My Goddess of Death, My Anna Dressed in Blood

I recognize that my book review from last week was a bit short. Unless I have an extremely strong opinion I promise to keep it short. Not everyone likes a 5 paragraph essay encouraging people to read the book. I am simply giving you a brief summary and my opinion on whether it should be read or not. Take it, leave it, my concern is small. I love book blogging because it makes me feel like in some distant universe I am helping someone. Some librarian is thanking me for my tags and my thoughtful insight. We can all dream.
Cas is a ghost killer. That's right, he kills the dead. Those urban legends that hunt and kill humans are his business. Armed with only his father's knife, Cas feels this is his destiny. But deep down he's just like every other teenage boy: moves states/countries frequently, has a witch for a mother, and his father was killed by a man eating demon. Typical teenage stuff. Cas and his mother come to a new town in Canada, where the ghost of Anna Dressed in Blood awaits. Cas knows upon first arrival at the house that she will not be an easy kill. She has dismembered all who enter the house and shows no mercy to any. However, she spares his life. Cas must figure out the puzzle tying Anna to the house before more people lose their lives. Can he avenge the dead and put one more notch in his belt? Or will she destroy his destiny forever?

The concept for the book was compelling. A teenage boy killing off the dangerous urban legends is really interesting, new, and exciting. The author puts in scenarios that are so different and fresh that I couldn't help but love this book. Ghosts, demons, and witches always make for a creepy story line. It was spooky, it was romantic, it was just the book I needed. Call me bah humbug scrooge, but the cutesy romantic, wedding, damsel stories are not exactly on my favorite things lists near the holidays. I was in Zales the other day with the boy and I almost started crying looking at engagement rings. I'll stick with Buffy on this one.
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake is a must read. It's a spooky story with a twist that can make your spine cold. And, next year this time Blake will release the second, Girl of Nightmares. Something amazing to look forward to next Christmas. 

By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes...

Emily Winters was always the good friend. Loyal, cautious, and willing to please her best friend, Gabby. She never anticipated falling for Zack, Gabby's boyfriend. But she feels a connection, and she knows he feels it too. Gabby goes away for a week during the Christmas Break, and while she's away Emily can't help but get closer to Zach.
On the other side of town, Chase Singer has issues of his own. Growing up poor, he was always seen as a charity case, until he became the football star. Now he masks his misfortune. But he has a very dark secret only one person knows, and she's in a coma.
Coincidentally, three cousins: Ty, Ali, and Meg: have stumbled into town and captured Em and Chase's attention. The girls know the secrets and betrayals these two have committed. Em and Chase have been chosen to pay for their actions. An eye for an eye.
I picked up Fury by Elizabeth Miles purely on cover design. The book is great! I thought it was neat how Miles made references to Macbeth. The three girls are similar to the three furies. They seek out people who have committed unspeakable crimes, and they make them pay. I loved the similarities and the subtle references. The ending was not what I expected at all, which is always a nice surprise. The writing was beautiful, the cover is pretty, and the plot forces readers to stay hooked. I am anxious for the next two in the series, though it will be a while. Great read!

Do not go gentle into the night...

In a place where the Society chooses everything for you- where you work, what you eat, who you love- Cassia managed to find a different love.

The Matching Banquet is a ceremony where every seventeen year old's name is dropped into a database in order to select who their life mate will be. The computer decides who will be placed together to be married later on, and this is the person they will create a family with. Cassia is pleased to discover she will be placed with her long time friend, Xander.  However, the microchip she was given does not show Xander's information; it shows Ky's.
Ky is an Aberration, an outcast to the Society who is forced to live alone and cannot be matched. So how did he end up on her screen? There's something about him that is so different and so dangerous that Cassia cannot help but investigate.
Although this information is baffling, Cassia also receives a poem from her grandfather before he passes on. It is not one of the 100 the Society has cleared. Her grandfather tells her she is stronger than the pills the Society delivers, and he informs her to not go gentle into the night. What does this mean? Matched by Ally Condie is a journey in which Cassia must discover the truths the Society is keeping, but also she must decide is her love for Ky worth the risk, or was it simply a mistake?
Haven't read it? GO READ IT! It was probably one of THE BEST books I read last year. Truly amazing. Condie's writing is a dream so you float right through. Plus it is an incredible dystopic society. Everything is thought out, and the secrets just get deeper and deeper.

Crossed is the second in the trilogy. And unlike some authors who decide they want to drag out their series, Condie is pretty confident this is a trilogy. Crossed gives Ky a voice as well as Cassia, and the two are on a mission to find each other again and break free of their chains. It begins a couple months after the last one leaves off. It was an amazing read, although my five stars went to the first book. The writing was more amazing, the adventure was just as heart wrenching, but for some reason my heart just wasn't in it as much as in the first one. The characters really discover who they are, what their purpose is, and what they want for their future in the second book. Of course, it needed to be written in order to explain how each character ends up in their state of mind. I'm not saying it's bad, I just liked the first one better. The Hunger Games is a perfect example of a series where the second book is the weakest. I am even more anxious for the finale.
Condie does a really neat thing with these books. On her blog, which yes I am a dork so I visited the site, she has a play list for each book. That's why it takes her so long to finish her series, she puts so much love and effort into it that it makes readers believe it. I love her use of poetry, paintings, music, and voice. It is truly an amazing series by a very talented author. Do yourselves a favor and read this series. It won't disappoint.
Plus the site for the books is really fun. It has bios, the book trailers, and a mock matching. I entertained myself for about forty-five minutes just matching myself. So have fun, and don't go gentle into the night.

"The Scariest Apocalypse is One That Could Really Happen"

Everyone has heard of the idea that there is a volcano under Yellowstone Park. If you haven't, well now you have. People wonder what if that volcano were to erupt? What would happen to the world? In this novel, Ashfall by Mike Mullin, readers are given a first glance at the possibility of this natural disaster.

Alex is almost 16 years old. He argues with his mother, can't stand his younger sister, and sure as hell is not going to visit his Uncle this weekend. His parents don't put up a fight and leave him home alone. During his first night of freedom is when the volcano erupts. Ash covers the entire town, but Alex manages to get out of his house to the safety of his neighbors. Unfortunately, he discovers quickly that many people are so desperate they turn violent. Alex plans to leave his town in search of his family, so the journey begins. Long days of being on the road with no food, water, and no chance of survival leave him expecting the worst. Luckily, Alex encounters Darla, who accompanies him on his journey. The two encounter dangerous people, loss of food, and a few brushes with death. They have only each other and the determination to survive this apocalypse.
I found this book very real. The situation the young travelers are in seems as though it could happen in today's society. Even though the whole hurricane and blizzard scene appears scary and chaotic to us, I always wonder what would happen in a real natural disaster; one similar to the situation Alex finds himself in. Of course there are those people who buy tons of water and canned goods because they believe the world will end, but in reality, we haven't come close to anything like Mullin explains. Alex and Darla are both young, and to witness so much violence, death, and starvation really does break your heart. I found myself seeing Alex grow with each step of the trip, and I was terrified for him throughout his journey. Of course this is book one, so I knew Alex wouldn't end up dead, but the question is who will? Will he make it? This story was so believable, and even though you don't want to think about an apocalypse, the whole scenario of violence, the government taking over, and people with shot guns everywhere was something I could see happening. No one knows how to deal with a real disaster, so when it comes unexpectedly, the worst is brought out in people. They try to protect their own, and when it can't be done, no one knows how to react. Really creepy.

This story was a lot like Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. It was a real disaster and real emotions. Miranda is young, but I found myself in her story relating more to the other brother. He was constantly trying to protect his siblings and make things easier for their mother. That story was so real and believable I have not read the second or third ones yet. I can't bring myself to do it. It's just scary. Knowing that chaos is easily brought out among the human race almost makes you feel embarrassed. How can we just panic so easily? It also makes you wonder if something happened how you would react. Would you have the will to survive? Could you kill if it meant you'd live?
These books are great topics for authors to write about. It's even better for readers because we become painfully aware that we know nothing about survival. All we know is what we're told. Sometimes that may not be enough.

Fallen and Please....don't get up

Okay, so that may be a little harsh. Because the district I am working in does not believe in giving visitors a user password for the computers, it appears I have been getting a lot of reading done. This one, The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate, quickly because a gym read. The writing was like Halloween chocolate, addicting to the point where you have to have more. But, also like Halloween chocolate, it's completely unnecessary and cavity prone. 

Natalie Hargrove is top of the heap at Palmetto High School. She and boyfriend, Mike, should be a shoo-in for Prince and Princess of the school dance. However, Mike doesn't seem as enthusiastic as Nat, and she's afraid he'll lose to her enemy, Justin. Apparently, Justin and Nat have history that she doesn't want aired, and winning that crown with Mike would put all her worry aside. The two play a senseless prank on Justin, which leads to an accidental death. Black mail, guilt, and Natalie's dark past begin to become more exposed. Can she still be on top when madness is unraveling her good name?
I just didn't like it. It is typical teenage girl over obsessed with prom. Her every move is dictated by becoming princess and making other people see her as head bitch. I got so tired of her constantly ordering her boyfriend around and making him care about this dance that means nothing. Mike is such a push-over. I mean grow a pair, dude. Every little thing she says he starts to object, then because he has no backbone, he gives in. The prank with Justin was one instance. Throughout the book she convinces him to blackmail and lie to everyone because she is so worried about their reputation. Whenever he does make a decision on his own, she gets upset and pouts because it's not her decision. The characters all seem like self centered typical rich kids who are used to getting their way. They are used to having huge parties with tons of alcohol and under age drinking, getting endless amounts of drugs, having sex, and being the popular kids in school. The story line just seemed so shallow that I never really ended up liking it. I felt like I needed to finish it just because.

I think what interested me about the book was the back cover; it said based on themes from Macbeth. I can definitely see Natalie as Lady Macbeth, but it was so loose that I am upset they even made reference to the classic play. I feel if the author had worked the idea of Macbeth into the story more it would have been more entertaining. Sure the characters resembled those from the play, but it was a stretch. It's difficult to get past the shallow plot in order to even consider the Macbeth reference. The one thing I did like about the book was Natalie's past and the history she had with Justin is revealed during the last chapter of the book. It made sense why she hated him so much, but it also showed readers how drawn to him she was. I can't even say I wished the author had revealed this earlier because it wouldn't have made a difference, really. This book has three freakin' covers! Why? All pretty, but I mean come on.

I read Kate's Fallen a few months back too. It was so similar to Halo that I just couldn't find any reason to read more. Don't get me wrong, it was okay, but I feel like the heroine was so wimpy. A fallen angel falls for her, rescues her, and tries to protect her from the evil doers. I feel like we've read it before. I haven't read the other two in the saga because I just don't care enough. The covers are very pretty, yes, but I just didn't care enough about the main character or the story. Even though Halo came out a year after Fallen, I just think I liked the idea of the story better. They're pretty much the same, I guess you just have to take your pick.

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told Was A Lie...

Remakes of Shakespearean classics are always a hit with me. This one, Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay, earned 5 stars because I absolutely fell in love.

After being murdered by her husband and soul mate, Romeo, Juliet is now working for the Ambassadors of Light. Her job is to help protect and bring together soul mates. She is transported into other girls' bodies and strives to create lives filled with the promise of love. Romeo works for the Mercenaries, who are the opposite. Romeo's spirit takes over helpless teenagers in attempts that one of these soul mates Juliet protects will kill themselves or their partner. Juliet finds herself in the body of Ariel, a broken young high school girl who needs all the love she can find. Romeo is not far behind, and he tries to convince Juliet that loving him again would set them both free. However, Juliet is in a pickle as Ben, new guy to the high school and the complete white knight of the modern age,  steps in to steal her heart. With time running out, no way of contacting the Ambassadors's, and Ariel's life unwinding in completely unexpected ways, Juliet must choose. Is this forbidden love meant to be, or is Romeo truthful in his vows? 

The writing is what wrapped me up instantly. Jay's writing winds ribbons of description and beautiful dialogue that it is hard to stop reading. I couldn't stay away for long. The great thing was all the possibilities I expected for the plot were wrong and new turns happened constantly. The ending was a surprise, but it was unexpected and refreshing. The characters, the concept, the description; I just fell in love with this book. Plus it really does give readers a whole new perspective on the classic star crossed lovers angle. Romeo's a jerk, but he appears to want things to work out for the two of them. It is unclear if his motives are selfish or if he truly cares for Juliet. On the other hand, Juliet is beginning to have a strong connection to Ben. So what's a girl to do?
Loved this book! It is a must read. :)

Trust No One

After reading a lot of paranormal and paranormal romance, I felt I should break free from the pack. I happened to be looking at new releases on good reads, which to be honest is the only time I use that site, and I came across Variant by Robinson Wells. The book caught my eye, so I decided to check it out. And yes, it is always nice to have something different than a good vs. evil cutsy love theme.

Benson Fisher has bounced around foster homes and schools his entire seventeen year existence. He finds Maxfield Academy and hopes that this boarding school will be different from the rest. He didn't expect it to be this different. Upon walking in, Benson discovers the school contains no adults and no authoritative powers. The daily schedule for the day all depends on the video monitor, whom the students call Iceman. Benson is told there is a huge stone wall trapping the students, and no one ever leaves. When his questions aren't answered by the bright, peppy tour guide, Becky, Benson seeks the truth from the rest of the student body. He finds that the students have split themselves into three gangs: Society who enforce and follow every rule, Havoc who are extremely violent and like nothing more than testing the rules, and Variant who are in-between. Upon joining his gang, Benson's urge to escape is heightened, but other members assure him that there is no way out, and people who have tried to escape never return. A few weeks in and Benson discovers the secret hidden at the school's core. Perhaps surviving and escaping are both impossible feats.
I loved it! The twist was interesting, and it kept me craving more. I can see teenagers connecting with Benson because although he is the typical troubled tough guy, his will to survive and escape are so overwhelmingly real. The writing captivated me, and I couldn't stop reading. The concept of the three gangs is great because it pins students against each other. Every gang takes care of their own, and each gang is in charge of some civic duty around campus, which gives access to certain doors and locks.The members of all three groups have distinct characteristics to the point where the reader knows which group people are in without mention. Very cool concept and it played very nicely with the "no way out" image of the school.
I know the book just came out, but I have high expectations for the second. For his first book, Wells hit a real hop topic with this one. If you're looking for a book to break away from the usual Twilighty love stories, pick this book up. Definitely worth a look.