Title: Poor Little Dead Girls
Author: Lizzie Friend (Twitter)
Publisher: Merit Press
Publish Date: December 18, 2013
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 288
Source: Publisher

Perfect people aren't just born. They're made. The first time she is blindfolded and kidnapped, star-athlete and posh boarding school newbie Sadie is terrified. She wakes up in a dark room surrounded by hushed whispers, hooded strangers, and a mysterious voice whispering not-so-sweet nothings in her ear.

But once the robes come off, she realizes it’s just an elaborate prank designed to induct her into the group that’s been pulling the strings at Keating Hall for generations. The circle has it all--incredible connections; fabulous parties; and, of course, an in with the brother society’s gorgeous pledges.

The instant popularity is enough to make Sadie forget about the unexplained marks on her body, the creepy ceremonial rituals, and the incident that befell one of her teammates the year before. So the next time Sadie is kidnapped, she isn’t scared, but she should be. The worst of Keating Hall is yet to come.

There is something about the ritual of secret societies that is utterly fascinating, so the premise of Poor Little Dead Girls spoke to me almost immediately. There's an innate darkness to the hidden nature of it, and I think that's what makes stories that involves secret societies so very gripping. It's not so much about the actual drama that needs to play out in the forefront of the novel, but rather played up by the cloak and daggers mystery of it all. It's all lurking in the shadows, and that's what keeps readers wanting more; it's simply not so cut and dried as we might otherwise want.

Lizzie Friend offers us a fun blend of young adult and mysterious drama, all enveloped in this secret society. The mystery wasn't really that intensive, and I didn't feel as though it offered any insane drama at the end, but it was nevertheless interesting and engaging, which kept me invested from the start. Furthermore, the author sets up a great setting for Poor Little Dead Girls, which brings the background to the forefront and the visual elements alive. It was because of this that I felt completely able to put myself in Sadie's shoes, despite the fact that I didn't really have anything at all in common with her character.

Sadie wasn't an incredibly deep character, but she was still likable, and I found it easy to become invested in her story and her side of the mystery. Nevertheless though, she rang true for me, and it made it easy to understand why she felt like an outsider in the world of Keating. There were heavy mentions of the styles, the name brands and the overall excess within the world of these teens, which made the circumstances far more believable and realistic, especially in  a young adult novel. I think that I really just wanted so much more from the characters in the end. Jeremy, for example, was interesting in theory and in all of my suspicions, but he ended up being just as simplistic as I'd assumed, and while he was sweet, I think that I just wanted a bit more depth in the end.

I have to say that Ms. Friend did create a pretty enjoyable setup for a lighter contemporary mystery. I think it's the type of novel that could really create the perfect setup for a promising new mystery series, but as far as I can see it's a stand-alone novel. The novel, the mystery and the characters were solid, if not spectacular, but I have to say that the verbiage and writing itself was the highlight of the novel for me. The author spun numerous quotes that resonated with me and really left me thinking - often more than the plot itself, so I can definitely say I'll read more from her in the future.

Overall, Poor Little Dead Girls is intriguing, though not altogether spectacularly different. I think that it will find a great audience and that the author will find a good fan base from this novel alone. I give it a strong 3.5 out of 5, and I definitely recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy lighter mystery stories.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Vigilante Nights
Author: Erin Richards (Twitter)
Publisher: Merit Press
Publish Date: July 18, 2013
Genre: YA, Contemp, Paranormal
Pages: 303
Source: Publisher

After a hideous car wreck, Lucas wakes from a coma to find that his world is gutted. Not only is his beloved twin sister, Silver, gone forever, but Lucas is broken in body and spirit. He will never be a college athlete, and is robbed of what he now realizes was the most important bond of his life. Although they weren't identical twins, Lucas and Silver shared a bond so fierce it defied reason, and was nearly supernatural.

After her death, that bond seems to endure when Lucas sees Silver everywhere he turns. Either he's crazy, or Silver is trying to tell him something about the California gang initiation they stumbled into that cost Silver her life. Lucas is bent on revenge, turning on Raymond, Silver's former boyfriend; the one Lucas never wanted her to date. He forms a posse of vigilantes to take out the gangsters responsible for Silver's death, but he risks not only his own life, but the love of the new girl on his block, who knows more about Lucas and Silver than can be accounted for by mere chance.

Lucas and Silver were inseparable. Their bond as twins connected them throughout their lives and, when tragedy strikes, the bond seems to endure past the grave. Lucas should have enough on his plate to deal with - needed to heal, recover and grieve the death of his sister, but something...or someone...is holding him back. Lucas swears he can see and hear Silver everywhere. She is always there, and she seems to be trying to tell him something. And so, he resolves to do just one thing, even if it's the last thing he does. He'll avenge Silver's death at all costs.

Have you ever felt a sort of innate connection with someone that seems to know no bounds? Vigilante Nights is a unique novel that explores this phenomenon in a gut-wrenching, emotionally turbulent manner. Author, Erin Richards, writes in a powerful manner, exposing her characters - flaws and all - for the readers to see. By baring the soul of both the characters and the plot, Vigilante Nights thrusts readers headlong into a powerful journey for redemption, revenge and, ultimately, peace. 

I hadn't heard much (or anything, really) about Vigilante Nights when I received it for review. Nevertheless, the concept intrigued me. The bond between twins is something I always coveted as a child. I suffered from middle-child syndrome (yes, I know...I'm so deprived), and the idea of having a twin, or someone that shares that deep connection was utterly appealing. The story is told from Lucas's point of view, which was a really strong, albeit risky, move to make. By doing so, the author is closeting us within his mind and, if done poorly, we could feel very trapped and the story could be stifled. Luckily, this perspective really worked for the subject matter of the novel, as we have the unique opportunity to truly grasp the depth of Lucas's pain and rage. Plus, it gives us a chance to understand the true reasoning behind forming the group of vigilantes hell-bent on destroying those responsible for Silver's death. Vigilante Nights doesn't lack tension or drama either. It's a classic whodunit tale, but the twists and turns threw me for a loop every time. I wasn't really sure who was ultimately the culprit in Silver's death, but I find that to be a good thing because it made me continue reading, and I was never bored. The book moves steadily, ramping up the tension as we go until we reach the pinnacle of this story of revenge and then, with a quiet sigh, find a beautiful sort of peace in the ending, which was very fitting. I will say that my one grip with the book was that it's classed as a bit of a paranormal or supernatural tale, but that element isn't really all that prominent in the book. Frankly, I think the book could have done without it and been just as, if not more, powerful. 

All in all, I really enjoyed Vigilante Nights, and I hope it finds a bigger reviewing crowd in the blogosphere. The author's writing is solid, as is the story, so I'm sure it will impress many a reader. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction and light paranormal.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: The After Girls
Author: Leah Konen (Twitter)
Publisher: Merit Press
Publish Date: April 18, 2013
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 304
Source: Publisher

Ella, Astrid, and Sydney were planning the perfect summer after high school graduation. But when Astrid commits suicide in a lonely cabin, the other girls' worlds are shattered. How could their best friend have done this--to herself and to them? They knew everything about Astrid. Shouldn't they have seen this coming? Couldn't they have saved her?

As Ella hunts for the truth, and Sydney tries to dull the pain, a chilling message from Astrid leaves them wondering whether their beloved friend is communicating from the after life. The girls embark on a journey to uncover Astrid's dark secrets. The answers to those questions--questions they never dreamed of asking--will change their lives forever.

Three girls with an unbreakable bond are broken by that which eventually irreparably changes all of our relationships - death. Ella and Sydney are left behind when their best friend, Astrid, commits suicide seemingly out-of-the-blue. What was supposed to have been a picture perfect summer turns into a nightmare of grief, loss and guilt as the girls struggle to reconcile with Astrid's passing. But just when they think that life couldn't get more tumultuous, they receive a message from Astrid, which can't be possible...or can it?

I have a rocky history with contemporary fiction. Those of you who have read my blog for a while know this.  It's not from a lack of love for the genre, but rather from what I tend to see as a lack of sincerity from the genre. So, needless to say, I was excited to see a young adult contemporary novel that actually lacked the familiar hype of the industry, giving me a chance to see a novel break the norm. Author, Leah Konen, has crafted a heartbreaking, powerful and hard-hitting debut that doesn't mask the pain of loss, but rather utilizes it to fuel the story. Raw, rich and evocative, The After Girls teaches us about life, loss, grief and the beauty of moving on in the best way way possible.

Guys, I have so many thoughts about The After Girls. Ella and Sydney were two stark contrasts of one another in their grieving processes. One is desperate for the truth, while other simply wants to forget it ever happened and to rid herself of the pain. The book is laced with tragedy and despair, but as we see Ella receive the messages from Astrid, we begin to piece these broken characters and their lives back together. I have to be honest; when I first saw the premise, I thought it was a dead-ringer for Pretty Little Liars. Messages from the grave? I mean, come on. However, after reading The After Girls, I don't think I could have been further from the truth. These messages from Astrid were anything but malicious. They were almost a coping mechanism for Ella, and for that reason, I think this story soars. She's the only one who saw the messages. In my humble opinion, rather than viewing this as a paranormal twist, thinking of it as Ella's way of grieving made me invest further in her character. Though I found Sydney more difficult to relate to because of her anger and deep-rooted guilt, she nevertheless felt real. The After Girls is not a light story, and I struggled with the dark nature of the plot at times, alternating between anger and sadness. However, there is a semblance of peace at the end that makes it worthwhile.

All in all, I was actually really impressed with The After Girls, and I think the author has a real future in this industry. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.