Review: Twisted - Gena Showalter

• Reading level:
 Young Adult

• Hardcover:
 304 pages

• Publisher:
 Harlequin (August 30, 2011)

His vampire girlfriend might have brought him back to life, but he's never felt more out of control. There's a darkness within him, something taking over…changing him. Worse, because he was meant to die, death now stalks him at every turn. Any day could be his last.Once upon a time, the three souls trapped inside his head could have helped him. He could have protected himself. But as the darkness grows stronger, the souls grow weaker—just like his girlfriend. The more vampire Aden becomes, the more human Victoria becomes, until everything they know and love is threatened.Life couldn't get any worse. Could it?

My Thoughts...

I absolutely adore this series. I love everything about it.  Aden by himself is pretty awesome, once you add in the souls he is just like the perfect character. Mary Anne, Victoria, and Riley are a great cast too! I feel that there has been a great deal of character growth for all the characters.  They have all been through so much. I think that this book alone tested them each in many different ways, and I can't wait to see where they go from here. The over arching story for this series  has been great thus far and I am dying for the next taste all ready! But the major story plots in this book really seemed to turn everyone upside down and inside out before everything was said and done.  It was an amazing emotional trip that I am so glad I took.  I look forward to more in this series and hope that you guys will give it a try if you haven't already. I give this one 4 stars!

Review: The Near Witch - Victoria Schwab

• Reading level:
 Young Adult

• Hardcover:
 288 pages

• Publisher:
 Hyperion Book CH (August 2, 2011)

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. 
If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. 
And there are no strangers in the town of Near.These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

My Thoughts...

There was something haunting about this book. Something about the writing made me crave more. The story was terrific although a little slow in the beginning in my opinion. The characters we were written and all served a purpose to moving the story along. Lexi amazed me! In her shoes I would have fallen apart, but she for the most part used her head and held herself together. The stranger...he made me want to melt, I want my own personal "stranger". The story was quite compelling, at times I sat there routing and cheering Lexi on like a cheerleader, Other times I wanted to reach into the book and smack people. The village of Near and the "world" build around it really came to life for me. I look forward to more by this author. I give this one 4 stars, and highly suggest that you run out and pick up a copy of this book as soon as possible!

Review: Blood Magic - Tessa Gratton

• Reading level:
 Young Adult

• Hardcover:
 416 pages

• Publisher:
 Random House Books for Young Readers (May 24, 2011)

It starts off simply.
Draw a circle ... place a dead leaf in the center ... sprinkle some salt ... recite a little Latin ... add a drop of blood ...
Maybe that last part isn't exactly simple. Yet somehow it feels right to Silla Kennicott. And nothing in her life has felt remotely right since her parents' horrific deaths. She's willing to do anything to uncover the truth about her family—even try a few spells from the mysterious book that arrived on her doorstep ... and spill some blood.
The book isn't the only recent arrival in Silla's life. There's Nick Pardee, the new guy next door who may have seen Silla casting a spell. She's not sure what he saw and is afraid to find out. But as they spend more time together, Silla realizes this may not be Nick's first encounter with Blood Magic. Brought together by a combination of fate and chemistry, Silla and Nick can't deny their attraction. And they can't ignore the dark presence lurking nearby—waiting to reclaim the book and all its power.
Tessa Gratton's intoxicating first novel will keep pulses racing, minds reeling, and pages turning right up to the very last drop of blood.

My Thoughts...

I have had a great book year so far.  If you flip back through my reviews for the past few months you will see a lot of 4 - 5 star books.  I am adding this one to the list too! This story was original and fresh. Yes magic/witches have been popular but this story was different from all the others. Silla, I want a friend like Silla, she has dealt with things that she shouldn't have had to, and through out this story more just gets piled on her. Yet she still managed to get up and do what needed to get done. Nick was pretty cool too although at times his attitude put me off. Reese...I want one! He stole my heart. He came through as an amazing brother and overall good guy. I have to say there were a few things that happened that left me sitting there in shock. I was on the edge of my seat for most of the book and I lost quite a bit of sleep because I just had to know what happened next.  This was an amazing ride that I didn't want to end. I do have to applaud the author for her amazing use of blood that didn't have a vampire running around bathing in it. This was a very welcome change. I give this one 5 stars and a very high recommendation.

Review: Spellbound - Cara Lynn Shutlz

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin; Original edition (June 21, 2011)

What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

My Thoughts...

This was a great story that left me with goose bumps. It did start out a little slow but for me all that did was help to build tension, and nearly all the witch stuff happened at the end half of the book, still even with those two things it all felt right for the story being told. It didn't take long to fall in love with these characters.  Emma while insecure still came threw as a pretty strong kick butt character. Her cousin Ashley always makes me smile, her new friends were also pretty awesome! Brendan went back and fourth between adoring him and wanting to hit him! watching Emma battle ever day things like school bully, and mean girls while also trying to put together a paranormal puzzle, one that literally is a matter of life or death. This story wove the paranormal, every day high school drama, fairy tale, and New York (I love reading about NYC) flawlessly with a great cast of characters to back up a great story this story gets 5 stars and a huge recommendation!