The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

This is the second book in a series. If you haven't read The Immortal Rules yet and want to avoid spoilers, this would be the time to stop reading.

Allison's hunt for her maker, Kanin, and the crazed vampire, Sarren (who kidnapped him) will lead her back home and unearth something terrible, a new strain of Red Lung.

Alright, I feel like I should mention this and get it out of the way: there is not a ton of romantic action in The Eternity Cure. I'm assuming that we're aware of the fact that the action (and adventure) aspects of this series are what makes it so fun to read, but I'm tossing that out there just in case.

There's a lot going on in The Eternity Cure despite the deceptively simple sounding plot. There's Sarren seeking the labs for some reason, Kanin who Allison is trying to find (and save), Zeke who has been quite busy, and I'm going to stop myself right there. Definitely not the extent of The Eternity Cure, but enough to give you an idea of what's going on. You can expect to meet two different vampire Princes, see more of the group of humans living in the sewers, run into a ton of familiar faces, and the ending? Well, expect to flail (at least a little).

Honestly, that's probably my favorite part of The Eternity Cure, getting to see more of Allison's world. You'll also learn more about certain character relationships and character motivations. Also, while Allison does develop (as a character) somewhat, I feel like it took quite a while. We won't get me started on Stick (who I would like to beat over the head with a stick). Trust me, you'll see.

Overall, if you've read The Immortal Rules and need the extra push to pick up The Eternity Cure, I'm giving you that push right now. It didn't really feel--to me--like it suffered from middle book syndrome.

★★★★ and a half.

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: April 30, 2013

Edition: e-ARC

* Received for review via publisher and NetGalley.

The Collector by Victoria Scott

Dante is good at collecting souls. So good, in fact, that the Boss Man sends him to collect Charlie Cooper's soul. The catch? He only has ten days to do it and getting Charlie to sin isn't going to be easy.

Dante is definitely a bad boy. He has no qualms about doing his job and tagging souls. Honestly? That's a part of what makes The Collector so fun to read. Because he's just so unprepared for Charlie despite being so confident in his abilities. Why? Well, she's just so innocent that he really has his work cut out for him! In that sense, she really rattles him--which is ultimately what initiates his inner turmoil (regarding taking her soul).

But the best part of The Collector? It's how Dante evolves as a character. I won't say anymore than that about the plot though. There's demons, angels, soul collectors and their counterpart (soul liberators), and the possibility of war looming--as it does. Plus Charlie's friends, Blue and Annabelle? They're pretty awesome too. I mean, they stick by Charlie's side, stick up for her, and they're sort of adorably protective of her. I feel like I don't know enough about Max and Valery yet to really talk about them; so I'll save that for when I've read the next book. 

So there you have it. If you've been thinking about giving The Collector a go, I'd definitely recommend it. And really? It was definitely refreshingly different. It's not like he's instantly taken with Charlie.

Read this if: You like bad boys. You like romances. You like stories involving souls, angels, and demons. You enjoy watching the main character grow (as a person).

★★★★

The Collector by Victoria Scott

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Release Date: April 2, 2013

Edition: e-ARC

Received for review via publisher and NetGalley.

Stolen Nights by Rebecca Maizel

If you haven't read Infinite Days yet and wish to remain spoiler free, you'll want to stop reading now.

Welcome back to Lovers Bay, where Lenah Beaudonte, former Queen of Vampires, now resides. And Lenah's past? It continues to haunt her. A vampire that Lenah turned has arrived in town and she's killing off Lenah's friends, demanding that Lenah give her the ritual. But it's a ritual that should never fall into vampire hands, in particular ones that have terrible intentions such as Odette. Of course, that's not Lenah's only problem. There's the small matter of Rhode--who could be alive. In the end, she'll have to make a choice, one that can change everything. 

It's been a while since the first book and it might be a good idea to re-read it before you dive into Stolen Nights for the sake of remembering where Infinite Days left off, but you can also hop right into Stolen Nights if you want to. No, really, I found it pretty easy to re-acclimate myself to Lenah's world despite having not re-read Infinite Days. Also, if you were a fan of Justin in the first book, well, let's just say that his personality isn't wasn't as sweet as it was in Infinite Days.

Expect more flashbacks, more Vicken, and a lot tension between characters. Things definitely get moving early on in Stolen Nights and they consistently keep moving until you reach the end. I think, for me personally, I would've liked the romance and the plot to tie together a bit better. Don't get me wrong, I definitely did like it, but I feel like there's a very particular scene towards the end that would've been perfect for a heart wrenching moment. When you get to the dance, you'll see what I mean. Then there was the use of the month of Nuit Rouge and spell materials that I found to be quite interesting. That intent could essentially change the outcome of a spell and that the meanings behind herbs and plants also played a role in the spells as well

In all, I definitely enjoyed Stolen Nights and if you liked Infinite Days, it's definitely worth reading! I can't tell you anything else and let this remain spoiler free--although I wish I could! Also, I feel like I'd like a companion novel though--or a third book--as I'm left with some questions.

Overall Rating: ★★★★

Stolen Nights by Rebecca Maizel

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: January 29, 2013

Edition: e-ARC 

* Received for review via NetGalley and as a part of the blog tour.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

If you haven't read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer yet and wish to avoid spoilers, it'd be a good idea to scroll past this. However, if you don't mind having some spoilers (for Unbecoming), feel free to read on.

Assuming that you've read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer already and aren't wondering if you should start the series or not--the answer, by the way, is yes, you should--then you were left with the same questions I had--or so I'd assume. Just what is Mara? Why did she see who she saw at the end of Unbecoming? How does it all tie together? Well, dear reader, you'll get some answers in Evolution, but for most of them? You'll need to wait until The Retribution of Mara Dyer next year.

In The Evolution of Mara Dyer, Mara will struggle to prove that she's sane, learn about her family's past, have several scenes with Noah that you won't want to miss, and confront her demons, so to speak. You'll see many familiar faces and you'll also be introduced to some new ones that ultimately play a very important role throughout Evolution. One of which is Phoebe, a patient at Horizons who is... well, unhinged might be a good way to begin to describe her. If I feel like quoting Mara, well, Phoebe is batshit crazy.

Michelle's writing style gripped me back into Mara's world fairly easily and unlike some books, I found that it was easy to reacquaint myself with the characters and it doesn't suffer from that awkward middle book syndrome. The pieces are starting to fall into place and from what I can tell? The Retribution of Mara Dyer is going to be a mind blowing finale--or, the potential is definitely there. (What? I have really, really high hopes for it!)

Should you read The Evolution of Mara Dyer? Yes, I personally think so. Come for the Noah and stay for the plot advancement--which flows really nicely, I swear. (Or come for the plot advancement and stay for the Noah. But trust me, if you liked Noah in Unbecoming, you'll want to be reading Evolution.)

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint at Simon & Schuster

Release Date: October 23, 2012

Edition: Hardcover

Purchased on my own.

Touched by Cyn Balog

Nick was born Touched, able to see his own future and he's been trying to stick to the "script" as much as possible; at least he was until he met Naryn, a girl who knows about the Book of Touch, what Nick's Touch is, and maybe, just maybe there's a way to undo everything.

I know you've heard me say it before, but for the record, I'm usually not someone who reads books told in first person, male perspective. Why? Because I can't always get into them and let's face it, that can be annoying. However, Touched flows along nicely and as such, it was no hardship to keep reading--that, and I loved the idea of the Touched. I can't actually tell you too much about being Touched as it gets explained in the book and by now you should know my stance on serious spoilers. Let's just say that you should learn everything that you want to know about what it means to be Touched and the consequences as well.

As for Nick and his Touch, it makes for a very interesting first person read--he starts off trying to stick to his "script" as much as possible. But honestly? Asides from Naryn, I loved Nan--who is Nick's grandmother. Why? Because she's the one keeping the household together. His mother has cut herself off from the world due to the Touch and well, things definitely are not easy for Nick. The kids at school call  him Crazy Cross and Naryn is probably the only girl nice enough--and new enough--to give him a chance. However, I don't think he expected that she'd have such an effect on his life--that's about all I can hint at.

Would I recommend Touched to you? Definitely! (Granted that you like the idea of a boy being able to see his own future.) I loved the idea behind Touched and although the ending definitely threw me--you'll see what I mean--I'd recommend this to you.

Overall Rating: ★★★★ and a half.

Touched by Cyn Balog

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers, a part of Random House

Release Date: August 14, 2012

Edition: e-ARC

* Received for review via publisher and NetGalley.

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

Eleanor Fitt's family is clinging to high society. Her father is dead, her brother--who was supposed to be on his way home--has gone missing, and the family coffers are almost empty. Her mother wants to marry her off to an eligible young man and Eleanor? She's too busy trying to understand why one of the Dead left her a note from her brother and what exactly it might imply.

All I want is for Eleanor to get a heavy duty parasol in the next book--to better whack zombie knees with. I mean, preferably one that won't cause her mother to faint (which means it should be somewhat fashionable) but it's such a ladylike way to go about battling zombies! As for Eleanor as a character, she's brave and stubborn, but within reason. You'll also get to meet the Spirit Hunters (Joseph Boyer, Daniel Sheridan, and Jie Chen). I immediately took a liking to Jie--and you'll see why--and Joseph; however, it's taken me some time to warm up to Daniel. And yes, you've caught me! I liked Clarence more than I liked Daniel. Clarence is far from perfect--at times he's paranoid--but I think he has the potential to make Eleanor happy. Er, maybe. I'm not going to say anymore about the characters and I can't even say what I want to say--because oh my goodness is that a spoiler-- but believe me, if you read Something Strange and Deadly, you'll understand what I'm talking about (even if I'm not really talking about it right now).

So, the seance scene at the Fitt house? I will admit that it freaked me out a bit. But other than that,  the Dead fascinated me more than they frightened me. Other than that, the plot itself definitely kept me turning pages and I loved the ending. It wrapped up Something Strange and Deadly nicely without killing me with a cliffhanger while still leaving it open enough for the reader to realize that there will be another book.

Would I recommend Something Strange and Deadly to you? Yes, if you enjoy books set in the Victorian era, zombies, and want a page turner. There is romance in Something Strange and Deadly, but I wouldn't say that it overpowers the plot at all (which 99% of the time is my primary concern). So if you've been thinking about picking up a copy, definitely do so! (It just came out today after all!)

Overall Rating: ★★★★ and a half.

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

Publisher: HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins

Release Date: July 24, 2012

Edition: e-ARC

* Received for review via publisher and Edelweiss.

Dead of Night by Lynn Viehl

I've got a confession to make, I haven't read the first book yet. Having said that, I can't really give my opinion on Jesse and Cat's relationship because by the time Dead of Night begins, it's an established relationship and at that, they don't exactly get a ton of alone time. Cat is mainly busy helping her brothers out with the horses and working part-time at the bookstore in town--although they do manage to steal a little time away for themselves.
In Dead of Night, Cat will balance chores at home, a part-time job, and finding the girls that have been going missing. Oh, and the girls? They all bear some resemblance to Cat. Meanwhile she's also trying to convince her brothers (Gray and Trick) that she's just a 'normal' girl--despite the fact that she often takes off at night to spend time with Jesse. Did I mention that she's a Van Helsing? Yes, Cat's from a family of vampire hunters and Jesse happens to be from a family of vampires.



I didn't expect to like Dead of Night quite as much as I did and although there really wasn't much romance in Dead of Night, it still kept my interest. However, I wish that vampires had had more of a presence in Dead of Night. Would I recommend it to you? I think it depends on what you enjoy and if you decide to read Dead of Night, don't forget to read After Midnight first!


Overall Rating: ★★★ and a half.

Dead of Night by Lynn Viehl

Publisher: Flux Books

Release Date: July 8, 2012

Edition: e-ARC

* Received for review via published and NetGalley.

Timepiece by Myra McEntire

If you have not read Hourglass yet and dislike spoilers, this is a good time to stop reading. However, if you don't mind some spoilers, feel free to read on--although I would encourage you to pick up Hourglass and read it before reading Timepiece reviews.

I can't really summarize Timepiece for you without spoilers, but I'll try. Told entirely from Kaleb's point of view, Timepiece is an all out hunt for Jack Landers, one that will have dire consequences should Kaleb, Em, Michael, and Lily fail to find him. The rips are becoming more and more common place, huge scenes instead of just a person or two and things definitely aren't looking good. But why is everyone after Jack? That, is something that you'll find out should you read Timepiece. 

In the spirit of being completely honest, I will say that I couldn't completely get behind seeing things through Kaleb's eyes. I love how it allows the reader a more in depth look at him; but at the same time, I usually have a hard time getting behind male first person point of view narratives. That's not to say that I disliked it or that it took away from the story--it did not.

I will, however, say that I loved how we saw so much more of Lily and that her role has definitely expanded. You'll see more of her history in Timepiece and she'll certainly help Kaleb out. (You have no idea how much I'd love to tell you more than that, but you'll just have to read to find out what I'm not telling you.) Em and Michael are also definitely present, but again, the focus is definitely more on Kaleb for obvious reasons.

As for the pacing, I think it was right on the mark. Again, not too slow and not too quick. Just enough action to balance out the romance (and character growth) as well as adding to the plot as a whole. Would I recommend Timepiece to you? If you've enjoyed Hourglass, then definitely! As for me? I'll be looking forward to Infinityglass next year.

Overall Rating: ★★★★

Timepiece by Myra McEntire

Publisher: Egmont USA

Release Date: June 12, 2012

Edition: e-ARC

* Received for review via publisher and NetGalley.

Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen

What if a kiss could change your life? Samantha has found out the hard way that "life changing" isn't necessarily a good thing. After all, before kissing Stephen Keyes, she lived a perfectly normal life. But after kissing him? She feels different. Hungrier, colder, and then there's the whole running into Bishop thing. Bishop, who is completely disoriented after his fall. Bishop, who happens to be an angel, sent to Trinity to find the Source of the grays and either bargain with her or dispatch her--alongside two other angels and two demons as well. Samantha's drawn to him and there's one gigantic problem when it comes to her wanting to kiss him, it might be their undoing.

Yes, there are angels and demons in Dark Kiss but no, they're not exactly fighting against one another. If anything, they've been united against a common enemy (the Source) and that's precisely why there are two demons in their group (that is responsible for dealing with any crazed grays). Kraven, one of the demons, also happens to have old ties to Bishop and admittedly I'm liking Kraven more than I like Bishop at this point. It's not that I don't like Bishop, it's that Kraven seems to be more open with Samantha than Bishop is. There's also Zach who seems like your quintessential angel and Roth, a demon who would much rather annihilate all the grays and be done with it. Oh, and we mustn't forget Carly, Samantha's best friend, who is an awesome friend--I hope you'll agree when you've read all of Dark Kiss.

I can't say that the romance really swept me off my feet thus far--I have high hopes for the next book--but at the same time, I definitely enjoyed it. Kissing is definitely an important part of Dark Kiss although fear not, for you won't be reading a ton of kissing scenes. Let's just say it's important to the grays. The pacing was consistent and overall I really liked the world that Michelle Rowen created for Dark Kiss--I look forward to seeing more of it! Also, although this is a book that has angels and demons in it, I think it's refreshing to see them working together instead of against one another--although they don't exactly get along all the time. If this sounds good to you or you've previously been interested in Dark Kiss then I'd definitely recommend that you give it a go (and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did)!

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Favorite Quote:

Bishop's brows went up. "Okay, fine. Yes, I followed you here. Better?"

"Yes, Stalkery, but better."

"I'm not stalking you."

"Spoken like a true stalker."

Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen

Publisher: Harlequin Teen, a part of Harlequin. 

Release Date: May 29, 2012

Edition: e-ARC

* Received for review via publisher and NetGalley.

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

Gene has been surviving by pretending to be one of the vampires and in itself, that is no simple task; but when you add a heper hunt to the mix? It's disastrous. Suddenly it's his name that they're calling to participate and it should be a great honor... and it would be, if he were, in fact, a vampire. But instead it's a test to see how well he can hide amongst the wolves (so to speak) and then there's the matter of a girl--who he's developing feelings for, even though he knows that getting involved with her would be disastrous for him.

The Hunt is definitely a page turner and if you're looking vampires that pack a real bite, this is a book that you might want to consider picking up. On top of that, yes, it's a dystopian. How does that work? Well, vampires are the only ones left--with the exception of humans who have managed to hide what they are and the "hepers" that their leader keeps. And Gene? He's been managing pretty well--at least, until recently. Lately it seems like he's been slipping up pretty often and that's one pack of predators that you don't want to end up as a snack for!

I really enjoyed how complex the vampires were--although I will admit that the constant neck snapping, drooling, and so forth was a bit too much for me personally. Also, I was highly amused by the fact that, when they find something to be humorous, they scratch their wrists. But let me mention Ashley June quickly--a girl that Gene goes to school with. She didn't leave much of an impression on me at first, although as The Hunt went on, I did grow to like her--at least somewhat. There's also Sissy, who you'll get to know later on in the book and I think I liked her more than Ashley June, although at this point, I think I'm going to read the next book to really make up my mind. But yes, The Hunt is told from a male perspective. Having said that, I did not find it difficult to follow along with.

While The Hunt certainly kept me turning pages and was, overall, a read that kept me interested, I think I would've liked them to have gotten farther into the hunt than they did--although let's face it, I did enjoy the ending. Will I be checking out the next book? Most likely yes. The vampires in The Hunt are definitely darker than those that I've read about lately and as such, it was definitely a welcome change. Would I recommend The Hunt to you? If you're intrigued by the idea of a human trying to fit in amongst vampires and what happens when things become difficult, yes. However, if you don't like more savage vampires, then this is probably not for you.

Overall Rating: ★★★★

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: May 8, 2012

Edition: e-ARC

* Received for review via publisher and NetGalley.

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

It's the death of Mac's best friend, Amy, that starts everything. It's why the Trackers come to Hemlock, invited by Senator Walsh (Amy's grandfather), to hunt the white werewolf that seems to have returned. Mac figures that if she can locate the wolf responsible for Amy's murder first, they'll have to leave but there's more to Amy's death than meets the eye. On top of that, the boys (Jason and Kyle) have their secrets too; ones that will definitely affect Mac.

Hemlock is the perfect blend of romance and action. Having said that, it's definitely not your stereotypical romance. That is to say, there's no new boy coming to town and I loved that about Hemlock. And although things might seem simple at first, they get much more complicated as things go on. I can't imagine not turning pages like a madwoman while reading Hemlock and from start to finish, it really didn't slow down. But the ending? Oh. My. Goodness. I really, really want to see what happens in the second book because things are far from done. You'll understand what I mean when you reach the end, that much I can promise you.

The other thing that I really loved about Hemlock is that the minor characters play a part throughout the entire book. Amy--for example--might be dead, but she's haunting Mac's dreams still and her part is far from over. Tess, Mac's cousin, is her legal guardian and although she's forgetful at times, it seems like she's quite cool! Then there's Ben, Tess's boyfriend who often looks after Mac when Tess is at work. As for Jason and Kyle, it's hard to say who I like more! There are moments when I really like both of them and other moments when I feel like they both really need to get slapped. And their secrets? Well, you'll have to read to figure those out. (But Kyle's ex-girlfriend Heather is a psychotic b-word. That definitely needs to be said.)

I will say this much though, Jason's taken an interest in joining the Trackers and Mac--having seen what the Trackers are capable of--definitely does not approve. The Trackers? Well, they're scum. They go around hunting people who have LS (lupine syndrome) and they're also known to seriously bully normal people too. Their leader is a man named Branson Derby and he's insane. He sees people as tools and well, the lengths that he'll go to in order to accomplish his goals are crazy.

As for Mac, she's holding herself together as best she can--considering the fact that her best friend is dead and her best friend's boyfriend is a complete mess because of it (a mess that Mac frequently picks up). Then there's the fact that she's had a crush on Kyle for quite some time and Heather, Kyle's ex-girlfriend, is pretty darn needy which means that Kyle spends a ton of time with her. She's pretty strong willed though and ultimately I definitely liked her.

For the record, werewolves are out of the bag in Hemlock and those with LS are pretty much without rights. They're sent to rehabilitation camps to learn how to control themselves and I don't think they leave all that often. That, is why those with LS tend to try and hide the symptoms. How do you get infected? By being bitten or scratched. It was extremely interesting to learn about the werewolves in the world that Kathleen Peacock has created and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing more of them in the future.

In all, I love the world that Kathleen Peacock has created and I can't wait until the second book comes out. Everything is extremely well balanced and it was another one sitting read for me. Wait until you learn more about Amy's murder! This is definitely a book that I'd recommend to you if you enjoy urban fantasy, mystery, and romance. (Can I have the next book already?)

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Favorite Quotes:
Kyle shrugged and walked over to the small, two-seater breakfast table. "Scratching a CD is an accident. Dragging your best friend into a brawl against three varsity football players is practically manslaughter."

For some reason, 90 percent of Tess's fears seemed to come from movies we watched on cable.

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins.
Release Date: May 8, 2012
Edition: ARC
* Received for review via publisher.

Hollyweird by Terri Clark

When Aly King wins a contest to fly out to Los Angeles (with her best friend, Des, and her older sister/chaperone Missy) to meet the Dakota Danvers, she gets much more than she bargained for. After all, Dakota is far from the perfect boy that Hollywood makes him out to be; if anything, he's downright evil--being one of Lucifer's sons and all that. More importantly, he's up to something and Aly and Des are about to wind up in the middle of it all; luckily, they'll have some help from Jameson (actually, he'll have help from them), a fallen angel working on redeeming himself for another shot at his wings. Will Aly fall victim to Dakota's devilish plot? Or will she--with a little heavenly help--foil it?

Hollyweird is a fun, lighthearted read--okay, it's mostly lighthearted. There are words that might not make any sense--thanks to Des and the slew of words that she often makes up--and a lot of brand names mentioned, but once you get past that, Hollyweird is an enjoyable read. It's told from Jameson and Aly's points of view (alternating) and I think that it definitely lends a lot of light onto the story. Also, I will admit that I really loved how the seven deadly sins were incorporated into Hollyweird! (I would've been done in by gluttony, that's for sure.)

And yes, if you're wondering, there are other preternaturals in Hollyweird. It's not all angels and demons, I promise--although they are the focus of Hollyweird. Des has always believed in that sort of thing and I'd say she handles things pretty well--asides from Dakota, but that's understandable. Aly, on the other hand, does not believe in the supernatural and she's the sort of girl who needs some proof if she's going to believe--her reaction is, in my opinion, quite believable. I'd say that, overall, the romance is sort of muted by everything else that's going on and in that sense, if you're looking for some serious romance, this is probably not where you're going to find it--which was fine with me.

Overall, Hollyweird was an enjoyable read although perhaps not as much of a page turner as I was hoping for. If you're looking for a lighter read, then you may want to consider picking up a copy of Hollyweird to read.

Overall Rating: ★★★ and a half.

Hollyweird by Terri Clark

Publisher: Flux

Release Date: May 8, 2012

Edition: e-ARC

* Received for review via publisher and NetGalley.

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Warning: You may need a fainting couch and a bathtub full of ice for this one.

I don't even know where to begin but let me tell you this: I fell in love with Kaidan Rowe. Why? Because he's an extremely hot guy who happens to be the drummer for a band called Lascivious and he has a British accent. Oh, and his father happens to be the Duke of Lust. Yes, he's a bad boy; but at the same time, when Anna is around him... he's better behaved. The romance is definitely a big part of Sweet Evil and it's what I consider well written romances to be. What do I mean by that? It makes my heart beat a little faster and maybe even skip a beat every now and then. I swear I'm not an overly emotional reader but every now and then, I find a book that really gets to me. Sweet Evil is one of those books. But again, if you don't like books with a heavy helping of romance, this might not be for you--although if you're on the fence, I'd definitely recommend that you read it for the sake of forming your own opinion.

Asides from the red hot romance, you'll learn about the Nephilim, their parentage, and the role that they're expected to play. It was, in my opinion, very fascinating and I should warn you that there is some mention of drugs and alcohol in Sweet Evil. Because of this, I'd say that this is probably a book for older teens. And then there are the minor characters like Kopano (one of Kaidan's Nephilim friends) who happens to be wonderfully complex. To be honest, I'm really glad that Jay, Anna's best friend, isn't also going after Anna--which means that yes, there does not appear to be a love triangle which is definitely a welcome change. Oh, and Scott is a sleazeball who should probably go rot in a hole somewhere. Anna's adoptive mother, Patti? She's wonderfully supportive of Anna and at heart, wants what is best for Anna--although she can be a tad overprotective.

Anna isn't exactly your typical teenaged girl though. After all, she's Nephilim too--although her heritage is unusual when compared to the other Nephilim (she's half Angel and half Demon). In all, she spends a ton of time keeping herself from giving into her darker side and I love that about her! She also does her best to keep Jay from going down the wrong path as well--although up until recently she didn't know what she is. Because of this, you could say that Sweet Evil is about Anna finding the balance between her two sides and learning about who she really is. 

Sweet Evil will take you from Cartersville, Georgia to California and back again. You'll learn about the Nephilim, Anna's unique abilities, and the steamy romance? It's pretty darn steamy. If Kaidan Rowe sounds like your sort of guy, definitely pick up a copy of Sweet Evil. I promise you that he's not that bad of a guy.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Publisher: HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins.

Release Date: May 1, 2012

Edition: ARC

* Received for review via publisher. 

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Asian main character? Katana wielding main character? Yes, you heard correctly. A vampire dystopian novel? Correct. Does it work? Why yes, yes it does.

Allie lives in a sector of a vampire city as an Unregistered, someone who can starve if they don't steal food from those that are Registered. But when the hunt for food pushes her to go beyond the safety of the walls, everything changes. She'll lose friends, have a run in with a vampire (and rabids), and ultimately have to choose between becoming the thing that she hates most or leaving the world... permanently. But Allie isn't ready to leave the world behind and as a vampire, she'll have to leave the safety of the vampire city behind in order to survive.

The Immortal Rules is a pretty lengthy read; however, it's also a gripping read and every time you pick it back up, you'll likely find yourself completely immersed in the world that Julie Kagawa has created. I loved Allie as a character. She'll do what it takes to survive and she has no illusions about what being a vampire means--Kanin saw to that. But perhaps more importantly, she seems determined to hold onto what is left of her humanity. Wondering who Kanin is? He's the vampire who turned Allie and he has some serious secrets. I absolutely loved his character and I'm hoping that we'll see a lot more of him in the next book (I imagine this will be the case). And then there's Zeke, the human that Allie meets after she leaves the city. He's a very nice boy and well, Allie certainly likes him which is obviously rather dangerous.

And for the record, there were two characters that I rather disliked. Stick, due to his extremely wimpy and well, you'll see why I don't like him (although it's possible that you won't dislike him for it as much as I do); and Jeb, who is definitely set in his ways. But asides from that, I really enjoyed The Immortal Rules as it's definitely unique (due to the vampire cities being where most humans live). Oh! And how could I forget about the rabids? But you'll learn all that you need to (about them) in The Immortal Rules. Let's just say that their history is quite interesting--and they're rather like zombies, only not actually zombies (although you could probably consider them to be close cousins).

If you're looking for action, adventure, a different sort of dystopian society, and some romance, I'd recommend The Immortal Rules to you. Also if you like the fact that the main character is Asian and wields a katana--which I personally do.

Overall Rating: ★★★★ and a half.

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen, a part of Harlequin.

Release Date: April 24, 2012

Edition: e-ARC

* Received for review via publisher and NetGalley.

Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves

After the death of her mother, Arabella Sharp moves to London to live with her grandmother--Lady Charlotte Westfield--and in an effort to keep Arabella under control, her grandmother has Arabella volunteer at the Whitechapel Hospital for Women. It is there that she'll meet William Siddal and Simon St. John, two young men in the medical field, and Julian Bartlett, the head of the hospital. It's what will spark her interest in the medical field and also, unfortunately, her visions of the Reaper and his victims.

I'll be honest, at times, Ripper felt like a bit of a love square (although the fourth person--I believe--is just hellbent on Arabella and not exactly in love with her) and surprisingly, I didn't really mind. Yes, someone does end up in the friend zone and her choice might be evident, but I still enjoyed reading about both of the boys and well, I feel quite badly for the one who ended up in the friend zone. Having said that, there are definitely some cute boys in Ripper and I'm probably more taken with Max than I should be--don't worry, that'll make sense if you read Ripper. I would not, however, call the romance the driving force of Ripper as it is definitely more focused on the mystery of who the Ripper is and well, Arabella's gift and so forth.

Yes, there's--what I consider to be--a paranormal element to Ripper and no, I don't mean vampires and the like. It definitely adds to Arabella as a character and as there has to be another book after Ripper, it adds to the overall plot quite nicely. For the record, Arabella is by no means a weak girl and she knows exactly what she wants (and needs to accomplish) and although her grandmother might seem like a stuffy old woman, she definitely grew on me. (And the Reverend seemed like a complete creeper to me, but I suppose that's a bit off topic.) As for the pacing, it did feel a bit slow at times, but towards the end it definitely picked up speed and I find myself looking forward to reading more about Arabella in the future.

Would I recommend this book to you? If you enjoy historical fiction with a paranormal/fantasy twist, yes. And okay, so I find re-tellings of the Ripper story to be fascinating--if you do too, you might want to pick this one up! Overall it was definitely an enjoyable read and I find myself looking forward to seeing Arabella again in the next book.

Overall Rating: ★★★★

Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves

Publisher: Flux

Release Date: April 8, 2012

Edition: e-ARC

* Received for review via publisher and NetGalley.

Buried by Linda Joy Singleton

Thorn is a Finder which is pretty much what it sounds like... she finds things and on occasion, has visions related to the object(s) she touches. When she comes across a heart shaped locket on a shoestring, she gets the feeling that it'll lead her on a wild hunt as she attempts to reunite it with its owner and well, she's right. But if the locket wasn't creepy enough on its own, there's also the fact that it leads her to the grave of a child and all these things are definitely connected.

If I'm being completely honest, I didn't connect with Thorn for quite some time; this may have something to do with the fact that she dresses like a goth and doesn't use her real name--which is Beth Ann, if you were wondering. But then the Grin Reaper enters the picture and so does the singing competition that will make one of Thorn's secrets a little less secret. At that point, Thorn becomes a lot more interesting.

But Thorn's dad? Not quite sure how to describe him. Passive aggressive? I spent more than half the book wanting to shake some sense into him and I think the ultimate lesson to take away from Buried is this: appearances can be deceiving. Oh! I also absolutely loved Sabine--Thorn's friend from California who happens to be a psychic. Seriously, she has a spirit guide named Opal and even a state away she helps out Thorn. This may be due to the fact that Sabine is the main character from "The Seer" series that Linda Joy Singleton also writes--actually, I think it's on my bookshelf somewhere. In that sense, it takes place in the same world.

Ultimately, I feel like Buried started off slow and it didn't real grab me until it was halfway through. Although I didn't feel like it was particularly my cup of tea, I think that there are definitely readers who will love Buried. I mean, how often do you have a main character that's a goth!? Also, I love the idea of a secondhand store that doubles as a doughnut shop (The Hole Truth) and seriously, who wouldn't want a shop like that!? That will make a lot more sense if you read the book, that much I promise. Did I mention that Thorn is a terrible detective? Because I probably should say that. I don't mean it in a bad way, I only mean to say that she seems to jump to conclusions and to be honest, I found it to be a little bit humorous.

To summarize, Buried is a unique read. The main character is definitely different and things definitely pickup as the book progresses. It does appear to be the first book in a series (The Goth Girl Mysteries) and I'm definitely curious to see how things will progress for Thorn and company. Overall a good book and one that I'd definitely recommend you form your own opinions about. 

Overall Rating: ★★★ and a half.

Buried by Linda Joy Singleton

Publisher: Flux

Release Date: March 8, 2012

Edition: e-ARC

* Received for review via publisher and NetGalley.

The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

Katerina sees her unique gift as a curse, one that she's been doing her best to keep hidden. However, when a member of the Imperial Family is in danger she has no choice but to use her gift. This leads to Katerina's involvement in the darker matters and it will take a considerable amount of willpower to keep herself from succumbing to the dark. To make matters worse, someone has been raising an undead army and several members of the nobility are turning up dead.

It's not great secret that I love historical fiction and The Gathering Storm certainly delivered. Taking place in St. Petersburg, Russia during 1888 you meet Katerina, a young duchess who would prefer studying medical texts to dancing at balls. She's not afraid to speak her mind and as far as certain doctors are concerned, much too nosy. As for her gift, well, you'll learn about it quite quickly--I promise. Her mother--like most at the time--is very interested in seeing her married off and her father I liked immensely as he only wants to see to his daughter's happiness.

Without going into all of the titles used in The Gathering Storm, I'll tell you that I adore the pairing of Katerina and George--if you're wondering who George is, he's the tsarevich's brother and plays an essential role in keeping everyone safe. Perhaps more importantly, he's wary of Katerina at first and I love it when romances aren't instant. On the other hand you have Danilo, the heir of the Montenegro throne who is definitely dark and mysterious. He's definitely not a good guy and I do think that we'll be seeing more of him in the next book--or so I'd imagine.

There's lots of sneaking about, balls, gorgeous gowns, a dash of romance, and a main character who is definitely not a simpering ninny. The plot can seem a little slow at times, but I promise you that things definitely pick up as the book progresses. Overall I really enjoyed The Gathering Storm and if you like historical fictions with a paranormal twist, I'd recommend it to you. However, as this takes place in Russia, do realize that there are a lot of titles and that there are definitely pet names being used--which is actually quite common.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House.

Release Date: January 10, 2012

Edition: e-ARC

* Received for review via publisher and NetGalley.

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

When Nikki Beckett returns home, she knows that she only has six months to say goodbye to everyone. To her father, to her best friend Jules, and perhaps more importantly, Jack, her boyfriend. But Nikki is a shell of her former self, having spent the last hundred years in Everneath with Cole in the Feed and it'll take some time for her to readjust to things on the surface. But Cole won't leave her alone and Jack isn't ready to let her go.

Everneath bounces back and forth--from what's currently going on to what happened before the Feed--and it's definitely easy to keep up with what's going on. Having said that, I must admit that I didn't quite enjoy Everneath as much as I thought I would and I'm thinking that it has something to do with the fact that Nikki isn't quite herself. I can completely understand why Nikki is the way that she is, but I think that took away from my personal reading experience. Don't get me wrong though, I really did adore Everneath and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book. The ending? Sort of made my jaw drop. Believe me, you'll know what I mean when you get there.

But let me talk about the boys for a moment. Cole is an Everling, an immortal who has to go into the Feed once every hundred years to continue existing. A musician, a member of Dead Elvis (a band), and definitely not precisely a good person. Admittedly--for once--I didn't like the bad boy! Jack, however, I really loved. He's Nikki's old boyfriend, on the football team, and an extremely sweet guy! Did I mention that he still has feelings for her? It's definitely hard not to like him. I'm still up in the air about Jules though. A part of me feels horrible for her--because that situation sucks--but at the same time, I wish she'd just... er, can't tell you that.

I really did enjoy Everneath and you can definitely feel the mythological influence all throughout the book. If you haven't picked up a copy yet (and are intrigued by the story) I'd definitely suggest that you give it a read!

Overall Rating: ★★★★ and a half.

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Publisher: Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins

Release Date:  January 24, 2012

Edition: ARC

* Received for review via publisher.

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

If you haven't read Unearthly yet, you should probably stop reading now--unless, of course, you're fine with some spoilers. Having said that, if you have not read Unearthly yet, I'd definitely recommend it to you. Why? Because it's one of the few series involving angels that I adore.

I can't really summarize Hallowed for you. Well, I can tell you that there's a funeral, some serious secrets come out, and things on the Christian and Tucker front are... interesting. I think that's my favorite part about Hallowed--seeing as how I was all about Tucker during Unearthly. Seriously, I might've been a diehard Tucker fan during Unearthly, but I couldn't help but like Christian in Hallowed. Character relationships definitely play a huge role in Hallowed and you have no idea how I wish I could say more than that. Needless to say, Hallowed is an amazing follow-up to Unearthly and you shouldn't even need to think about reading it, because it's great.

Jeffrey is bitter throughout most of Hallowed and when you find out the reason behind it, well, let's just say that my mind was blown. Maybe I'm the only one who didn't see that coming, but I can honestly say that I was surprised. Then there's Clara who continues to face challenges... really big challenges. I am dying to tell you more than that, but in the spirit of being spoiler free, I shall say no more. You'll meet some new characters in Hallowed as well and it's hard to dislike Billy (who, for the record, is a woman). She's not the only new character that you'll meet, but again with serious spoilers!

In short, I couldn't put down Hallowed and I'm definitely dying for the next book because yes, I love the series that much. There's definitely some serious character growth, story development, and a perfect ending that will leave you dying for the next book.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Publisher: HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins

Release Date: January 17, 2012

Edition: ARC

* Received for review via publisher.

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

This is--in all likelihood--going to be a pretty short review and it's not because I didn't love the book (because I definitely did), but because I don't want to give you any spoilers. However, to give you no spoilers, I'm going to have to limit my review to my overall impressions of the book without going into detail. If you've read Nightshade and Wolfsbane then you're already familiar with where Bloodrose begins and if you haven't read the first two books yet, read on at your own risk.

Things are tense in Bloodrose and although there is a bit of comedic relief, things are pretty somber. There are definitely some romantic scenes between Calla and Shay--and one that I particularly liked with Ren. But yes, she does make her choice in Bloodrose--but I'll let you learn about that on your own. The ending? Well, I'd say that it was pretty darn perfect. Seriously, I couldn't imagine it ending other way and as usual, the pacing was excellent. Andrea Cremer's writing style continues to keep me enthralled and I found myself getting lost in the story.

In short, Andrea Cremer has done it again and Bloodrose proves to be a thrilling conclusion to the Nightshade trilogy.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

Publisher: Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Group.

Release Date: January 3, 2012

Edition: Hardcover

* Purchased on my own.