish Jaron's story! 

I really loved how calculating and smart and witty Jaron is. Yes, he does make really bad decisions sometimes and he gets himself into a lot of trouble, but he is always able to come up with a plan to get him out of those bad situations. And sometimes things don't go according to plan (things pretty much never go according to his plans, actually), but he still manages to figure something out. He never runs away from his problems, even if it seems like he is, and he uses his past experiences to help him get ahead. There's just so much I admire about him and I think he's an excellent role model for younger boys. Except the getting himself into trouble parts, don't do that. 

It was also pretty interesting to watch him grow as a character. He learns more about friendships and the people in his life, and he learns that everything is not always what it seems. There's so many great lessons in this book! And all of the minor characters are just as great as Jaron. They're all multi-faceted and developed and it's so neat to see Jaron discover sides of them that he didn't know before.

The world building is also pretty phenomenal. We know quite a bit about Carthya from The False Prince, but now we get to learn more about Avenia and the borderlands between Carthya and Avenia and the land of the pirates. I love that this series has elements of high fantasy in it, but that it's written at a level that's appropriate for a younger audience that might not be familiar with or capable of reading high fantasy yet. It's like the perfect gateway drug! 

Really, all of this book was just fantastic. If you've read The False Prince, you don't want to miss this book. I'm a little upset with myself for waiting so long to read it, but at least now I have no wait for The Shadow Throne! The ending will definitely leave you wanting more. I would recommend this to any fans of high fantasy, and to younger audiences looking for a thrilling ride full of mystery, secrets, pirates, fantasy, betrayal, and friendship! I did not want to put this book down, and devoured it all in one sitting. 5/5!


--Ashley

The Runaway King (Ascendance Trilogy #2) by Jennifer Nielsen - Ashley's Pre-Reading

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: The Runaway King (Ascendance Trilogy #2)
Author: Jennifer Nielsen
Year Published: 2013

My The False Prince Review
My The False Prince Pre-Reading

Paul's The False Prince Review

Synopsis: A kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction. A king gone missing. Who will survive? Find out in the highly anticipated sequel to Jennifer A. Nielsen's blockbuster The False Prince!

Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?

The stunning second installment of The Ascendance Trilogy takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of treason and murder, thrills and peril, as they journey with the Runaway King!

Why?: I read and really enjoyed The False Prince a while ago, and I've been wanting to continue this series ever since. I just never had the time - until now! I've finally gotten my hands on a copy, and I'm anxious to find out what's next for Jaron. Why is deserting his kingdom the only way to save it? Is he ever able to return? 

Expectations: Since I enjoyed The False Prince so much, I have pretty high expectations for The Runaway King. It seems like the stakes are even higher in this book, and I'm so excited for that! 

Judging a book by its cover: I'm so glad this cover matches the first one, and I love the colors of it. It looks like I would expect a fantasy book for audiences to look, so I'm not sure if it would stand out amongst all of the others. But I would probably pick it up based solely on the cover anyway, because I'm a sucker for a good fantasy book!


--Ashley

Defy (Defy #1) by Sara B. Larson - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Scholastic Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Defy

Author: Sara B. Larson

Publication Date: January 7, 2014

Paul's Review

Paul's Pre-Reading

Synopsis: A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

Why?: I love high fantasy, and I love even more when I find a YA high fantasy novel. I have heard really good things about this book, so I'm pretty excited to read it.

Expectations: My expectations are fairly high for this book, since I've heard pretty good things about it. It's been promoted everywhere, and I think it has a lot to live up to because of that. It's also being placed in the same genre as books by Rae Carson, Leigh Bardugo, and the like, and that makes me think that it should be on par with The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Graceling, and Shadow and Bone. And I really want it to be. I do expect more romance from this book than the others though.

Judging a book by its cover: I actually really like this cover. I love the colors, and how the title is very prominent. I like the rose on top of the dagger (I think it's a dagger), and how everything just looks so good together. It doesn't give too much away, but it still looks like a high fantasy book. I think it would totally stand out from other books around it!


--Ashley

The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington - Ashley's Review

My Pre-Reading

*I received an eARC of this book from Scholastic on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

I always love a good ghost story, and while this one had its moments, I don't think it really lived up to all of the other ghost stories I've read. I mean, don't get me wrong, there was quite a lot I did like about this book - the mystery, the romance, the realistic nature of it - but it was overall just kind of meh. I think if I had read this when I was younger, I would have enjoyed it more.

I think my main problem was that I just really did not connect with Jade at all. She drove me crazy for most of the novel, and I didn't like how she started using people to get what she wanted. Especially Kane. I really sympathized with him more than with Jade, and I felt so bad for him. I also didn't like how Jade would just suddenly jump to conclusions about people who were supposed to be her friends. I would have kicked her to the curb if she had done that to me.

Once I got past not liking Jade though, I thought the story was very interesting. Kayla is murdered in her own house, and the murderer is never caught. Was it an accident? Was it done in cold-blood? A crime of passion? And who would have been able to push her down the stairs without her knowing who it was? It was actually kind of nice to read a standalone book like this so that all of my questions were answered by the end.

I really enjoyed how Kayla's diary entries were included throughout the book. It was kind of cool to get to know Kayla as something other than a malicious ghost, and it was kind of fun trying to figure out which people in Kayla's life were which numbers in her diary. Some of them were kind of obvious, but others took me a little bit to figure out, and I think that added quite a bit to the novel.

Overall, I thought that the pacing was decent, although there were some parts that definitely dragged. Especially Jade's interactions with her stepmother (who was another character that I was not really a fan of). I wish there had been more hauntings and less high school life than there was, but I think this was a pretty decent book for what it is. I would recommend it to the older middle-grade/younger YA crowd, especially those who like a little bit of horror thrown into their mysteries. I'd give this book a 3/5.


--Ashley

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Scholastic Press on NetGalley in exchange for a fair review*

My Pre-Reading

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Having never read anything by Maggie Stiefvater, I wasn't really sure what the expect from this book. I figured it would be a good story with a huge mystery that needed to be solved, and I wasn't disappointed. But it was also more than that, and I really enjoyed pretty much everything about The Raven Boys. Especially all of the little twists and turns that keep things interesting.

I thought that all of the characters were very well developed, especially Gansey and his friends. The further into the book you get, the more likable and more fleshed out the boys become. While I wasn't really a huge Gansey fan at first, I really grew to appreciate and like him by the end. Adam was my favorite Raven Boy though, since he is so completely different from the other boys and has to go through so many trials and hardships to get to where he is.

Blue isn't a very dynamic character, but she does change a little bit throughout the course of the story, and I thought that her quick wit really played a huge role in the development of the boys. The mystery surrounding Blue's powers, and her family, it really interesting, and I hope to find out more about why Blue only amplifies energy for others but can't channel it herself. Also, I want to know more about her family!

There were some parts when I felt like the book started to drag, but then Stiefvater would come back and through another wrench into the mix to pick up the pace again.   And then every time I felt like I had too many questions and not enough answers, I would get enough of an answer to stay interested and want to find out more. There were still so many questions left unanswered though, and definitely quite a bit of set-up for the rest of the series. I'm excited to find out what happens next!

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a good kind of supernatural book. Definitely for those looking for a book with the magic and conflict and mystery. I would give this a 4/5.


--Ashley

The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received an eARC of this book from Scholastic on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: The Dead and Buried
Author: Kim Harrington
Year Published: 2013

Synopsis: A haunted house, a buried mystery, and a very angry ghost make this one unforgettable thriller.

Jade loves the house she's just moved into with her family. She doesn't even mind being the new girl at the high school: It's a fresh start, and there's that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . . But then things begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things. Jade's little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade's jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn't.

Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house is haunted. Haunted by a ghost who's seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade's school — until her untimely death last year. It's up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets. But is one of them a murderer?

Why?: I always enjoy a good ghost book, and this one sounds really interesting! Plus, there are so many mysteries - What happened to this ghost girl? Why is she haunting the house? What are the secrets Jade's new friends are hiding?

Expectations: I expect for nothing to be as it seems, especially with so many people having secrets. I'm also expecting a little bit of a Nancy Drew type mystery, where Jade has to follow a set of clues to find out "who did it." With the addition of an actual ghost, of course.  I am kind of expecting this to be a very "book fair" book though - short and sweet and pretty much to the point.

Judging a book by its cover: I'm kind of torn on this cover. While I think it fits with the whole ghost thing, since it looks like there's a dead girl on the front, I'm not sure that I would pick it up off of a shelf if I saw it in a store or library. There's really not much that jumps off the cover at me and catches my attention.


--Ashley

The Raven Boys - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Scholastic Press on NetGalley in exchange for a fair review*

Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Year Published: 2012

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Synopsis: “There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you're his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

Why?: I'm all about creepy books, and this one sounds like it's right up my alley. I've also heard really good  things about it, so I've been wanting to read it for quite some time.

Expectations: I expect an adventure story filled with mystery and action. I think Blue will turn out to be a strong heroine, even if she doesn't expect to be. And probably quite a few very creepy scenes involving ghosts and such, especially if the characters are somewhere they aren't supposed to be.

Judging a book by its cover: The cover has a raven that seems to have painted feathers and a glowing chest. While it is striking, I'm not sure that I would pick up this book based solely on the cover. I might, but it would depend on what other books were around.


--Ashley