There's never a shortage of paranormal novels on the young adult market these days, but there's often a shortage of paranormal novels that actually capture my attention...and keep it. I look for vivid settings, great characters and a plot that's going to stand out as original. That's a tough list of criteria for any book (because I'm a hardass), but they do pop up! 

Title: The Dolls

Author: Kiki Sullivan (Twitter)

Publisher: Balzer & Bray

Publish Date: September 2, 2014

Genre: YA, Paranormal Mystery

Pages: 384

Eveny Cheval just moved back to Louisiana after spending her childhood in New York with her aunt Bea. Eveny hasn’t seen her hometown since her mother’s suicide fourteen years ago, and her memories couldn’t have prepared her for what she encounters. Because pristine, perfectly manicured Carrefour has a dark side full of intrigue, betrayal, and lies—and Eveny quickly finds herself at the center of it all.

Enter Peregrine Marceau, Chloe St. Pierre, and their group of rich, sexy friends known as the Dolls. From sipping champagne at lunch to hooking up with the hottest boys, Peregrine and Chloe have everything—including an explanation for what’s going on in Carrefour. And Eveny doesn’t trust them one bit.

But after murder strikes and Eveny discovers that everything she believes about herself, her family, and her life is a lie, she must turn to the Dolls for answers. Something’s wrong in paradise, and it’s up to Eveny, Chloe, and Peregrine to save Carrefour and make it right.

There's something about a down-home Louisiana setting that both excites me and makes my skin crawl...in the best possible way. Add to that delightful setting a character with a painful backstory, a voodoo plotline and mysteries galore, and you pretty much have a winning combination in my book! There's something dark and twisty about this one, and I absolutely must know what it is. What do you think, and what are you waiting on this week? 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature from Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Avalon
Author: Mindee Arnett (Twitter)
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Publish Date: January 21, 2014
Genre: YA, Sci-Fi
Pages: 432
Source: Publisher

Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth-and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.

Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.

I've said it a million times, but I'll gladly say it again - this is going to be the year of the resurgence of science fiction in young adult. Since a young age, I've been a fan of the genre, both in literature and in film, but I've found that it's somewhat died down in popularity over time. That, in large part I'm sure, is why the premise of Avalon worked so very well for me. The combination of space, crime, mystery and survival is exactly what I was looking for, and this is the type of novel that truly delivers. Mindee Arnett offers readers a rich world that's cold, alluring and, ultimately, hauntingly perfect.

I'd be daft to say that Avalon wasn't without its hitches, but it must be said that the novel develops upon the initial issues I found myself grappling with. For example, as many reviewers have attested, the novel takes a while to truly start. I was initially frustrated with the book for the first 100 or so pages, but I found very quickly that Ms. Arnett was taking the time to do something very important. In those "slower" pages, the author was developing a firm foundation for a new series, which is so often overlooked in novels these days. Rather than simply jump into action and interjecting details throughout, Avalon lays the groundwork from the start, establishing backstory and a rich world that undeniably transforms the latter half of the book and, I'm sure the series. 

Once the plot gets going though, it's like a runaway train, building momentum steadily until a conclusion that left me desperate for the next installment of the series. I do believe it should be mentioned though, that the plot devices, the twists and the turns overshadowed the characters a bit. Jeth, though a solid character, felt a bit detached for me, and I wasn't truly able to understand or appreciate his point of view until the back half of the novel. This did leave me feeling that the romance was also a bit flatter than I'd anticipated, but not unforgivably so. Plus, there is no love triangle, which is a huge element in its favor after all.

Most of all though, Avalon delivers science fiction, pure and true to readers of all ages. With a touch of a Fireflyesque feel, so long as readers remain invested in the novel, the action, suspense and drama will be readily delivered in the latter half of the book. The whirlwind nature of the escalating plot left me breathless, and it truly distracted me from the fact that it's not necessarily a character-driven novel. And, ultimately, the author gives readers what they ask for, though she makes us work for it in the best possible way.

Overall, I found Avalon to be a challenging, intriguing and successful science fiction novel. It wasn't without its flaws, but it gave me the type of science fiction that I've been craving, so I can't fault it all that much. I give it a strong 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to YA fans of true science fiction that is heavy on action.

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 Burning Sky
Author: Sherry Thomas (Twitter)
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Publish Date: September 17, 2013
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Pages: 464
Source: Publisher

Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she's being told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of The Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the greatest mage tyrant the world has ever known. A suicide task for anyone let alone a sixteen-year-old girl with no training, facing a prophecy that foretells a fiery clash to the death.

Prince Titus of Elberon has sworn to protect Iolanthe at all costs but he's also a powerful mage committed to obliterating the Bane to avenge the death of his family—even if he must sacrifice both Iolanthe and himself to achieve his goal. But Titus makes the terrifying mistake of falling in love with the girl who should have been only a means to an end. Now, with the servants of the Bane closing in, he must choose between his mission and her life.

Iolanthe has a powerful gift, and with it comes a powerful and extraordinarily intense destiny. She is prophesied to defeat a magic tyrant whom has long tormented her realm, but she's young, green and doesn't handle her temper well. Titus knows that she is the one that they have waited for, and he swears to protect Iolanthe at all costs, but such a promise does not come without its challenges. And love could very well ruin, rather than save, everything.

It's been a long while since I've read a young adult fantasy novel that has inspired me to write a true review. I often find them to be long-winded and redundant, so I actually hesitated to pick this one up. Sherry Thomas, however, surprised me with The Burning Sky - in the best possible way. Rich prose, a fantastical story alive with drama, magic, powers, deception and intrigue and a host of characters that inspire and fascinate us. The Burning Sky is a solid and engaging fantasy tale in which many a reader will easily lose themselves.

The Burning Sky was interesting to me in many ways, but perhaps most of all was the setting. Set in 1883, the novel takes place primarily at Eton College, we're given a very real and tangible backdrop which plays host to magic, incredible mythological beasts and powers beyond our wildest imagination. This unique and realistic setting grounds us, making readers feel as though, despite its fantasy genre, it could almost be real. The characters, however, are what brought the novel alive for me. Iolanthe was every bit the heroine. Full of immense power and responsibility, this girl is also believably flawed with real and tangible insecurities which make her more accessible to the reader. I also found a great relief in the fact that she had an intense gut reaction to the revelations of her destiny. While some novels might thrust their heroine into complete compliance with their fate, Iolanthe doubts her destiny and panics, giving us yet another reason to root for her to understand just how incredible she is. Titus was an enigma at the start of the novel. Seemingly arrogant, strong-willed and often quick to react to situations, I wasn't sure that I would be able to see any positives in his character, but through his encounters with Iolanthe, I gained better insight into his demeanor, as well as his end-goals. Moreover, as we discover more of his character and his motivations, we see that he's created a very careful mask with which he protects himself from the worst of their realm and help him to survive. The love element of The Burning Sky was done extremely well, too. As opposed to a quick, head-over-heels turn to love as we see in much of YA, Iolanthe and Titus have a burning, powerful tension and passion that rivals the danger they have to face every day. It adds an entirely different dimension to the novel, as well as sets up a powerful connection between to vastly different, but equally important, characters.

Overall, The Burning Sky was an absolutely fantastic read. Despite my initial reservations, I must say that I'm very much looking forward to continuing on with the story. I give it a 4 out of 5, only marking it down because of a bit of a lack of backstory as to the state of the realm, and I recommend it to all fans of YA fantasy.

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: Ten
Author: Gretchen McNeil (Twitter)
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Publish Date: September 18, 2012
Genre: YA, Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 304
Source: Publisher

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury. But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.

Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

All Meg and Minnie really wanted was a little holiday to unwind and get the boy of their dreams to be interested in them. Plus, throw in all the extras, and the weekend has all the makings for a complete success. Or, it should. Ten friends arrived at the luxe party on Henry Island, but after stumbling across an odd video with an ominous message, one by one, they start getting picked off. They're stuck on the island with no real way off...but how exactly will they survive the weekend, and why are they even in these circumstances?

Guys, I have a secret. Okay, it's not really a secret, but here goes: I love mysteries. And horror. And slasher flicks even though I have to sit with my eyes closed and my ears plugged. Yes, I know that it defeats the purpose. Moving on. Because of this, I immediately knew that Ten would be my cup of tea. Gretchen McNeil has crafted an eerie, atmospheric tale that invites readers to what seems like an idyllic setting, then wreaks havoc on our psyches as the characters begin dropping like flies. Ten is an engaging twist on the classic whodunit tale, guaranteeing you a healthy dose of twisted fun throughout.

I put off reading Ten for a really long time. And, frankly, I'll say that the plethora of one and two-star reviews really deterred my interest in the book for a good long while. I was really worried that the story would be trite and horror-lite, and I suppose that it was in some ways, but the author spins the story in a way that this actually works in its favour. The strength of the novel lies within the details. From the minute our characters arrive on Henry Island, we are there with them. We experience the blistering, foreboding winds of the storm. The atmosphere and setup are tense and dramatic, engaging you from the get-go, and with vivid imagery and a picture-perfect backdrop for such a mysterious novel, Ten succeeds. Furthermore, I think that the characters were well portrayed. I was invested in the fates of Meg and Minnie, and I definitely knew who I wanted to survive, and who I was really hoping would meet a swift and decisive end. Perhaps this means that the characters were a bit too obvious, but it worked for me. However, I do feel that this book is a bit horror-lite, if that makes sense. It's mysterious, it's eerie - it's even a tad campy at times - but it's not really an intense horror story filled with gore, pleading for one's life or even a real, true scare. But, with such a visually appealing and engaging backdrop for a story that is still riddled with tension, I found myself almost forgiving the character stereotypes and lack of true horror. 

All in all, I can see why not everyone enjoyed Ten, but for me, it worked for the most part. If I look at it from the standpoint that it's YA, and therefore not true horror, it succeeds. I give it a 3.5 out of 5, and I recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy a good mystery or light horror story.

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: Unraveling
Author: Elizabeth Norris
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Publish Date: April 24, 2012
Genre: YA, Sci-Fi
Pages: 445
Source: Personal Copy

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

Janelle is your average, everyday 17-year-old with all the fixings of a perfect life. She has a great family, a good job and a boyfriend that is, by all accounts, super cute. However, Janelle also has a father in the FBI, and her snooping little hands can’t help but search through his files every now and again. When she discovers that a mystery event is going to take place in just 24 hours, Janelle sets actions in motion without even knowing it. It also sets her on a collision course for a whirlwind that includes death, revival and some sort endgame master plan that might just involve Janelle, her father…and the entire world.

I don’t know why, but while I enjoy action films, action books are usually really not my cup of tea. I find them to be a bit trite, at times and, frankly, they often feel a bit tired and redundant halfway through. Needless to say (after that disclaimer), author Elizabeth Norris had her work cut out for her when trying to entertain me with her debut novel, Unraveling. With careful sleight of hand, slippery words and a plot that weaves and folds you into its tumultuous embrace, this novel is part mystery, part science-fiction and all action as it renders you powerless in its grip.

Despite, or perhaps in spite of all the glowing reviews, Unraveling had me a bit concerned when I started it. I hate when hype is splashed around because I’m always worried that a story isn’t going to live up for me, and I hate being the one blogger that doesn’t like something. Well, I’m pleased to say I sure breathed one heck of a sigh of relief when I read this one because it was so much more than I expected. The novel starts with a bang – no pretenses or falsities. We meet Janelle, we watch her demise and we see as the entire plot is set in motion barely a few pages in. One singular event plays out like a veritable Pandora’s Box as the story arcs and characters are spun into an intricate maze and web. Part of the beauty of Unraveling lies within the fact that we’re given a family that is, for all intents and purposes, extremely normal. Janelle’s father lives and breathes his job, her mother is emotionally absent and her little brother is just like any other little brother. The fact that her home life and school life were so normal perfectly balanced the sci-fi-esque events that fueled the plot. I enjoyed watching Janelle and Ben’s relationship slowly bloom over time – something that is often rushed, and it helped move the story along, as well. Perhaps the biggest strength of the novel lies in the fact that, despite how big and all-encompassing this master plan was, it had deliberate and powerful effects on the characters that mattered most to us. I will, however, say that at times I felt the wording of Unraveling was a bit repetitive and redundant, and I wish that some of the secondary characters stood out more. Despite a few little hiccups though, Unraveling was riveting.

I love when books live up to the hype, and I love it even more when bloggers and readers fuel that hype. I’m so glad that Unraveling embodied its name as it slowly, deliberately hooked me as the plot unraveled. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy science-fiction, action and adventure.

Title: Glimmer
Author: Phoebe Kitanidis
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Publish Date: April 17, 2012
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 352
Source: Publisher

When Marshall and Elyse wake up in each other’s arms with zero memory of how they got there or who they are, it’s the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future.

Terrified by their amnesia, the two make a pact to work together to find the answers that could jog their missing memories. As they piece together clues, they discover they’re in the idyllic mountain resort town of Summer Falls, where everyone seems mysteriously happy, but as Marshall and Elyse quickly learn, darkness lurks beneath the town’s perfect facade. Not only is the town haunted by sinister ghosts, but none of its living inhabitants retain bad memories of anything—not the death of Marshall’s mom, not the hidden shame in Elyse’s family, not even the day-to-day anguish of high school.

Lonely in this world of happy zombies, Marsh and Elyse fall into an intense relationship...but the secrets they uncover could be the death of this growing love—and the death of everyone, and everything, they love in Summer Falls.

Marshall and Elyse can’t be sure what exactly happened that night. Their confusion is only compounded upon by the fact that that they wake in the same bed with no memory of who they are, where they are from, or what got them to where they are today. Their dread should be pacified by the fact that the town in which they find themselves, Summer Falls, seems pristine and perfect, but there’s something that just doesn’t quite fit. Everyone is happy. Summer never ends, and the heat is anything but soothing. Rather, it’s just sleepy, and the townfolk seem to be quite prone to “heatnaps.” Summer Falls could be perfect, but Elyse and Marshall can see the tinges of darkness in the town, and they must figure out what it is and why it’s after Summer Falls before they’re lost in a sinister town forever.

It’s been a while since I read something so deceptively cheerful, and I have to say that Glimmer by Pheobe Kitanidis was a welcome refreshment to my daily reading. With carefully crafted prose, the author spins a story that’s sweet and sinful at the same time, blending perfection with utter disarray and happiness with oblivion. The black and white natures of the story lent a haunting nature to the speedy plot, binding tension to every twist and turn along the way; and trust me, there were plot twists aplenty! With two loveable characters with whom you can empathize and relate, Glimmer will reel you into its web and refuse to let go.

Guys, there was something so eerie and Stepford about Glimmer that totally had me in its claws from start to finish. From page one; we’re prompted with questions – questions to which we are not immediately given answers. In fact, we’re given non-answers throughout the story, and we’re asked to hang on tight as the story, the setting and the plot spin darker and darker with each turn of the page. The beauty of the novel is the unpredictability of it. It’s a maze, in all truth, and just when I thought I was going to figure out what was truly happening in Summer Falls, something shook things up, yet again. The mysteries kept adding and layering upon one another and, while at times a bit tedious, I enjoyed that nothing was ever exactly how I thought it would be. Adding to each twist and turn was the dual narration of the novel. However, Glimmer tried a different approach – one that was rather effective, in my humble opinion. We’re privied to the chance to see Summer Falls from both Elyse and Marshall’s points of view. Unique to Glimmer, however, is the fact that each narrative seems to end in its own little cliffhanger, allowing us to not only access the character’s mind and thoughts, but also hook us each chapter. Glimmer breathes new life into young adult paranormal with touches of love, flickers of darkness and sinister plans .

Overall, I was pretty much entirely riveted by this fairly obscure gem. I hadn’t heard too much about it, and the hype wasn’t overdone, so I was even more blown away. I hope people decide to give this one a go because I think people will be pretty surprised. I give it a 4.5 out of 5, and I highly recommend it fans of YA, especially those who enjoy 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: Slide
Author: Jill Hathaway
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Publish Date: March 27, 2012
Genre: YA, Sci-Fi, Paranormal
Pages: 256
Source: Publisher

Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered. Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

Vee, for all intents and purposes, is your everyday teenage girl. She deals with backstabbing teens, catty girls, boyfriend drama and life in a clique-driven high school. Vee is unlike other girls though because, when she least expects it, she is unable to prevent herself from sliding into another person's consciousness. She sees the world through their eyes, and she's come to terms with it. It might make her odd, and it might be inconvenient, but it's life. Life for Vee, however, is about to get very complicated. She slides into a killer's mind one night...her sister's friend...and she can't just let it go. Suddenly, she's involved in a murder mystery, and everyone's a suspect.

Slide has such a brilliant premise. Before I even begin to remark on the book and the writing, I just have to say that. Seriously, touching aspects of sci-fi and paranormal, as well as blending great high school drama and teenage qualms, it's got all the makings of a winner. Author, Jill Hathaway, has written an engrossing novel rich with vivid prose, great imagery and a sweeping, dramatic storyline. Her characters are solid and entertaining, the idea behind Vee's story is fantastic, and it's a page-turner, for sure. If you're looking for a fantastic who-dun-it, this is the perfect YA version. Fast-paced and action-packed, it's a fast read you'll be unable to put down.

Vee was a great character. She was multi-layered, and she had a lot of depth, making you become involved in her story. I felt for her, and I felt for her situation. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been to lose herself in another person continuously. Even more so though, I can't imagine how it must have felt for her to feel as though she was actually holding the murder weapon. Her reactions are true and genuine, which definitely made me become invested in her story. Rollins, too, was a fantastic character. He was true and honest, making him a beacon in a maze of unease. Zane was an interesting love interest - not my absolute favourite, but he definitely added another layer to Slide, which contributed to the overall plot. The makings were all there for an absolutely perfect mystery, but here is my one qualm...the clues throughout the story actually felt more like reveals than clues. I felt like I was being pointed in the absolute direction of the answer. Frankly, I like it when a story keeps me guessing, and Slide, though fun and engaging, was pretty blatantly hinting at the culprit the entire time.

Overall, Slide was a great book. Truly, it was. Despite the fact that I wished it was more mysterious, it was well-written and engaging. I give it a 3.5 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy mysteries, sci-fi and paranormal stories.

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

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. As always, there are some amazing upcoming books, but this week I'm particularly excited for...

Title: Glimmer
Author: Phoebe Kitanidis (Twitter)
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Publish Date: April 17, 2012
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 352

When Marshall and Elyse wake up in each other’s arms with zero memory of how they got there or who they are, it’s the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future.

Terrified by their amnesia, the two make a pact to work together to find the answers that could jog their missing memories. As they piece together clues, they discover they’re in the idyllic mountain resort town of Summer Falls, where everyone seems mysteriously happy, but as Marshall and Elyse quickly learn, darkness lurks beneath the town’s perfect facade. Not only is the town haunted by sinister ghosts, but none of its living inhabitants retain bad memories of anything—not the death of Marshall’s mom, not the hidden shame in Elyse’s family, not even the day-to-day anguish of high school.

Lonely in this world of happy zombies, Marsh and Elyse fall into an intense relationship...but the secrets they uncover could be the death of this growing love—and the death of everyone, and everything, they love in Summer Falls.

Hello, cover lust, my old friend! I swear, this is one of the prettiest covers I've seen in a long time, and those colours! Vintage with a touch of brightness...I love it. In all seriousness though, Glimmer sounds eerie, oddly dark and deeply fascinating. I love it when there are twists and turns and things that go bump in the night - even when everything looks perfectly normal on the surface. This one pops for me, and I can't wait to sink my teeth into it! What do you think, and what are you waiting on this week?

In My Mailbox is an amazing weekly meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren that features the books we have received during the week. It's so much fun because we get to see what our fellow bloggers stumbled upon this week and add even more to our piles of books! Without further ado, this week I received the following books:

FOR REVIEW

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

(ARC) - Thank you, Balzer & Bray

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

FOR REVIEW

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

Thank you, Aladdin

Every year in Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into categories: the strong, intelligent Wanteds go to university, and the artistic Unwanteds are sent to their deaths.

Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret—behind the mirage of the "death farm" there is instead a place called Artime.

FOR REVIEW

The Rift Walker by Clay & Susan Griffith

Thank you, Prometheus

Princess Adele struggles with a life of marriage and obligation as her Equatorian Empire and their American Republic allies stand on the brink of war against the vampire clans of the north. However, the alliance's horrific strategy for total victory drives Adele to abandon her duty and embark on a desperate quest to keep her nation from staining its hands with genocide. Reunited with her great love, the mysterious adventurer known to the world as the Greyfriar, Adele is pursued by her own people as well as her vengeful husband, senator Clark. 

Title: Frost
Author: Marianna Baer
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Publish Date: September 13, 2011
Genre: YA, Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher

Leena Thomas’s senior year at boarding school starts with a cruel shock: Frost House, the cozy Victorian dorm where she and her best friends live, has been assigned an unexpected roommate—eccentric Celeste Lazar.

As classes get under way, strange happenings begin to bedevil Frost House: frames falling off walls, doors locking themselves, furniture toppling over. Celeste blames the housemates, convinced they want to scare her into leaving. And although Leena strives to be the peacekeeper, soon the eerie happenings in the dorm, an intense romance between Leena and Celeste’s brother, David, and the reawakening of childhood fears all push Leena to take increasingly desperate measures to feel safe. But does the threat lie with her new roommate, within Leena’s own mind…or in Frost House itself?

Senior Year at Barcroft Academy was meant to be a dream for Leena. She and her best friend Viv have scored residence in a cozy corner of the campus - Frost House. But circumstances change when an eccentric roommate, Celeste, is thrust into their living space and thing start to take a turn for the worst. Frost House seems to have a mind of its own as chairs fall, picture frames tilt and crash and the locked doors become ominous and foreboding. But as Leena's personal life becomes more chaotic and confusing, she finds herself withdrawing further into Frost House until she very might well lose her mind because she's no longer sure anymore - is there something wrong with the house, or is something wrong with her?

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of twisted stories. There's something about being sent on a spellbinding tale that resonates those things that go bump in the night. Frost does that and more. Walking a fine line between a pyschological thriller and a paranormal tale, Frost delicately balances between genres and promises a fulfilling tale for all. Author Marianna Baer has crafted a haunting debut that's mesmerizing, confusing and haunting, allowing the reader to escape into a world where darkness is undefined and every twist and turn has you guessing what's really going on at Frost House. With a fluid style and sinister tone, Frost is sure to delight readers who have a thing for the dark and mysterious.

The true beauty of Frost lies within the bones of the novel - the writing. Mysteries aren't easy to write. If you tell too much, the reader gets bored, but if you tell too little, the reader grows impatient. Frost walked a tightrope of ambiguity, giving the reader enough information to keep them turning pages and continuing guessing, but never giving anything away too soon. Moody and atmospheric, tumultuous and nerve-wracking, Frost messes with your perceptions, captivating you with a realistic MC and then sending your mind spinning on a psycholgoical tale. Leena, like I said, was a great protagonist. There was something believable and accessible about her. While she was a strong girl, there was a sense of vulnerability about her, and as her confusing grew, her mindset lent a creepy vibe to Frost. The more chaotic her thoughts were, the more suspenseful the story grew. Likewise, the relationship between David and Leena only fostered the humanity of the story, which could have easily been lost in the plot. Celeste, though a vivid and prominent secondary character, never stole the spotlight from Leena and added a tenuous sense of peace to the story, but remained precariously close to sending Frost spiraling into a veritable pandemonium. The ending was satisfying, but it was the only sort of flat element for me. I don't like ribbons and bows, but I don't like to feel like I'm still guessing. Frost balanced between the two, only offering a semblance of an answer to the mysteries within its pages.

Overall though, Frost was a dynamic, creepy debut from an author that's sure to deliver many more powerful novels to the genre in the future. I give it a strong 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to those who enjoy YA, especially mysteries and psychological thrillers.

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

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. As always, there are some amazing upcoming books, but this week I'm particularly excited for...

Title: Everneath
Author: Brodi Ashton
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Published: Janurary 3, 2010
Genre: Paranormal
Pages: 384

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

Ok, I'm a huge fan of immortal stories...and paranormal...and stories with cute guys and twisty romances and difficulties and underworlds and...oh wait. I just described Everneath! I've been stalking Brodi's blog since, well, forever, and I'm now officially dying to read her book. It certainly doesn't hurt that the cover of this book is so dang pretty that I'm drooling, either. In all seriousness, I'm loving this twist on the paranormal. It sounds new, and that's refreshing. What do you think, and what are you waiting on this week?

Title: Bumped
Author: Megan McCafferty
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Published: April 26, 2011
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Pages: 336
Source: Tour/Cornucopia of Dystopia

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her that “pregging” for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

Melody and Harmony were born into a world where teen pregnancy is as valuable as money in society. Melody never knew Harmony, but now they've found each other and must learn to come to terms with the upbringing the other has received. Melody has a goal - she wants to bump and receive all the status and money that comes with it. Harmony, however, wants nothing more than to be the perfect wife and mother. But despite their different lives, their identical looks are going to send them on a journey together that's both a blessing and a curse - pretty much the same as their chance meeting.

Bumped is another big-name book in the wave of new dystopian novels taking over the YA market. Written by veteran author Megan McCafferty, known for her popular and well-written Jessica Darling series, Bumped presents a world that puts an all new spin on the media craze we see today. Whereas we watch shows such as Teen Mom and The Pregnancy Pact, Bumped turns this phenomenon on its head, making teen pregnancy a valuable, enviable and coveted turn of events. It's a unique twist on the dystopian genre - slightly creepy and eerily fascinating, but definitely and completely one-of-a-kind. 

Promising premise aside though, I have to admit that Bumped fell flat for me. From page one the book is cluttered with the slang of the world Melody and Harmony live in. In fact, it was so jarring that I actually put it down to attempt to digest who the characters actually were. Furthermore, Bumped is written from both Melody and Harmony's POVs, alternating by chapter and furthering my confusion. Now, don't get me wrong, the irony of the world of Bumped is not lost on me. That said, I felt it was contrasting with an overtly perky voice that didn't fit a story that, I'm assuming, was supposed to be somewhat serious. I'm a fan of Megan's other books, so I was surprised this didn't work for me.

Now, I'm not saying that Bumped is a bad book, but I'm confused about the audience of Bumped, as well as what I was supposed to take away from it. If it was supposed to be ironic, or a play on what we see today, I would want that to be more apparent and not masked by slang and dialogue that just didn't work for me. I hate giving bad reviews, but I give it a 2.5 out of 5 for the original premise and the author's talent, alone. I would still recommend it to fans of an upper YA audience, as well as those who enjoy dystopian novels.