Current Giveaways

Click on the book cover to head over to the giveaway page for these books! None right now :)

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Happy Halloween!


Have a great Halloween! Go out and get some candy!

Shrinking the TBR Pile #2

Over time, my TBR pile has grown to epic proportions that I can just barely contain. It has many amazing books that I would love to read, but since they’re all so great, I find it so hard to decide.

Soooo.

I have decided to number each book, then put pieces of paper with numbers on them in a bag, and every Sunday, I will pull out 3 numbers and those will be the books that I read that week. Hopefully. Of course, I won’t be confined to those 3 books, I could read more, in which case I would simply pull another number from the bag, and so on.

Last week, I the books I pulled were:
 Switch by Carol Snow
Old Magic by Marianne Hurley
and 
Awakening by Cate Tiernan. 
Of these three, I only read Switch and Awakening. Old Magic will go back into my TBR pile.

Now for this week's drawing! And the numbers are:
105, 17, and 67.

The corresponding book are:
105-Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
17-Gamer Girl by Mari Mancussi
67-The Eternal Kiss by various authors.





Wow, this week was such a great pick! Definitely psyched to read these!


If you would like to join in on this activity, leave the link in the Mr. Linky! I would very much appreciate it if you also linked back to me as the host of the meme. Have fun picking your books!




Saturday, October 30, 2010

In My Mailbox #7

IMM was started by Kristi at The Story Siren.

I got some great books in the mail this week! Here they are:
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Banished by Sophie Littlefield

Vampire High: Sophomore Year by Douglas Rees

That's what I got. Show me what you got!


Book of Shadows by Cate Tiernan

Author: Cate Tiernan
Pages: 176
Publisher: Puffin
Genre: YA Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Buy the Book
Morgan thinks witchcraft is laughable when her best friend Bree drags her to a meeting of the Cirrus Coven. But during a cermony led by Cal, Morgan's long-time crush, Morgan feels a shock. Suddenly everything looks brighter, clearer. Morgan doesn't want to get involved with witchcraft-but she feels like witchcraft is choosing her.
I picked up this book because it was about witches, and witches are one of my favorite sub-genres in fantasy. But I was actually quite surprised when I read Book of Shadows. I was expecting a lot more fantastical aspects to it, but it was really the story of Morgan, who leads a relatively normal life until she finds out that she’s actually a blood witch.

After she finds out who she really is, her world is turned upside down. She has to rediscover who she thought she was, which was interesting to read. Everything she had previously believed in began slipping away, and she was left to put everything back together.

And then there’s Cal… Cal was just smoldering. Even if he was kind of a jack ass at some parts. I fell head over heels for him. I just thought that his persistence in going after Morgan was a little suspicious. But for right now, I think I can over look it.

There is just something in how Tiernan writes from the perspective of a teenage girl that made me really enjoy this book. As a teenage girl myself, I found it very easy to relate to Morgan, which is always extremely important to me. The writing was good, which made this a quick and wonderful read. I give this 4 out of 5 stars.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Bookish Talk Time #2


Today, I decided to talk about something that both bothers me and delights me: extremely long book series.

When I say “long series”, I mean series that are 4 books and up.

There seems to be an emerging pattern in the industry of book series getting longer and longer, as well as including spin-offs and novellas. I remember years ago, publishers really didn’t like publishing long series, preferring trilogies at the most. I guess Harry Potter broke that mold, because now, especially in the YA section, there are tons of series that go well over 3 and 4 books.

Some of these include:
The Sweep series by Cate Tiernan (15 books)
The House of Night series by PC and Kristin Cast (7 books and counting)
The Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz (7 books and counting)
The Vampire Academy series (6 books and counting)
The Vampire Kisses series (7 books and counting)
The Morganville Vampires series (9 books and counting)
The Faerie Path series (5 books and counting)

On one hand, longer series are a good thing because, if you loved the first book, then the story doesn’t have to end so quickly. You still have quite a few books to go before you’re finished. The drawback to this is it’s much more expensive to buy these longer series (which is only a drawback for you, the reader, seeing as the publisher is the one getting the money), and there’s also the impatience of waiting for the books to come out if the series is not complete when you begin reading it.

So tell me, do you prefer stand-alone novels, novels with sequels, trilogies, or long series? Why?

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead


Author: Richelle Mead
Pages: 336
Source: Purchased from Barnes and Noble
Series or Standalone?: 1st in series

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

* * *

Vampire Academy is one of the really great vampire books out there. It’s one of the first books that comes to my lips when people ask for vampire novel suggestions, even with all the vampire novels out there. I loved the characters, especially the protagonist Rose. She’s such a great, tough, quick witted girl that has one hell of a smart-ass tongue. She can hold her own with the boys, or, actually, she can kick their butts clean to Timbuktu. If there is one thing I love more than a dreamy male love interest with soulful eyes and great hair {dripping sarcasm} it’s a badass female.  (Have I used up my quota for saying ‘ass’ in a single review? I think not.)

All right, I will say that vampire boarding schools are not the newest thing on the block, but Mead presented it in a way that I felt I was reading about this genre for the first time. Her writing was very eloquent and flowed nicely, and Rose as out narrator was so well fleshed out. Also, the concept of the bond between Rose and Lissa really caught my interest.

The only thing about this book that I didn’t really like was the cover, which has nothing to do with the quality of the writing or the characters. I just think that the angle for that picture is terrible. And is it just me or does the model on the cover look like Angelina Jolie?!?!




Other books in this series:
Frostbite
Shadow Kiss
Blood Promise
Spirit Bound
Last Sacrifice (UNRELEASED)


Plot: 4/5
Cover: 2/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Uniqueness: 3.5/5
Characters: 5/5

Overall: 

Sunday, October 24, 2010

In My Mailbox #6

IMM was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren.

This week, I only got one book.


Elle is a loner. She doesn’t need people. Which is a good thing, because she’s on her own: she had to move into her own apartment so her mother’s boyfriend won’t have to deal with her.

Then she meets Frank, the guy who lives next door. He’s older and has a girlfriend, but Elle can’t stop thinking about him. Frank isn’t like anyone Elle has ever met. He listens to her. He’s gentle. And Elle is falling for him, hard.
But Frank is different in a way that Elle was never prepared for: he’s transgender. And when Elle learns the truth, her world is turned upside down.  Now she’ll have to search inside herself to find not only the true meaning of friendship but her own role in jumpstarting the world.

Tender, honest, and compassionate, Jumpstart the World is a stunning story to make you laugh, cry, and honor the power of love.


Can't wait to read it! What did you guys get???



Shrinking the TBR Pile #1


Over time, my TBR pile has grown to epic proportions that I can just barely contain. (Luckily, I just got a new bookshelf that gives me so much more room to put everything.) My TBR pile has many amazing books that I would love to read, but since they’re all so great, I find it so hard to decide.

Soooo.

I have decided to number each book, then put pieces of paper with numbers on them in a bag, and every Sunday, I will pull out 3 numbers and those will be the books that I read that week. Hopefully. Of course, I won’t be confined to those 3 books, I could read more, in which case I would simply pull another number from the bag, and so on.

For this week, the numbers I pull are:
9, 23, and 95!

The corresponding books are:
9-Switch by Carol Snow
23-Awakening by Cate Tiernan
95-Old Magic by Marianne Curley





I can’t wait to read these books!
I’m really hoping this method will help me read more books and shrink my massive TBR pile. :)

If you would like to join in on this activity, leave the link in the Mr. Linky! I would very much appreciate it if you also linked back to me as the host of the meme. Have fun picking your books!

Friday, October 22, 2010

Wake by Lisa McMann

Author: Lisa McMann
Pages: 224
Source: Purchased from Barnes and Noble
Series or Standalone?: 1st book in series

Not all dreams are sweet.
For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody- notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.
She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.
Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant....

* * *

Wake revolves around Janie, who has been able to step into people’s dreams since she was eight… whether she wants to or not. I thought Janie was a great protagonist. She had been forced to grow up quickly and become almost entirely self-sufficient. Her mother was an alcoholic, and she had never even met her dad. And she had been further hardened by having to endure everyone else’s nightmares, along with her own.

This book had a very interesting premise, a story about dream catchers, but instead, it took a different turn than what I thought it would be. Instead of paranormal, it leaned more to the crime/mystery side.

The story is told in short, clipped sentences, so if you are a reader who likes meaty books with description, this definitely isn’t for you. I myself wasn’t too fond of it, but after a while I got used to it. Because of the short narrative style, there isn’t much room for character development. As a result, the only memorable characters are Janie and Cabel, and of course, Captain, just because of her sheer absurdity.

Cabel is an interesting character. He’s not your normal hunky doodle. Nope. He freaking works for the cops! How cool, yet weird, is that? But he’s got his own demons too, and scars (literally), that Janie helps him face.

It’s a good, quick, face-paced read. Definitely for fans of mystery and crime novels, and even some not-so-hardcore paranormal fans.

Other books in this series:
Fade (2nd book)
Gone (3rd book)

Other books by this author:
Cryer’s Cross (UNRELEASED)

Plot: 3/5
Cover: 3.5/5
Writing: 3/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Characters: 5/5

Overall: 

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Author: Lisa Matchev
Pages: 384
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Genre: YA Fantasy
Source: Purchased
Buy the Book
All her world’s a stage...

Enter Stage Right

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith (Bertie): Our heroine.
Nate: A dashing pirate who will do anything to protect Bertie.
Cobweb, Moth, Mustardseed, and Peaseblossom: Four tiny, mischievous fairies, and Bertie’s loyal sidekicks.
Ariel: A seductive air spirit. Disaster follows in his wake, but Bertie simply cannot resist him.

Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. The actors are bound to the Théâtre by The Book, an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of the actors, but they are her family. And she is about to lose them all because The Book has been threatened, and along with it the Théâtre. It’s the only home Bertie has ever known, and she has to find a way to save it. But first, there’s the small problem of two handsome men, both vying for her attention. The course of true love never did run smooth. . .
Let me start this review off by saying that I am a huge theater nerd, and an actress (I’m playing my first lead this December!), so I was really excited to read Eyes Like Stars when I heard it was all about plays and took place in a magical theater. Yes.

Eyes Like Stars also got me good because Hamlet is my favorite play ever, and Ophelia is my favorite character. I did a mini-squee each time Ophelia was mentioned. And, to make the impact even greater, one of the main characters is from The Little Mermaid, which is my favorite Disney movie. So, needless to say, I loved the book before I even started reading it.

But, whoo, when I read it, it was like an explosion of amazing. Kablooie. The whole idea of it was pure genius. Every character from every play that was ever written- -most prominently Shakespeare’s plays- - live in the Theatre. So of course, we have quite the quirky cast. Bertie was my favorite character; she was strong and just all-around loveable. She tried to do her best by the Theatre, and cared for the people that lived there. But more importantly, she was just trying to find out who she was.

The two men vying for Bertie’s affections are Ariel, a spirit/fey-type guy from Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and Nate, a dashing pirate from The Little Mermaid. Ariel is Ariel and Nate were equally formidable love-interests, but I think I’m on Ariel’s side here. I’m a sucker for the bad boy, and what is Ariel if not that? But he’s not truly villainous. All he’s looking for is freedom, which I thought justified anything he did. He wanted freedom to leave the Theatre, and explore the world outside. One of the magical things about The Book is that it binds the characters to the Theatre, and they can never step outside its doors. Of course, one person did discover how to leave, long, long ago…

Mantchev’s debut novel really shines. The writing was fun and fast paced, witty and hilarious at some parts, and there were curves around every bend. Which sort of brings me to my next point, and just about the only thing that left me discontent with the book:

Some of the curves that Mantchev threw at us sort of left me…confused. I would have to re-read it a few times, and then I kinda understood what was going on. Also, I couldn’t pin point a setting for the book. Is it written in our world, or in a made up fantasy land? Is it modern day? (I think I recall the mention of a soda-can, but then other things just don’t make sense if it was modern day.) Or is it a more Victorian Era-inspired time? That was the only problem I had; otherwise, the book was perfect!

Definite must read for YA fantasy fans! I give this book a solid 5 out of 5 stars.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Rebel Angels by Libba Bray


Author: Libba Bray
Pages: 592
Source: Purchased by Barnes and Noble
Series or Standalone?: 2nd in series

Gemma Doyle is looking forward to a holiday from Spence Academy—spending time with her friends in the city, attending balls in fancy gowns with plunging necklines, and dallying with the handsome Lord Denby. Yet amid these distractions, her visions intensify—visions of three girls dressed in white, to whom something horrific has happened that only the realms can explain. The lure is strong, and soon Gemma, Felicity, and Ann are turning flowers into butterflies in the enchanted world that Gemma takes them to. To the girls' great joy, their beloved

Pippa is there as well, eager to complete their circle of friendship. But all is not well in the realms—or out. Kartik is back, desperately insisting to Gemma that she must bind the magic, lest colossal disaster befall her. Gemma is willing to comply, for this would bring her face-to-face with her late mother's greatest friend, now Gemma's foe—Circe. Until Circe is destroyed, Gemma cannot live out her destiny. But finding Circe proves a most perilous task. . . .

* * *

I actually read this series out of order, with Rebel Angels being the first one I read. I don’t exactly remember why I did it, but I’m pretty sure it was because I didn’t realize this was a sequel until after about 50 pages in and I was sitting there going “Whaat the fuuuuuhhhh?” So I bought AGTB, read it, and then reread Rebel Angels.

What I love about Libba Bray, is she writes with this certain… je ne sais quoi. She wrote through the mind of a teenage girl in the Victorian Era, who was going through many traumas, and pulled it off seamlessly. I was really into the story, and all throughout I could definitely picture Victorian England around me, along with the Gothic structure of Spence Academy. The Realms are delved into much further than in the first book, and are opened up to us through Bray’s flawless writing. Now we see the darker side of The Realms- -and Pippa.

Ah, Pippa. Let me just come out and say it: Pippa is one creepy bitch. I wasn’t getting good vibes from her the entire time she was present in any scene, and there were so many little nuances that all is not well in Pippaland. I think she’s gone off the deep end.

The plot in this book was well-thought out, and really caught me by surprise. I had no idea who Circe would be, and I still have all these questions that I’m hoping will be answered in The Sweet Far Thing. The romance between Gemma and Kartik was much more tangible here, but still teasingly uneventful. Kartik drops several hints, as does Gemma, but at the same time, she’s being courted by Simon Middleton, a wealthy and handsome Englishman, which really gets Kartik’s knickers in a bunch. I’m reeeaaally looking forward to seeing their romance progress.

Gemma and her friends pack quite an adventure, and this novel definitely did not disappoint fans of the first one. If you haven’t read A Great and Terrible Beauty yet, go buy it now!

Other books in this series:
1st-A Great and Terrible Beauty (click for my review)
3rd-The Sweet Far Thing

Other books by this author:
Going Bovine

Plot: 4/5
Cover: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Uniqueness: 4.5/5
Characters: 3/5
Overall:

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Books I Want SO Badly I Could Pee

While lurking Amazon, I've come across so many amazing books that I want SO badly I could just pee looking at them. I know, I'm weird, but it's true! So here is my list of pee-inducing books. Not all of them are unreleased, but most of them are.

I'm undecided as to whether I should make this a monthly thing, so if you, my dear discerning reader, would like to see this on a monthly or even bi-weekly basis, then by all means comment and tell me so.


A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford 
Eden didn’t expect Az. 
Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings. 
Yeah. 
So long happily-ever-after. 
Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven. 
She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else’s game. Her heart is her own. 
And that’s only the beginning of the end 



Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul. 

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once. 

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.
My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent
YOU WANT MY SOUL AND MY BOYFRIEND? 

Trying to work things out with Nash—her maybe boyfriend—is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can’t just pretend nothing happened. But “complicated” doesn’t even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back. 

See, Sabine isn’t just an ordinary girl. She’s a mara, the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people’s fears—and craft them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives. 

And Sabine isn’t above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever—and whoever—she wants. 


Frquignlemasdjf. I need this book.
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

City of Fallen Angels is the fourth book in the bestselling series The Mortal Instruments. It follows the adventures of Jace, Clary, Simon and their friends after the events of City of Glass. 

Saturday, October 16, 2010

In My Mailbox #5

Hey, have you seen my 24 Book Giveaway?

IMM was started by Kristi at The Story Siren.

I only got one book this week, and it was borrowed. My friend Priscilla, who has this very awesome blog called Penny For Your Thoughts Reviews (go check her out, please! She just started out, but let me tell you, she's got some great stuff to say) lent me the book The Prophecy of the Stones by Flavia Bujor. It was originally written in French, and I'm liking it so far. Did you know that the author, Flavia, was only 15 when it was published?


The Prophecy of the Stones tells the story of three teenage girls-Jade, Opal, and Amber-who are chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy. Although strangers, they must learn to trust one another with their lives as they embark on an epic journey, armed only with magical stones. They must leave their families and friends to battle fierce enemies in a magical land called Fairytale, where evil is unknown.In a parallel world, a young girl named Joa fights for her life in a hospital in Paris. While she is dreaming, she is transported to a magical realm where the three young heroines fight a spectacular battle. Their success or failure will determine the fate of Fairytale . . . and Joa's survival.

Pretty cool stuff. I'll probably finish it soon, but I'm undecided as to whether I will review it. Do you think I should review it?


New Look & Who Are Your Favorite Authors?

Hey! Notice anything different?

THE BLOG GOT A NEW LOOK! Made entirely by me. :) I spent some time on my trusty Photoshop CS4, and this is what came of it! I decided that I wanted to go with a fun and colorful look, but still clean and not too "GAAH MY EYES BUUUUURRRN!"

What do you guys think? Do you like it?

Also, remember how I said that 2011 would bring many new and exciting little goodies? Well, in order to do that, I need YOUR help. Who are your favorite YA authors? If you can, leave a comment listing 5 of your favs. This will go towards making the blog that much more great and helpful to you, my dear discerning reader.

Thanks a bunch!

Love,
Ashley

Friday, October 15, 2010

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater


Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Pages: 400
Source: Purchased from Barnes and Noble
Series or Standalone?: 1st book in trilogy

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

* * *


Shiver is told from the alternating perspectives of Grace, a girl who is fascinated with the wolves---and one wolf in general---in her backyard, and Sam, who just so happens to be that one wolf. Stiefvater wrote so fluidly and poetically that the distinction between the characters’ voices was definitely there, but it wasn’t so jarringly different that it yanked you out of the story.

I really liked the idea of the werewolves changing shape with the cold weather. It’s not anything I’ve seen so far, and I five Stiefvater major props for uniqueness. Also I think the cover is stunning, don’t you? Gives an air of… ice, and coldness. And danger, with all the thorns.

I thought Sam and Grace’s relationship was adorable---with scenes like “Surprise attack” and then he would suddenly kiss her. Come on now, let’s all say it together, “Awww”---but I found it very underdeveloped when they first began, erm, dating. If that’s even what you can call Grace letting a boy she’s never met (aside from staring at him across the lawn while he’s in wolf form) sleep in her room, in her bed, with her still in the bed. As a reader, we are expected to believe that because Sam and Grace “knew” each other while he was in wolf form for years and made a connection, that they are automatically going to fall in the love the moment they meet in person. But, that aside, they were a great couple as the story progressed. They complimented each other perfectly. Grace was independent and brave, while Sam was sensitive and strong.

But, I did have a few issues with the book. Firstly, Grace’s parents. They were just downright neglectful and apathetic to Grace. I mean, come on, her dad forgot her in the car when she was little and left her there to bake in the heat! They were never home, and even when they were home, they didn’t care, remaining in a state of blissful oblivion. And no explanation was ever given as to why her parents didn’t care. They just didn’t. {I actually think this was Stiefvater’s loophole for allowing Sam to stay in Grace’s room without fear of being caught.}

The cure for being a werewolf barely made any sense to me. I ran it through my head a few times, and still came up fuzzy. Maybe it’s just because I suck at science, though, but that was kind of an odd resolution.

But, these things aside, I really did enjoy the book. It was written well enough that I could push the issues I had with it to the side and just read it contentedly.

Other books in this series:
Linger (book 2)
Forever (book 3---UNRELEASED)

Plot: 4/5
Cover: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Uniqueness: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Overall:

Monday, October 11, 2010

Sucks to Be Me by Kimberly Pauley


Author: Kimberly Pauley
Pages: 293
Source: Purchased from Barnes and Noble
Series or Standalone?: 1st of two


Mina Hamilton's parents want her dead. (Or undead to be precise.) They're vampires, and like it or not, Mina must decide whether to become a vampire herself. But Mina's more interested in hanging out with best friend Serena and trying to catch the eye of the too-hot-for-high-school Nathan Able than in the vampire training classes she's being forced to take. How's a girl supposed to find the perfect prom date and pass third-year French when her mom and dad are breathing down her neck--literally?

* * *

In today’s YA fiction, vampires are the current genre royalty. Ever since the dawn of a series which will remain nameless *cough*Twilight*cough*, vampires have become this overtly and most times clichéd and smoke and glam act. But not in Pauley’s novel. Nope, these vampires are as normal as one can get for being the blood sucking dead. Hell, Mina’s dad is an accountant. Does that scream sparkling, seductive creature of the night?

But this aspect is what makes this novel so enjoyable. Instead of focusing so much on the OMGOBLINS IT’S A VAMPIRE part of the novel, it’s more focused on Mina trying to find who she really is. Vampires are really second row in this book. I actually really appreciated that.

That being said, this book is hilarious. Funny enough to make me snort out loud in the middle of a dead silent math class. There are just so many pieces of teenage humor, that it’s kind of hard to believe Pauley isn’t a teenager.

Really interesting and entertaining was that each chapter started out with a little tidbit on vampires, either debunking an old myth, or proving one true, or something cute like that. Also, the little bat drawing were totally adorable.

I liked Mina. She was just trying to be a normal teenage girl, with normal teenage crushes, and normal teenage problems…. Except she had to make the choice to become a vampire. But I think she really made her decisions well.

Pauley wrote fantastically and kept the pace going well. I finished this book in just under a day.

I enjoyed this novel very much, and I definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a fun read.

Other books in this series:
Still Sucks to Be Me (Sequel)



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