Wind and Shadow Review

Wind and Shadow (The Talbot Trilogy #1)

By Tori L. Ridgewood

Published June 20th, 2013 by Melange Books

230 pages

4 stars - Intriguing Paranormal Read!

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review!*

Rayvin Woods, photographer and natural witch. She just wanted to start her life over again after a series of misadventures. She didn't count on rekindling a lost love when she came home to Talbot...or battling a malevolent vampire and his coven for her life.

Grant Michaels, police officer. He thought Rayvin was a murderer. He will do whatever it takes to protect the community he loves from danger...but will he learn to trust his heart, and the word of a witch, before it's too late?

Malcolm de Sade, cunning vampire, imprisoned underground for a year by Charlotte Fanning and Pike Mahonen ("Mist and Midnight", Midnight Thirsts). His accidental release unleashes his hunger and ambition on a small, sleepy town…

***

Facing the past can be a nightmare. It's worse when a vampire is stalking you.

Review:

Wind and Shadow is an intriguing and thrilling take on witches and vampires. Witches and Vampires are definitely groups that we've all read about before and, most times, reading about them can become boring, repetitive. But Wind and Shadow is definitely anything but boring and repetitive.

Rayvin is a witch as was her mother before her. After a horrible accident, where everyone thinks she's guilty, in her small town of Talbot, Rayvin is forced to leave under the glares of all her friends and neighbors. Now, a couple years later, Rayvin is coming back to her former home where danger lurks. Rayvin only has one friend in the small town who believes that she is anything but guilty and welcomes her with open arms. But it seems like Rayvin can't catch a break because soon everyone is in danger and Rayvin is the only one who can save them, whether they like her or not.

Rayvin was a strong female lead and very smart. I really enjoyed reading through her eyes. Oh, and by the way, this is a dual perspective book, Rayvin and Grant. Anyways, Rayvin had definitely gone through many challenges ever since she was young and yet she got through life. She stood up for what was right and didn't let others push her around. Grant was an interesting character to read about and a strong male lead as well. The relationship between the two, while bumpy in the beginning, definitely had some steamy parts. There are a couple other characters as well, including the town vampire, Malcolm. His story is interesting but I can't help but not liking him for obvious reasons. He is also more of a classic vampire, being scary and evil. I have to say that I also loved Rayvin's cat, Samantha. I liked that Rayvin, being a witch, had a cat that was smart and knowing. 

Wind and Shadow is interesting, different, intriguing and romantic. There are some twists near the end and a definite cliff-hanger. It's a good start for a series starter. I haven't ever read any of Ridgewood's books but I can tell that she is a great author with some awesome ideas. I enjoyed the smaller details, like the stones that Rayvin uses for spells and the different rituals. I recommend Wind and Shadow for those wanting a good paranormal romance that is different and exciting. So go on and check it out!

Vanessa

The 5th Wave Review

The 5th Wave (The 5th Wave #1)

By Rick Yancey 

Published May 7th, 2013 by Putnam Juvenile 

457 pages

5 stars - Amazing!!

The Passage meets Ender’s Game in an epic new series from award-winning author Rick Yancey.

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

Review:

Wow! I don't know about anyone else but I found this book to be soo amazing! I first saw this on the shelf at Walmart while searching for more books to take home with me, and was instantly  intrigued. The cover looked intriguing and begged me to read the synopsis. What I read convinced me even more and so I picked it up. The 5th Wave is about aliens and the only books that I have read about aliens would be the Lux Series, a great series by the way. This book is definitely different from that series and I was glad. The world is a dark one, filled with dangerous beings who kill anyone in their path. But here's the problem, they look human. So who is to be trusted in a time where even your closet family could be on of the Others?

This is the main problem for Cassie and everyone else who survived the 4th wave. Cassie needs to find her brother because he is all she has left and vice versa. But it's just her and with no one to trust and no technology around it'll be difficult. Then there is Evan Walker, strange and intriguing, Cassie isn't sure if he can be trusted but he may be her only hope. There is also Ben, Cassie's old high school crush, along with many other lovable and dis-likable characters. The 5th Wave is told in Cassie's, Evan's, Ben's and Sammy's perspectives. Sammy is Cassie's little brother and definitely a cute and strong character. All these characters were strong and intriguing. I liked Cassie and I loved Ben and Evan, I can't make up my mind between either. They have all been through so much, as is expected when aliens are taking over the planet, but I still couldn't help feeling for them.

This book was just so thrilling and exciting and frightening at times. There was great suspense and some romance here and there, though not much. But here's the thing, I feel like I didn't even need that much romance because there was already so much going on and so many times when the characters I love could be killed. The story of the Others is interesting and really pulled me in, I finished this book in a day and hardly ever got up. I can't wait to read the next book because this one ended in a heart wrenching cliff hanger. I really need to know what will happen to the characters and what the 5th wave will be. Yancey brings us into a world full of mystery and suspense and does quite a good job. So if your into aliens be sure to check this out! If you aren't, try it anyway because you may be surprised, trust me! 

Vanessa

The Madman's Daughter Review

The Madman's Daughter (The Madman's Daughter #1)

By Megan Shepherd

Published January 29th, 2013 by Balzer + Bray

432  pages

4 stars - Terrifyingly Awesome!!

In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.

Review:

I read The Madman's Daughter in one day and, as the day turned into night, I became increasingly terrified yet intrigued. This book is a thrilling one, filled with many dark secrets, romance, and danger. It was awesome! I haven't ever read the classic, The Island of Dr. Moreau, but I did find this novel to be something different than what I've read in the past. 

Juliet is a character with a complex mind. It seemed like she wasn't really sure of who she was in the beginning and as she learned more about her father's experiments, even less sure as the end of the book drew near. She almost thought in two different ways, like her mother expected her to and like her father was scorned for. It was definitely interesting to read from her point of view and to read about the struggles in her mind. It was almost like reading this book, while terrifying and violent at some parts, it was also intriguing and mind blowing. It really had you thinking about the kind of dangerous experiments Juliet's father created. All the characters seemed to have secrets of their own and many layers to them. I loved Montgomery and Edward. In the beginning and middle of the book I had a difficult time deciding which I liked better but then secrets were spilled and everything I thought I knew wasn't entirely true. I loved it! There were twists and turns and not one moment where I was bored. I felt bad for Juliet, Montgomery, Edward and all their island friends. Each one of them had different issues and struggles.

The Madman's Daughter is a book that won't want to leave your mind and will keep you reading through the night. Make sure to leave some lights on though. The only part I didn't like...the ending. It was a cliff hanger in a way and just kind of unfair, at least to me. But I cannot wait for the next book because I really want to know what happens with Juliet and the rest of the characters. This book is one you shouldn't miss out on. I recommend it for any science lovers, goth lovers, or anyone in need of a bone chilling book that has a great blend of adventure and romance. So check this one out today!!

Vanessa

Alice in Zombieland Review

Alice in Zombieland (White Rabbit Chronicles)

By Gena Showalter

Published September 25th, 2012 by Harlequin Teen

404 pages

5 stars - Awesome!!

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….


I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I'd tell them I love them.

I wish... Yeah, I wish.

Alice in Zombieland was a fantastic read and had me hooked from the very beginning. But be warned that this book doesn't really have anything to do with the classic, Alice in Wonderland. What it does have is a bunch of zombies and some really hot guys :). But seriously, this was a great book with awesome characters.

I loved Ali and I loved her friend Kat. They just fit together as friends and each had personality traits that I enjoyed. The banter between the two of them and the rest of the characters was funny and entertaining. Of course I also loved Cole and the rest of his gang. Ali learns so much in this book and realizes what she lost and how to appreciate what she has. She learns about what her dad used to see and why he was so protective and, at times, crazy. She learns about everything having to do with the zombies and some other groups who have dangerous plans. And she creates new relationships and becomes stronger. Oh! I also loved Ali's grandparents as well and the slang that they used to try to communicate with Ali on a better level, it was hilarious at times. Basically, the relationships in this book were well formed and satisfying.

I really enjoyed the story of the zombies and what they are. The zombie hunters had interesting powers and the whole spirit thing was different and new to me. The stories and the characters made this book unputdownable and yeah I know that's not a word but it works for me. I can't wait to read the next book and am excited to see what will happen to my new friends. I do recommend this book to anyone who likes zombies or to anyone who wants a good read. So check it out!!

Vanessa

Tiy and the Prince of Egypt Virtual Book Tour!

I'm happy to say that today I'm the host of the Tiy and the Prince of Egypt virtual book tour presented by Sage's Blog Tours! Check out my review below!

Tiy and the Prince of Egypt

By Debbie Dee

Published September 27, 2013 by Dolce Books

Genre: Upper Middle Grade Fantasy

250 pages

5 stars - Fantastic Fantasy!

Tiy is different than the other Egyptian girls--she has pale hair and more freckles than she wants to count. With her mother consumed by the need to keep up appearances, and her father too busy to care, Tiy just wants to disappear into the background. But her hope for a quiet life is shattered when she rescues Prince Amenhotep from a sandstorm and is rewarded with an invitation to attend the royal school in Egypt’s capital—-a place where girls like her will never fit in.

Amenhotep welcomes her into his close circle of friends and their friendship strengthens into a bond neither is willing to lose. But when Amenhotep becomes Pharaoh and is pressured by the priests to marry, the strength of their friendship is threatened. Will Tiy find enough courage to accept Amenhotep’s hand when he wants her to become the next Queen of Egypt, especially when her feelings run no deeper than friendship? And how can she protect him from the Nubian rebels who are determined to take control of Egypt?

Review:

Tiy and the Prince of Egypt is a fantastic read and a wonderful middle grade fantasy! I'll be honest and say that I'm not always too interested in middle grade books and, I guess, now that I'm older don't find all of them as appealing as I used to. This novel is definitely an exception. Tiy and the Prince of Egypt is a book for any age and will keep you reading until you finish. It was a fast read and I was really hooked.

I loved Tiy, she was such a strong female character. She grew throughout the whole book and you actually get to see her grow through each year in more ways than one. This book focused on growing up and believing in yourself and gaining confidence, even when others are trying to bring you down. Tiy doesn't look like the other Egyptian kids and she had to go through so much teasing and ridicule, even from adults! What I loved was that Tiy never gave up, she was strong and a great friend. Amenhotep was a great friend as well and I loved watching their relationship grow. The guy definitely had challenges of his own as well but no matter what happened, he stayed tough. 

All in all, this novel was just plain interesting. If you read the author's note at the end of the book you'll see that Dee based these characters on the real Tiy and Amenhotep. I thought this was just wonderful and intriguing. She mixed history with fantasy and the outcome was amazing. I'm so glad I was able to read this and I definitely recommend this to anyone. So check it out!!!

Vanessa

Author Bio:

Debbie Dee recently moved to southern Idaho with her husband and three children where she is learning how to be a country girl in her favorite pair of blue heels. She adores fairy tales and happy endings, but secretly crushes on the bad guy now and then. 

As a dedicated musician who practices way too much, she never expected writing would sweep her off her feet until she jotted down a scene from a daydream, which turned into two scenes, which turned into a messy house and her first novel. Since then she hasn’t been able to let a day go by without writing. 

In addition to writing, she plays the piano, harp, violin, and gets in frequent fights with her cello. She loves to read and play board games - when she is winning. 

Debbie is also the author of young adult novels, The Last Witch and The Underground Witch. 

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F4UkUcNu_s&feature=youtu.be

Author Links:

website: http://www.debbiedee.com/

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbiedeeauthor

twitter: https://twitter.com/_DebbieDee

goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6535967.Debbie_Dee

amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Debbie-Dee/e/B009AH8UJ2/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1378230666&sr=8-1

Shadows (A Lux Novella) Review

Shadows (Lux 0.5)
By Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published February 20th, 2012 by Entangled Teen
165 pages

5 stars - I love Dawson!

The last thing Dawson Black expected was Bethany Williams. As a Luxen, an alien life form on Earth, human girls are…well, fun. But since the Luxen have to keep their true identities a secret, falling for one would be insane.

Dangerous. Tempting. Undeniable.

Bethany can’t deny the immediate connection between her and Dawson. And even though boys aren’t a complication she wants, she can’t stay away from him. Still, whenever they lock eyes, she’s drawn in.

Captivated. Lured. Loved.

Dawson is keeping a secret that will change her existence...and put her life in jeopardy. But even he can’t stop risking everything for one human girl. Or from a fate that is as unavoidable as love itself.

Review:

I LOVE the Lux series and I LOVE Jennifer L. Armentrout and, yes, I LOVED this novella. I had already read the first two books in the Lux series before I read this, so I knew of Dawson. But I didn't really know him. This novella gives us more insight into who Dawson really was and his relationship with Bethany.

It was so entertaining and interesting to read about the relationship between Dawson, Daemon and Dee. Dawson was definitely a fun and charming guy and just really sweet. Nothing like Daemon in Obisidian. His relationship with Bethany was heartwarming and awesome. But I just really loved learning more about the Luxens and Bethany and her family. We get to see things from Dawson's perspective and Bethany's perspective which really let's the reader form a relationship with both characters. This novella anwsered some questions and gave some clues for future Lux books. It was a fast and entertaining read and one I would recommend. If you want to know more about Dawson, this is the book. So check it out!!

Vanessa