Review: Airborne (Airborne Saga #1)

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Title: Airborne

Author: Constance Sharper

Series: Airborne Saga

Age Group: young adult

Format: ebook

Pages: 318

Release Date: March 28, 2011

A copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Avery knew she had a knack for attracting trouble, but even she is shocked when a six-foot-something harpie shows up on her doorstep. Coping with the existence of a mythological race? Okay. Unwittingly finding herself in the middle of a vicious harpie conflict? A little less okay. Having to rely on an arrogant harpie boy who gets under her skin? Now that is something Avery isn't sure she can handle. 

The concept of being able to fly has always fascinated me. I used to daydream that I had large white wings, sometimes I would see one black and white wing. Over time, as I began reading more and more, I practically obsessed over angels. Even now, angels are my favorite section of paranormal fiction (that and vampires).

But, today, I discovered a new sort of mythological creature. A harpie. Avery, our main character, describes them as having immense wings, about ten feet wide. Up until now, I'd never really paid attention to this part of Greek mythology. Ms. Sharper did an amazing job of presenting these mysterious creatures.

I could clearly picture the harpies. For example, Mason, Avery's personal self-proclaimed protector. He was described as being six feet seven (about). At first I saw him as this wiry, awkward looking guy. The fact that he wore a trench coat did not help. But later on, Avery describes him as muscular, so I now I have this mental image of this geeky looking guy with abs. It was difficult, to say the least. Aside from his baffling appearance, he was a protective, sweet guy.

Avery tends to follow the cliche of being clumsy. Besides that, I liked her personality. I'd imagine it would be difficult adjusting to this whole new world. Not to mention your new form of transportation switching to being flown like a rag doll. She managed to keep her complaining in check, and for that I respect Avery.

This is definitely a series I while be finishing one day.

My Rating:

Review: The Witches of Santa Anna (The Witches of Santa Anna #1-7)

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Title: The Witches of Santa Anna

Author: Lauren Barnholdt & Aaron Gorvine

Series: The Witches of Santa Anna, #1-7

Age Group: young adult

Format: ebook

Pages: 307

Release Date: March 13, 2011

A copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. 

Natalia Moore is the new girl at Santa Anna Prep, and all she wants to do is fly under the radar -- get to her classes, meet a few friends, and try not to make a total fool of herself in the meantime. But when handsome and popular Campbell Elliot goes out of his way to be nice to the new girl, Natalia's plan to go unnoticed flies out the window. 
Cam's hot, but he's completely off-limits. Raine Marsden, the most popular and meanest girl in school, has had her eye on him ever since the summer. And Raine doesn't like competition.
When Cam goes as far as inviting Natalia to the exclusive weekend party at Raine's house, Raine sets her sights on a new victim. But what Natalia doesn't know is that Raine and her friends are no ordinary mean girls. They have powers most people can only dream of, and nobody will stand in the way of what they want. And what Raine wants is Campbell.
The Witches of Santa Anna series of novellas, proves just how far true love will go and that nothing--not even pure evil--can change your destiny. 

At first, I was going to review these books separately, but since I was given books one through seven in this set, and I was so hooked, I'm just going to review all of these books. Each book is actually really short, and it was a very quick read.

I'm surprised. Normally, I'm not someone who tends to pick up many books about witches. Now, don't misunderstand; I have nothing against witches. I guess I just tend to lean more towards vampires and other paranormal creatures. Anyways, my last witch book, Earth, had elemental witches. These are totally different, for the most part. Now we have mind-controlling witches, and I just happen to love it!

Raine is one bitch you do not want to mess with...unless you're Natalia. In fact, according to one of the characters, Raine is the most beautiful girl...in the world. But not even this girl's looks make up for her personality. Raine is controlling, cruel, and practically everything you can imagine in a villain. Add to that, she wants Cam to be her property.

Of course, in comes our heroine, Natalia (who just so happens to have a slight, yet awesome, British accent!). And guess who Cam starts to fall for? Bingo! Well, add in another hot (did I mention they're both football players?) guy, and we have our love triangle! Brody x Natalia x Cam  In the end, I could not really decide who I like more. Brody's a douche at the beginning, but goes through a complete metamorphsis. Cam's just...Cam. They're both the American boys. Not really my type of guys (I tend to stick towards dark and mysterious). But, the love interests were definitely cute, and the love games between the three were hilarious.

Like I wrote above, the witch's most useful power as far as I can tell is mind control....that and flinging people against trees. I did have a lot of questions running through my head by the end of the book. A few included: What is the big deal with Cam and Natalia dating? What war? There were so many more, and that did leave me frustrated.

I guess I'll just have to go buy the next set of books! That is about it. My only regret is that I did not read these books before. The Witches of Santa Anna is definitely an entertaining read. I loved every minute of it! If you are short on time, it's also a quick read.

My Rating:

Review: Earth (Elemental #1)

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Title: Earth

Author: Shauna Granger

Series: Elemental, #1

Age Group: young adult

Format: ebook

Pages: 233

Release Date: May 1, 2011

A copy was provided by Shauna Granger for review.

Shayna and her two best friends have the abilities to manipulate and control the four elements, earth, air, water and fire. While learning to hone their growing powers, they discover a new and malicious presence in their sleepy beach town. Someone is performing blood magic and threatens to expose their small magical community. So far only small animals have been slaughtered, but then the nightmares start. 
Shayna suffers nightmares of being chased and sacrificed only to wake up bloodied and bruised. She thinks her magical blood is the ultimate target for the final blood rite. When an innocent girl, Tracy, is kidnapped Shayna knows it's only a ploy to draw her out; she can't let someone die because of her. 

I'm so sorry everyone about my extremely long leave of absence. But, it is summer now, and I'm back, hopefully for the long run this time. As is to be expected, I have not been reading in quite a while. But the first book that I picked up is Earth.  I definitely do not regret it!

I've always been a fan of mostly any book having to do with the dealing of elements. There are many people that say that it is overused. But, I keep reading these types of books, to find the diamonds among rocks. And Earth is a diamond.

Earth follows the story of Shayna, or Tess (her element name), Steven (Drake), and Jodi (Fae). I loved all of these characters, especially Steven. He reminds me of one of my friends. He's quirky, funny, and fun, and was probably my favorite character in the book.

On the other hand, Shayna, the main character, I had a few problems with. She was a bit too bossy, although considering she is the strongest out of all three of them, it's reasonable, she could treat Steven and Jodi more equally. Hopefully, as the series progresses, she won't let her powers go to her head.

You're probably what their powers are. Well, as I stated before, there powers have to do with the elements. Steven is fire, Jodi air, and as you can probably guess from the title of the book, Shayna is earth. But, there is something more to Shayna, so just your eyes on her while reading. In a way, they are witches, except for Steven, who I guess you could a warlock, but's he pretty much counts as a girl. ;)

I think I have said enough about Earth. I just think you guys should go read it. It's definitely a memorable book, and I can guarantee you will enjoy it.

My Rating:

Review: Darkness Before Dawn (Darkness Before Dawn Trilogy #1)

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Title: Darkness Before Dawn

Author: J.A. London

Series: Darkness Before Dawn Trilogy, #1

Age Group: young adult

Format: paperback

Pages: 342

Release Date: May 29, 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

Source: library

ONLY SUNLIGHT CAN SAVE US.
We built the wall to keep them out, to keep us safe. But it also makes us prisoners, trapped in what's left of our ravaged city, fearing nightfall.
After the death of my parents, it's up to me--as the newest delegate for humanity--to bargain with our vampire overlord. I thought I was ready. I thought I knew everything there was to know about the monsters. Then again, nothing could have prepared me for Lord Valentine...or his son. Maybe not all vampires are killers. Maybe it's safe to let one in.
Only one thing is certain: Even the wall is not enough. A war is coming and we cannot hide forever.

I remember reading some time ago that Darkness Before Dawn received criticisms for the cover being similar to Fallen by Lauren Kate. That is true, but I still love the whole gothic theme going on, so in the end, I love it!

I can't help but admit that this was a bland read. There wasn't anything new to read in Darkness Before Dawn. I found it very cliche, and boring, to be honest.

Through the story, I kept reading that Dawn was special, but yet I never found out why. Major disappointment. There was the classic love triangle. Michael, Dawn, and Victor. But if you keep reading, you'll immediately find out who the obvious choice is going to be.

I ended up struggling to finish this book. I would read a few chapters each day, and then put it down for a few more days, and then pick it up again.

In the end, there's not much to say. I just could not enjoy Darkness Before Dawn. If I had to say, Rachel would be my favorite character out of all. She was just a sweet young woman who took on the responsibility of taking care of Dawn. Rachel represented a great mixture of being a friend, and a motherly figure for Dawn.

That's about. I still have not decided if I want to start the sequel, but don't let this convince you to not read the book. Maybe it just was not for me. I hope you all have better luck. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

My Rating:

Darkness Before Dawn is part of the Catch Up Reading Challenge!

Review: The Pledge (The Pledge #1)

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Title: The Pledge

Author: Kimberly Derting

Series: The Pledge, #1

Age Group: young adult

Format: hardback

Pages: 323

Release Date: November 15, 2011

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Source: school library

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking in their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs, where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max, who speaks a language she's never heard before...and her secret is almost exposed.
Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills become real emergencies and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

 I've always been a big fan of dark, gothic looking covers, and well, this is no exception. The book cover drew my interest with the gloominess, and although the book isn't that dark, it's certainly a beautiful cover.

We all know that I have not posted a review in ages, and well, I have nothing to say, except apologize. But, it's a new year, and hopefully things will be different, and I won't be such a slacker. Anyways, on to The Pledge. One of the reasons I haven't been reading as much is because I have not had any particular book grab my interest. The Pledge changed it all!

For starters, I loved how its a queendom, and that royal men do not have that much value, only female royalty. It's definitely a change from the stereotypical kingdom, and I can honestly say that I loved it. The class system was pretty unique to, or at least, I have not seen anything like it. Each class system has their own language, along with the national language. You cannot learn any other language, except for the one in your class. Guess who's the exception to the rule? Our main character Charlie! It was just a great spin to the Ludania society.

Next, we can't skip the love interest. At first, I thought that there would be a best friend who love Charlie, but no, it didn't quite take that spin with Aron. It seemed like the author was headed there, so I'll watch out for that in the sequel. But no, Charlie was interested in Max since she met him at the club. Another cliche love at first sight story. Although, right now, I pretty welcomed that kind of story. Afterwards, Max and Charlie did make a pretty cute couple. Max is sweet and cares a lot about Charlie, and that makes a great guy in my book.

A character who I think deserves an honorable mention is Angelina. She was the cutest, most adorable little sister ever. While reading, I was jealous of Charlie. It made me wish that I had a little sister like Angelina, and I'm an only child. 

I think that about covers the greatest points of The Pledge. Considering you didn't hear me say anything bad about it, I think you can tell that I'm in love with the book. I can't wait to get started on the sequel, The Essence. 

My Rating:

The Pledge was part of the Catch Up Reading Challenge.

Review: Katana (Katana #1)

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Title: Katana

Author: Cole Gibsen

Series: Katana, #1

Age Group: young adult

Format: paperback

Pages: 375

Release Date: March 8, 2012

Publisher: Flux

Source: library

Teenage skater girl or supernatural samurai?Rileigh Martin wants to believe that adrenaline gave her the strength to fend of three muggers in the mall parking lot. But adrenaline doesn't explain the voice in her head giving her battle tips and warnings.
While worrying that she's going crazy (always a reputation ruiner), Rileigh gets a visit from Kim, a handsome martial arts instructor, who tells Rileigh she's harboring the spirit of a five-hundred-year-old samurai warrior.
Relentlessly attacked by ninjas, Rileigh has no choice but to master the katana--a deadly Japanese sword that's also the key to her past. As the spirit grows stronger and her feelings for Kim intensify, Rileigh is torn between continuing as the girl she's always been and embracing the warrior inside her.

Well, after having a terrible few weeks filled with loads of homework, I finally had a reprieve! Today, I was able to finish Katana, a book that I had been reading for a few days. Before this book, I was actually reading Eyes Like Stars, but I couldn't get into it, so I quit and picked up this book. And guess what?! I so do not regret it!

I had high expectations for Katana, mostly because I wanted a break from the "real world". Katana was a silly story, but it did have its serious moments. It makes sense, though. Samurais are, of course, warriors, so it's not going to be all good.

Besides saying that this was an amazing book, there isn't much more. The plot was engaging. When I had to stop reading because of interfering work, I became grumpy, and wanted to keep reading. There aren't many books that make me feel this way.

There was one issue though. I felt that the author, Cole, couldn't make up her mind. At moments, Rileigh seemed almost like the cheerleader, ditzy kind of girl. At other times, she was the skater chick (rough and tough). I couldn't really grasp a solid picture of who Rileigh (according to Quentin, Ri-Ri) was.

The love interest was Kim, or Yoshido, depending which life you're looking at (did I mention this book deals with reincarnation?). Kim really wasn't my kind of guy. He was, dull, to say the least, and way too overprotective and smug for my liking. But, out of the guys, Quentin was my favorite. He was Rileigh's best friend, and I couldn't get enough of him. He was the humor and comedic relief.

Overall, this book was pretty good. It was definitely a quick and engaging read. In my opinion, you should definitely not pass Katana up. Especially if you're a fan of anything Japanese!

My Rating:

Review: Evernight (Evernight #1)

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Title: Evernight

Author: Claudia Gray

Series: Evernight, #1

Age Group: young adult

Format: hardback

Pages: 327

Release Date: May 1, 2008

Publisher: HarperTeen

Source: library

Bianca wants to escape.
She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.
Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful--even when it comes to caring about him.
"I couldn't stand if they took it out on you," he tells Bianca, "and eventually they would."But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart...and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

I wanted to like this book! Trust me, I really did. Almost always, I will pick up a book where the plot is set in a boarding school, especially if the school is dark and creepy and not quite right. Evernight was okay, to say the most. It's not a book that is going to stay with me. It's just average. This is the equivalent to a one-night stand, but with a book, of course.

Bianca, the main character, actually had some sense. She was smart and cared for her parents. Mostly, you don't see that in Young Adult novels, because the teen is mostly hating on his/her parents. Since I am really close to my parents, I found I could relate to Bianca. Plus, she actually cared about her studies and wasn't completely lost in her own world with Lucas, like most typical heroines tend to be nowadays.

Lucas was the tough, bad boy type, but you could tell there was something else. In face, Bianca herself described Lucas as being vulnerable at types. But don't be confused. Lucas could definitely keep up a fight...and win. As for handsome-wise, Lucas was tall, broad-shouldered with brown/bronze hair and green eyes.

The other characters that made an appearance were Balthazar, the other love interest who never had a chance, Patrice, who I thought was one of the nicer snobby people at Evernight, and Racquel(Bianca's friend) and Vic(Lucas's roomate). Of course, there were others, but those were the most memorable ones. That, and Bianca's parents, who were pretty awesome as far as parents go.


As for the two of them as a couple, I don't know. It was too fast for me. But isn't that how most YA novels tend to be? I was also somewhat annoyed at the fact that Bianca did not reveal important facts about herelf and her parents until the middle of the book. Anyways, like I said, Evernight wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. It was just in-between.

My Rating:

About the Author:

Claudia Gray is the pseudonym of New York-based writer Amy Vincent. She has worked as a lawyer, a journalist, a disc jokey, and an extremely poor waitress. Her lifelong interests in old houses, classic movies, vintage style, and history all play  a part in creating the world of Evernight.

Review: Every Other Day

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Title: Every Other Day

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Series: none

Age Group: young adult

Format: hardback

Pages: 329

Release Date: December 27, 2011

Publisher: Egmont USA

Source: Library

Every second day,
Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to high school. She attends pep rallies (reluctantly). She's human.
And every other day...she's not.
Though she's not quite sure what she is on those days, Kali knows what she does--she hunts, traps, and kills demons, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures that threaten her world. On those days she is practically indestructible.
But when Kali notices a mark on a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these unworldly beings. And she knows she has only twenty-four hours to save her.
There's only on problem--it's the wrong twenty-four hours.

This book blew me away! I was expecting an easy read, the plot probably taking place over 24 hours, as Kali searched for a cure. Boy, was I wrong! Kali saving Bethany(the popular girl), was only about a third of the book. 

There are not enough words to describe Every Other Day. This book played with my emotions so much that by the end of the book, there were tears in my eyes. No book in a long time has made me feel this way. You're wondering why I cried, right? Well, the only thing I can say is this: I got attached to the wrong character.

The mystery of Kali could be figured out pretty easily. I won't say, because you don't actually find out until halfway through the book, and I most definitely do not want to ruin it. But, like I said, you should be able to figure out the kind of "creature" that Kali is.

As for the characters, I loved Kali! I couldn't help but fall for this kick-but heroine. She's strong, even though she has a messed up family, and has no idea what in the world she is. Kali always feels alone in the world, like she doesn't belong, but she doesn't go around moping. Instead, she slays all types of paranormal creatures. How could you not like her?

I could go on and on about Every Other Day, but I'll stop here. Let me just say this again. This book moved me to tears. No book should be able to do that, and not get five stars. This is one of my all time favorite books! I'll be checking out the other books that Miss Barnes has written. Since Every Other Day isn't in a series that I know of, I'll have to console myself with her other books. Take heed, this is not a light read!

My Rating:

Review: Fantasy Lover (Dark-Hunter Prequel)

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Title: Fantasy Lover

Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Series: Dark-Hunter, Prequel

Age Group: Adult

Format: Paperback

Pages: 337

Release Date: February 2, 2002

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Source: Borrowed

Dear Reader,
Being trapped in a bedroom with a woman is a grand thing. Being trapped in hundreds of bedrooms over two thousand years isn't. And being cursed into a book as a love-slave for eternity can ruin even a Spartan warrior's day.
As a love-slave, I knew everything about women. How to touch them, how to savor them, and most of all, how to pleasure them. But when I was summoned to fulfill Grace Alexander's sexual fantasies, I found the first woman in history who saw me as a man with a tormented past. She alone bothered to take me out of the bedroom and into the world. She taught me to love again.
But I was not born to know love. I was cursed to walk eternity alone. As a general, I had long ago accepted my sentence. Yet now I have found Grace--the one thing my wounded heart cannot survive without. Sure, love can heal all wounds, but can it break a two-thousand-year-old curse?
--Julian of Macedon

There isn't much I can say about Fantasy Lover. A friend of mine told me about it, saying that it was a good book. Personally, I'm indifferent to this book. Sure, there were a few ups that had me intrigued, but most of the books went by in slow chunks. See my conundrum? I didn't hate Fantasy Lover, but I also didn't feel that pull that tells me it's a good book. Well, enough of that.

Let's see, Julian of Macedon is the hot guy here. He's blonde and blue-eyed. Tall(6'2" tall) and muscular(perks of being an ancient warrior). Oh, and he's like a magnet for females, seriously. Every woman that sees him wants to throw herself at him. Young and old alike.

And here comes Grace. The one who summons him from the book that he's been trapped in for a looong time. She changes everything, of course. 

Grace was a mediocre heroine. It was claimed that she was "different" from the other women crawling at Julian's feet, but the only difference I could see was that she hid it better. But, her thoughts were all about Julian and how she wanted to take off his pants, lick him, bite him, and do who knows what. That made Grace a hypocrite in my eyes, so I couldn't really warm up to her.

Julian was okay. But, he was also a ball of hormones, considering his curse made him want to strip Grace's clothes at any given moment. I did love Julian's humor.

This was a less than average read. I didn't warm up to any of the characters, so the twists and turns did not affect me. Most likely I will read the next book in the Dark-Hunter series, considering Fantasy Lover, was a sort-of-ish prequel.

Rating:

Review: For the Love of a Vampire (Blood Like Poison #1)

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Title: For the Love of a Vampire

Author: M. Leighton

Series: Blood Like Poison, #1

Age Group: Young Adult

Format: Ebook

Pages: 268

Release Date: April 20, 2011

Publisher: Indie

Source: author for review(thank you!)

My Rating: * * * * (4 stars)

Ridley Heller thought that all her problems would be over if she could have Bo back;back from the dead. But what Ridley didn't know was that her wish would come at a price. Bo survived a condition that would have killed a lesser vampire, or any vampire for that matter. The only reason he didn't die is because of who he is, someone Ridley doesn't know at all. Someone Bo himself doesn't know at all. As Ridley gets closer to finding out Bo's true identity, she discovers that loving him could also come at a price, a price much higher than she ever could have imagined. The question is: is there any such thing as a price too high to pay for Bo? For his love, for his safety, for eternity in his arms?

The Cover:
Honestly, the cover does not particularly appeal to me. I don't hate it, but I don't love it. In a way, I guess I'm indifferent towards it. Cover Rating 3/5


Review:
Now, For the Love of a Vampire was an entirely different matter. At first, when I began, I couldn't help but compare it to Twilight. This made me put the books down and step away from it. But then I convinced myself to keep reading, and I am glad I did. After a few pages, everything changed. For the better.


Bo's name didn't appeal to me. When I think of the name Bo, I think of a country boy, honestly. But, I got used to his name and his sweet personality towards Ridley. In the end, they made a cute couple!


Ridley was a humdrum character for me. But, then she got better. I will admit though, I kind of liked her better when she was the one of the "mean girls". The only thing that bothered me about her was how quickly she left her normal life just to be with Bo. She abandoned her whole life for him.


The cliffhanger! Once I got to the last page, I was craving for more, and I got cut off. I going to have to get the second book soon.


What's my verdict, you're asking? Well, I definitely recommend this book. Just remember this warning. Don't stop after the first few chapters. Persevere and you'll like this book. The beginning can be a little monotonous, but afterwards, I promise it gets better.


The Author:

I was born and raised in the United States, and I’ve lived in several of the fabulous fifty. Though I currently live in the deep South, I spent much of my childhood up North and hope to return there one day. A few other things about me: I believe that sometimes you have to look really, REALLY hard to find the good in people, but it's there. I believe that I'm shrinking (I swear five years ago I was two inches taller). I believe my husband is quite possibly one of the most amazing men in the entire world (I can't be sure because I haven't met all of them). I believe coffee and chocolate, when combined, could be the basis for world peace. I believe that Jesus rocks and communism doesn’t. I believe that white makes me look fat and black collects lint. I believe summer's too hot, winter's too cold and fall was made for football. I like dogs better than cats and the first movie in a trilogy is invariably the best. But most of all, I believe that love conquers all.

Review: The Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods #4)

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Title: The Van Alen Legacy

Author: Melissa de la Cruz

Series: Blue Bloods, #4

Age Group: Young Adult

Format: Hardback

Pages: 384

Release Date: October 5, 2009

Publisher: Hyperion

ISBN: 978-142310226-7

Source: Local Library

My Rating: * * * * * (5 stars)

With the stunning revelation surrounding Bliss's true identity comes the growing threat of the sinister Silver Bloods. Once left to live the glamarous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods now find themselves in an epic battle for survival. Not to worry, love is still in the air for the young vampires of the Upper East Side. Or is it? Jack and Schuyler are over. Oliver's brokenhearted. And only fabulous Mimi seems to be happily engaged. Young, fanged, and fabulous, Melissa de la Cruz's vampires unite in this highly anticipated fourth installment of the Blue Bloods series.

The Cover:
If I'm correct, I think the girl on the cover of The Van Alen Legacy is Mim. The veil signifies her bonding dress. I like the cover, it looks beautiful, especially with the Eiffel Tower in the black part, signifying Schuyler's adventure(you'll see). Cover Rating 5/5


Review:
There is absolutely nothing wrong with The Van Alen Legacy! I was hooked from beginning to end! Although, part of my addition to this series is because Melisssa de la Cruz ends each chapter with a cliffhanger. 


I did get a little frustrated because it was told from three different points of view. At times I wanted to rip my hair out, because I almost only wanted to hear Schuyler's point of view. It almost came to the point where I threatened to skip Mimi's and Bliss's parts. But, those parts got really good, and I simply couldn't bring myself to skip around.


It's strange to see Lucifer in this book. I mean, he's THE Lucifer, like Lucifer-vs.-God Luficer. It felt...awkward to say the least. But, I admire Cruz for deciding to takes on this challenge to portray the most notorious villian ever from her point of view.


Oh, and we finally get some depth from Mimi. I was beginning to think she was just a rich, spoiled airhead. But, her and Kingsley were oddly sweet together. By the end, I actually felt pity for Mimi.


I already have my hands on the next book in the series, Misguided Angel. I can't wait to begin reading!


The Author:

Melissa de la Cruz is the author of many best-selling books for teens, including Blue Bloods, Masquerade, the Au Pairs series, the Ashleys series, and Angels on Sunset Boulevard. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter and is hard at work on the next book in the Blue Bloods saga. While Melissa is not a Blue Blood, she knows people who are.

Review: Juliet Immortal (Juliet Immortal #1)

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Title: Juliet Immortal

Author: Stacey Jay

Series: Juliet Immortal, #1

Age Group: Young Adult

Format: Hardback

Pages: 306

Release Date: August 9, 2011

Publisher: Delacorte Press

ISBN: 978-0-385-90826-9

Source: Local Library

My Rating: * * (2 stars)

I'm not Ariel Dragland. My name is Juliet, and I've spent centuries jumping in and out of people's bodies, fighting for true love, trying to save soul mates from Romeo, the man who killed me. Yes, that Juliet. That Romeo. He's in Dylan's body. And I'm only borrowing Ariel's body for a short time.
Then I'll be gone, and the soul who really lives here will come take my place, and no matter what she remembers, she'll never love you the way I do. Never.

The Cover:
No matter what they say about "Don't judge a book by it's cover", I don't listen. Most of us do it. The more beautiful the cover, the more likely we are to pick up the book. This doesn't mean that I only pick up books with pretty covers, but they do catch my interest more. And...the cover for Juliet Immortal is just that. It's alluring, and that is what made me pick it up at the library. Cover Rating 4/5


Review:
Honestly, I have mixed feeling about this book. It's a good book, but maybe just not my type of book.


To say the least, Juliet Immortal was disturbing. I most definitely did not imagine Romeo the way Stacey Jay portrayed him. He was twisted and to me, completely evil. I couldn't stand him. Dylan's corpse(whom I also disliked) fit him perfectly. Two who occupied the same corpse. I would also group Gemma in this category. She was crazy at the best, and a maniac/psycho at the worst.


Out of all of them, I guess Juliet would be my favorite character. In the end I did not like any of them, but Juliet was the best. She was, troubled, because of Romeo's betrayal(who wouldn't be). But she seemed the most sane. I guess Ben would fit in with her.


I wasn't particularly interested about Juliet and Ben's love interest. It didn't appeal to me. Oh, but there is one surprise about Ben. I did figure it out since the beginning. If you want a clue, just think f the characters in Shakespeare's play and Ben's name.


Overall, the book was not that appealing to me, but I did receive a copy from Netgalley of Romeo Redeemed, which I will be reading. I want to see what happens with Romeo. Hopefully I'll like it better than Juliet Immortal. Stacey Jay also has the You Are So Undead to Me series. I may read these, but I'm also not a big zombie fan. We'll see. Based on my review, it's up to you if you want to read this book. I won't tell you not to, but I also won't encourage you.


The Author:

Stacey Jay is the author of the You Are So Undead to Me series and several other books for young adults. She lives in California with her husband, two sons, and a few friendly ghosts who say they don't care for pets.