WICKED LOVELY: DESERT TALES VOL. 1: SANCTUARY by Melissa Marr – REVIEW (Graphic Novel)

 

The Bowen Press – May 1, 2009

It was such a treat to get this graphic novel and realize it was a completely different story within the WICKED LOVELY world.  Keenan makes a brief appearance, but other than that the reader is introduced to totally new characters.

Rika lives in the isolation of the desert.  She maintains invisibility around humans in order to observe them.  She misses her humanity and feels some animosity toward Keenan for turning her into a faery when she attempted to become his Summer Queen.  Rika wasn’t THE ONE and instead had to take on the chill of the Winter Queen until another girl came along and took her place.  Rika didn’t want to be around Keenan after she became a regular faery because of the painful memories attached to him, so she made her home in the desert far away from the Faery Court.

Lately she has been observing Jayce, an artistic and handsome young man.  When some mischievious faeries cause Jayce to fall during rock climbing, Rika must become visible in order to save him.

As Rika and Jayce get to know each other, they are pursued by other faeries and Jayce is put in danger.  It seems that Rika is being manipulated by someone she trusts.

The reader will definitely be anxious to read the next installment in this graphic novel series.  Melissa Marr has given us all new characters to fall in love with.  Thank you Melissa.

Wicked Lovely:
Desert Tales, Volume 1:
Sanctuary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTED by P.C. and Kristin Cast – REVIEW

 

St. Martin’s Griffin – March 10, 2009

HUNTED is book 5 in the House of Night series.  It is important that you read the others before this one.  These novels do not stand alone.

The book order is:

MARKED
BETRAYED
CHOSEN
UNTAMED
HUNTED

HUNTED picks up exactly where UNTAMED leaves off.  Zoey and the gang are regrouping in the tunnels that the red fledglings have been calling home after escaping from the House of Night.  An ice storm has crippled the city, making any further retreat impossible.  Stevie Rae is badly injured and while Zoey, Aphrodite, and Darius try to save her, Damien, Erik, Jack, and the twins try to secure the tunnels.

Zoey’s main concern is stopping Neferet and Kalona from gaining anymore power.  They already have the House of Night under lock-down and are taking focus away from Nyx and if Zoey’s visions are correct, things are only going to get worse.

After a near fatal attack, Zoey has to be rushed to the House of Night for proper healing.  While there, she reconnects with Stark and gets some valuabe information about the situation of the school. 

HUNTED seems like a “bridge” book in the series.  The plot advancements must be needed to set up the next book in the series.  So, needless to say, there isn’t a lot of new information in this book.  However, Zoey does fall victim to her difficult love life again. *smirk*

Hunted
(House of Night, Book 5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TENTH GRADE BLEEDS: THE CHRONICLES OF VLADIMIR TOD #3 by Heather Brewer – REVIEW

 

 

Dutton Children’s Books – June 25, 2009

Vladimir Tod has been learning a lot about his vampire abilities.  Otis has spent the summer training him on extending his telepathic communication.  He is also getting better at sensing when other vampires are near.  Both Vlad and his Aunt Nelly have gotten used to Otis being around and hate to see him go, but since Otis is still a fugitive in the vampire community, he knows in order to keep them safe, he must leave.

Vlad’s life seems to be going great.  He has the girl of his dreams by his side and everything just seems brighter when she is around.  Meredith is head-over-heels for him no matter what her friends say.

A few things are getting in the way of his happy-go-lucky attitude though.  To start with there is the pesky Eddie and his brand spankin’ new camera, the terrible mood causing Henry, his best friend and drudge, to pull away from him, and his growing need for blood.  Also causing him problems are the terrible nightmares that have been interrupting his sleep.  Dreams of viscious attacks filled with blood and pain keep waking him in the middle of the night.  It really worries Vlad when he can’t contact Otis for help and advise.  So, for the most part, Vlad is on his own.

Heather Brewer has written a wonderful addition to The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series.  Vlad becomes more and more likeable as his kindness and soft heart keep showing through.  The thing that sets this book apart from the others in the series is the tone.  TENTH GRADE BLEEDS takes on a more mature tone as Vlad deals with his relationship issues with Meredith and Henry and even more so when adapting to his increased blood lust.

The ending leaves the reader begging for more.  TENTH GRADE BLEEDS is the best book in the series so far.  It is exciting to think about what the future has in store for Vlad.

 

 

 

Tenth Grade Bleeds
(Chronicles of Vladimir Tod)

 

STARGAZER by Claudia Gray – REVIEW

 

HarperTeen – March 24, 2009

Bianca is determined to make it through the year even though without Lucas it is going to be hard.  She has made it her mission to find out why Evernight is accepting human students so Lucas can tell his superiors and his mission will be complete.  Evernight is completely safe and she wants the Black Cross, a group of vampire hunters, to back off and drop their investigation.

Bianca’s vampire instincts are getting closer to the surface.  She needs more and more blood to stay satisfied and her parents say it is only a matter of time before she takes the final step and kills for the first time to become a true vampire.  The trouble is, Bianca doesn’t know if that is what she wants. 

Things aren’t as they seem in Bianca’s life.  Secrets are being kept from her at the same time she is keeping secrets from others.  In order to maintain any kind of relationship with Lucas, she must rely on Balthazar for help to get on and off campus.  On one of their outings, Bianca is approached by a troubled female vampire who is being hunted by the Black Cross.  It turns out she is Balthazar’s sister and once he learns she is out there, he is desperate to find her and bring her back to Evernight for safety.  Charity, Balthazar’s sister, isn’t cooperative though and causes trouble for everyone.

Add in some major ghostly hauntings and you have a sequel that rivals its predecessor.  STARGAZER is  just as engaging as EVERNIGHT.  My emotions went right along with Bianca’s.  You’ll feel her need for love and blood just as she does.  STARGAZER doesn’t disappoint and it looks like it is only going to get better in the books that follow.

 

 

 

 

Stargazer
(Evernight Novels
(Hardback))

 

THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO: CHAOS WALKING: BOOK ONE by Patrick Ness – REVIEW

 

Candlewick – September 9, 2008

Todd Hewitt is the last boy in Prentisstown.  He is only a month away from becoming a man and he can’t wait.  Being the only boy left in town is lonely.  Most of the time, men don’t have much to say to boys.  The only constant companion he has is his dog, Manchee – a gift that he never wanted in the first place.  He would’ve much preferred to have a hunting knife.

Prentisstown is a settlement in New World.  The people have been there for about twenty years. Upon arriving on New World, the settlers encountered the aliens that lived there – the Spackles. The settlers also started suffering from the Noise.  The Noise allows everyone to hear everyone else’s thoughts all the time.  Even during sleep.  Animals even suffer from the Noise.  

One day when out gathering apples, Todd comes across a great surprise.  He finds a girl in the forest.  Todd has never seen a girl before since all the women in Prentisstown are dead.  He notices that there isn’t Noise coming from the girl – something that both scares him and intrigues him.  After making his way back home, he can’t keep the information about the girl’s silence away from the others.  His Noise gives it away and the people in town are interested.

Soon, Todd and Viola, the girl with the silence, are running for their lives.  Todd learns that nothing is what it seems. Everything he thought was true – isn’t.

Patrick Ness has created a fascinating dystopian world.  His use of unconventional spelling and long, run-on sentences are a little hard to get used to, but after a couple of pages the story starts to flow.  Once I started reading I didn’t want to stop. The story is set at a heart pounding pace and Todd and Viola are great characters to get to know.  A reader’s only complaint will be the cliffhanger ending.  It might literally make you throw the book across the room.

The sequel, THE ASK AND THE ANSWER, will be released in May in the UK, June in Australia, and September in the US.  I, for one, will run out to get it the day it is released.  Be sure to visit the author’s website for new information.

 

 

 

The Knife of Never Letting Go:
Chaos Walking:
Book One

 

LORD OF MISRULE by Rachel Caine – REVIEW- Possible Series Spoilers

 

 

NAL Jam (Penguin) – January 6, 2009

Be aware that you will need to read the other books in the series in order to fully understand the world of the Morganville Vampire Series.

Glass Houses
Dead Girls’ Dance
Midnight Alley
Feast of Fools
Lord of Misrule

 

LORD OF MISRULE picks up right where FEAST OF FOOLS leaves off.   Bishop is in town and Morganville is on fire. Vampires are choosing sides and the humans are using the confusion to rally together and try for a take over themselves.  Claire, Shane, Michael, and Eve have their hands full and danger is around every corner.  

Amelie gives everyone a job.  Eve goes with Oliver to Common Grounds to protect the valuable territory, Michael heads to the University to protect the thousands of clueless students, Claire is set to go with Amelie to rescue Myrnin, and Shane is going to drive the Blood Mobile around to keep it and an important book out of Bishop’s hands.  Just making it through the night is going to be tough.  

LORD OF MISRULE lives up to the expectations of the others in the Morganville Vampire Series.  There is non-stop suspense, heartwarming romance, and great vampire action.  Rachel Caine has done an excellent job keeping the action going through each and every one of the installments in this series.  You’ll be chomping at the bit to get your hands on the next one, CARPE CORPUS, which is due for release on June 2, 2009.

At about 240 pages and $6.99 each, these books are accessible to everyone.  If you haven’t started the series yet, be sure to get GLASS HOUSES today.  You will be addicted on page 1.

Lord of Misrule
(The Morganville Vampires, Book 5)

 

HUNGER (GONE BOOK 2) by Michael Grant – REVIEW

 

 

 

Things aren’t getting any easier in the FAYZ (Fall-out Alley Youth Zone) since the big Thanksgiving Battle against Caine and the other Coates Academy kids.  In fact, everything seems to be going from bad to worse.  Sam, the appointed leader of Perdido Beach, is feeling the pressure of all the day to day decisions.  The biggest problem that everyone is facing is starvation.  With the fear and confusion that followed the disappearance of everyone 15 and over, the kids that were left did what they wanted – including eating what they wanted. Nothing was done to preserve food for the future, so meats and vegetables went bad, leaving food in short supply.  The kids in Perdido Beach and Coates Academy are left eating what canned food is left.  One day it might be asparagus for breakfast, wax beans for lunch, and hot dog relish for dinner.  No one is in good spirits and when Caine recovers from his encounter with The Darkness and makes another move for power, things only get worse.

Sam is suffering from all the stress, Little Pete’s powers are getting scarier every day, some of the kids that haven’t developed powers are beginning to start trouble, and important people are switching sides.  Danger is at its all time high.  Death seems imminent.  

Michael Grant has produced a very satisfying sequel.  The tension and excitement in the story is palpable.  Character development continues to be a strong point.  The new characters that are introduced add to the plot, but our favorites from GONE continue to play a large role in the story.  HUNGER is the second book in a six-part series.  Michael Grant is currently working on the third which will be titled LIES.  HUNGER will be released June 2009, but be sure to read GONE first, you’ll need the backstory to really appreciate the sequel.

 

CITY OF GLASS by Cassandra Clare – REVIEW

 

 

Coming March 2009

The third and final installment in the Mortal Instruments trilogy definitely lives up to the reputation of the first two – CITY OF BONES and CITY OF ASHES.  CITY OF GLASS picks up a short time after CITY OF ASHES ends.  Clary has a mission.  Madeleine, her mother’s friend, is possibly the only person who knows how to wake her mother from a coma.  Clary will have to travel to Alicante in Idris to get what she needs.

Alicante is the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters.  It is known as the City of Glass because of the beautifully tall glass towers that guard the city from harm.  The only way to get to Idris is through a portal and Magnus, the warlock, has arranged one.  Clary is planning to go through the portal with Jace and the Lightwoods.  The only problem is, Jace doesn’t want Clary to go so he lies to her about when he and the Lightwoods are leaving.  He thinks it is too dangerous for Clary. 

After being left behind, Clary eventually finds her way to Alicante.  She uses her ability to create runes and makes a portal for herself.  Being new to the Shadowhunter world, Clary doesn’t know that using a portal and entering the city without permission is against the law. If she is found she could be put to death. 

Once in the City of Glass, Clary is thrown in the middle of the largest battle the Shadowhunters have ever had to face.  Valentine’s evil plans are in the final stages and everyone is on full alert, not knowing what he will do next.  Jace and Clary’s complicated relationship keeps them just as confused as ever, but provides great excitement for the reader. 

Cassandra Clare works magic with this novel.  The excitement begins on the first page and doesn’t stop until the final sentence.  She brings everything full circle for a completely satisfying ending – even though fans would be more than happy to read about these beloved characters forever.  One thing Cassandra Clare fans need to keep an eye out for is the release of THE CLOCKWORK PRINCESS: VOLUME 1 of THE INFERNAL DEVICES.  THE INFERNAL DEVICES is a trilogy of prequels set one hundred and forty years ago in Victorian England.  Tessa, a warlock, is the main character.  The first prequel to the Mortal Instruments trilogy is scheduled to be released Fall 2010.

 

FRAGILE ETERNITY by Melissa Marr – REVIEW

 

 

The long awaited sequel to WICKED LOVELY is here.  Melissa Marr was kind enough to give us INK EXCHANGE, a companion to WICKED LOVELY, where we met other characters from this wildly inventive and tantalizing world, but a true sequel is what we really wanted and now we have it.

 

Aislinn (Ash) is dealing with what being the Summer Queen means.  She has both physical changes and emotional adjustments to come to terms with.  She is spending more and more time with Keenan because of Summer Court business and monthly celebrations with the Summer faeries.  Ash feels a pull toward Keenan, even though she knows she doesn’t love him, and feels guilty for the time she spends away from Seth – her true love.

 

Ash’s transformation isn’t just an adjustment for her; it is taking its toll on Seth too.  Being with Ash is what he wants more than anything, but the jealousy he feels when she is with Keenan monopolizes his thoughts when he’s alone.  Physically, his time with Ash is difficult too.  Ash’s strength has drastically increased since she has taken her role as the Summer Queen.  Sunlight flows from her skin, especially after Summer’s monthly celebrations, and the heat that radiates from her leaves burns on Seth’s skin.  Seth is willing to take the pain as long as he has Ash in his life, but he doesn’t know how long he will be able to keep her.  Between Ash’s increased responsibilities to the Summer Court and Seth’s human mortality there doesn’t seem to be much hope.

 

FRAGILE ETERNITY takes us back to the world we fell in love with in WICKED LOVELY.  Alliances that were strong in the first book start to shift as needs and circumstances change.  The Summer Court, the Winter Court, and the Dark Court all have their own agendas.  Will Ash and Seth get caught in the middle?

 

KISS OF LIFE by Daniel Waters

Welcome back to a world where some teenagers rise up from the dead and walk among us.  A world were science still hasn’t figured out why some teens come back and some remain dead. Not everyone is happy these “zombies” are walking around.  That these differently biotic teens are going to school and mixing with the living.  It is a dangerous world for the living impaired.

At the end of the first novel in this series, GENERATION DEAD, Adam took a bullet for Phoebe.  Adam loved Phoebe from afar, but stepped aside when she showed an interest in Tommy, a differently biotic boy.  Adam didn’t give a second thought to giving his life to protect Phoebe and he didn’t think about coming back from the dead.

Since Adam has been back, Phoebe spends all the time she can with him. She knows he wouldn’t be in the situation he is in if it weren’t for her.  She feels confused though.  She can’t decide if she loves Tommy or Adam.  She doesn’t know if Tommy’s feelings for her are genuine or if he just wants to be with her because she is living and he wants to make a statement.

There isn’t time for her to focus on her own problems though.  Trouble is brewing with Pete all over again, Reverend Nathan Mather is continuing to gather followers and making life difficult for all the differently biotic, and politicians are considering laws to take away what little freedom they have.  Times are changing and it isn’t for the better.

KISS OF LIFE is a great follow up to GENERATION DEAD.  Daniel Waters does a great job of showing us a differently biotic’s thought process through Adam’s character. We get to witness Adam’s improvement through chapters from his point of view. Readers will sympathize with Adam and come to love him even if they didn’t before. A few new characters are introduced – some of them will pull at your heart strings while the others will make your skin crawl. The way this book ends, readers will be clamoring for the third in this series.

People that can’t get enough of Tommy and the other differently biotics can visit Tommy’s blog at:
http://www.mysocalledundeath.com.