The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz

Lawrence is dead and the Conclave thinks Schuyler Van Alen is his killer. That’s why she and her conduit Oliver are on the run, never staying in one place for more than a few days to evade capture by the Venators they fear are pursuing them. They know the trust of what happened in Rio, but few are willing to believe that the demon Leviathan is free. Despite Schuyler and Oliver’s evasive maneuvers, they end up crossing paths in Paris with Jack and Charles Force, who have been tracking Leviathan. After a confrontation with the demon and the ensuing panic, the young Blue Bloods return to the relative safety of New York City. All is not well there either. Bliss’s attempts to fight who she is are futile, Schuyler is once again confused between her love for both Jack and Oliver, and even Mimi is having second thoughts about her upcoming bonding with her vampire twin Jack. But there is little time for these young Blue Bloods to dwell on their complicated love lives amidst the Silver Blood threat. There is no longer a doubt that the Silver Bloods have infiltrated the highest Blue Blood ranks. The only hope now lies in an ancient prophecy and blind faith in the strength of the young vampires.

Chilling, suspenseful, and undoubtedly thrilling, this fourth installment in the Blue Bloods series is just as juicy as its prequels. De la Cruz has again succeeded in weaving a fast paced supernatural tale with awesome storytelling. Although with the deteriorating conditions and financial troubles of the Blue Bloods, some of the high end glitz and partying has been toned down or disappeared, the increased danger from the Silver Blood threat and all kinds of intrigue more than make up for it. there is nary a moment without even a hint of danger, and I just love how de la Cruz keeps the reader guessing, even if it’s a little frustrating at times. In addition to an enthralling plot, character development is spectacular. New developments in the young Blue Bloods’ romantic relationships forces them to reconsider their choices to see if the one they’re with is really the one they want. Mimi’s character in particular showed a lot of growth, and I was glad to see that under her tough exterior, she does have a heart. Like always, de la Cruz ends this novel in suspense, leaving readers, me included, hungry for more.

The Van Alen Legacy will be devoured by fans of the earlier book in the Blue Bloods series as well as readers who enjoyed The Mortal Instruments trilogy by Cassandra Clare and Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from publisher Disney Hyperion

Wicked: Witch & Curse by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguié

For Holly Cathers, it starts when her parents and best friend are killed in a rafting accident. Against her will, she is forced to move to Seattle to live with her aunt Marie-Claire, a relative Holly hadn’t known she had. It turns out, there’s a lot of things Holly never knew about her family history, long buried secrets that are dredged up when a series of freak accidents start happening to Holly and those around her. Because these are no ordinary occurrences, but the work of something deeper—and darker. These attacks are the result of a family feud originating countless generations ago, a feud that will continue until one of the families is completely obliterated. Unwilling participants, Holly and her newfound family must however uncover the dark legacy of their family’s past and unleash their powers as the witches they are fated to be if there’s any hope of defeating their menacing rival.

Fast paced and intriguing, these first two installments in the Wicked series are just filled with action, magical threats, and dark romance. While this age old magical feud is certainly an interesting premise, the execution of this tale left much to be desired. The quick pace of the plot nearly inundates the reader with a deluge of information, whether it be in flashbacks to the early days of the feud, Holly’s discovery of new spells and magical abilities, or even just the significance of each character’s current plans and actions for the rest of the story. It’s almost too much to keep track of. Aside from the plot, I wasn’t too taken with the characters either. The sheer bloodthirstiness of some of them, and the promise of that quality in others, really put me off. Perhaps I’m just so used to the classic battle between good and evil instead of almost-evil and eviler. In addition, the bond between Jer and Holly was difficult to believe at times. There are well written sections of this book such as Nicole’s character’s development, but overall, I felt it could’ve been much better.

This dark book will appeal to fans of Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough and Revealers by Amanda Marrone.

Rating: 3.5

Review copy from publisher Simon & Schuster UK

Raiders’ Ransom by Emily Diamand

At first glance, Lilly Melkun appears an ordinary girl from an ordinary fishing village in the Last Ten Counties of England. But her spunk and trusty seacat set her apart as someone special. When Lilly’s village is attacked by raiders and the prime minister’s daughter is kidnapped, Lilly takes it upon herself to save the poor girl. She feels it’s the least she can do to help since the prime minister blames her village for the disappearance of his daughter and has forced all able bodied men and boys into his militia as punishment, including Lilly’s friend Andy. With little left for her at home, Lilly disguises herself as a boy and sets off sailing—but not before “borrowing” a beautiful jewel that happens to talk as a ransom for the prime minister’s daughter. But Lilly’s heroic act turns out to be more difficult and dangerous than she anticipated. War between the English and the raiders is brewing among other plots, and Lilly finds that she may have to rely on a sticky and surprising friendship with a young raider boy if she’s to survive.

Raiders’ Ransom is a story that spirits readers away to the hypothetical future of the 23rd century where much of England has been reclaimed by rising water levels. Three imaginative nations that exist on the remaining solid ground with very different lifestyles make for a fantastic backdrop for this unique story. I’m not usually one to go gaga over the classics, but I felt this novel was a synergy of cherished old childhood adventure stories, present day cultural differences, and future possibilities for the state of the world. There’s something so endearing about this story with its tricky marauders, cats who seem to like water, and the strangeness of a society largely without technology. The characters as well are wonderfully developed and realistic within their situations. Everything about Raiders’ Ransom sets it up to be a tale all readers will love, and Diamand does not disappoint. This futuristic fantasy tale is a creative and thrilling adventure after every reader’s heart.

This jewel of a story will appeal to those nostalgic for Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens as well as fans of Sovay by Celia Rees and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I eagerly look forward to a sequel for Raiders’ Ransom from this skilled new writer.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from publisher Scholastic

Heart’s Blood by Juliet Marillier

Caitrin is running away. With only limited financial means, a change of clothes, and the precious instruments and materials she uses as a scribe—and a past she needs to escape—Caitrin only hopes she’ll be able to find a comfortable place to stay where she can use her skills to provide for herself. Chance leads her to the fortress of Whistling Tor’s chieftain, a man diminished by the crippling effects of a childhood illness and haunted by the evil actions of his ancestors, a man nearly hated by the people he governs. Anluan, the chieftain, hires Caitrin to translate and sort through various family documents. Caitrin stays on despite the strange and dangerous beings that inhabit the surrounding forest and being encouraged to leave by another member of the household. As Caitrin’s work takes her deeper into Anluan’s family’s past, she pieces together the extent of the curse over Whistling Tor. And as her cautious relationship with Anluan turns into something more, Caitrin vows to find a way to reverse the evil sorcery before it destroys them all.

Heart’s Blood is several hundred pages of purely enjoyable fantasy. I was so absorbed in this story, in its characters, the magic, and both physical and emotional trials, that I just could not set it down. It’s easy to tell how much care was put into every chapter, and it clearly paid off with spectacular results. Each main character, especially Caitrin and Anluan, is complex, developed, and believable due to adequate insight into their pasts, thoughts, and innermost emotions. I really felt I got to know these characters, which increased my invested interest in this tale. The rest is pretty much creative and well written fantasy plot with plenty of action, danger, mystical occurrences, and romance to keep even the pickiest reader satisfied. Caitrin and Anluan’s relationship in fact is one of the most swooningly romantic I’ve ever read. I don’t know if Heart’s Blood is classified as adult or young adult fiction, and frankly, I don’t care; this addicting and fantastically written novel will be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

Heart’s Blood will be enjoyed by fans of good fantasy, including those who liked the Ancient Mirrors series by Jayel Gibson, Fire by Kristin Cashore, and Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder. I eagerly look forward to reading more of Marillier’s fantasies.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from publisher Penguin

What I Wore to Save the World by Maryrose Wood

Summer’s starting, and senior year’s approaching fast—too fast for Morgan’s comfort. Her parents are breathing down her neck to get started on her college and career decisions. The problem is, Morgan has no idea what she wants for the rest of her life, aside from the fact she’d rather it include Irish hottie Colin. When a mysterious message and strange circumstances reunite the two, Morgan is absolutely thrilled—until she finds out that faeries have been messing with Colin again. This problem gives rise to even more: Colin isn’t the only human the faeries have been messing around with because the veil between the two worlds is slipping, it’s Morgan’s job to fix this problem, and Colin’s rejection of Irish mythology is making is really difficult for Morgan to either enjoy her time with Colin or get a head start on the saving the world part. As the world as Morgan knows it threatens to fall apart, this half-goddess will have to find within her the strength to do the right thing because her relationship with Colin, not to mention the fate of the whole world, depend on it.

What I Wore to Save the World is yet another addicting mythical adventure to follow up Morgan’s previous episodes in Why I Let My Hair Grow Out and How I Found the Perfect Dress. The creative and pretty amazing cover art is just a precursor to the unique and fantastical tale that immediately follows. Even though readers have already been introduced to the faery realm in this novel’s prequels, the plot in this story remains original with the addition of several quirky and mysterious characters. Morgan’s attitude is just as sarcastic and undoubtedly hilarious as ever, which makes reading about her adventures all the more interesting and fun. Seriously, I don’t think there’s one dull moment in this novel with its abundance of humor, interesting characters and places, and, of course, mythical obstacles to overcome. In addition to all this mischief, though, I appreciated how there was also an emphasis on Morgan and Colin’s relationship and how the existence of that perky faery world was such an impediment to them. Although the outcome of this story, regarding Morgan’s quest to save the world and her relationship with Colin, is pretty predictable, it doesn’t make reading it any less fun and enjoyable.

Fan of Why I Let My Hair Grow Out and How I Found the Perfect Dress, both by Maryrose Wood, will not want to miss this fantastic novel. I suspect What I Wore to Save the World will be the final installment of Morgan’s mythical adventures, unless there’s some astonishing surprise in store, but I look forward to reading more from Wood.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from publisher Berkley JAM

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Nora is not the type of girl to do senseless things. She is responsible and caring. But when she gets a new partner in biology, Patch, all of Nora’s straight facts and truths start to get a little muddied. There’s something strange about Patch, and it’s not just that he seems to know all of Nora’s secrets can appears everywhere she is. It’s not the utter gorgeousness or the fact that nobody knows anything about him. It’s something much more sinister and unusual that Nora senses, that tells her nothing good can come of Patch. But even as Nora tries to force herself to believe that, she can’t deny that she’s attracted to Patch as he is to her. The only things standing between the two now are Patch’s past and fate. Because along with Patch’s arrival, something else even more dangerous came, something bent on destroying both of them.

Though I have no idea where the title comes from, Hush, Hush is an enthralling paranormal read. It’s about a seemingly impossible romance hindered by multiple supernatural threats that makes for an attention consuming story. When first introduced, Patch is an annoyingly arrogant hottie, the type of guy who gets under every girl’s skin and remains mysteriously alluring. The hint of a violent past only encourages his sexy bad boy persona. Even though this makes him slightly unrealistic, it also endears him especially to female readers who will want him to be able to find some form of happiness. Nora is a straight shooting girl who needs a guy like Patch to shake up her life, and readers will be able to relate to her hesitant personality. Without the supernatural element, this romance would still be good, but with it, it’s even more interesting. I love how events from Patch’s painful past carry over into the present to complicate Patch and Nora’s relationship; these connections make the plot more complex and fascinating. The story is an exciting and intriguing one and the ending is incredibly sweet, one that speaks of redemption and the power of true love; I definitely cannot wait for a sequel!

Hush, Hush appeals to any reader who likes the idea of a fallen angel, especially those who enjoyed The Mortal Instruments trilogy by Cassandra Clare and the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz. I greatly look forward to more exciting storytelling from Fitzpatrick.

Rating: 4.25

Review copies from Amazon Vine and publisher Simon & Schuster

The Navel of the World by P.J. Hoover

At the end of summer school, Benjamin Holt was charged with one task: to find his two missing brothers. Of course, before Benjamin ever stepped foot in Lemuria, he had no idea that he was one of the triplets responsible for holding the worlds in balance. Months pass with no luck whatsoever regarding Benjamin’s quest until he interns at his father’s office during spring break. There he stumbles upon a strange file with his name on it. Even if Benjamin can’t read it because it’s written in ancient Lemurian, at least he’s one stop closer to what he seeks. As Benjamin and his fellow telegen friends’ training progresses, they learn of a new ability—that of time travel. Armed with this new power, Benjamin and the rest of the Emerald Tablet Alliance must search all of the earth through time to have any chance of finding Benjamin’s long lost brothers.

Benjamin and his quirky Lemurian friends are at it again in this fun myth filled story. These youngsters have a purpose now, and any trouble making and rule breaking is strictly the result of their difficult quest to find the remaining two of the triplets. Although it’s easy to mix up each telegen’s psychic ability and secret crush, there’s something so endearing in reading about these five friends. Though by no means complex, these characters are realistic and genuine; their determination, hard work, and sometimes self sacrificing nature, not to mention their clever quick thinking, are admirable. The plot of this novel moves at a good pace, not too fast or slow, and takes the reader along on a whirlwind journey around the world and through time. The incorporation of ancient mythology and various cultures with new and original countries like Lemuria is definitely Hoover’s strength and a major part of what makes The Navel of the World such an enjoyable read.

The Navel of the World will be enjoyed by fans of mythology, especially those who enjoyed this novel’s prequel, The Emerald Tablet, as well as Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs.

Rating: 3.75

Review copy from author P.J. Hoover

Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz

Schuyler Van Alen feels trapped. Although her grandfather Lawrence is back, Schuyler has been forced by the court system to live with her uncle Charles Force and forbidden by her uncle to see or talk with Lawrence or her best friend Oliver. Living in the imposing Force household is nothing if uncomfortable despite its many luxuries; Mimi constantly targets her to satisfy her petty spite and Jack, her forbidden crush, won’t even as much as look at her. The only things that can comfort Schuyler are her secret meetings with her forbidden acquaintances. As Schuyler’s many secrets get tangle dup, she finds her love life isn’t the only thing in trouble. An ancient source of power located in Rio de Janeiro is being threatened by the Silver Bloods. Lawrence and a small team of Venators fly south to investigate, but when the Conclave announces these Blue Bloods are in trouble and Schuyler loses contact with her grandfather, the worse is suspected. As the inevitable battle between the Blue Bloods and Silver Bloods looms even closer, Schuyler will have to determine who’s friend and who’s foe if she and the ones she loves are to survive.

Once again, de la Cruz has delivered a fast-paced story about an epic power struggle between good and evil, complicated by hidden double agents and judgments clouded by fear. I just adore the Blue Bloods series; it is one of my favorite vampire series because of how it combines an original interpretation of vampires, historical events, and angel versus demon struggles of biblical proportion with present day technology and culture. Revelations is the third installment in Schuyler’s adventures, and the war between the Blue Bloods and Silver Bloods is going from bad to worse. The Blue Bloods always seem to be one step behind their cunning enemies. This leads to much strife among the Blue Bloods, many of which refuse to believe their way of life is falling apart. I commend de la Cruz for her skill at first creating an interesting plot and then surprising the reader with every shocking twist and turn. This story is not one the reader can easily predict the outcome of, and that makes reading it all the more exciting. In addition to a fantastic plot, I liked the complication of the characters’ relationships and the struggle between who is meant to be and who wants to be. On a side note, I like the wording and vocabulary used in this story, because I don’t feel stupid when indulging my appetite for glamorous vampire tales.

Fans of this novel’s prequels, Blue Bloods and Masquerade, will not want to miss Revelations. Readers who liked Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick and The Mortal Instruments trilogy by Cassandra Clare will also enjoy this series.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from publisher Disney Hyperion

My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

Something is not right with Kaylee Cavanaugh. For nearly as long as she can remember, there have been instances where she has been somehow compelled to scream because of a horrible feeling she gets about some person—a person who then dies. And without fail, all of Kaylee’s premonitions have come true. Kaylee doesn’t want to know why these strange things keep happening to her; she only wishes they would go away because she’s tired of being the freak in the family. But things do quite smooth over when Kaylee catches the eye of Nash, the most popular guy in school. And when beautiful young girls start dropping dead for no reason, Kaylee’s secret compulsion to scream is at risk of being exposed. All the Kaylee knows for sure is that something sinister and probably supernatural is at work, and since she’s the only one who’s aware of the next victim, she’s got to do something to stop it.

My Soul to Take is a paranormal novel filled with danger, mystery, secrets, and romance. I was primarily interested in this book because I loved Vincent’s storytelling in Stray and because I’d never read about banshees or bean sidhes as Irish folktales call them. As fascinating and unique I found Vincent’s take on paranormal beings and the afterlife, and as sweet Kaylee and Nash’s relationship was, there was something about this novel that didn’t quite flow for me. Firstly, Nash’s dedication to Kaylee was suspicious to me; when reading, I had a nagging feeling that Nash was hiding something even after he revealed Kaylee’s true identity. Kaylee’s character was slightly more believable, but her acceptance of the fact that she wasn’t human came a little too quickly. For the most part, though, this wasn’t a huge issue, and I quite enjoyed this creative paranormal mystery and look forward to learning more about Kaylee’s abilities and history in the sequel, My Soul to Save.

This novel will be enjoyed by fans of Stray by Rachel Vincent and Dead is the New Black by Marlene Perez.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from Amazon Vine

Posh and Prejudice by Grace Dent

Shiraz Bailey Wood isn’t expecting great results from her GSCEs, which is why she takes a job to Mr. Yolk. She might as well get a head start on earning her share. But when she gets her grades back, she’s pleasantly surprised—not only are her GSCE results pretty decent, but Shiraz is intelligent enough to enroll in Mayflower Sixth Form. So, it’s back to school for Shiraz despite her mother’s protests. Even if Shiraz does enjoy some of her new classes and the new friends she’s made, school seems to be creating more problems than it’s fixing. Getting an education seems like the alternative to be stuck a chav in Shiraz’s sucky neighborhood Goodmayes, but there are also the distractions like the good-looking rich boys and loads of new responsibilities. That doesn’t even count all the time Shiraz has to spend studying. Even the constants in her life are changing: her sister Cava-Sue is leaving soon to travel, her best friend Carrie is more interested in self-tanner than doing her assignments, and even her boyfriend wants to tie her down. What’s a girl to do when all she wants is to keep it real?

Posh and Prejudice, though by no means fantastic, is an improvement over its prequel Diva without a Cause. The reader gets used to all the British slang that was somewhat confusing in the previous novel. Shiraz’s character is somewhat more solid and defined that it used to be. I like how she seems to have more conviction in her life and her beliefs and a strong will to succeed. She has matured a little since her previous year and can thus navigate her life better. Shiraz realistically struggles with other people’s perceptions of how she should live her life, which causes her to be less true to herself, until she finally realizes that she can only be happy bettering her life on her own terms. I like this message much better than the seeming lack thereof in Diva without a Cause; it’s what makes Posh and Prejudice so much more enjoyable for me than its prequel. While the novel is better than its prequel, it still had a little ways to go. Though Shiraz has become surer of some of her beliefs, she still flounders and doesn’t know what to do with her life. This lost feeling keeps me waiting for something really big to happen, but Shiraz’s one monumental decision is saved for the final pages of the book. This is bad because I was looking for more but good because it gives Shiraz room to grow and develop in a subsequent novel.

This humorous novel will be enjoyed by fans of Diva without a Cause and the It’s All About Us series by Shelley Adina.

Rating: 3.75

Review copy from publisher Little, Brown

I’m So Sure by Jenny B. Jones

Truman, Oklahoma hasn’t turned out as horribly as Bella Kirkwood thought it would. Sure, her desitned label allowance has been drastically cut, but with new friends and a comfy position on the school newspaper staff, she’s feeling pretty good. It also helps that nearly everyone thinks she’s some sort of Nancy Drew ever since she figured out what was really going on with the football team. Unfortunately, now that Bella’s stepdad, a semi-pro wrestler, has signed their family up for a reality TV show, Bella’s life is about to take a turn for the unbearable once again. As if navigating her relationship with her newspaper editor Luke, a rekindled friendship with her ex-boyfriend Hunter, and all of her reporting assignments wasn’t hard enough, now she has to do it in the public eye thanks to the camera crew that stalks her. And before she knows it, Bella finds herself pursuing yet another mystery at Truman High, this one regarding the upcoming prom. How’s a girl to keep her cool in the face of all this, especially when the threats of danger start coming?

I’m So Sure was just as cute, hilarious, and clever as its prequel So Not Happening proved to be. Bella’s character is even more likable in this story since most traces of her spoiled Manhattan princess roots have been humbled by her acceptance of her new life in Oklahoma and she remains just as determined and hardworking as ever. I must admit, I generally dislike the inclusion of reality shows in books because of their tendency to turn even the most upright people into publicity hungry brats, but the wrestling show actually worked well in this novel because it reinforced many of Bella’s morals. Although I felt the main mystery of this story about prom was less creative and interesting that the one in So Not Happening, I still quite enjoyed it as well as Bella and Luke’s somewhat cryptic but still sweet relationship. If there’s one main thing about I’m So Sure that irked me, it was that religion was slightly more emphasized in this novel than in its prequel. I do realize that I’m So Sure is technically Christian fiction and that the inclusion of faith is to be expected, but there were several instances in which the religious preferences were just unnecessary and the slightest bit annoying.

Fans of the So Not Happening, the prequel to I’m So Sure, will eagerly snatch up this novel as well as look forward to the next installment in the Charmed Life series, So Over My Head. This series may also be enjoyed by readers who liked Pure by Terra Elan McVoy and It’s All About Us by Shelley Adina.

Rating: 3.5

Review copy from publisher Thomas Nelson

Intertwined by Gena Showalter

Aden Stone wishes he was just a normal guy. Instead, he’s spent the majority of his life shuffled in and out of various foster homes and mental institutions, all because for some reason, he’s got four souls living inside him aside from his own. Aden doesn’t know how they got there or how to get rid of them, so in the meantime, he just has to deal with four distinct voices constantly babbling inside his head and the side effects of each soul’s unique ability, to time travel, predict the future, raise the dead, or possess other people. When Aden moves to Crossroads, Oklahoma, it’s like brand new start for him, although not without its own complications. Aden finds himself with an unusual set of companions: Mary Ann, a girl completely unlike himself who somehow quiets the voices inside his head; a shapeshifter who’d rather see him dead; and Victoria, a vampire princess Aden can’t get out of his mind. All too soon, Aden finds himself the center of an otherworldy conflict with danger flying at him from all sides. The oods are stacked squarely against him, and it’s unlikely everyone will come out unscathed.

There’s no doubt that Intertwined is an exciting novel, filled with action and a galore of supernatural threats to keep any reader on the edge of their seat, but at the same item, there was something about this story that was quite irksome to me. I didn’t mind the plethora of supernatural creatures or even their rather unoriginally interpreted characteristics. Aden’s background of being constantly institutionalized and psychoanalyzed also made sense. Where the story started to break apart for me was the convenience of it all. I’m not saying everything was always sunshine and rainbows; that wouldn’t make for much of a story. It started with the main characters’ physical perfection; bodies sculpted like Grecian statues tend to become unrealistic. And it wasn’t just each of these character’s prettiness. Many major plot events I could correctly guess chapters before they occurred because the clues were just so convenient. And what really bothered me the most was how convenient the ending was; after all that difficulty and struggle, it would seem the termination to this tale would be a little more complicated. It was the little things that didn’t allow me to connect to the characters, however hot and sexy they were, and completely get into the story. And especially after all the positive buzz surrounding this novel, I was frankly disappointed.

Intertwined may be enjoyed by fans of Persistence of Memory by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong, and the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. I suspect there will be a sequel to this novel, but I don’t know how eager I’d be to snatch it up.

Rating: 3.5

Review copy from Amazon Vine