Title: The Innocents
Author: Lili Peloquin
Publisher: Razorbill
Publish Date: October 16, 2012
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Mystery
Pages: 259
Source: Publisher

Nothing ever came between sisters Alice and Charlie. Friends didn't. Boys couldn't. Their family falling apart never would. Until they got to Serenity Point.

In a town built on secrets and lies, it's going to be hard to stay innocent. They're sucked into a strange and seductive world—a world they can't help but hate, and can't help but love. A world that threatens to tear them apart, just when they need each other the most.

I was instantly captivated by the premise of The Innocents because it was touted as a true gothic mystery for the younger crowd. And, surprisingly enough, I wasn't disappointed in that regard. The mystery, itself, was surprisingly well put-together, and I found that I actually enjoyed - and was stumped by - several of the puzzle pieces that made up the novel. I also must say that Lili Peloquin has a beautiful writing style. A third person novel often makes it difficult to truly get to know your characters, but the voices she lent to each one were distinct, original and personable. Furthermore, Ms. Peloquin's prose has an easy, flowing sort of feel, which makes it easy to rapidly become invested in the mystery. 

I must say, however, that I struggled a good bit with many of the characters. Of the twins, Alice and Charlie, Alice was by far the more approachable of the two. She was much more demure, while Charlie often erred on the side of being a tumultuous, self-centered brat. I also felt a bit of a disconnect with the love interests, Tommy and Jude. Both felt a bit flat and one-dimensional to me, and Jude's arrogance left me feeling quite embittered. It made it very difficult for me to want to read more about their respective romantic arcs throughout the novel.

Overall, The Innocents was a quick and fun read - though not altogether imperfect. It definitely succeeded far more in the realm of mystery than in the romantic or character-driven aspects of the novel. It is the start of a series, however, and though I rather enjoyed it as a whole, I'm not sure I am actually invested enough to continue the story. I give it a 3 out of 5, and I recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy a good, fun mystery.

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

Ladies and gents...for those wondering, occasionally I will do a Mini Review on my blog. As my blog has evolved, I've found that providing length, in-depth reviews takes time and a great deal of effort, which I'm always willing to provide. However, sometimes I read books just for fun, and when I do so, I feel it's time to give my thoughts as an average reader, rather than a book bloggin', reviewing fiend. All Mini Reviews will be labeled as such!

Title: The Night Circus
Author: Erin Morgenstern
Publisher: Doubleday
Publish Date: September 13, 2011
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Pages: 387
Source: Bought

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

I've heard nothing but rave reviews for The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, and one would think that would calm my fears. Much to the contrary, however, I was even more concerned going into reading this one. It had to live up to an extraordinary hype for me, especially when a novel is being touted as the "next Harry Potter" - a term that I feel so flippin' overused. I digress. The fact of the matter is that this novel has the innate ability to live up to its incredibly searing synopsis and spin you into a world where true magic is hidden as an illusion.

This book definitely had elements of other stories I loved, and there was a darkness tinging all the action, which made it all the more enticing for me, of course. Marco and Celia were beautiful, well-rounded characters whose love was a sweet and tangy mix of beauty and irony, fueling the plot and the reality of the circus. The full cast of supporting characters added depth, vivaciousness and life to an already fun and engaging story. Most of all though, the prose was stunning. While the novel is about magic and a world of illusion, the true magic is in the words. This one gets a 4.5 out of 5 for me, and I highly recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy fantasy.

Have you read this one? What did you think?