Review: The Indigo Spell

Title: The Indigo Spell
Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Bloodlines #3
Publisher: Razorbill
Source: Purchased

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.

My thoughts: 

Richelle Mead is hands down, by far my favorite paranormal author! And I'm pretty sure this is how all my reviews of her books start. She is just one phenomenal writer and she continues to blow me away with her books! Do you guys realize that The Indigo Spell, The Fiery Heart and Gameboard of the Gods are all published this year?!? Man, Richelle Mead sure was working hard last year! 

The Indigo Spell was just another great installment in the Bloodlines series! I loved the sexual tension between Sydney and Adrian! It just continued to build and build until there were a few hot and steamy moments that made me want to cheer. I think it's so funny that she's always telling herself that she can never be with someone like Adrian because he's a Moroi but when it comes down to it she just can't control herself or her feelings! She has huge feelings for Adrian and I really hope they win out in the end. 

I'm also intrigued by all this magic that is being introduced to the series.  The Vampire Academy world is so vast and I'm continually surprised by all the new aspects that are coming out of the woodwork.  But this magical element is just so awesome and how Sydney is taking to it.  If she thinks that she doesn't really like the Moroi then she really doesn't like the magic and she continues to resist! But I have a feeling that the magic is also going to win out in the end. Oh, this series is just so amazing!!!

Needless to say, I cannot wait for the Fiery Heart!!! I will be there, at the bookstore, on release day, ready to dive into the next installment of the Bloodlines series!!

Review: The Golden Lily

Title: The Golden Lily
Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Bloodlines #3
Publisher: Razorbill
Find it here: Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, Mysterious Galaxy
Source: Purchased

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she’s been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California–tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formerly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.

But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age–old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and the sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi—the fiercest vampires, the ones who don’t die. But it’s her fear of being just that—special, magical, powerful—that scares her more than anything. Equally daunting is her new romance with Brayden, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else—someone forbidden to her.

When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney’s loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.

Should she trust the Alchemists—or her heart?

My thoughts: 

I want to start this by saying that Richelle Mead writes the most amazing stories! I have yet to read one of her books that I don’t like! I've read all the Vampire Academy novels, the first and second in the Bloodlines series and I’m getting ready to start the second book in her Succubus series. I love them all! I just can’t get enough! You can bet that I will be buying the first book in her newest series, Gameboard of the Gods!

So pretty much in The Golden Lily, vampire hunters are after Sonia because they don’t believe that she is truly restored and Sydney is fighting her inner conscience about possibly using magic. That’s pretty much all that happens. Little side stories here and there, Adrian trying to be a better Adrian and of course the awesome ending and DIMITRI!

I love when I get to immerse myself with this world that I love so much. At first, Sydney was just an okay character for me when we first met her in the Vampire Academy series. But now I’m really starting to love her! She’s always looking out for other people while constantly reminding herself that she needs to keep everything professional because it’s her job. I also love her internal struggle and conversations with herself about magic. I knew it was just a matter of time before she gave in! The one thing that always annoys me is when she thinks she needs to be on a diet because being a size 2 isn't skinny enough. I HATE that! I wanted to give Adrian a big high five when he told her that she could stand to gain a few pounds! And speaking of Adrian and Sydney together!! We’re finally getting some sparks and passion! Dimitri is, of course, perfect and I just love how he always plays the protector role!

Needless to say, Bloodlines is one of my favorite series and The Golden Lily was just spectacular! I have to give The Golden Lily 5 hearts because I am on the edge of my seat waiting for The Indigo Spell!!

Middle Grade Monday: Little Magic Shop of Horrors

Hey! Welcome to Middle Grade Monday, a weekly feature I started to talk about anything middle grade bookish related! I never thought I would really enjoy middle grade novels but after reading my first one this year, I was hooked! Since I review mainly YA on this blog, I didn't want the middle grade reviews to get shuffled in with the YA books so I decided to create this feature!

Title: Little Magic Shop of Horrors
Author: Gina and Annette Cascone
Series: Deadtime Stories
Publisher: Starscape
Find it here: Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, Mysterious Galaxy
Source: ARC from ALA

The Deadtime Stories by “Twisted Sisters” Annette and Gina Cascone—they’ll scare you silly and give you giggles at the same time.
Peter Newman really wants a twenty-one-speed mountain bike. That’s the grand prize for his school’s talent competition. And Peter’s pretty sure he can win it. All he needs is a talent….

When he and his best friend Bo see an ad for the Little Magic Shop of Horrors, they rush right over. For only $9.95, Peter buys a magic kit and becomes “Peter the Great.” Now he can do tricks even Houdini couldn’t perform!

The only problem is Peter can’t undo the tricks. But that doesn’t bother him too much. Until he wins the talent contest—by taking off Bo’s head! Will Peter be able to save his headless best friend?

My thoughts:

I knew that when I sat down to read this book, I would finish it in one sitting. It kind of reminded me of those Goosebump books I was so fond of when I was younger. Coming in at just around one hundred and fifty pages, Little Magic Shop of Horrors is a fun and entertaining read to pass a little time!

Peter and Bo want to win the school talent show. They decide to do a magic act so they look up a magic store in their local phone book. After several attempts to find this little magic shop with no luck, it mysteriously appears out of nowhere! The shop owner does some really weird magic tricks that make the boys even more excited about learning magic and they can’t believe it when he practically gives them a huge starter kit for less than ten dollars! Disaster ensues when Peter starts trying all these magic tricks without any kind of instruction manual.

Peter and Bo make a good team. Peter is so determined to become a great magician and to win the talent show that he sometimes loses sight what happening in reality. Bo is definitely his voice of reason and seems to understand that magic is not worth risking your life for. I have to say that my favorite character is Peter’s grandma! She is the crazy, nutty old lady who is convinced that she flew a bomber plane in WWII and that she was Houdini’s assistant. So when all this magic ensues, she gets really excited!

I love middle grade reads like this that are super fun and so easy to read! This book is only the first of the Deadtime Stories series that I've read but I can definitely say that I will be reading more of them. I give Little Magic Shop of Horrors 4 hearts because it is a book that middle grade readers will love especially around Halloween time!

Review: A Discovery of Witches

Title: A Discovery of Witches
Author: Deborah Harkness
Series: All Souls Trilogy #1
Publisher: Penguin Books
Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads
Source: Purchased

A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together.

Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.

Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism.

My thoughts: 

I remember thinking when A Discovery of Witches came out that I absolutely have to read that book because it sounds so amazing! It was getting rave reviews and I love books that deal with witches and magic. So why did it take me so long to finally read it!? I have no idea but I'm definitely kicking myself for not reading it sooner! 

I love the whole aspect of the story that there's all these family secrets and the fact that Diana does not want to be a witch and choose not to participate in all these witchy things.  So she run to the opposite of witchcraft which is facts, history and studying things that have evidence.  She is super smart and doesn't let anything get in the way of her studies and research.  She is also very determined.  She has a tough time coming to terms with notions that she could possibly be the chosen one and that her magic and relationship could bring about the biggest change known to her supernatural kind.  

Matthew is such a great character and one of my favorite vampires of all the vampire books that I've read. He is such a gentleman and deeply rooted in old fashioned chivalry while being very fierce and protective at the same time.  He is the ideal vampire. And he's smart and sexy to boot.  Even all the side characters were really great! They all have their own very unique personalities and while I was reading some of the vampires, I truly believed that they had been living for over a thousand years! The characterization in A Discovery is Witches is phenomenal! 

I love that A Discovery of Witches is a mix of supernatural creatures instead of focusing on just one. If witches can exist why not vampires? Even though it is a pretty long read, it is richly detailed and very interesting.  I give A Discovery of Witches 5 hearts for finally portraying vampires how I always imagined them to be.  And can I say new book boyfriend? Most definitely!

Review: Girl of Nightmares

Title: Girl of Nightmares
Author: Kendare Blake
Series: Sequel to Anna Dressed in Blood
Publisher: Tor Teen
Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads
Source: ARC, ALA

It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on.

His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live—not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.

Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor.

My thoughts:

Anna Dressed in Blood is one of my favorite young adult horror novels because Kendare Blake does not hold back when it comes to blood and gore! I didn’t expect anything less when I picked up Girl of Nightmares and I’m so glad! All my favorite aspects from Anna Dressed in Blood were alive and thriving in Girl of Nightmares which made for a really exciting read!

One of the reasons why Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares are so amazing is because of the three main characters! They really came together in the former and continued to rely on each other in the latter. The dynamics of Cas, Thomas, and Carmel really works well and they play off of each other’s strengths which always makes for an exciting read! Thomas’ grandfather is one of my favorite characters! He made me laugh a lot! I really wanted to know more about the Obehman. Was he human before he became this monster? Was he a ghost who became super powerful? Is he a demon? I would have liked his origins explored more.

Going into Girl of Nightmares, all I really knew is that Cas was going to try to save Anna from wherever she was. Cas didn’t even know where Anna was! So I didn’t know where this book was going to take the readers but that almost made it more exciting because I had no idea! I really liked that the adventure took the gang outside of their little town into London and then into the Suicide Forest! The secret society of ghost hunters was also very interesting and I would love to see a side book that dives deeper into the history of it!

I really, really liked this book and I’m so glad that Kendare Blake has decided to write horror within YA! I give Girl of Nightmares 4 hearts because even though I loved it, it wasn’t as enthralling or all-consuming as Anna Dressed in Blood!

Review- The Alchemy of Forever

Title: The Alchemy of Forever
Author: Avery Williams
Series: Incarnation #1
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads
Source: Purchased

Seraphina has been alive since the 1300's, made immortal when the boy she was beginning to love back then, Cyrus, saved her from death with a strange liquid - a method of alchemy that lets them swap bodies with any human being. But now, in modern day America, Sera has decided that she can no longer bear the weight of stealing people's lives so she can keep living on. So she decides to run away from Cyrus and end her stolen existence once and for all. Her plan goes awry when she accidentally takes the body of a dying teenager and feels forced to take over her life. When the lines between Sera and Kailey's identity begin to blur, Sera finds a reason to desire to live once more. But she can't shake the guilt of having taken Kailey's life, even if she was dying. And what if Cyrus finds her?

My thoughts: 

When I first picked up The Alchemy of Forever I was super excited but the cover is just gorgeous and the synopsis sounded amazing! I also needed a book by a debut author for January but that's beside the point. But in the end I was a tab bit disappointed because of the direction it went.

When I started the book, I just ate up the beginning. I thought it was an original and unique idea of being able to separate the soul from the body therefore living as long as they desired. Seraphina comes by this existence by accident when she is stabbed. Her good friend Cyrus is the son of the town's alchemist and they believed they had found a way to separate the soul from the body. They had not tried it yet but since she was dying, he felt like he had no choice and her soul is put into the body of a near-by servant girl. Fast forward almost 800 years where Cyrus, Seraphina and a few others that they've picked up along the way are living in New York. Over the years, Cyrus has become controlling and doesn't let Seraphina out of his sight and she is dying to get away from and to finally die. She makes makes this whole elaborate plot to escape and then it kind of becomes a normal story of a girl just trying to be a teenager and fitting in.

I felt like the story went a little bit downhill from there. It became boring because it was just chronicling the life of a girl who was trying to become the girl of the body she stole. She knew that if she ran away from Cyrus that he was going to do everything in his power to find her. I was just annoyed by how easily she let her guard down and just seemed to forget that Cyrus was looking for her. If felt like there could have been more to the story but maybe the author is just saving all the good stuff for the next book! I give The Alchemy of Forever 3 hearts for originality and creativity with the hope that the next book will be more exciting.  

Review- Bloodlines

Title: Bloodlines
Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Razorbill
Series: Bloodlines #1
Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads
Source: ARC compliments of Razorbill

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California.  But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive-this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.

My thoughts:

I LOVE VAMPIRE ACADEMY!!!!  Whew, i just had to get that out of the way.  Richelle Mead's young adult books literally make me feel like a screaming teenage girl again.  When I received Bloodlines in the mail, I jumped up and down in my living room and left my family wondering if they needed to check me into the nearest mental institution! There's just something about the characters of Vampire Academy that make me all crazy and giggly.

At first I was hesitant to read Bloodlines because Sydney was not my favorite character towards the end of the series.  And also, I'm a hard core Rose fan.  But as soon as I was a couple of chapters in, I realized that I was enjoying the change of perspective and seeing the vampires from an alchemist's eyes.  Bloodlines takes the reader deeper into the magical world of moroi, strigoi, and alchemists and we're getting to see more than just one aspect.  We get more background and more history to these (for lack of a better word) creatures that Mead has created.

I love the very big role that Adrian has been given in this series.  In Vampire Academy he was only this spoiled, rich brat who went around doing whatever he wanted and not caring about the consequences.  But now he has the opportunity to become so much more and he's definitely learning the ins and outs of what it takes to be his own person.

Mead is such a fantastic writer.  She leaves a mini-cliffhanger at the end of every chapter which pretty much makes it impossible to put the book down.  There are also so many twists and turns and surprises around every corner.  I can't even begin to guess what's going to happen or how it's going to end because she always just blows my imagination out of the water!  The ending just blew my mind and I was speechless after I read the last page.  And wishing I could get my hands on the next book that very instant!

So many of my friends and family love this series that my copy of Bloodlines has already been passed around! If you are a huge fan of Vampire Academy, you will not be disappointed! Trust me; go out and buy it now!!

Waiting on Wednesday (30)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. This is one of my favorite memes because not only is my TBR pile so much bigger at the end of the night but also the covers are always amazing!

This week I'm eagerly anticipating Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber.  I love period novels, especially those set in the eighteen hundreds with gorgeous dresses.  The concept is very unique and I think it's going to be really fun to read!

Hitting the shelves: November 01, 2011

The Picture of Dorian Gray meets Pride and Prejudice, with a dash of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

New York City, 1882.  Seventeen-year-old Natalie Stewart's latest obsession is a painting of the handsome British Lord Denbury.  Something in his striking blue eyes calls to her.  As his incredibly life-like gaze seems to follow her, Natalie gets the uneasy feeling that details of the painting keep changing...

Jonathan Denbury's soul is trapped in the gilded painting by dark magic while his possessed by commits unspeakable crimes in the city slums.  He must lure Natalie into the painting, for only together can they reverse the curse and free his damaged soul.  

What are you waiting for?

In My Mailbox (19)

In My Mailbox is an awesome way to connect with our blogger and reader friends and share which amazing books we received, bought or borrowed during the week! This weekly meme is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

What an awkward still YouTube chose! Well, at least I'm not picking my nose, haha!




Review:

Broetry by Brian McGackin
The Sleepwalkers by J. Gabriel Gates

Paperbackswap:

Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer

Bought:

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Abandon by Meg Cabot
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
Always a Witch by Carolyn McCullough
The Lying Game by Sara Shepard
Undercurrent by Tricia Rayburn
Siren by Tricia Rayburn (my review)

Library:

A Blue So Dark by Holly Schindler
Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Soulstice by Simon Holt
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

What's in your mailbox?

Waiting on Wednesday (25)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. This is one of my favorite memes because not only is my TBR pile so much bigger at the end of the night but also the covers are always amazing!

I've been such a terrible blogger this week! I haven't been reading as much as usual and I haven't blogged since Saturday.  My TBR list has been looming at me lately and I feel like it's laughing in my face and saying "you'll never finish me, hahaha!"  So I've decided to take it head on and say "take that, TBR list!"

This week I'm eagerly anticipating Don't Expect Magic by Kathy McCullough! The cover is super cute and it sounds like it's going to be a really funny book!

Delaney Collins doesn't believe in fairy tales.  And why should she?  Her mom is dead, her best friend is across the county, and she's stuck in California with "Dr. Hank," her famous life--coach father--a man she barely knows.  Happily ever after?  Yeah, right.

Then Dr. Hank tells her an outrageous secret: he's a fairy godmother--an f.g.--and he can prove it.  And by the way? The f.g. gene is hereditary.  Meaning there's a good chance that New Jersey tough girl Delaney is someone's fairy godmother.

But what happens when a fairy godmother needs a wish of her own?

Don't Expect Magic by Kathy McCullough will be released on November 8, 2011 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Review- Witches of East End

Title: Witches of East End

Author: Melissa de la Cruz

Publisher: Hyperion

Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads

Source: ARC compliments of Hyperion

The three Beauchamp women--Joanna and her daughters Freya and Ingrid--live in North Hampton, out on the tip of Long Island. Their beautiful, mist-shrouded town seems almost stuck in time, and all three women lead seemingly quiet, uneventful existences. But they are harboring a mighty secret--they are powerful witches banned from using their magic. Joanna can resurrect people from the dead and heal the most serious of injuries. Ingrid, her bookish daughter, has the ability to predict the future and weave knots that can solve anything from infertility to infidelity. And finally, there's Freya, the wild child, who has a charm or a potion that can cure most any heartache.

For centuries, all three women have been forced to suppress their abilities. But then Freya, who is about to get married to the wealthy and mysterious Bran Gardiner, finds that her increasingly complicated romantic life makes it more difficult that ever to hide her secret. Soon Ingrid and Joanna confront similar dilemmas, and the Beauchamp women realize they can no longer conceal their true selves. They unearth their wands from the attic, dust off their broomsticks, and begin casting spells on the townspeople. It all seems like a bit of good-natured, innocent magic, but then mysterious, violent attacks begin to plague the town. When a young girl disappears over the Fourth of July weekend, they realize it's time to uncover who and what dark forces are working against them.

My thoughts:

I've been a long time fan of Melissa de la Cruz and I haven't come across a published work of hers that I do not like. She is a fantastic writer, the Blue Bloods series is amazing and Witches of East End is no different.

Cruz weaves such a uniquely complicated story that at first I was worried that I was going to get lost in all the details of the witches and the townspeople. But I was sucked in so completely that following along and understanding was very easy. It was so interesting and I always wanted to know what happened next.

The chemistry and tension between Freya and Killian was so intense and hot I could almost feel the heat coming off the pages. Even though she's technically cheating on her fiance Bran, in a way I was rooting for Killian because of their unusual connection. I loved Freya's centuries old love story and that she has been searching for her long lost love for hundreds of years.

While they were doing their magic, I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for something bad to happen because they're not supposed to be using their powers! I was almost saying to myself, "Not so much magic. Take it down a notch, you're using too much!" The mystery and the possibility of what was lurking around the next corner was just to intriguing! And just when I thought I had the whole story figured out, the ending blew me a way and completely caught me off guard.

Anyone who loves Melissa de la Cruz and the Blue Bloods series, then Witches of East End is a must read; especially with the mysterious appearance of a few Blue Blood characters!

Blog Hop and Follow Friday (15)

Follow Friday is a really fun way to network your blog and meet some other really cool bloggers in the process! This weekly event is hosted at Parajunkee's View. This week's featured blogger is Erika at Let's Talk About Books!

Q: Your favorite book/movie character (example: Hermione Granger played by the Emma chick) just walked into the room. Who is it and what would be your first reaction?

I love, love, love Harry Potter and all the movies and if Ronald Weasley/Rupert Grint walked into the room, I'm pretty sure my heart would stop and I wouldn't be able to breath! Once I regained control of myself (which would take so long he probably would have left the room), I would probably walk up to him and not be able to say a single word. It would also include a few other things like smiling awkwardly, continuing to nod my head and staring at him like I was his creep stalker. But if Patch from the Hush, Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick walked into the room, I would try as fast as I can to shove my hands up the back of his shirt, touch the scars of his wings and see where it would take me! It would be amazing just to touch Patch!

The book blogger hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love for the written word. The book blogger hop is brought to us by Jennifer at Crazy For Books!

Q: What keeps you reading beyond the first few pages of a book, and what makes you want to stop reading a book and put it back on the shelf?

A: The main reason I continue reading a book after the first few pages is that it usually sucks me in and I'm already wanting to know what happens next. That's how it is when I'm starting the first book in a series. If it's a series that I really love, then I give the next few book more time than I usually would to get the story going. I already love the characters and I've already invested my time in them, so I already know that I'm going to enjoy the story. I put a book down after 50 pages or so when I don't feel an emotional connection with them and I don't care what happens to them in the story.

Teaser Tuesday (10)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. It includes two sentences from your current read without any spoilers!

Today I'm reading Spells by Aprilynne Pike!

"She didn't get far before she walked to the window and caught her breath at the view below her. Her room overlooked the biggest flower garden she had ever seen; rows of flower in every imaginable hue spread out below her in a cascade of color almost as big as the grounds in front of the Academy. Her fingers pressed against the glass as she tried to take in the whole sight at once. It struck her as a waste that a room with such a magnificent view had just been sitting, empty, for the last thirteen years." pg. 22

What are you reading today?

Review- Hereafter

Title: Hereafter

Author: Tara Hudson

Publisher: HarperCollins

Rating: 3/5

Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads

Source: ARC via Netgalley

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life-or her actual death-she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their new found happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world....forever.

My thoughts:

I felt there was something missing in this book. It was the typical boy meet girl, girl's a ghost and now they have to figure out how that's going to work. Well, I guess that's not so typical but I felt like that was the whole plot line. I also lacked the emotional connection to the characters that makes the story memorable. It didn't win a place in my heart.

My favorite parts of the story were the fact that she only knew her name and nothing else and her trying to figure out her life and how she died. I'm really a sucker for a good mystery so I was very intrigued when different aspects of her life started to be revealed.

Of course, there was a bad guy, Eli, and he was the spirit who was charged with watching over the river and meadow area where Amelia died. He wasn't all that scary and I expected Amelia to win out in the end now matter what happened. I didn't really worry for her like I have for other characters in stories I've read before. When I read this type of book, I want to be sitting on the edge of my seat, unable to anticipate the next move or the next scene. But I didn't feel that anxiousness in this book.

Even though the story line was really good and very interesting, I just didn't feel the chemistry between the two main characters; I couldn't get a solid sense of their feelings. Although I was left unsatisfied, I was intrigued enough to continue reading the series if it should continue.

Review- Spellbound

Title: Spellbound

Author: Cara Lynn Shultz

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Rating: 4/5

Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads

Source: ARC via Netgalley

What's a girl to do when

meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to-Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Street lamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives-visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

My thoughts:

Spellbound was such a great love story! I really loved the past life tragedies and the fact that they were fated to be together. Brendan and Emma are drawn to each other in a way that they've never felt before. But their lives are possibly in danger if they act on their feelings.

As much as I loved this book, I expected there to be a lot of magic in it because of the name. I thought there was going to be unknown witch heritage, coven initiation and spells. But there was only one witch who did not know very much.

This Upper East side private high school full of snotty rich brats reminded me a lot of the high school I went to in Southern California. Kids with all the clothes they want, brand new cars and parents who just throw money at them.

I really loved the chemistry between Brendan and Emma. The writing was spectacular and sucked me right in from the beginning. I wanted them to end up together so bad and to break the spell. Of course I'm not going to tell you how it ended, so you're just going to have to read it for yourself!

Review- The Poisoned House

Title: The Poisoned House

Author: Michael Ford

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Rating: 3/5

Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads

Source: ARC via Netgalley

The year is 1856, and orphan Abigail Tamper lives below the stairs in Greave Hall, a crumbling manor house in London. Lord Greave is plagued by madness, and with his son Samuel away fighting in the Crimea, the running of Greave Hall is left to Mrs. Cotton, the tyrannical housekeeper. The only solace for the beleaguered staff is to frighten Mrs. Cotton is by pretending the house is haunted.

So when a real ghost makes an appearance-that of her beloved mother-no one is more surprised than Abi. But the spirit has a revelation that threatens to destroy Abi's already fragile existence: she was murdered, and by someone under their very own roof. With Samuel returned to England badly wounded, it's up to Abi to nurse his back to health, while trying to discover the identity of the killer in their midst. As the chilling truth dawns, Abi's world is turned upside down.

My thoughts:

When it comes to writing historical fiction, I believe it takes a different kind of writing style. An author, often times, needs to have done an extensive amount of research on the time period they're writing about and has to get the language of the time right as well. Micheal Ford satisfied both of those attributes and he did it well. But the story was not what I had excepted at all.

To start off, it was very slow in the beginning and I was having a hard time getting through the first few chapters. Even though it was a good story, I thought it was just boring. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and, honestly, it would not have mattered to me how it ended. Which brings me to my next point: I did not expect the ending at all. I'm not going to say that I was surprised nor did I fall out of my seat with shock, cause I didn't. When it ended, I thought, "hhmm, that was interesting." No more, no less.

When I read the synopsis of the book, I expected it to be some kind of ghost story in a haunted house so I thought it was going to be a horror story and that I would be scared while reading. I mean, even the cover is somewhat horrifying! But I wasn't at all. There was one ghost who made about one appearance. I wanted to be scared out of my pants!

Because it wasn't at all as I expected, I was constantly guessing around every corner, which I really liked. I love being caught off guard and when the author drops bombs that I don't see coming. It puts twits and turns in the story and The Poisoned House is full of them.

Review- The Magnolia League

Title: The Magnolia League

Author: Katie Crouch

Publisher: Poppy

Rating: 5/5

Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads

Blurb:

After the death of her free-spirited mother, sixteen-year-old Alex Lee must leave her home in northern California to live with her wealthy grandmother in Savannah, Georgia. By birth, Alex is a rightful, if unwilling, member of the Magnolia League, Savannah's long standing debutante society. She quickly discovers that the Magnolia's have made a pact with the legendary hoodoo family, the Buzzards. The Magnolia's enjoy youth, beauty and power. But at what price?

My thoughts:

I very much loved this book! I felt that is was a supernatural book in the most simple element. A debutante society that is obsessed with being at the very top of society by being the most beautiful and wealthiest women in town. The hoodoo family, the Buzzards, make them spells that allow them to stay young and thin no matter what; but that catch is that they only work in Savannah. Once they have been officially initiated into the Magnolia League, they are not allowed to leave Savannah at all.

Since this is the first book in the series, Crouch does not go into the most sinister effects of the initiation although she implies that they pretty much sell their souls either to the devil or to this hoodoo family. And there is something strange going on with the Buzzard family that has yet to be revealed.

This book kept my attention the entire time and it is obvious that Crouch has an amazing gift of story telling. I cannot wait until the next one comes out!