Monday, August 30, 2010

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

FINALLY! I finished a book in August! Man this summer has been a challenging one for reading. Not only has my time been stretched, but also my desire has been lacking. Blah.

So anyways, this is the sequel to Shiver, and I think I liked it more then the first. Where the first one was a tad predictable, this one wasn't. It's sweet, sad, and interesting.

We find ourselves back in Minnesota with Grace, Sam, and Isabelle. Some of the others from the first book, as you now know, are gone forever. But we get to meet a new wolf in this book, Cole, and him I like. With Sam being a "real boy" now, there's the warm fuzziness of Sam and Grace's love not being threatened by Sam's potential of going furry for good. Isabelle and Grace have formed a bond built on secret and sadness, so Isabelle we get to know more this go round. But pretty soon the drama starts when Beck's new wolf, Cole, shifts a lot earlier then the weather should permit. Cole's pre-wolf life he wants no one to know of, and he too is trying to forget. And on top of that, all isn't well because Grace is really sick and her parents are still flaky and annoying and super big tards. (Oh teen dramas how I love thee. lol!)

In this book there is a lot of discovery. Like, who is Cole St. Claire, really? What is wrong with Grace, really? Are her parents that retarded, really? Will Sam grow into an awesome man that would make Beck proud, really? Find out all this and more in the second exciting installment!!!!!!!!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

I've been reading several books at once, but finally just picked one to start and finish. It wasn't a bad choice if I do say so myself. And obviously I do. This was a very easy, but entertaining read.

Hex Hall is about Sophie Mercer, a teenage witch. Sophie, trying to help a sad classmate, has a spell backfire and is punished by being sent to Hecate, a boarding school for "freaks". Sophie finds herself to not fit in easily, only befriending her roommate, the outcast vamp. And discovers that her up-bringing by her human mom in the human world has severally stunted her knowledge and potential, making her feel even more the black sheep. Soon, murder is afoot, an unrequited romance is abrewing, and Sophie's genealogy is ascertained.

While it's not a deep book, and it's pretty much more of the same, it's still fun and I look forward to the sequels.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush is another YA supernatural romance book that is all too popular with the kiddy's right now. This one dealing in fallen angels.

In this book, we meet Nora Gray, a studious sophomore who is being raised by her widowed mother in their farm house on the coast of Maine. When Patch, the new mysterious transfer student, is thrust into her life as her biology partner, Nora finds herself inexplicably drawn to and frustrated by the handsome boy with the cocky attitude and eerie knowledge of her. Shortly after Patch comes into her life mysterious and creepy things begin to happen, and Nora finds herself wondering if her life really is on the line or if she's just going crazy. Nora soon discovers she's fallen for the fallen Patch and discovers his scars and his secrets.

Not the best YA book I've ever read, but I liked it. It was entertaining and I'll read the 2nd one when it comes out towards the end of the year.

Peter & Max: A Fables Novel by Bill Willingham

I love the Fables comic books, so of course I was looking forward to reading the Fables novel. And I wasn't disappointed. While you can tell Willingham is a comic writer, by way of his describing EVERYTHING, it was still a good novel.

This story is about Peter Piper, his brother Max, and a downright evil case of sibling rivalry. Our world is becoming a secret refuge for runaway fables (ie. Snow White, Old King Cole, The Big Bad Wolf, etc) since an evil force (the adversary) has moved into all the fable-lands slaughtering or enslaving all fables. The Piper's, a traveling band of merry music makers, are forced to run when the adversary army get a little too close for comfort. Max's jealousy over Peter(the younger brother) receiving the family inheritance, the famed flute Frost, pushes Max over the edge and causes Max to turn to "the dark-side". It follows them from childhood to modern day (which is century's later) and all the magic and mayhem they cause and encounter.

Whether you've read the comics or not, you can still read, follow, and enjoy this book. Although I highly suggest you read the comics too!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Horns by Joe Hill

Another phenomenal find from the library. Stephen King's son has got chops and man he's better then his daddy! He is a great writer, great storyteller.

Horns is the story of Ig Parrish and the events that follow the mysterious rape and murder of his long time girlfriend, Merrin, of which he is the primary suspect. About a year after her murder, Ig wakes after a drunken night with no memory, to find horns sprouting from his temples. Soon he discovers that his horns give him the ability to see people's darkest secrets and for them to confess these things openly to him. People also can not seem to recall what it is they confessed, if they remember even speaking to him at all. The story goes between present day events to past recanting. From the moment Ig lays eyes on Merrin, to the day he gains his best friend Lee, to the awful night Merrin was murdered, and to the night he lost his memory and gained his horns. Ig is discovering the hateful things people feel for him and the ugly truth behind Merrin's murder. Ig struggles with his faith, his morality, and how he is to avenge Merrin's death.

Poignant, gripping, and very interesting, this is a book worth losing some sleep over.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Sleepless by Charlie Huston

This is an amazing book. An intelligent, thought-provoking, ominous, modern-day apocalyptic book.

It's 2010 and the world is riddled by a plague known as Sleepless. It renders the infected unable to sleep and as the body breaks down from not sleeping, they go crazy and eventually die. Parker Haas, an undercover LAPD officer, is investigating the underground distribution of a new pharmaceutical called Dreamer, the only known drug to give a slight reprieve to the suffering. The world has gone to shambles due to the plague and creature comforts are scarce. While there is no cure, the drug that could help all the sufferers is practically none existent to the public. Parker's job of finding large scale illegal sells of Dreamer leads him to the discovery of a conspiracy on an epic scale. With unexpected murders, a highly skilled assassin, a boss who doesn't listen, a huge role-playing universe similar to W.O.W., and Sleepless hitting far too close to home, Parker finds himself trying to solve a mystery that's bigger then anyone really understands while overcoming hurdles that no one wants to face.

With an eloquent, oddly touching ending and an adventure that kept me turning the pages, this book has easily taken up position as a new favorite. One I will have to purchase and read again!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Guilty Pleasure by Laurell K Hamilton

I pulled out the 1st book of the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series to show my husband a scene, thinking he might find something to draw from the text. But in flipping through the book to find the particular were-rat scene I was planning to show him, I remembered how this book is what made me fall in love with Anita in the first place and deserved a revisit.

In this book we meet Anita, tough as nails animator, vamp hunter, and part-time preternatural police branch consultant. Anita has been working with the police to help solve a case of vamps being murdered. The wicked master of the city, Nikolaos, a 1000 year old vamp trapped in a young girls body has forced Anita into solving the cases for her. We also meet Jean-Claude, a powerful vamp with a thing for Anita. It's his fault that Nikolaos' interest is drawn to Anita, so through some crazy events that threaten Anita's life, Jean-Claude gives her the first couple of vamp marks to begin the human servant process and save her life(as well as his). We also meet Edward, the world's deadliest assassin, who wants in on some killing-the-master-of-the-city action. There are ghouls, were-rats, zombies, vamp bite addicts, and lots o' violence. This is also way before, as my husband calls it, it becomes vampire porn.

Great book, great series. Not for the squeamish or the prudish.