Cover Judge

Cover Judge is a semi-weekly feature that spotlights the covers of upcoming YA novels. Some may say that you can't judge a book by its cover, but with covers as gorgeous as these, it's hard not to.

This week there are two featured covers, both for upcoming novels by Kimberly Derting. What can I say? I just love her books!

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Release: November 15, 2011

Summary:

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 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 give way to real crisis 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.

Cover: Um, ya, this cover definitely has the creep factor down pat. It's mesmirizing in the sense that it both worries and intrigues me - a perfect combination for a dystopian cover!

The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting

Release: April 17, 2012

Summary: 

Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet’s talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it’s Violet’s job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by “the girlfriend collector” she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new “relationship” and Violet may have caught his eye...

Cover:  Ever since I first saw the cover for Desires of the Dead, I've been a fan of this series' covers. The flowers go along perfectly with the "echoes" Violet sees - a huge part of the series. The past two covers have done a great job of juxtaposing a bright, semi-creepy flower against a jet black background. This most recent cover is not different. The purple and black color combination never fails to enchant me. I think it's especially fitting for this series considering the main character's name is Violet. Okay, that was bad. Still, the cover is a lovely addition to the series.

(Note: Despite it's title being The Last Echo, this book will not be the final installment in the series. That means more Violet, more Jay, and more gorgeous covers!)

Top Ten Books That Are On The Top Of My TBR List For Fall

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week bloggers all over the book blogosphere post their Top Ten lists in response to a predetermined prompt. This week, the theme is "Top Ten Books That Are On The Top Of My TBR List For Fall."

1. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins (September 29, 2011)
It's Stephanie Perkins. It's the companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss. It's set in San Francisco. It's rumored that Anna and Etienne make an appearance. What's not to love?!

2. Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick (October 4, 2011)

Hush, Hush intrigued me initially and then Crescendo came along and won me over. I'm really looking forward to seeing how Fitzpatrick ends this series, especially with the curve ball she threw in at the end of the Crescendo.

3. Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (October 18, 2011)

I absolutely loved Beautiful Creatures and Beautiful Darkness did a great job of further capturing my attention and developing Ethan's character. The only downside to Beautiful Darkness is that I snagged in ARC while at BEA two years ago. My point? I've been waiting a loooong time for Beautiful Chaos. How much longer until October?

4. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (October 18, 2011)

A) It's Maggie Stiefvater, so it will be awesome. B) Maggie has described the book as "Deadliest Catch meets My Little Pony," so it will be awesome.  C) Maggie says it's the book that's the most "her." Since she is pretty awesome, this book will be too. So, in conclusion, this book will be awesome!

5. The Pledge by Kimberly Derting (November 15, 2011)

I love Kimberly Derting's The Body Finder series and am very curious to see how she fares in dystopian. I'm sure it will be just as heart-pounding and addictive as her other novels.

6. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (September 27, 2011)

This is a book I've heard mixed reviews on. People either love it or are very underwhelmed. I'm looking forward to making my own judgement. Right now, I just know it has a fabulous cover and equally fabulous synopsis. That's enough to get me reading.

7. Between Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore (October 25, 2011)

It is no secret that I have a soft spot for mermaid books. Sadly, I have yet to find one that sweeps me off my feet and has me completely enchanted. I'm hoping this will be that book. 

8. Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber (November 1, 2011)

The cover for this book is what initially caught my attention. Of course, then I saw "The Picture of Dorian Gray meets Pride and Prejudice, with a dash of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." Um, yes please!

9. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson (September 20, 2011)

I've heard a lot about this book around the blogoshpere and it's really piqued my interest. 

10. Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs (September 6, 2011)

Tera Lynn Childs was talking about this book during the 10 in '10 chat Kay Cassidy and I co-hosted, and I must admit it caught my attention. Since then, I've read a few more of Childs' books and found them to be fun and charming. Of her two series, my favorite would have to be Oh. My. Gods. Since Sweet Venom will be a return to the world of Greek mythology, I'm really looking forward to it.

What releases are on your list?

Sweet Venom 2 Title Hunt

The book formerly known as Sweet Venom 2 finally has a title! Of course, what fun would it be for Tera Lynn Childs to just tell us? Thus, she has put together a scavenger hunt of sorts to reveal the title.

And if discovering the title of Sweet Venom 2 isn't enough of an incentive for you, there are also prizes. Childs is giving away five signed copies of Sweet Venom, as well as a grand prize $50 bookstore gift card.

To find out more about the hunt and how you can participate, run on over to Tera Lynn Childs' blog.

As for me, I have the honor of presenting you with one of the letters for the hunt. My letter is... drum roll, please...

Got that written down? Good! Now head off to find the next clue. Good luck, everyone!

The Hunger Games Sneak Peek

Are you a Hunger Games fan?

(Note: The answer to this question should always be yes. If you answer no, then you had best go buy a copy of the book ASAP. It’s for your own good.)

Well, tonight was a big night for The Hunger Games and its fans. Why, you ask? Because the first footage from the upcoming movie was released!

Here you go for your viewing (and reviewing) pleasure:

Get More: 2011 VMA, Music

Ta-da! What did you think of it?

My opinion is…well…yes, it was a good teaser trailer. It was not, however, worth sitting through a cross-dressing, very drunk Lady Gaga and the entire VMA award show.

I probably looked bipolar. One second I was shaking like an over-excited puppy, and the next I was staring at the screen in a mix of shock and hurt. Really? That was it? After suffering through VMas, that was all I got?

Still, I have to admit that Jennifer Lawerence made an awesome, kick-butt Katniss. Seeing her in all of her Katniss garb, stalking through the woods, gave me goose bumps. After years of picturing Katniss, the arena, and the rest of her world in my head, it was thrilling to see it brought to life.

March 2012 cannot come fast enough!

Top Ten Books I Loved But Never Wrote A Review For

I had so much fun participating in Top Ten Tuesday last time, that I've decided to give it another go. For those of you who are curious, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week bloggers all over the blogosphere create a top ten list based on that week's theme. This week's theme, for example, is "Top Ten Books You Loved But Never Wrote A Review For."

Personally, this is going to be a tough list to make. I have so many favorite books from before I started blogging, as well as a few titles I just loved too much to put into words. Here goes nothing...

1. The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray
I don't even know where to start with this series. My mom, in a rush to get home, pulled A Great Terrible Beauty off a shelf at Borders, noted the corset on the cover (I was a historical fiction addict), and told me to give it a shot. I ended up starting it the next morning on our drive to Disneyland...I didn't say anything the whole way. It was fabulous! Honestly, all three books are. I love this series to bits. Two words: read it. Don't look at the summary, don't read reviews, don't even think about it - just go read it!

2. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
My best fried suggested this book to me many years ago. She was reading it and thought that I, being a huge reader, would probably enjoy it. Oh boy, did I enjoy it. The writing was lovely, the story was expertly written,  and the characters were enchanting. It entirely swept me away, as did its companion novel, Enna Burning. In fact, all four of the Books of Bayern are lovely. With a world as richly woven as Bayern and a writer like Shannon Hale, you really can't go wrong.

3. Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
I'm not quite sure if "love" is the proper way to describe my opinion of this book. Honestly, I don't know what I think of it. I read Angelfire amidst all the craziness of the end of the school year. Even with all that was going on and all of the things I had to do, when I was reading Angelfire, I was completely and utterly enthralled. To me, that says something. So while I wasn't completely in love with the book - some elements of the story and characters really irked me - I would still recommend it, because, clearly, there's something captivating in there.

4. Austenland by Shannon Hale
Yes, more Shannon Hale. I went on a major Shannon Hale reading binge before I started my blog. (Spurred by my love of The Goose Girl, of course.) The result of this reading binge was the realization that Hale is truly a brilliant writer. The other result was the discovery of Austenland. This is one of Hale's adult novels, which normally would've kept me from reading it (I was only in seventh grade). But with a name like Austenland, I knew I had to read it. It was absolutely lovely. Which is precisely why I was so excited to find out that there's going to be a movie!

5. White Cat by Holly Black
Prior to this I'd never read anything by Holly Black. I'd heard good things about her books, but never really had the urge to read any of them. In fact, I wasn't even planning on reading White Cat until I saw VLC's book trailer for it. It ended up being a pleasant surprise. Cassel was a great protagonist and I was fascinated by the world Black created. Being a fan of spy books and mysteries, I found the idea of the con-artist curse workers incredibly intriguing.

6. Anything written by Sarah Dessen
Hello, it's Sarah Dessen. She's just all-around awesome. It would be pointless for me to write reviews because every one would read "Another great novel from Sarah Dessen. (Insert boy's name here) was incredibly dreamy and I loved his romance with (insert troubled but sweet protagonist's name here). More please!"

7. Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman
I read this book a looooong time ago. Like, I can barely remember when I read it. I know it was back before I even knew who Stephanie Meyer was. She was just some author who'd blurbed this book that I'd found on the bottom of a bookshelf at Borders. There was just something about the teeny tiny picture of the girl in a red dress jumping in the air with a Jane Austen-eque image behind her that called to me. I picked it up, bought it, raced through it one afternoon, and now every time I see the spine on my bookshelf I smile to myself. The funny thing is, over the years, I've started to forget why I smile. I just remember loving it. Hmm, I think I'll have to reread it soon.

8. The Queen's Soprano by Carol Dines
This is another book that always makes me smile, even though I read it so long ago that I can barely remember it. It also happens to be another book picked out by my mom because of the historical-looking gown on the cover. The book was fabulous with a bittersweet ending that, even though a lot of the story has faded, I still remember vividly. It is one of the better historical fiction novels I've read, and I'm really looking forward to rereading it now that my knowledge of history has increased tremendously (thank you, AP classes).

9. I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter
I know I've reviewed a few of the more recent novels in this series, but I never got around to reviewing the first two novels. This is mostly due to the fact that I read the first two books in my pre-blogging days. Still, it wouldn't feel right if I didn't include this book on my list. I LOVE this book. It was simply marvelous in all aspects. I have long been a fan of novels set at private/boarding schools, as well as those including spies or mysteries or subterfuge. Needless to say, I fell absolutely and completely in love with this book and the series as a whole. To this day, if Ally Carter releases a new book, I drop everything and run to the bookstore. Such a great series!

10. Demon Glass by Rachel Hawkins

So, um, I cannot believe I never reviewed this book. Same goes for Hex Hall. I don't really know why I never reviewed either book because I greatly enjoyed both. I just never seemed to be able to actually write a review, so I just...didn't. Anyways, I guess I'll just pimp Demon Glass now. Because, really, it deserves to get some attention. I enjoyed Hex Hall, I loved Demon Glass. There was the perfect mix of romance and danger, plus lots of intrigue from new characters and story lines. The final book, Spellbound, is sure to be just as awesome. I would definitely recommend reading this series.


Now that you've seen my list, what's on yours?

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Release: August 31, 2010

Source: Purchased

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

Oh, Evie, what wit you have.

From the very first chapter Evie’s character practically leapt off the page. Her voice was magnificent and the writing was fast-paced and saturated in wit – I was completely enchanted.

I especially loved the fresh, fun take on paranormals. This is the second paranormal book I’ve read this summer that has a strong chick lit feel (the first being Ripple by Mandy Hubbard). I love it! It’s definitely a trend I want to see more of, especially if the characters are like Evie.

Speaking of Evie, more than once I found myself smiling at her antics and smart remarks. At times she did seem a little childish, but it only made her all the more endearing. She honestly reminded me of my best friend, which made me love her character all the more.

As for Lend (yeah, it’s weird name. There are a lot of them in Paranormalcy.), I wasn’t as taken with him as Evie was. Truthfully, I liked the mystery surrounding his character a lot more than I liked him. Still, his relationship with Evie was a great addition to the story. I think I’ll end up liking him more in Supernaturally, when he has more time to grow on me.

One of my absolute favorite aspects of Paranormalcy was the fey poem/prophecy that was at the heart of the plot. I’ve always been a fan of cryptic prophecies and enjoy trying to figure them out before the characters do. Sadly, the prophecy/poem in Paranormalcy was never fully explained, though its overall meaning was alluded to. I’m hoping that White will further explore it in Supernaturally.

Overall this series has a lot of promise, as does White as an author. I would definitely suggest giving Paranormalcy a read.

4 stars

Boys and YA

Last night my school held its annual Decades Dance. My friends and I, being seniors, were decked out in 80's garb - hideous electric blue eyes shadow and all - and danced the entire night. We had a blast. Of course, all that dancing left me completely wiped out. So when I woke up this morning and saw this article on The New York Times' website, I knew there was no way I could write a proper, impassioned response - at least not without lots and lots of coffee.

Instead, I am going to direct you to Saundra Mitchell's blog, where she posted fabulous response to Lipsyte's article. Go, Saundra!

What I Read This Summer

At the start of every school year, I get asked the same question over and over again: What did you do this summer? Well, for me, the more appropriate question is "What did you read this summer?"

Well, here is what I read this summer (I must warn you, it is a long list):

1. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
This book was a great way to kick off my summer of reading. If I had to rate it, it would be somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars. I really enjoyed reading Carter's unique take on Greek mythology and the myth of Persephone.

2. The Royal Treatment by Linsdey Leavitt
I posted my review of Leavitt's latest installment in the Princess for Hire series earlier in the summer. Just like the first novel, this was a delightful read. Unlike the first novel, it ended on a wicked cliff hanger. More please!

3. Aces Up by Lauren Barnholdt
I really just did not like this book. The main character and I did not click from the get go. For a supposedly smart girl, she made a lot of stupid decisions. After loving Barnholdt's One Night that Changes Everything last summer, I was incredibly disappointed by Aces Up.

4-10. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Yeah, there's a reason these books are so popular. I really don't think I need to say anymore.

11. Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter
My review for this one is coming soon. Keep an eye out for it!

12. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
Despite the multiple recommendations I've gotten for this book, I didn't like it all that much. The problem wasn't that I didn't enjoy the concept - I did - I just never really connected with Ginny. The book fulfilled its purpose as a good poolside read, but that's about it. A bit of a let down after all the hype it had gotten.

13. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
Beautiful, creepy, awesome - I loved it. You can read the rest of my thoughts in my review, though they're just as gushing.

14. Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe
My review for this one will be up closer to its release.

15. Abandon by Meg Cabot
This is another book I'm planning on reviewing. I'll give you a little teaser, though: it was a highly entertaining (and intriguing) read.

16. A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young
I spent half of this book mentally kicking myself because I kept imaging the characters/setting from The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting. I saw so much of Violet in Charlotte! The other half of the book was spent genuinely interested in the plot and who the Forgotten really were. The book laid a solid foundation for a great series. I see so much potential in this story.

17. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
This was a re-read to get myself in the right frame of mind for Forever (and I really wanted to read more about Sam *sigh*).

18. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
I already reviewed this one, but I'll say it again: So. Good. I love every one of these characters so much.

19. Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
 I've heard so many great things about J.D. Salinger's writing and have always wanted to read his works. As shocking as it is, I have yet to read Catcher in the Rye. It's on my list for sure, but Franny and Zooey has always intrigued me, so I chose it as my first foray into Salinger instead. I really love Franny and liked Zooey as well. It was a great read, and really piqued my interest about Catcher.

20. Ripple by Mandy Hubbard
Another title I've already reviewed. I was so happy it was my twentieth book of the summer because it a) is by Mandy Hubbard (on of the first author's I ever worked with), b) is about a teenage siren, c) has a gorgeous cover and d) is a refreshing take on a paranormal romance.

21. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Another reread in anticipation of one of my most looked forward to releases of the summer: Wolfsbane. I loved this book the first time I read it, and was reminded of that when I read it again. Such a fabulous paranormal!

22. Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
My review for this one went up earlier in the week. I really enjoyed it, but not quite as much as Nightshade. Even so, I cannot wait for Bloodrose.

23. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Yup, another reread. I always let myself reread my favorite books during the summer. And let me tell you, it was difficult to restrain myself all year long in the case of Anna. I wanted to reread it as soon as I finished my ARC last fall. I adore this book. It is perfection.

24. Red Glove by Holly Black
I read White Cat at the beginning of last summer and was surprised by how much I liked it. (I only picked it up because of VLC's book trailer.) I was really happy to be able to read Red Glove this summer. It was a great continuation of the story. I could see myself reading many more books about Cassel, Lila, and the rest of the gang.

25. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
My review for this title should be up within the next week or so. It was great with such a fabulous voice and main character. I am already trying to find time to read Supernaturally this school year.

26. Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink
I have about 40 pages of this one left and am typing as fast as I can so that I can get back to it. I was relatively intrigued by the first book in the series, Prophecy of the Sisters, and hadn't expected to love Guardian of the Gate as much as I did. And, boy, did I love it. I think the addition of Dimitri is what really won my over. So far, I've loved Circle of Fire. Zink has a talent for writing this time period, as well as complicated, epic storylines. The combination of the two is enchanting. Speaking of which...I'm going to go back to reading.

Well, that's what I read this summer. What about you?

Cover Judge

Cover Judge is a semi-weekly feature devoted to spotlighting (and fawning over) the covers of upcoming YA novels. No matter how many times I'm told never to judge a book by it's cover, I cannot help doing so. And with a cover as beautiful and awe worthy as this week's featured cover, it's hard not to take the book at face value.

A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink

Release: March 20, 2012

Summary:

When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen year-old Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendants charged with protecting the world’s past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong because temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel.

Michelle Zink masterfully weaves historical fantasy with paranormal romance to create a gripping tale of love and betrayal.

Cover: Simply excellent. I don't really know what to say, other than to applaud the publisher. The cover is intriguing, gorgeous, mysterious, angelic, and just a bit dark. I was completely sold without ever reading anything about the book. Absolutely enchanting.

Top Ten Underrated Books

This is my first time participating in Top Ten Tuesday, a meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Like the creators, I too love lists, especially when the themes are as fun and book-ish as these. This week's theme is Top Ten Underrated Books - aka books that you feel should be more popular and widely read.

1. Bad Kitty by Michelle Jaffe
This book is literally laugh out loud funny. It's also the reason I fell in love with YA in the first place. Jaffe is not only a plotting genius, but she has a knack for writing comedy. The main character, Jasmine, is one of my all time favorite protagonists and has one of the best voices I've ever read. The same goes for her hilarious friends and family. I honestly don't know how Jaffe came up with half of their high jinks. All I know is that I spent the majority of the book laughing. Oh, and did I mention it's a murder mystery? Because it is. And an excellent one at that. Bad Kitty is just all around awesome. I don't know why more people haven't read it.

2.  The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

I stared at this book for months before I finally bought it. You see, I hadn't seen many (if any) reviews on it. Normally this means that a book isn't all that great. Boy, oh boy, am I glad I decided to take a chance on The Summer I Turned Pretty! This series has become one of my favorites. Han is an incredibly talented writer. She brought Belly's world to life. I could practically taste the salty beach air and feel the sun shining on my face. I like to say reading The Summer I Turned Pretty is like stepping into summer, because the long, sun-drenched days come to life on the pages. As if that isn't reason enough to read it, the main character, Belly, was expertly written. Han perfectly captured the confusion of growing up and struggling to find yourself. I fell in love with everything about Belly's story. I cannot recommend this book enough.

3. Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken
You've read Brightly Woven, right? If not, what are you doing with your life?! Seriously, this is one of those books you don't want to miss. I loved it so much when I was on its ARC tour that I drove across town to get a finished copy when it came out. It's a fabulous fantasy adventure, reminiscent of Shannon Hale. Plus, it has North. I honestly love everything about this book.

4. Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler
Ockler's first book, Twenty Boy Summer, has gotten a lot of buzz - both negative and positive - but I feel like Fixing Delilah has been more or less overlooked. Which is really tragic, because it is a wonderful novel. Unlike in a lot of YA, the family aspect is played up, rather than dismissed. Between all of the family secrets being revealed and the friends-turned-more romance, I fell head over heels for this book.

5. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan matson

I only found this book because I was a part of the blog tour and hadn't expected much from it. So, of course, I ended up really liking it. As the title implies, Amy and Roger's detour really is epic. From Yosemite to Graceland - the two had so many enchanting adventures. By the time it was all said and done, I was smiling happily and so glad I'd read the book. Definitely check it out the next time you're looking for a great chick lit read.

6. The Season by Sarah MacLean

Oh my, where do I begin? This book literally made me swoon. Regency society, mystery, and romance - I was in heaven! Seriously, just read it. You won't be sorry.

7. Mermaid Park by Beth Mayall
I read this book back when it first came out, waaaaaaaay before I started blogging. Now that I've read a lot more, I recognize how very Sarah Dessen-esque Mermaid Park is. It's probably one of the reasons why I ended up loving chick lit so much. There were family secrets (love), a mermaid-themed water show (love), romance (love!), and the beach (love). In fact, I think I may need to read it again...

8. In or Out by Claudia Gabel
There are four books in this series, all of which revolve around ex-best friends Nola and Marnie and their very different freshman years. I started reading these books the year before I started high school and really clicked with the characters. Nola reminded me of me and Marnie reminded me of my best friend. Even though they didn't stay close once they started high school, I still felt a real connection with both characters and their stories. It warms my heart just to think about this series.

9. The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell

At first I was little wary of this one. I mean, it's about superheroes and villains. Very comic book, very not me. And yet I ended up falling in love with Damien. His wit definitely had something to do with it, as I am a sucker for banter. I think that, like me, a lot of people haven't picked up the book because of how comic book it seems. Just trust me and read it, though. If you loved Sky High, you'll love The Rise of Renegade X.

10. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

As far as I'm concerned, this book is underrated...because it should be huge! Honestly, I was completely swept off my feet. When I picked it up, I'd heard a few good things about it, but I never expected it to be so enthralling  I read it in one sitting! Derting's writing was captivating to read. The scenes written from the predator's point of view...so scary. They gave me chills. That's how good her writing was. I want to hug this book every time I think about it.

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

Release: July 26, 2011

Others in the Series: Nightshade

Source: Purchased

When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she’s certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer—one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack—and the man—she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

I was very surprised at how fast I read Wolfsbane. I kept thinking I’d only read a few pages, only to discover that I’d really read twenty. So much happened so fast, and I ended up tearing right through the book.

Often, I would finish reading a hundred pages only to realize that all of the events I’d just read about had happened in a mere matter of hours. Calla’s world was constantly changing. In fact, when I finished reading, I was shocked to realize that the entire book only spanned, at most, three days. As far as stories go, that’s not a lot of time, and yet Calla’s life at the end was completely unrecognizable from the beginning of the novel.

The short time period was both a good and bad thing. The first book, Nightshade, spanned nearly three months, giving Calla, the other characters, and the story the breadth to grow incredibly complex. With Wolfsbane, everything came fast, in rapid succession, giving me – and the characters – little time to digest what had just happened before the next revelation came. Yes, I couldn’t put it down, but at the same time I felt like I lost a lot of the depth and raw emotion that made me fall in love with Calla’s story in the first place.

In essence, Wolfsbane is a transition: lots of quick development and the introduction of the new characters and plots that will be instrumental in Bloodrose. And while the new characters may not have had as much time to develop as the originals, I think I may actually love them more. With everything moving so fast, the new characters had to have strong personalities to keep them from getting lost in the flurry of events. The Searchers were funny, witty, and utterly enchanting. They truly made Wolfsbane shine.

Even with its swift pace, I felt Wolfsbane was a great continuation of the fabulous story Cremer began in Nightshade. I cannot wait to see how Calla’s story ends in Bloodrose!

4.5 Stars!

Cover Judge

Cover Judge is a semi-weekly feature that spotlights and discusses the covers of upcoming YA novels. Because, even though they say not to, it's hard not to judge a book by its cover.

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

Release: February 21, 2012

Summary:

Calla has always welcomed war. But now that the final battle is upon her, there’s more at stake than fighting. There’s saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay’s wrath. There’s keeping Ansel safe, even if he’s been branded a traitor. There’s proving herself as the pack’s alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers’ magic once and for all. And then there’s deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is. In the final installment of the Nightshade trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Andrea Cremer creates a novel with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat until its final pages. A dynamic end to this breathtaking trilogy.

Cover: While I love this series and am looking forward to Bloodrose, I am not a fan of this cover. At all. Honestly, I am not all that pleased with any of the series' new covers. I will admit that Nightshade and Wolfsbane's new covers both look a lot nicer in person than they did online. I've actually grown to like them, though I still prefer the original covers. I really hope the same rule will apply to Bloodrose because, as of right now, I am rather concerned. I mean, really, is that model not creepy? The angle of the picture is just so awkward. It makes her look like she doesn't have any pupils or irises. Yes, I know she's supposed to be looking over her shoulder, but unless I really focus, she just looks possessed. And the red background doesn't do much to help the demonic look...

The Joy of the Unsatisfying Ending

Why yes, I did just use joy and unsatisfying to describe the same thing.

It may sound odd. I mean, by definition something that is unsatisfying shouldn't bring you joy. And yet, there really is something special about an ending that is tainted ever so slightly with dissatisfaction.

Maybe one of my favorite characters died, maybe the ending was left open to interpretation, or maybe there was a last minute twist that was never resolved – whatever it was, I find these unsatisfying endings often end up being some of my favorites.

One reason is that, when an author writes such an ending, knowing full well that it is evil, she runs the risk of pissing off more than a few fans. But she does it anyway. Because, ultimately, it’s what the author feels is the right ending for the story. As a result, the ending is gutsy and genuine, and I have a great deal of respect for the author.

Even better, an open or unsatisfying ending often causes the story to linger in my mind. Because it wasn’t happy or ideal, my brain just gets stuck on it. I remember what led up to that ending and mull over the many possibilities that could come after the point where the book left off. It is because of this that I fall in love with books whose endings leave me wanting more. The Sweet Far Thing, Shiver, Nightshade – they are all novels that left me either shell-shocked or desperate for more at the end. They all also happen to be some of my absolute favorite books.

The real reason for my love of unsatisfying endings, though, is that I love the realism. I am not a cynic, nor am I a hopeless romantic. I am somewhere in between. And while a nice bow-wrap ending does make me smile, more often than not I find myself a little let down. Life isn’t perfect and true happy endings are few and far between. Even when they do happen, they don’t last forever in an eternal state of bliss. I love literature that acknowledges that not-so-sweet truth.

There are some series I simply love too much to see them end happily. I would much rather be left tearing up or wanting to know more than have everything end happily in puppies and rainbows. Frankly, it would feel wrong. It’s one of the reasons that, to this day, I cannot stand Mockingjay or Breaking Dawn.

So, while I don’t want every novel I read to end sadly or without resolution, there is undeniably a joy in a well-written unsatisfying ending.