Books Read: Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab Supernaturally (Paranormalcy #2) by Kiersten White Hourglass by Myra McEntire Total Number of Books Read This Month: 4 Total Number of Books Read This Year: 43
Most Anticipated:Supernaturally (Paranormalcy #2) by Kiersten White
Biggest Let Down: None!
Favorite Read: Hmmmm...It would be a tie between The Near Witch and Hourglass.
Highest Rank: 5
Lowest Rank: 4
Overall Reflection:
July proved to be a very busy month in my everyday life, which didn't leave as much room for reading as I would have liked. However, I really did enjoy the books I read. Imaginary Girls was a creepy, suspenseful read that took a while to get into, but was definitely worth the wait. The Near Witch was a refreshing and innovative story that left goosebumps in its stead. Supernaturally was a fun paranormal romance that didn't quite live up to its predecessor, but was still a great book. Hourglass was a surprising tale of romance, time travel, and self discovery. All in all, a great month of reading! I'm almost done with Starcrossed, so stay tuned for that review! :)
Book Summer (Via Goodreads): For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.
So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.
Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?
Book Trailer:
Book Review:
Wow. I absolutely can not believe this is a debut book! I've read some books here and there regarding time travel, and I have to say this is the absolute best one to date, in my honest opinion of course. McEntire's writing is beautiful, flowing, and captivating. It took no time at all to read this book. Within the first few pages, I was hooked. McEntire's descriptions are like having coffee with an old friend. She sets you at ease, with the comfort of familiarity. Almost instantly, I felt like I knew Emerson. I easily pictured her sipping espresso, while dishing with Lily, playfully arguing with her brother, and even envisioned her "ripples" right along side her. I enjoyed the slow, progressive romance between Emerson and Michael. I was pleasantly surprised at Emerson's assertiveness with Michael, despite her feelings. It's good to see a genuinely confident female character in YA, who does not get swept away by the prospect of romance. I would have liked to see more interaction between Lily and Emerson. I hope their friendship, as well as Lily's overall character, become more fleshed out in the books to come. I enjoyed the time travel arc in the story, and loved learning more about it along side of Emerson. Overall, this is one fabulous debut. Color me impressed. I am very much looking forward the next installment in the series. Head on over to McEntire's blog for more info!
Favorite Quote:
" 'Number two: He might be his own brand of crazy.'
'Crazy like he's a serial killer, or crazy like he attends Star Trek conventions in full costume?'
'That's only crazy if you dress like a Klingon,' I pointed out.
Lily rolled her eyes." (p. 115)
Cover Art Commentary:
Well hello gorgeous! Where have you been all my life?! So, I don't know if you guys know this, but purple is my favorite color. ;) So besides the obvious AWESOME color choice, I like this cover because it's mysterious and draws the reader's eye. What exactly is going on? Who is that woman? What is she doing? See...now you're hooked! You gotta read it to find out!
Book Summer (Via Goodreads): Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.
But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.
So much for normal.
Book Trailer:
Book Review:
I had mixed feelings about this book before I even read the first page. I was really excited to continue Evie's adventure, but I was also worried about the "second book" syndrome. Turns out, I was right on both accounts. First off, let me just say that overall, I really enjoyed this book. Readers get to see another side of Evie. White did an excellent job of fleshing out Evie's character. I also enjoyed the evolution of Lend and Evie's relationship. I had read in another review that we don't see much of Lend this time around, and I think that is untrue. Lend is definitely a solid part of this story, but the main focus is on Evie. The supporting characters are just as great. I just love Arianna, and actually wished the was more of character in the story. I will admit, some of my favorite parts of this book are when Evie finds herself face to face with trolls, vamps, and other various paranormal creatures. I honestly wish there was more action to balance out the story a bit more. There was a lot of inner-reflection on Evie's behalf. It was fun reading about Evie trying to fit in at high school. The gym stories were the best! I guess overall, this book was rather entertaining, although it did fall short in a few areas. I am anxious to see where Evie's story goes from here. I am also sad that this next book will be the last in the series. You can check out my review of the first book in the series, Paranormalcy, here.
Favorite Quote:
"After a frustrating half hour, I finally caught sight of a glamored corpse head in the middle of a crowd waiting for the Ferris wheel. He had his arm around a pretty young thing in an incredibly weather-inappropriate outfit that showed off her very slender, very blood filled neck. She stared at him in that vapid, intoxicated way employed only by women under a vamp's control. Or the way I get sometimes when faced with cupcakes.
Mmmm. Cupcakes." (p. 251)
Cover Art Commentary:
Love the colors! Warm and welcoming, a bit opposite of the first cover, which was dark and mysterious. This cover definitely sets the tone for the overall story.
Book Summer (Via Goodreads):The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. And there are no strangers in the town of Near.
These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.
But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.
The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.
As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.
Book Review:
Oh my stars,this book was FANTASTIC! I have read reviews that have said as much, but I had to check it out for myself. Needless to say, I was not disappointed! Schwab's writing is beautiful and elegantly paced. Her descriptions are vivid and fluent. It made want to slow down and drink it all in. The main character, Lexi, is flawed, adventurous, intuitive, and downright lovable. She goes to great strides to do the right thing, even at her own expense. I loved her relationship with "the sisters." Her visits to the sisters home were some of my favorite parts of the book. I also loved Lexi's relationship with her own sister, Wren. It was very heartwarming, a bright spot among the darkness. I did want to mention that this book is extremely creepy and goosebump-inducing! I must say that it takes a LOT to scare me, and this book was right on point. There were several times when I had to stop reading to look around because I thought I heard or saw something (that wasn't really there).This book has fluid prose, engaging characters, and paranormal accents. What more could one ask for? For more info, check out the authors blog here.
Favorite Quote:
"My father taught me a lot about witches. Witches can call the rain or summon stones. They can make fire leap and dance. They can move the earth. They can control an element. The way Magda and Dreska Thorne can...The Thorne sisters are witches, through and through. And witches are not welcome here." (p. 22)
Cover Art Commentary:
This cover has a beautiful, simple style. It's almost like the main character, Lexi, is reaching out to the reader.
Book Summery (via Goodreads): Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby.
But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.
Book Trailer:
Book Review:
My head is still spinning long after I turned the last page. Now, I'll admit, I had a hard time getting into this at first. Like a really hard time. It was around page 120 that I alllmost gave up, but I'm glad I didn't. It was at this point that I started to question things and realizing that there was more underneath the surface. I think what tripped me up at first was the stark difference between Chloe and Ruby. Ruby was so assertive and manipulate, where as Chloe was more passive, almost admiring her sister to a fault. I think once Chloe started to find her own voice and look beyond Ruby's captivating layer, that I became interested in the plot. At first I was annoyed by all the supporting characters, but then I realized that they helped us to understand the sisters better. London was by far the most interesting supporting character of all. I'd tell you why, but I don't want to give too much away. ;) The city of Olive is really a character in its self. I didn't understand its significance to the story until the very end. So those of you who plan on reading this book, pay attention to Ruby's stories of Olive. They might not seem essential at the time, but in the end, you'll be glad to have taken the time to read them. There were times when this book made me laugh, gave me goosebumps, and it still leaves me questioning what I thought I knew. I have to say this is definitely an original story. After I finished reading this book, I craved to learn more about the world Suma created. I searched the Internets and found an entry on her blog. Check it out. It helped to answer some of my questions without giving much away.
Favorite Quote:
"If anyone was a mythological creature here, it was Ruby, the one we all looked to and listened for, the one the boys loved and fought to be with, who couldn't be captured or caged." (p. 17)
Cover Art Commentary:
Wow, this is one gorgeous cover. It drew my eye immediately. The shade of blue is just amazing. The girl floating on the surface of the water has huge significance in the story.
Books Read:
Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
Vicious Little Darlings by Katherine Easer
Flawless by Sarah Shepard
Forgotten by Cat Patrick
Total Number of Books Read This Month: 4
Total Number of Books Read This Year: 39
Most Anticipated: Forgotten by Cat Patrick
Biggest Let Down: Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
Favorite Read: Forgotten by Cat Patrick
Highest Rank: 5
Lowest Rank: 3.5
Overall Reflection:
Wow...what a busy month. Unfortunately, that meant I didn't get as much reading in as I would have liked. I started the Pretty Little Liars series, which was kind of a let down compared to the TV series that I got addicted to. However, I still plan on finishing out the book series. It is rather interesting to compare. Vicious Little Darlings was a lovely dark read, with a good twist for measure. Forgotten was by far my favorite book of the month. I do hope to read more from the lovely Cat Patrick. My blog also got a makeover curtsey of the ever lovely ParaJunkee. I am totally in love with my new look! It's very booky and purpley! :) My goal for August is to get back in the swing of things and refocus on reading and reviews. Once September hits, things might slow down a bit as I will be back in school completing my bachelor degree in nursing.
