Folly by Marthe Jocelyn

Mary Finn is an honest and hardworking country who loves her family, particularly all her little siblings. She cares for them when her mother dies and would have until each grew up had it not been for her stepmother who insists Mary be sent away to work. Always the obedient girl, Mary goes to work. When she changes jobs to be a maid in London, the entire course of her life is changed because it’s in London that Mary meets Caden Tucker and meeting Caden Tucker is the start of her problems. Suddenly Mary becomes a foolish girl, always dreaming of the man she believes is her sweetheart. How was Mary to know she might be making the biggest mistake of her life?

Folly is an unusually told tale about the reverberating effects of the smallest actions. Set in the Victorian era, this novel certainly has historical appeal. And there is definitely something interesting about London in the late 1800s, even if Jocelyn does pick some of the Victorian period’s more negative characteristics to portray, such as all children born out of wedlock being held up as the epitome of sin. Folly is told from many alternating perspectives following two separate by connected main storylines. Since I was more interested in Mary’s story than James Nelligan’s, all the switching between narrators was distracting. Although the ending, when the nature of Mary and James’s connection is revealed, may be surprising for some readers, it was not for me. I figured out basically what was going to happen midway through the book merely by looking at the timeframes of Mary’s and James’s stories. Because of this, Folly wasn’t as enjoyable a read as it could’ve been, although I still appreciate the sweet ending.

Folly may be enjoyed by fans of Ivy by Julie Hearn, A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly, Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher, and What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell.

Rating: 3.75

Review copy from publisher Random House

Summer Guilty Pleasure Giveaway

CONTEST CLOSED

As with last summer, I am in bad need of clearing space on my bookshelves. Plus I haven't had a contest in a while. So I thought, in the spirit of summer, I might as well give away some summer fun books.

(1) lucky winner will receive South Beach, French Kiss, and Hollywood Hills by Aimee Friedman.



Other details:

• US mailing addresses only.
• Contest ends 7/15/10, at 9 p.m. PST.

Remember, you must complete the form to be entered. If you have any questions about this contest, see my contest policy, or contact me and ask away.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

When Thomas finally wakes up, the only thing he can remember is his first name. He doesn’t know why he’s in this metal box or how he got there. When the box stops moving and is opened, Thomas finds himself the newest addition to fifty odd boys living in what they’ve named the Glade. There are a few simple truths about the Glade: the stone doors to the Maze open every morning and close every night, a new boy arrives every thirty days, supplies come every week, and the Grievers usually roam the Maze at night. But Thomas’s arrival is the precursor to the unraveling of this tiny world because the next day, a girl arrives with a sinister message: Everything is going to change. The Gladers have always thought that solving the Maze was the key to getting home, but now it increasingly seems that they’ll be stuck here forever. Thomas won’t give up, though; he’s sure there has to be an end. The only problem is, the answers to freedom are securely locked within his blank memory.

The Maze Runner is without a doubt one heck of a thrill ride. From the first page of this novel to the very last, the reader is bombarded with scenes of nearly nonstop action, danger, confusion, and pain. Instead of being overwhelming, this fast paced plot is a pleasure to read. Dashner keeps the surprises popping up around every corner, and I was rarely able to even fathom what would happen next. The characters are well drawn as well. I initially thought that the placement of Thomas’s sudden feelings or hints of memories were a bit rudimentary, but they make much more sense given the conclusion of the tale. I had a little difficulty understanding the ending, though, because the reasons for the existence of the Glade and the Maze weren’t well explained or justified. Overall, The Maze Runner is a well written novel sure to excite readers and keep the guessing.

This novel appeals to fans of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Cherry Heaven by L.J. Adlington, and Gone by Michael Grant. I can’t wait for the next installment in this thrilling trilogy.

Rating: 4.5

Review copies from Amazon Vine and publisher Random House

Thief Eyes by Janni Lee Simner

When her mother mysteriously disappears in Iceland, Haley and her father are shocked and confused. Somehow Haley convinces her father to take her to Iceland. Hoping for some closure, Haley instead finds herself entangled in what she thought was only Norse mythology and Icelandic sagas. Her possession of an ancient silver coin, a gift from her ancestors, ties her inexplicable to a powerful spell cast long ago by her maternal ancestor Hallgerd, a woman and sorceress who would do anything to escape her own life. Though the spell is old, its potency and potential for destruction has not faded, and it is now up to Haley to break it. To do so, she and her friend Ari embark on an adventure across Iceland’s rugged terrain, racing against time to, in all probability, save the world. But in the midst of her own confused feelings, how will Haley know to do the right thing?

Thief Eyes is a fantastic fusion of modern culture and Icelandic sagas. It really is quite thrilling how Simner manages to combine these two so smoothly, and the effect is magnificent. At first, Haley appears to be just your ordinary teen girl confused by the sudden departure of her mother. However, as time passes and the circumstances surrounding her mother’s disappearances appear more mystical than ordinary, Haley rises to the occasion. I love the deep degree to which Simner incorporates Icelandic sagas and Norse mythology into Thief Eyes. It transports the reader away to another land and time even though most of the story takes place present day. I commend Simner for making such an obvious work of myth and fantasy so realistic and enjoyable.

I recommend Thief Eyes to readers who enjoy all mythology, particularly fans of Why I Let My Hair Grow Out by Maryrose Wood, the A Great and Terrible Beauty trilogy by Libba Bray, and Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from Amazon Vine

The Society of S by Susan Hubbard

Ariella Montero isn’t like other thirteen-year-old girls. She’s spent most of her life sheltered in a large Victorian mansion in Saratoga Springs, and the only people she has regular interaction with include her father, a family friend named Dennis, and the housekeeper Mrs. McGarritt. While Ari can clearly understand great works of literature thanks to her classical education, she’s not in touch with the real world until she makes her first friend. But just as Ari is getting used to her new life, a series of secrets and revelations send it spinning out of control once more. When Ari’s best friend is murdered, Ari no longer knows what to do, so she runs away to find her mother who disappeared the day Ari was born. What Ari finds is adventure, danger, and possibly the truth.

The Society of S is certainly one of the most singular and complex vampire stories I’ve ever read. The young age of protagonist Ari makes it seem like this is a YA novel; however, Hubbard’s detailed writing, Ari’s precocity and maturity, and the many layers to this story will appeal to the adult audient as well. If you asked me what stood out to me in this novel, I probably couldn’t tell you. All the elements of this story by themselves are rather ordinary: the characters are mysterious but realistic enough, the plot isn’t boring but all major action is downplayed, and the vampire angle is present throughout most of the book but isn’t overdone. When all of these pieces are put together, however, the effect is great and you get such a unique story like The Society of S. I was really drawn into Ari’s story due to a combination of all these aforementioned details and can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

Readers who enjoyed Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer, Firespell by Chloe Neill, and Twilight by Stephenie Meyer will enjoy The Society of S even if it’s not completely action packed. I look forward to reading this novel’s sequels, The Year of Disappearances and The Season of Risks.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from publisher Simon & Schuster

Tagged by Mara Purnhagen

Nothing really exciting ever happens in Cleary, South Carolina until the gorillas. First, they appear on the side of a building at school, then on other buildings throughout town and even out of state. These graffitied works of art really are quite amazing; they’re incredibly lifelike and all identical. Everyone wants to know who’s behind the gorillas, but for different reasons. Some people are just in awe of this creative tagging, but others, particularly the police, want to catch the culprit for vandalism. Kate would rather just stay out of the mess so she won’t be labeled as a snitch for being the police chief’s daughter, but as more gorillas pop up, her curiosity gets the better of her. But what happens when all the clues and her instincts point to someone she knows?

Tagged is a cute mystery accompanied by a slight romance and the deeper question of what art really is. The mystery of the gorilla graffiti is a good and interesting one, if rather safe. There really isn’t any danger involved in figuring out the person responsible for the gorillas, which makes the story more innocent and refreshing. The romance isn’t as good as the mystery, mostly because complications leave it mostly up in the air, but it is still sweet. The most important part of Tagged is the questions that the story raises. Protagonist Kate struggles to figure out the difference between vandalism and art and what that means for her own life. The one thing about this book that needs work is the actual writing. Some of the dialogue in particular felt scripted, awkward, and unrealistic. Overall, though, Tagged is a fun and enjoyable read.

Tagged may be enjoyed by fans of She’s So Money by Cherry Cheva and Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty by Jody Gehrman.

Rating: 3.75

Review copy from author Mara Purnhagen

Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

Ellie Spencer is just another ordinary teen at her New Zealand boarding school—or so she thinks. But her easy days of hanging out with friends (okay, friend) and doing homework become a thing of the past when she crashes headfirst into a world of what should be a fiction. Ellie’s excitement over interacting with her crust turns to confusion when he turns out to be not who—or what—she expected. Then Ellie’s best friend Kevin starts acting strangely about a mysterious and possibly sinister new cast member of the play he’s working on. Something weird is afoot, and though Ellie wants answers, they will cost her because there’s a whole new playing field now. And whether Ellie knows it or not, she’s now a part of an ancient and deadly battle of epic proportions.

I was very impressed by debut author Healey’s fantastic Guardian of the Dead. It is so much more creative, complex, and fascinating than I ever would’ve thought. The reader starts off just as clueless as protagonist Ellie regarding a secret world that is mostly revealed by the end of the book. Every layer that is peeled away revealing yet another secret makes this novel so intriguing to read. The unique paranormal element incorporated into this story and the unpredictable make the story so enjoyable. One of the defining elements of this novel is the inclusion of Māori myths. Healey literally brings them to life, and this is wonderfully done. I don’t think I can reiterate enough how much I liked this wholly original novel. It has everything from believable characters and mystical monsters to romance and tragedy. The selling point is that all of this done well and in a way that meshes easily with the rest of the story.

Guardian of the Dead is sure to be enjoyed by those who liked the A Great and Terrible Beauty trilogy by Libba Bray, The Named trilogy by Marianne Curley, and the Midnighters trilogy by Scott Westerfeld. I greatly look forward to more from talented new author Healey.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from publisher Little, Brown

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Some people joke that people with bad manners must’ve been raised by wolves. Well, Bryn literally way, by werewolves to be exact. After a rogue werewolf brutally killed her parents, four-year-old Bryn was adopted by Callum, the pack alpha. Now fifteen, she figures there’s not much she hasn’t seen. Nothing prepares her, though, for when she stumbles upon a caged werewolf named Chase. Case was bitten and turned into a werewolf, and his very existence tears apart the relatively safe world she knew. Shuddering from newly dug up memories of her parents’ attack and chafing from the increasingly restrictive protections placed on her, Bryn doesn’t quite know what to do. There’s one thing for sure: Bryn needs answers—and she won’t stop until she gets them.

Raised by Wolves is yet another novel catering to the rising werewolf craze. Barnes does not disappoint, serving up plenty of paranormal dangers and wolfy action to keep most readers on the edge of their seat. I was quite pleased, for the most part, with this novel. The characters are interesting and generally realistic, the plot in undoubtedly engaging, and Barnes’s handling of the nature and politics of werewolves was superb. There was only one thing that bothered me about this book. It wasn’t so big that I can’t get over it; however, it made a good chunk of the story really awkward. Raised by Wolves can be divided into three parts. The first and last parts are fine. The middle part is where things go a bit awry. Barnes does not do a good job of connection the first part, a basic introduction, to the last part, where the drama of Bryn and Chase against basically everyone else unfolds. Overlooking that awkward part though, Raised by Wolves is an enjoyable read and a welcome addition to the growing group of werewolf-themed novels.

Raised by Wolves will be enjoyed by werewolf fans, particularly those who enjoyed The Dark Divine by Bree Despain, Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, Stray by Rachel Vincent, and Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from publisher EgmontUSA

The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

Working as a barista at Wired Joe’s leaves Jane Turner a lot of time to observe people. And in between taking all these orders and brewing all that coffee, Jane is struck by a stroke of genius: what if you can tell a person’s personality from the drink he or she most often orders? At first, it’s all an amusing experiment, but when she successfully matches a couple of friends based on their favorite coffee drink, Expressology turns into something more. Jane’ boss hears about Jane’s flavor of coffee-based matchmaking and turns it into a holiday promotion for the coffee shop. So now, Wired Joe’s customers can get a romantic match with their evening coffee. Everything seems to be going perfectly—only, what if Jane’s not making all the right matches?

The Espressologist has everything one would expect from a chick flick: laughs, style, and, of course, romance. While this is all good and fun, though, this novel doesn’t have much of anything else. The story is predictable but still sweet and enjoyable. It’s a very quick read because it’s mostly for entertainment with no real substance. The characters could’ve been better developed as well. To be perfectly honest, there’s not much to be said about this novel because it’s pretty much average on all accounts. I definitely wouldn’t want to relegate it to the group of books I believe should never have been published, but I wouldn’t rave about it to my friends either. So while The Espressologist is a fast and fun read, it shouldn’t really stand out on anyone’s to-be-read bookshelf.

The Espressologist may be enjoyed by fans of How to Hook a Hottie by Tina Ferraro and Kissing Snowflakes by Abby Sher.

Rating: 3.25

Review copy from publisher Macmillan

So Over My Head by Jenny B. Jones

Bella Kirkwood, the Nancy Drew of Truman, Oklahoma, is back for another adventure. After all, Bella does have a way of sniffing out trouble—and finding herself in the middle of it. It starts off as a simple assignment of covering the Fritz Family Carnival for the newspaper, but when she finds Betty the Bearded Lady murdered in her trailer, things become a whole lot more interesting. Bella’s convinced that there’s some funny business going on with the Fritz Family Carnival, so she takes a job as one of their clowns as a cover for her after hours investigative snooping. Too bad her boyfriend Luke keeps trying to dissuade Bella from getting involved. It might’ve made things easier. So would not having to deal with her father’s fishy wedding plans and Luke’s snarky ex-girlfriend moving back to town. Will Bella be able to solve this mystery and sort out her life before it’s too late?

This third installment in the Charmed Life series has all the wit and investigatory action that characterized its first two installments, So Not Happening and I’m So Sure. Bella is as funny as ever in all her new exploits and is sure to keep the reader smiling throughout the whole book. However, I wouldn’t say that So Over My Head is as good overall as its two prequels for a variety of reasons. Firstly, there were too many mysteries that Bella was trying to solve at once. There were other minor distracter mysteries in Bella’s previous adventures but they were pretty minor. In this novel, Bella has to deal with the Fritz Family Carnival fiasco, the questions surrounding her father’s fiancé, and the true nature of Luke’s relationship with his ex-girlfriend. These last two mysteries were quite more significant side projects than Bella has ever had, and Jones didn’t juggle between the main mystery and these lesser two as well as she could have. Also, the mysteries and even the action didn’t seem very original because Bella has already gone through life threatening investigations. Although the execution of the story wasn’t the best, So Over My Head still is a cute and enjoyable read.

So Over My Head will interested fans of its prequels So Not Happening and I’m So Sure as well as those who liked the It’s All About Us series by Shelley Adina and Pure by Terra Elan McVoy.

Rating: 3.75

Review copy from publisher Thomas Nelson

The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea M. Campbell

Damien Locke can’t wait for his sixteenth birthday when his right thumbprint will form a V, officially marking him as a supervillain. Imagine his surprise and outrage when instead an X appears. There’s only one possibly way this could’ve happened: his supervillain mother doing it with a superhero. Blech. A superhero, of all people! To make matters worse, Damien now has to live with his superhero family. With his plans of villainy temporarily foiled, Damien must figure out what to do in the meantime. And even though Damien’s convinced he’s meant to be a supervillain, deep down, what if he’s not?

The Rise of Renegade X is without a doubt a comic adventure jam-packed with sarcastic fun. I’ve never been one for comics (though I’m of the mind that they make great movies), but Campbell’s novel has made me an enthusiast for the world of superheroes and supervillains. It’s probably because she makes it so much fun to navigate Golden City with Damien Locke. Humor and action combine surprisingly well in this unique story, making it difficult to put down. Another even more pleasant surprise for me was the depth and believability of Damien’s character. When his X thumbprint appears and he moves in with superheroes, he thinks he can have the best of both worlds, but his confused antics end up causing too much trouble for Damien to deal with. And although Damien doesn’t make a formal choice by the close of this story of which path he’ll pursue, superhero or supervillain, the decisions he does make increase my excitement for a sequel.

I recommend The Rise of Renegade X to those who like comics. I honestly can’t wait for a continuation of this original story or more from Campbell.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from publisher EgmontUSA

The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

Jess Parker thought her worst problems were avoiding Lexy Steele’s bullying and finding a friend. But when she is inducted as a member of the Cinderella Society, she learns about real problems. Sure, a fabulous makeover is part of the package, but catching the eye of her popular crush also invites stress about the real nature of their relationship. Then there’s the fact that Jess isn’t quite sure how to fit in with her new more popular friends. To top that off, as a Cindy, Jess is now involved in a battle against the Wickeds, girls who target and bully others. How is Jess supposed to prevail against the Wickeds when she can see herself being defeated so easily?

I suppose The Cinderella Society is a cute idea, but the problem with it is that it’s too simplistic. In addition, all the fairytale and various goddess metaphors are misleading or ill-used. The Cinderella Society is supposed to be a hub for girl power, but as I recall, Cinderella wasn’t exactly the most self-empowered woman. The naming of their enemies, the Wickeds, is rather generic, and I thought it unrealistic that a group of girls, no matter how mean, would ever call themselves that. Furthermore, the Wickeds’ parent organization was named for Athena just because she is the goddess of war. Cassidy seemed to forget that Athena is also the goddess for wisdom and weaving, which isn’t quite consistent with the Wickeds’ message. The actual story is not very engaging; it involves a lot of shopping, wanting to go shopping, and freaking out about boys. Sometimes I wasn’t sure if The Cinderella Society was a novel or a self-help book with all the empowering advice it was pushing. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with loving the skin you’re in, but its placement in this story made the entire thing rather unrealistic.

The Cinderella Society may be enjoyed by fans of the It’s All About Us series by Shelley Adina.

Rating: 2.5

Review copy from publisher EgmontUSA

Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder

Brooklyn hasn’t been the same since her boyfriend Lucca died. The past year, she thought things were getting better, but the death of her friend Gabe makes the grief and despair fresh. And now, to make matters worse, she can’t sleep because Gabe’s ghost is haunting her. The last thing Brooklyn expects to find in this situation is a friend, but that she does when Lucca’s brother Nico reaches out to her. Little does Brooklyn know that Nico’s being haunted too—by Lucca’s ghost. As Brooklyn and Nico’s tentative friendship grows, they will have to learn to trust each other even with secrets if either will be able to let go and move on.

Chasing Brooklyn is a beautiful and sweet story about love, loss, and letting go. I loved Schroeder’s delicate use of verse in her second novel Far From You. I’ve always believed that sometimes the simplest writing that gives just brief sensations, dialogue, and thought can be the most emotionally intense, and this statement certainly hold true for Schroeder’s writing. Readers will be able to deeply connect with both Brooklyn and Nico as they each try to make sense of what’s going on in their lives. Though a happy ending can be predicted, it doesn’t make Brooklyn’s and Nico’s journey to that happiness any less sweet. At times, I felt that Brooklyn and Nico’s connection was a little strange or awkward because their relationship is founded upon a dead boyfriend or brother, respectively. Nevertheless, Chasing Brooklyn is a very worthwhile read. In fact, although I primarily read novels in prose, Schroeder is one of the only authors who write in verse who I keep coming back to.

Chasing Brooklyn will appeal to fans of Far From You, also by Lisa Schroeder, The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti, and The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from Amazon Vine

Everlasting by Angie Frazier

Seventeen-year-old Camille Rowen has always loved adventure. That’s why she enjoys sailing on her father’s ships so much—and dreads her upcoming marriage. To Camille, marrying a wealthy man for the sake of society means losing her freedom, even if it could save her father and herself from economic ruin. So Camille makes her choice, but on her final voyage, confronted by family secrets and betrayals, she starts to reconsider that choice. It helps that her father’s handsome first mate Oscar is always around, an unconscious comfort to her. When Camille’s father dies in a terrible storm at sea and she and Oscar are left among the few survivors, Camille is presented when another set of choices: return home to San Francisco and save her father’s business or run off to Australia to pursue her father’s secrets and an ancient magic that could bring her father back from his watery grave. Camille’s choice is the beginning of a perilous journey in which she’ll learn about life, love, and what truly matters most.

Everlasting has all the makings of a great pirate or perhaps Wild West tale with threats around every turn—minus the pirates and outlaws. But that’s probably what makes this novel so memorable. This story is one of adventure, both on the high seas and across rugged terrain, all set in 1855. The historical angle of this novel adds so much to the story, especially in the way of societal standards and gender roles. All this combined with some rather vivid sailors’ myths defines this wonderful story. The effect is quite incredible. Female readers in particular will be able to appreciate heroine Camille’s struggle between duty and a desire for adventure, but everyone will be swept up in this imaginative and enthralling tale of myth, magic, and romance. I have to admit that I’m quite smitten with Everlasting and definitely hope there will be more to Camille’s story.

This lovely debut should not be missed by fans of The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King, To Catch a Pirate by Jade Parker, and Raiders’ Ransom by Emily Diamand. I greatly look forward to more from Frazier.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from publisher Scholastic

A case of egregious misprinting

As a book reviewer, I often receive an assortment of various ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) to browse through and, well, review. I'm sure a lot of you have had run-ins with an ARC at least once in your life. There are ALWAYS disclaimers that the ARC is an uncorrected proof, which generally only means that there will be typos or formatting errors.

However, I have never quite seen a misprinting as serious as this: the entire book was incorrect.

Whoa.

This is what happened: I requested a copy of The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood, based on a concept by the Duchess of Northumberland from Amazon Vine. I received it a few days later. The cover led me to believe this was the right book. After all, I've never had something like this happen to me.

Then I opened the book. The first page gives praise for The Olive Farm. The second page talks about a woman named Carol Drinkwater. The title page shows that this book is indeed The Olive Farm: A Memoir of Life, Love and Olive Oil in the South of France by Carol Drinkwater.

Whoa. That's not The Poison Diaries.

Now, I'm definitely keeping this book because it's so unique. I've never seen something so interesting as this. However, what I want to know is how this even came about. Here are the facts:

• The titles are not the same (The Poison Diaries v. The Olive Farm)
• The authors are not the same (Maryrose Wood v. Carol Drinkwater)
• The publishers aren't even the same (Balzer + Bray v. Penguin Books)
• The publication dates aren't even close (July 20, 2010 v. June 25, 2002)

I'd say those are some pretty big differences. So how is it possible a mix-up like this could even occur? I figured the printer must've made some kind of mistake, but a mistake this big? That doesn't seem very likely. 

Any ideas, anyone?

EDIT: I received a second copy of The Poison Diaries and it was correct (as in, right book!). It seems my The Poison Diaries/The Olive Farm was the only anomaly in the batch.  

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Lia Milthorpe thought things couldn’t get much worse when her father dies suddenly, leaving her siblings and herself orphans. Though the Milthorpe children are well cared for by family and servants, things are just different, especially after a strange and mysterious mark appears on Lia’s wrist. There s little time to grieve because Lia’s mark is physical evidence that she and her twin sister Alice are part of an ancient prophecy on biblical proportions. Each sister has extraordinary power and a vital role to play in either protecting or destroying the world for all of eternity. As Lia learns more about the importance of ending the prophecy and her own part in it, she must race against time and her own sister to make the right decisions because if she makes the wrong one, ruin is certain.

Prophecy of the Sisters is certainly a fascinating read that brings myths of fallen angels to life. The ideas behind this story are very interesting even if they are only briefly and sporadically touched on. They provide a great backdrop for Lia and her sister’s story, which I have to say, is pretty fantastic. I loved following along with Lia as she discovered the meaning of the prophecy even though I could sometimes discern it long before she did. Despite the somewhat slow pace of the story, I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for a sequel. I’m very eager to learn about the rest of the prophecy and Lia’s and Alice’s roles in it. The one thing felt out of place for me, though, was Lia’s beau James’s role in the story. He appeared rarely and played only one important role regarding the prophecy and then was mostly absent. This was pretty minor, though, and I have high hopes for a sequel still.

Prophecy of the Sisters will be enjoyed by fans of Fallen by Lauren Kate, Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, and Wicked: Witch & Curse by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguié.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from publisher Little, Brown