Release Date: September 8, 2011
Series: Witch Eyes #1
Publisher: Flux
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Braden has never been normal. Born both blessed and cursed with the mysterious Witch Eyes, he sees the truth about the world. But all that information comes at a price, and using his power for too long leaves him prey to a debilitating headache. Unfortunately, sometimes the truth has a way of sneaking in -- and when Braden sees something he shouldn't, he has no choice but to leave behind the only home he's ever known and go in search of the most dangerous man in the world: his father. Jason Thorpe has more than a few enemies in Belle Dam, but the most dangerous of them all is Catherine Lansing, head of another powerful witching family and mother of the boy Braden's falling for. The secrets Braden learns in the feuding town threaten to tear him apart, but he must open his eyes to the truth if he ever wants to save the people he's grown to love from their own destructive powers.
In
Witch Eyes,
Scott Tracey envisions a bizarre world, one both modern and mystical. The quaint town of Belle Dam houses more than a few dark secrets, but the longstanding feud between the two reigning families isn't one of them -- everyone in the town is caught up in the fallout. Their feud echoes the Montagues and Capulets in its absurdity and destructive power, and the leaders of both factions will take down anyone who stands in their way. This world of magic and mystery, blood feuds and hell hounds, is a fascinating one and something I would have liked to see further developed in the novel. The hero, Braden, is blessed (or cursed) with the mysterious Witch Eyes, an ability only one other person has possessed -- a woman apparently lost to history. The complex backstory that led to this point in the Belle Dam feud seemed fragmented at times, and though readers can get the gist of what they need to know, the reading experience would have been richer and smoother if they hadn't had to work so hard.
Nonetheless,
Witch Eyes is an exciting novel. Readers will jump from suspect to suspect alongside Braden -- it's impossible to tell who to trust in this war-torn town -- and will never see the final dizzying revelation coming. Speaking of Braden, he's a real gem. Sweet and snarky, shy but brilliantly powerful, readers will fall in love with his wry charm from the very beginning. His relationship with Trey is a tumultuous one, for more reasons than just the obvious star-crossed issues. Trey's family is more than a little dysfunctional, but unlike Braden, he can't see it. His willful blindness can be frustrating, as is his constant impulse to control and protect Braden. But Braden isn't the kind of guy to take overwrought machismo sitting down, and his rebellions against Trey's domineering tendencies are winning (many YA protagon
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
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Ashlyn doesn't remember dying. She doesn't remember living. And she certainly doesn't remember this broken boy she can't seem to escape in the afterlife. Though Breckon hides his despair from his family and friends, it's unmistakable to Ashlyn, who is a silent witness to his most private moments of grief. She doesn't know why she's there, or what strange power intertwined their fates, but as Breckon spirals out of control Ashlyn is determined to save him from an irrevocable fate.
My Beating Teenage Heart is unlike any tale of death and the afterlife I've ever read. It is a surreal experience, an existential look at life and death and meaning.
C. K. Kelly Martin's prose envelops readers, giving them a sometimes poetic and sometimes stark look at her characters' reality. This story transcends age. Though the title references teenagers, the pain the two protagonists experience is sympathetic to anyone who's ever lost a loved one, been abused, been bullied, struggled to hang on. Martin plunges headfirst into a range of painful and hard-hitting issues, treating them all with piercing, but ultimately necessary, honesty.
Breckon's struggle with his family's tragedy is dark and raw. Martin doesn't shy away from the sometimes drastic measures people turn to in their grief, or try to rationalize the reckless abandon that comes with intense pain. He is lost and guilt-ridden and alone, pushing everyone away as he wallows in his despair. Though his feelings are understandable, at times his behavior is distancing. He doesn't try to be a martyr, which is a relief, but he's also willing to let himself hit rock bottom, to be dragged into the abyss. He doesn't try to save himself. Breckon tries so hard to suppress his emotions that they become abstract, not as viscerally wrenching for readers unfamiliar with this kind of utter devastation. The emotion behind his actions doesn't always shine through, making it difficult to connect with his motivations.
The novel features a surprising element of mystery, as readers struggle to uncover the connection between Ashlyn and Breckon, and the events that led to their separate tragedies. Ashlyn herself is in the dark (both literally and figuratively) as the novel opens. She intuitively senses that there are some things about her life she doesn't want to face, and as her memories slowly return, readers will feel the pain and frustration of injustice and cruelty alongside her. Ashlyn is a fascinating counterpoint to Breckon. They are both broken in different ways, but in life Ashlyn was determined to carry on through the pain. Her life was far from perfect, and in death she comes t
By: Casey (The Bookish Type),
on 9/3/2011
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Release Date: August 30, 2011
Series: The Fury Trilogy #1
Publisher: Simon Pulse
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Emily and Chase aren't bad people -- they've just made a few mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes, right? A little remorse and everything will be fine. Unfortunately, some acts can't be taken back -- and three beautiful, mysterious girls are here to make sure they pay. As Emily and Chase are about to learn, sometimes sorry just isn't enough.
Fury alternates between two teens, Emily and Chase, and carefully sketches in the details of their ordinary, every day lives. It is surprising to discover that the mythological beings are not the main characters of this novel -- instead, they hover on the fringe, leaving the focus on the remarkably human and flawed leads.
Elizabeth Miles brings her cast to life, making them seem more like people than characters. The inhabitants of Ascension are not extraordinary, and that's what makes them so authentic. They are imperfect and not all that likable -- but that seems to be the point. Emily is naive and shallow, not to mention a terrible friend, and Chase seems petty and insecure. Their off-putting personalities make sense in the context of the novel, yet it also makes it difficult to invest in their fates. Miles' skill at humanizing her characters is impressive, but they would be more rounded with a few admirable traits as well.
Em and Chase are not the most despicable people in town by a long shot, yet they're the unfortunate souls singled out for vengeance. The fact that the avenging girls are not the protagonists adds to their mystique, but it also obscures the method to their madness. The first half of the novel drags, as it's impossible to tell what transgression Chase committed or what punishment Emily is receiving for her own crimes. Crucial backstory isn't introduced until late in the novel, leaving readers feeling confused for an agonizing length of time. Yet, though Emily's story line is clearest at the outset, Chase's plot ends up being the strongest as he moves inexorably toward his fate. Though neither is endearing, Chase has the most complexity -- from his love-and-hate relationship with a childhood friend, to his attempt to rise above his socioeconomic status -- readers will feel sorry for him as his punishment progresses (even if he seems to be determinedly walking into the trap).
The calculating and manipulative powers of their tormentors are made starkly and terrifyingly clear as the novel spirals toward its devastating conclusion. Miles lays a strong groundwork for her mythology, immersing readers in the fear and uncertainty of a
By: Casey (The Bookish Type),
on 8/14/2011
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There was a curse. There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.
I never even saw it coming. Ethan Wate is haunted by nightmares of a beautiful girl who slips through his fingers every time -- but even in his wildest imaginings, he never thought his dream girl was real. Until she moved to town, that is. Lena Duchannes is the troubled niece of Gatlin's very own hermit, and as a result she's instantly shunned by the entire town. Except for Ethan. Ethan is determined to learn the truth about the centuries-old secret that bound his fate to Lena and her tangled family tree. Unfortunately, the path to answers ends in a single grave.
Beautiful Creatures is a haunting Gothic tale of secrets and blood bargains, set in a Southern town too small to contain it. The town of Gatlin is its own character in the story, an insular, small-minded community full of DAR debutantes and legendary shut-ins. Though it was rather over-the-top, this intense characterization provides a vivid backdrop for a timeless tale of star-crossed love. The creepy nightmares and eerie melodies that open the novel suck readers in, piquing their interest with a foreboding air.
Unfortunately, I had a hard time connecting with Ethan and Lena. Ethan prides himself on his dreams of leaving the boondocks, his college brochures and map of faraway places -- yet he never actually stands apart from the small town crowd until Lena comes along. Suddenly, Ethan is ready to cast off the clique into which he's been assimilated, risking it all for a girl he doesn't even know. Likewise, Lena was hard to get a handle on. Though she is the powerful one in this relationship, she still comes across as weak -- in need of her white knight to comfort her and chase the demons away. The two teens instantly fall in love, for no apparent reason. Though I expected a supernatural explanation at some point in the story, one never came.
Nonetheless, the secondary characters were a treat.
Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl give special attention to the creation of Gatlin's quirkier inhabitants. First, there's Amma, Ethan's voodoo psychic housekeeper and stand-in mother. Amma is an admirably strong woman who taught Ethan to stand up for what he believes in, a combination cookie-baking grandma and military general. Then there are the Sisters, Ethan's older-than-dirt, borderline insane aunts. They will keep readers laughing with their off-the-wall and lightning-fast banter, and strangely reminded me of the Fates. Finally, there's Macon Ravenwood, the town's resident recluse who is actually more Rhett Butler than Boo Radley. Macon is a mystery, cloaked in shadow and secrets. He is fierce in his family loyalty, as well as in his devotion to his niece Lena -- but you wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alleyway.
Beautiful Creatures is a dark and stormy (quite literally) tale that will keep readers guessing until the very end, as past and present collide in unnerving visions of doomed lovers more than a century before. This first installment only hints at the vast world of monsters and magic hidden beneath the human veneer of Gatlin. This is a world in which anything is possible, and Garcia and Stohl take that to the extreme -- weaving together ghosts and the gothic, curses and visions in a spell-binding tale readers will hate to see end.
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Review: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl & Giveaway, last added: 8/15/2011
By: Casey (The Bookish Type),
on 6/20/2011
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Katarina Bishop is known as The Girl Who Robbed the Henley to criminals worldwide. Ever since her infamous heist, Kat has not only been living the life -- she's been living it alone, restoring priceless pieces confiscated by the Nazis during WWII to their rightful owners. Kat is the most talented teen con in the world and perfectly capable of running these jobs solo, yet everyone in her life sees this as an act of betrayal. So when Kat agrees to recover a cursed gem that hasn't seen the light of day in over thirty years, her old crew is more than ready to do what no con has done before: steal the Cleopatra Emerald. But Kat isn't the only thief hunting the Cleopatra, and none of the usual rules apply -- because the thief they're up against wrote the book on every con they know.
In
Uncommon Criminals,
Ally Carter once again brings the nonstop action and mind-blowing ingenuity that made
Heist Society such a stellar read. Kat's crew is up to its usual antics, with the Bagshaw brothers wreaking havoc grenade-launcher style, Gabrielle turning heads and Simon doing something snazzy with a computer. Carter makes the life of a teenage con look glamorous, while still walking the fine line of moral acceptability with her heroine's Robin Hood-like ways. Kat isn't in it for the money. She reclaims artifacts stolen from their rightful owners (many taken by the Nazis during WWII) and sends them on their way home. It's a hard line to walk, and the novel takes a fascinating look at both the dangers and the delights of vigilantism.
Uncommon Criminals still features the snappy repartee and outrageous antics that make every page laugh-out-loud funny. However, the relationship between Kat and Hale has grown angsty. The young lovebirds dance around each other tantalizingly, but never grant readers a final moment of gratification. Their hot-and-cold tension costs them the spark they possessed in book one, and that, combined with a major mistake, makes Kat self-conscious in a way that doesn't mesh with the girl we know and love. Kat from
Heist Society was a fierce and self-reliant leader, whereas this novel forces her to question her own sufficiency and skills. While those are both valid coming-of-age questions, they seem to detract from Kat's signature swagger.
The adventures in this installment are even more incredible than the first, with the teens accomplishing cons that have eluded even the best thief in the world. Unfortunately, the tricks in this story were almost too unbelievable, and never allowed readers to see clearly the carefully placed puzzle pieces that pulled the con together --- requiring a major suspension of disbelief that lessened some of the fun. Part of the intrigue of
Heist Society was the teens' ability to pull off a major con because of their very youth -- it was believable even though it was incredible, coming together with a final flourish and neat bow.
Uncommon Criminals lacks the plausibility that allowed readers to live vicariously through Kat and her crew.
Nonetheless, Carter's style is perfectly suited to this tale of a cursed emerald and a timeless love. The tone of the novel flows like a recounted legend, and is peppered with the spectacular history of both the Cleopatra Emerald and the Bishop family. Carter has quite a few surprises up her sleeve, and readers will find themselves shocked time and time again as even the most preposterous impossibility becomes r
I have had this on my To-Read shelf for a long time after I found it in a giveaway on goodreads. I hope I get around to reading it now that I read your review! Thanks
I'm currently in the middle of this book and completely loving it. I love how Scott is building the relationship between Trey and Braden--it feels natural and real, rather than forced as so many of the relationships in the books I've recently read do. Can't wait to see where Scott is going to take these characters next!
Smiles!
Lori
I've really wanted to read this book as soon as I saw it! I don't read as many books as I should with male protagonists. This sounds great.