Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Author: Michelle Hodkin (Twitter)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: September 27, 2011
Genre: YA, Psychological Thriller
Pages: 464
Source: Publisher

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. 

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed. 

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. 

She's wrong.

Mara's life is nothing like it used to be. The biggest problem before the accident was the fact that Claire might be usurping her place as her best friend's new best friend. Mara's family moves to Miami for a fresh start, but Mara's troubles follow her, and her troubles begin to go from bad to worse. She's seeing things, hearing voices and she's pretty sure she's dangerously unstable. The one person that could center her is as mysterious as her condition, but as dangerously handsome and charming as they get. Can Mara reach the bottom of her troubled past before her world crumbles around her?

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is a thrill ride; plain and simple. However, while that surmises what many of you might have already guessed, it doesn't even begin to come close to adequately portraying what a masterpiece Michelle Hodkin has created in her debut novel. Rich and engrossing, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is rife with dark humour, snarky characters and white-knuckle suspense from start to finish. Michelle Hodkin is a genius when it comes to setting a scene. Balancing a perfect description of each setting while allowing the characters to sing through so they never become overpowered by mundane details, the world of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer comes alive. Brimming with tension and suspense, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is sure to find a place on every book-lover's shelf.

First and foremost, I have to say that Mara was very much a mystery to me throughout much of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, but that's not to say that I didn't get to know her. It's the not-knowing that made her that much more intriguing, if that makes sense. Every time I think I had a grasp on what was going on with her, she threw me for a loop and had me grasping at straws, yet again. Jamie, Mara's new best friend was a hilarious oddity, as well. He added a layer of intrigue to the host of secondary characters, each of whom had their own distinct personality. In the same breath, I'd like to say that Daniel, Mara's older brother, was a perfect counterpart to Mara, herself. His steady demeanor was the very opposite of Mara's tumultuous self, but their interaction was genuine and honest - very much that of a brother and sister. Then there's Noah Shaw. Good Lord. Noah Shaw. He will forever be the boy that I compare all YA boys to from now on...perhaps real boys, as well. On the surface, his surly player facade had me screaming for mercy, but when you added the layer of hidden, genuine charm and concern, he epitomizes perfection. Through it all, however, I must not forget that while the characters were phenomenal, the plot was equally so. I never once knew where The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer was heading, but it was visual, and it was tense, and I was enthralled and breathless long after the very last page.

I cannot sing the praises of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer enough. This book, in my humble opinion, is what makes the genre so great. Merging a powerful premise with an equally stunning and original plot, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer gets a 6 out of 5 from me (as well as edges into my top ten), and the ending left me absolutely desperate for book two like...yesterday. I highly recommend this book to all fans of YA, as well as fans of adult books, especially those who enjoy psychological thrillers and dark tones. There is some mature language and insinuations, so do keep that under consideration.

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.

Title: Circle Nine
Author: Anne Heltzel
Publisher: Candlewick
Published: September 13, 2011
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Thriller
Pages: 272
Source: Publisher

She knows only Sam, a mysterious teenage boy. He is her sole companion; her whole life. She was born, already a teenager, lying outside a burning building in soot-stained clothes, remembering nothing, not even her name. He showed her the necklace she had on, the one that named her: Abby. Sam brought her to live in his cave-palace, where he gives her everything she needs. He loves her. He protects her from the world outside, from everyone who wants to hurt them, like the denizens of Circle Nine, Dante’s deepest circle of hell.

But even in a charmed, brand-new life like Abby’s, change will come. Sam falls ill. A new girl comes to stay, and Abby begins to question Sam’s devotion. With doubt comes emotional turmoil, changes in perception, and glimpses of her past identity.

Abby can't remember anything. When she wakes, she doesn't know where she is, who she is, or what is happening, but there is a fire, and she has to escape. The only person around to help her is Sam. She doesn't know who he is, but he says he can help her, and she feels as though she can trust him, so she does. The pair begin a life together in what Sam calls a cave-palace - a world central to the two of them alone, with the world outside called Circle Nine. Abby can't remember anything though, and her dark, blank past is edging into her deliriously simple life. When the fragments of memories begin flooding back, the darkness begins to consume her life, and she realizes that Sam, her life and all her surroundings are false...but is she strong enough to escape them, or will her past consume her future, too?

I rarely read a book that leaves me so completely speechless that I'm unable to post a review on the day I'd planned, but Circle Nine has presented that to me. Anne Heltzel has spun an equal-parts mesmerizing and horrific psychological thriller with Circle Nine that grips the reader with talon-like prose from start to finish. Calling such a book simply "horror" or "contemporary" would be a crime because Circle Nine manages to merge the genres into one potent, powerful and hard-hitting book that is sure to affect every reader in a different way. With a voice that's achingly raw and ravaged, Circle Nine still has me in its grip long after I've finished it.

I cannot say that I loved Circle Nine because to say I loved it would mean that I completely missed the story of Abby altogether. I loved the writing, I loved the power behind every word and I loved that every action and inaction in Circle Nine had a purpose. That said, there was so much about Circle Nine that made me angry, frightened and hollow, too. Abby's world was written in an almost dreamlike state from her first-person perspective, making it that much more tangible, so when it began to crumble around her in a world of sexual and emotional abuse, the reader is strung along as Abby endures and struggles to survive in a world that's ravaged and without a past. We don't watch her world crumble around her; we live it with her, and as it spirals into that ninth circle of hell, we long for relief, too. Sam was a character that I loathed (and for good reason), and yet from Abby's perspective, there was a part of me that wanted to find that child within him and set him free, too. That, and all the conflicting emotions I felt, is what made Circle Nine such a powerful and tumultuous read.

Circle Nine is not for the faint of heart, but if you want to read an incredibly powerful read, this is the book for you. The only thing that left me unsatisfied was the ending, but that's just my desire for a true sense of closure, and all I felt was an unsteady calm. I give this book a 4 out of 5, and I'd highly recommend it to fans of upper YA and adult books, especially those who enjoy dark contemporary fiction and psychological thrillers.

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: Lost Voices
Author: Sarah Porter
Publisher: Harcourt
Published: July 4, 2011
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 304
Source: Publisher

Fourteen-year-old Luce has had a tough life, but she reaches the depths of despair when she is assaulted and left on the cliffs outside of a grim, gray Alaskan fishing village. She expects to die when she tumbles into the icy waves below, but instead undergoes an astonishing transformation and becomes a mermaid. A tribe of mermaids finds Luce and welcomes her in—all of them, like her, lost girls who surrendered their humanity in the darkest moments of their lives.

Luce is thrilled with her new life until she discovers the catch: the mermaids feel an uncontrollable desire to drown seafarers, using their enchanted voices to lure ships into the rocks. Luce possesses an extraordinary singing talent, which makes her important to the tribe—she may even have a shot at becoming their queen. However her struggle to retain her humanity puts her at odds with her new friends. Will Luce be pressured into committing mass murder?

Luce has lived a life that no child should ever live through in her fourteen years. After losing her father in a terrible accident, Luce has been living with her abusive uncle, waiting for the days to run out so she can have an inkling of peace. But when the abuse becomes too much, Luce can't take it anymore, and she decides to take her peace, no matter the cost. Dead doesn't happen though. Luce finds herself in a world of girls just like herself. Abandoned by the world, they've become powerful enough to seek their vengeance, and they never need company besides each other again. The urge to kill, however, is powerful, and Luce has to decide whether she can finally fit in, or if the cost is too much for her to bear.

Lost Voices is the first book in a planned trilogy about a world of lost girls who become beautiful, ethereal beings hell-bent on seeking revenge against the world for the sins committed against them in life. By the cover, I expected a pretty love story, a sweet touch of paranormal and an overall saccharin tone. I was wrong. Lost Voices tackles dark issues with ease, baring the depth of the human soul, the righteousness within each of us and our ability to rise up and raise our voices. Sarah Porter has skillfully woven a tale with a strong message and theme for all of today's youth while creating a haunting visual story of a girl who has lost it all, but has the chance to get it back at a cost.

I'm the worst person when it comes to judging books by their covers, so when I first saw Lost Voices, I wasn't too excited. After peeking at a few reviews though, I was excited to hear about the dark undertones of the story. Luce has been sucked into a world of beauty that is tinged with death and malice. I loved the twist on her story, and I loved that her transformation rocked straight into a terrible but hauntingly beautiful action sequence, keeping the story moving. The strongest suit about Luce was her humanity - the soul she retained even as a mermaid. That said, it bothered me at times that Luce was able to simply follow the rules of the mermaids and not speak up when she saw the wrongs being committed. I wanted more from her. I'm hoping the sequel to Lost Voices will tackle her personal growth. That said, the shifts in Luce's almost rabid desire to be loved to a pathological need for inner peace were very well-done and believable. I will admit that while he other mermaids were intriguing, they a bit forgettable for the most part. Caterina, the Queen, was the one who I remembered most. The pacing and imagery of Lost Voices was gorgeous and mesmerizing, and honestly, the only part of the story that bugged me a bit was that it was almost too thematic, if you know what I mean. I want a theme, but I don't want it to leap from every page - I want it enmeshed in the story.

All in all, despite seeing a lot of iffy reviews, I quite liked Lost Voices, and I enjoy that it's set itself apart from other such books on the market today. It's a bit darker than it looks, and it's not for the weak-hearted, which I enjoyed. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to all fans of YA, as well as Upper MG reads, especially those who enjoy strong themes of self-discovery and dark tones, as well as a blend of contemporary and paranormal 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.

Title: Stay
Author: Deb Caletti
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Published: April 5, 2011
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 320
Source: Galley Grab

Clara’s relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it’s almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is—and what he’s willing to do to make her stay.

Now Clara has left the city—and Christian—behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won’t let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough....

Clara knows all too well what it means for someone to be dangerously co-dependent. It started as love, and a love far greater than she had ever known, at that, but it quickly grew into something deeper and more serious. Christian loved Clara, but he loved her to the point of possessiveness, and Clara's world became constricting and pained, despite the supposed "love" that was bestowed upon her. While he put her on a pedestal far above others, the dark lining simply meant she had farther to fall when her world crumbled beneath her. Clara needs to learn that loving herself is far greater than being the true object of one's eye.

Stay is my first stab at work by author Deb Caletti. I've heard wonderful things about her work, and I was eager to try it based on the premise. There's something haunting and more powerful about stories involving love gone wrong, but they can easily become cliche and overbearing. I can happily say that Stay defies the odds and exudes far more emotion than I could have hoped. It made me cringe, it made my cry and above all else, it made me think about self-worth. If a book can make me reflect upon my own life and my own choices, then the author has made the story ring true.

Clara was a twisty character in Stay...but this is not to be confused with twisted. She felt a sense of power in the love Christian felt for her, and it was understandable. To have that sort of love must truly build one up. She had a unique and unusual voice that completely separated her from the author's voice, which was utterly refreshing. Clara spoke in a way that was upfront, open and honest, but reading the meaning in her words was much like peeling and onion. The hidden layers beneath the words themselves took her story and character to the next level. I was also completely refreshed by her father, a secondary character with a true and defined personality. He clearly respected his daughter, but he gave her the freedom to make her own mind. Christian's character was the counterpart - eerie, dark and more haunting because of Clara's upfront approach to her situation.

I'm on a roll with contemps, it seems, and I'm so happy to have read Stay. Raw and powerful, Stay is fast-paced read but exudes both depth and feeling. I give it a firm 5 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction.

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