This is the third and final book of the Hunger Games trilogy and this review may contain spoilers.
It is full out war between The Capitol and all the Districts.  After District 12 is destroyed, the survivors all now reside in District 13.  Peeta is being held captive by The Capitol and Gale is actively working in the war effort.  Reluctantly, Katniss decides to be The Mockingjay and be the face of the resistance.  She along with other familiar faces must work together to save Peeta and gain their freedom by defeating The Capitol and President Snow. 


This was a great ending book to the trilogy!  I am impressed by how much I really enjoyed these books; it's a pretty solid series from beginning to end. I liked how cohesive all three books were and each book had a different purpose: the first one was obviously centered around The Hunger Games, Catching Fire was "the aftermath" of both of them surviving the hunger games, and Mockingjay was "the uprising" of the districts and the war truly begins.  These books were very well written and was able to hold my attention throughout.  


Sometimes it doesn't seem fair all the things that Katniss has to go through ... but isn't that indicative of life?  Life sure isn't fair.  One of my friends was upset because (I don't want to spoil it for anyone) but someone(s) dies but isn't death apart of life and in a series such as this, well especially this, shouldn't this be expected?  I am disappointed that certain characters had to die but I would probably complain if no one died.  Tragedy is necessary and helps characters to grow and become stronger, giving them the motivation to keep on fighting.


How can I not mention the whole Katniss, Peeta, Gale storyline.  This time Gale is the one who is present more throughout.  This is what I wanted from the beginning.  I have been waiting to get to know him more since Hunger Games.  Now, that I have more of a feel for him I have to say that I do like him, despite wanting not to because I am such a fan of Peeta.  There is just no way Gale can compete with what her and Peeta went through in the first and second books.  For Gale, I feel sorry for him but at the same time I have much respect for him.  His personality is definitely a little different from Peeta's and I like the edge that he has. I also like his intelligence and how he is able to use his hunting knowledge and apply it to making weaponry.  I like both guys but I did have a gripe with how the whole "love triangle," if you can call it that, was resolved.  In the end, I felt like she settled.  I never felt that she was completely smitten with either guy.  I was expecting her to actually choose but that isn't really how it goes down. 


District 13 was much different that I expected it to be.  The people there were very strict and, ironically, reminded me of The Capitol.  It just seemed like the people were still repressed though they were fighting for their freedom.  It was a definite contrast to the previous books where the settings were open wilderness.  The main focus was on the war efforts but I would liked to have seen more of the action on the front lines.  One thing I will say, the epilogue was not completely necessary.  I probably would have been fine without having read it. There are some things that I wish were different.  For instance, I wish that Katniss wasn't so drugged  throughout most of the book.  I wish that she would have been able to see her mom again.


Overall, I loved this entire series!  From start to finish, it was interesting and the characters were great.  It lacked in the romance department but that minor detail really doesn't effect the enjoyment of the books.  I can definitely see why there were so many rave reviews out there about it.  If you have not yet read The Hunger Games .... Shame on You!! 

★★★★★

Zel is the retelling of the classic children's story Rapunzel.  Zel lives a pretty secluded life with her mother, only venturing out to the market once or twice a year.  As she gets older she longs for more interaction with people outside her mother.  One fateful day, she and mother go shopping and she runs into a hansom guy.  The witch wants needs her to make the right choice and give up on the idea of marrying and having children to follow in her footsteps and become a witch as well.  However, because Zel can't seem to get the hansom man out of her head, the witch locks her up in a tower.  I'm sure you know pretty much how the rest of the story goes. 


This version holds true to the original but adding more depth and originality to the story.  I really liked that it is told from the three different perspectives of Zel, The Prince, and the witch (her mother).  In this version, I found myself sympathizing not only with Zel but also with the witch / mother.  It was clear that the witch loved Zel and even sacrificed her soul to have her.  I do not approve of her locking her up in the tower, but people do desperate things out of fear.  Her fear was that she'd lose the daughter that she never was supposed to have.  She is definitely my favorite character, as twisted as that may sound.  Another positive about this story was that Zel wasn't just a happy go lucky girl in the tower.  There were some dark moments in this book.  It was presented pretty realistically.  I mean who wouldn't go crazy after being locked up in a tower for as long as she was?  Then there is "the prince."  At first I didn't really like him that much but I guess as the book progressed he kind of grew on me.  I guess I liked his dedication to finding Zel and all of that but I guess his part in the book wasn't as intriguing to me as much as the witch and Zel. 


This is the first time, in a long, long time that I have read the tale of Rapunzel and I have to say that I was definitely surprised by how much I really enjoyed it.  I loved how all of the things that happened in the original story, happened in this one as well but it was still a little different.  I feel like the witch's part made the book, even though Zel has some crazy moments toward the end. This is truly a romantic story about love at first sight.  Honestly, I thought that I was going to be bored with this fairytale since I hadn't read one in ages but if you're looking for a blast from the past, the more grown-up version -- Read this.

★★★★☆

Anastajia Parker is not your typical teenager, in fact she is witch and has been her whole life.  The only problem is that she has no powers like her mother and fellow witch friends.  She is worried that she won't pass her initiation and be cast out the inner circle.  Right before the initiation, her father appears at the door and urges her not to go to the initiation and that she is a vampire princess.  Her mom literally throws him out.  Witches and Vampires are mortal enemies.  Secrets that have been kept from Ana are revealed, only to make her life more complicated.  In addition, she is going out with a cute witch and an uber hot vampire.  Will one of them be able to win her heart? 

I found this book randomly at the library while I was looking for something totally different.  Since I haven't read a book similar to this one in while I was excited.  I don't know what I expected, but I was not impressed.  It was just okay for me.  It's just your typical paranormal book with a love triangle you can see from a mile away.  The main character, Ana, got a little annoying at times.  I know this sounds terrible but I hated that her eyes were two different colors.  Was that necessary just because she is a damphyr? Two things in particular made me uneasy about her.  First, her long lost father appears out of nowhere and she immediately starts calling him Dad?  What world does she live in?  Seriously, if my father was absent for my whole life, nothing in the world would make me call him Dad right off.  Second, she goes off on her own with a vampire stranger, Elias, to the underground lair of vampires?  Really? So, it's okay to go off with a stranger, albeit a nice stranger, to a lair full of vampires? That really had me questioning this girl's judgement and intelligence.  


As far as characters, Ana was by far my least favorite.  The fact that she could be crushing hard on one guy one minute and running off with another the next without a bit of remorse really rubbed me the wrong way.  She seemed so clueless. I think that part of my problem is that she doesn't live up to some the strong female characters that I have read in the past, namely Rose Hathaway from VA.  I know I shouldn't compare them but that's how a female lead is supposed to be and I guess it's hard to live up to those standards.  Oh, and I wasn't really a fan of Nikolai.  He definitely has some anger issues.  Since he is a vampire hunter, I'm not sure how a relationship between the two of them would work.  I guess the only character that I actually liked was Elias.  He was polite, kind, honest, and I love the way he spoke to Ana.  He seems to be the perfect guy.  As far as picking a team, I would pick neither.  I don't think Ana and Nik have any chemistry whatsoever and I think Elias is too good for her.


Besides Elias, this books saving grace is the ending.  I liked how she finally came into her powers but it was definitely rushed and went by too fast. I am more interested finding out about how things will turn out between the witches and the vampires than seeing what happens with the Ana love triangle.  


 Sadly, this one was terribly unoriginal.  Luckily, it wasn't that long and I would consider it a somewhat fun read, nothing too thought provoking.  .  Looking at it that way, it's possible for you to enjoy the book.  One downside is that it's very predictable.  I will consider reading the next book solely because I want to see what will happen between the witches and vampires now that Ana has tapped into her powers.  I also really like Elias and wondering if there will be a werewolf dynamic added to the story.  

★★★☆☆

This is the second book in the Star Crossed series. 
Logan has overcome her first set of obstacles and has made it into the writing camp in Monterey.  Now, with the help of her trusty Fearless Astrology, she is ready to boldly face a whole new set of challenges.  She wants needs to impress her instructor, famous writer, Henry Jaffa not only so that she can get her work put in the school's anthology but ultimately she wants him to be her mentor.  As quickly as she arrives to camp, she finds that things are not going to go according to plan.  Already she has an Aries for an enemy and a sexy Taurus to distract her.  She is determined to blow Jaffa away and write the anthology that will get published but at what cost?


I don't remember how I heard about this series but after I finally got my hands on the the first book, Aries Rising, I was definitely intrigued.  Once I finished said book, I hadn't been too eager to go out and get this one.  The author, Bonnie Hearn Hill, had come across my review and sent me this book.  I was very surprised and thrilled to have had the book sent to me and an opportunity to have an e-mail conversation with her.


Like I said, I wasn't in any rush to go out and read this book.  Logan is a little older in this book and one of my complaints from the first one was that I felt she was too young for me to relate to her.  Because she has matured in this book, I did not have that same feeling.  In fact, I really enjoyed this follow-up.  There are several reasons why I liked this book.  Again, the author does a great job at infusing astrology into the plot! I have always been interested in astrology and this has deepened that interest.  I loved getting to know a little more about each sign.  "The sun definitely is not the sum."  


Logan came across differently in this book.  She seems more confident and sure of herself, which is a wonderful thing.  She is more willing to take chances and stand up for what she believes without backing down.  For example, I loved the way she took on that Aries and even that Taurus!  I also really liked how things developed between her and Jeremy.  He was a lot more likable than her previous boy interest Nathan.  I didn't really care for Nathan and I'm glad that Logan is over that.  The way she deals with her crush on Jeremy is much different from the way she dealt with Nathan.  She is more guarded despite the fast pump of her heart and she doesn't let his gorgeous eyes fool her more than once.  The only negative thing I can say is that once she and Jeremy finally get past their issues, it seems like their relationship develops a little too quickly.  I still want see him in the next book though.  


Despite her relationship with Jeremy, she is focused more on her writing than on what guy she is dating which is such a good thing.   As with the first book, there is a mystery, only this time it surrounds the ghost of a singer who died in the late 60s.  This ghost also happens to be the subject of Logan's paper.  This aspect has to be one of my favorite.  I liked how Logan has to again do some investigating and the story is deeper than the mystery from the first book.  It seemed to have more layers and I liked trying to guess how it was going to end.  It gets Logan into a lot of dangerous and sticky situations.  She handles all her challenges very well and I look forward to seeing her grow even more.


This is a short fun read.  I read this whole book in only one evening.  There was mystery, boy issues, and of course astrology! There is no doubt about it, I am definitely going to read the next book in the series entitled Gemini Night.  And, this time, I'm excited to.

Jonas lives in a world that is perfect by most standards.  The people live in peaceful, controlled communities without worrying about fear, pain, or war.  When they turn Twelve, The Elders give each person their assigned jobs and they begin their training.  For Jonas, this is a much anticipated event because turning twelve is the last age that is celebrated and acknowledged.  This ceremony is different and Jonas is given the honor of becoming the new Receiver of Memories.  The old Receiver, now called The Giver, for his task is to pass along the memories of generations past of true love and happiness, sadness and pain to the new Receiver.  The new knowledge helps open his eyes to the truth about the world of Sameness around him.  It is his honor and duty to accept this challenge and his world is changed forever.  How will he handle this new truth?

I was at one of my best friend's house talking about books. (hhmm imagine that!)  She pulled out The Giver and asked me if I'd read it.  I had heard of it and that for some people it was a required reading for school.  I groaned and told her that I had not read it.  She then gave it to me and told me that I must read it, that it was good.  Obediently, I took the book and put it at the bottom of my TBR pile.  Needless to say, I wasn't too eager to read a book that was required reading for some.  Finally, I picked it up, especially since it's not very long at 179 pages, and discovered that it is AMAZING!  I really should have picked it up sooner. 


This book is brilliant from beginning to end!  For such a short, quick read it raises a lot of thought provoking questions.  I know I'm guilty, as are most people, of taking my life for granted, wishing that things were more like Jonas' world.  There positives and negatives to every situation.  Nothing is perfect even if you are ignorant to the negatives.  In the society described in the book, things seems perfect on the surface but when you learn the truth you understand how sad it all is.  There may not be any war but they know nothing of true love and the freedom to live as you like, choose your own mate, and things as simple as colors, snow, nature, and sunshine.  As Jonas slowly is able to understand these things and more including pain, he grows as a person and wants to help others see but that is forbidden.  This book has given me a new sense of appreciation for being able to live my life the way I want and being allowed to make my own choices.  


The ending did not disappoint and it is left open.  Normally open-ended ending irritate me but this time I was glad for it.  It gave me a sense of hope and optimism about Jonas' future.  I highly recommend this book to people of all ages and walks of life.  I didn't think I would like this book at all but I was thoroughly surprised.  It's an easy and quick read that won't leave you disappointed. 

Playing Time: 11 hours 37 mins
Read By: Caroline McCormick


This is the second book in The Hunger Games series and this review contains spoilers.  Both Katniss and Peeta have achieved the impossible: they both survived The Hunger Games.  Once you are declared the winner, there's no going back.  However, the incident that lead to both of them winning is seen by President Snow and some of the districts as an act of rebellion against The Capitol instead of an act of love. Without even knowing it, Katniss has become a symbol for hope and a target for The Capitol.  They get the biggest surprise of their lives when they are thrown back into the games for the Quarter Quell and the results are much different from the first time they went in.  Can they both come out alive, again? 


I have really enjoyed listening to these books.  I loved learning more about the world they live in.  I anticipated the love triangle that would play out between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale.  I was looking forward to learning more about Gale since he wasn't really a presence in the first book after she went off to the games.  I like Gale but I still feel like I want to know more about him.  It's obvious that he loves Katniss and I think she's leaning more towards him because of their history. However, I am Team Peeta all the way!  I can't help but love him and I found myself wanting to scream at Katniss.  I don't understand how she can be so clueless and it's borderline annoying.  Their "fake" relationship was kind of painful knowing that she doesn't love Peeta back.  The only thing she can think of to convince President Snow that she is in love is to kiss him a lot.  She doesn't seem to really love either guy, in fact, it seems like she's confused because she feels sorry for both of them for liking her.  So, I was disappointed in that aspect of the book.


I have to admit I liked the first book a lot more than this one.  For a middle book, it delivers.  There is action but not as much as the first book.  We learn a lot more about the districts and what's been going on outside of District 12, which is nice but some of it was a little unnecessary.    Katniss was ignorant to how much her performance at the games affected the world as she knew it.  Also, I didn't like how she was left out of some key bits of information though I understand the reasoning behind it.  Katniss is still a likable character but can be annoying at times especially when it comes to Peeta and Gale.  The plot twists are a little far fetched.  Like, first they have to get married because of President Snow, then they are already married, and then Katniss is pregnant?  Lies on top of lies on top of more lies.  Despite my gripes I still really enjoyed the book.  There was more I needed to look past in the book though. 

Since Caroline McCormick also read the first book, I knew what to expect going in.  Still, it did bother me that Katniss sounded much older than I would have imagined her sounding.  It wasn't too bad listening to her this time around and she does an okay job.  


Catching Fire does a good job at setting up the final book Mockingjay and I can't wait to read it.  The book ended with a cliffhanger but no type of wrap up.  It just stops which I didn't like too much.  If you're going to read this one I suggest having the next book handy.   




Side note: After thinking about it, this series reminds me of  The Uglies Series by Scott Westerfeld which isn't a bad thing.  District 13 = The New Smoke, The Capitol = Special Circumstances, secret rebellions and people/animals being genetically altered.  

Playing Time: 11 hours 11 mins
Read By: Carolyn McCormick
Published in December 2008


Enter the futuristic world of Panem.  What used to be America is now twelve districts that surround The Capitol.  Each of the districts are forced to give up a randomly selected male and female (age 12 - 18) to participate in the hunger games, a fight to the death that is broadcast live across Panem.  The hunger games is punishment to the already poor and famished citizens of the districts for a failed uprising attempt that happened years ago.  In district twelve,  Prim is selected to be their district's "tribute" but her older sister Katniss decides to volunteer to take her place.  The games are brutal and it's either kill or be killed.  


I always tell myself that I'm not going to feed into the hype and read a book that everyone says is good.  It never works.  I wasn't supposed to read Harry Potter and I did and I loved it.  I wasn't supposed to read Twilight and I did and I loved it.  I wasn't supposed to read Vampire Academy but I did and I loved it.  Which brings me to The Hunger Games, I wasn't going to read it but I did and I have to agree with a lot of people out there.  It was amazing and I loved it!


Once I started listening to this book I didn't want to stop.  I think that Carolyn McCormick did an excellent job narrating the story.  At first her voice seemed a little mature for it to belong to a sixteen year old girl, once I was able to look past that, her narration helped make the story come alive.  Katniss is a great, strong female lead character.  She was very easy to understand and relate to.  I really admire her courage and cleverness.  She always seemed very aware that an audience was watching her every move and was able to make smart decisions because of it.  I am a sucker for strong female characters she is the best one I've read since Rose in VA.  I also couldn't help but fall in love with Peeta, the male tribute from district twelve.  He came across as a genuinely honest and likable guy.  The more I learned about them both, the more I wanted them both to win. 


Everything about this world seems real.  The thought of reading a book in which 23 people are supposed to die really didn't excite me.  I felt sympathy for these people being used in such a way and I wanted nothing more than to see justice served against The Capitol.   It turned out to be much different than I expected it to be.  It wasn't as gory or brutal as I had imagined.  I'm surprised by the connections that Katniss is able to make with the reader and other tributes.  In some ways, this book reminded me of a reality television show.  It got very intense as the story progressed and the number of tributes slowly begin to dwindle.  I was at the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next.  The ending was nothing short of amazing.  Katniss is a strong girl with a good heart that shine through.


This story had me hooked from beginning to end.  There were nice little touches and details that made the story strong.   I would definitely recommend this book to fans of young adult and dystopian fantasy.  I am very anxious to get my hands on the second book and I have already put the audio version on hold.  

Logan McRae is a high school sophomore with two amazing best friends.  She isn't very popular which is an understatement, she's more like invisible.  Her efforts to impress her teacher, Mr. Franklin aka Frankenstien, so she can get into a summer writing camp, has only resulted in average grades.  After rummaging through her parents things, she discovers a book called Fearless Astrology. With her new understanding the stars, she is able to become the most popular girl in school.  She gets her own column, on the zodiac,in the school newspaper, a date with her crush Nathan,and is starting to impress Frankenstien.  She also plans on catching a group of pranksters called, The Gears,  using the zodiac.  Can she rely on astrology to get the things she wants or will all her efforts be for nothing? 


I picked this  book  because I have always had an interest in astrology and I wanted to see how that would play into the story of this book.  Generally speaking this book was okay.  What I liked most about it was how astrology was infused into the plot.  Logan was okay but  wasn't as easy to relate to as I thought she should be.  The story was cute and I liked that there was an underlying mystery as to who "The Gears" are.   It was nice to see that the students accepted her ability to read the zodiac though equally unrealistic because most people I've encountered are very skeptical of it.  At some point, we all have our moments when we begin to become more confident in ourselves and Logan experiences this after reading Fearless Astrology.  I enjoyed seeing her whole character change as she becomes more confident and better at infusing herself into her writing.


The book wasn't that long and this was a fast, easy read.  It was well-written but aimed at a more younger audience than the books I'm used to reading.  It was fun to see her learn about each sign and apply what she learned to her situations.  I think some of the traits of the signs are eerily true.  The book wrap-up was good even though I guessed how it would end.  I don't know if I plan on reading the next book, Taurus Eyes, because it is for younger people.  But, you never know the stars may have others things in mind. 

Dru Anderson has been different ever since she can remember.  She can sense things in the "Real World," bad things that normal folk don't have to worry about.  Living with her father isn't always easy since they move around A LOT.  His occupation?  To hunt those creatures of the night in the "Real World."  When her father fails to return home one night it is up to Dru to find him.  This task is going to prove more difficult than she ever could have imagined.  Daylight is her friend but she has to survive through the night or it could be her end. 


I was told that if I liked Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead that I would also like this book.  Well, I ended up absolutely loving the Vampire Academy series, so I figured I would give this one a try.  Sadly, I was a little disappointed.  The description on the actual book is a little misleading. It says: 

Dru Anderson. Night Hunter. Knife Thrower. Heart Breaker. 

I was expecting an amazing book and what I got was an okay book with a lot of potential. Dru was more like a younger version of Anita Blake from the series by Laurell K. Hamilton, only not as tough. However I was expecting someone more similar to Rose Hathaway.  Don't get me wrong, I liked the story and the concept but compared to other books in this genre it could haver been better.  There was a tiny thing, possibly petty,  that I felt shouldn't have irritated me, but did, and that was her spelling of werwulf.  Why? I guess to be different; I don't know but I didn't like it.
It took me longer than it should have to get through this book mainly because the main character, Dru, was somewhat annoying.  She is supposed to be this strong, female zombie fighter but she is more like a scared kid trying to act tough.  I suppose the latter is more realistic and I guess I can appreciate that but I wanted the girl to be more kick-ass. Given her loss and age, maybe that's a little harsh and I definitely can sympathize but I was rooting for her to pull it together but that moment never really happened.  I will say it wasn't all bad, once I got further into it, the action picked up and it became much more enjoyable.  Like I said before, this series has huge potential to be amazing!  There were a lot of things left open and I'm definitely interested enough to continue with the series.  I hope that the next installment Betrayals  doesn't disappoint. 

Micah is a compulsive liar and has been her whole life convincing everyone from her parents, to teachers, and classmates.  However, she vows to tell the truth, the whole and nothing but.  Her change of heart is brought on by the brutal death of her friend and classmate, Zach.  The question is, is she capable of telling the truth when she is so used to lying about everything?  By the end of the book it is up to you to decide for yourselves what is truth and what is fiction.  


I had to read this book because the opinions I heard of it varied from absolute love to absolute hate.  I had to see for myself and I fell somewhere in between.  I wanted to like this book so much but I had a few issues. This book is divided up into three different parts, and each one she claims is truer than the last.  I don't want to give anything away because when you reach part two there is a bomb the size of Hiroshima.  What I can say is this book was extremely frustrating and infuriating.  Micah is the type of character that I wanted to like but couldn't.  Who likes a liar?  Also, she is a teenager, and like most teens she always tries to make herself out to be innocent no matter what the situation.  On top of everything, there are parts in which it feels like she laughs at the reader and makes us feel stupid, which was a turn off for me.  


The good thing about this book is that anyone who reads it will come to different conclusions about what they think happened.  I liked the way this book is written.  There are multiple points in which I was genuinely surprised by what the narrator says.  Once I finished the book, I did think about it after and it makes for good discussion -- if you can get through it.  It was interesting but I know for sure that I do not plan on revisiting this one later.  If you are interested in reading this one, I suggest getting it from the library. 
                                                                                                                           

Jude is still on the run as a member of the Liberation Militia, a terrorist organization, and for his part in the kidnapping of Persephone Hadley.  Sephy has given birth to her daughter, Callie Rose, after being disowned by her family.  


Follow-up to Black and White, Knife Edge is another great book! There were many references to the events that happened in the previous book mentioned.  The world in which the story takes place hasn't changed except for the characters, Jude and Sephy, are dealing with the death of one whom they both loved and knew in different ways.   The story is told through the eyes of varying people throughout rather than just the two in the first book.  This one also had me hooked from beginning to end. I love that we get insight to Jude, who is definitely someone who is troubled and who we love to hate.  He is one you don't know whether you should hate or feel sorry for.  It is quite interesting to see how both his and Sephy's lives are forever changed by a single event that happened at the end of the previous book.  The fate of these two is destined to intertwine and the outcome will leave you at the edge of your seat. Their lives couldn't have been more different and more the same.  


Though this book could definitely be read without having read the first one, it is apart of a trilogy and I strongly recommend reading the previous one first as it will help readers to see the big picture.  There aren't as many twists as the first but it has its shocking, jaw-dropping moments that makes reading it worth it.  The author does a great job at evoking emotion from the reader.  This book is written beautifully and was very poetic to me.  I don't see how anyone could not get lost in this story and I will definitely finish reading this series. 


5 out of 5 STARS

This is the second book in the Morganville Vampire series.  
Claire and the gang have barely had to time to regroup since we last saw them at the end of the last book.  Disturbing the little bit of peace they managed to gain just hours before, Shane's dad and his gang of bikers show up determined to take revenge on the vampires that destroyed their family.  In addition to this major problem, Claire still has to go to school and deal with the bullies.  Aside from the threats to their lives, on the back burner, there are also budding romances between Eve and Michael and Claire and Shane.  As we delve deeper into the secrets of Morganville, things get a lot more dangerous as the residents of the Glass House continue their fight to stay alive in a town full of vampires. 


This book literally picks up where the last one left off and we are instantly thrown into the action.  I am so grateful that I didn't have to sit through chapters of recap, like in some other books.  Though I liked the first one better, I still enjoyed this book.  At times, the story lost some of it's original believability but the action was appreciated.  This isn't a long book, at 256 pages,  but there is a lot happening.  As I anticipated, we learn more about the town, its politics, and its fanged residents.  I still find Morganville and it's characters intriguing.  


There were a couple of things about this continuation that I did not like.  It is mainly around Shane's storyline with his dad.  I liked that we got some insight into his past but he seemed to go from wanting to take down the vampires to wanting to get along with them very suddenly.  I know if vampires or anyone were the cause of a death(s) in my family, then it would take a lot longer for me to "come around." So, Claire has taken his spot as my favorite character. I don't know why but I just really like her despite her definite flaws.  I have also warmed up to Eve, although in this one she becomes a cry baby, but that's understandable.  I'm still sympathetic towards Michael but I don't really like or dislike him.  That being said, I do like what he contributes to the story. 


All in all, this was a good book and an okay follow-up to Glass Houses.  I didn't get that same I've-got-to-read-the-next-one-now feeling I got after the first one.  There wasn't a huge cliffhanger at the end of this one but we were left with some unanswered questions.  Sure, I'll read the next one.  I'm just not as excited about it. 


4 out of 5 STARS

Claire Danvers is one of those straight A students who got to graduate high school early at the age of sixteen.  Instead of going to the college of her dreams, she is forced by her parents to go to Texas Prairie University in order to stay close to home.  She gets more than she bargained for in the small town of Morganville, Texas.  She gets on the wrong side of bully Monica Morrell and is driven off campus.  With no place to go she is taken in by the residents of the Glass House.  Her new friends are strange but protective; and her move off campus helps her to uncover the town's darkest secrets. 


Here I go again with another vampire book.  I have to say that I am very pleased with this twist on the vampire genre.  Although the book started off a bit slow, it got really good!  Claire gets herself into a lot of trouble with her curiosity but faces the dangers bravely.  She is still young and has a lot of room to grow but she is very likable.  My favorite character, however is Shane.  I like that he's tough and a little mysterious with a nonchalant attitude.  The weirdest character for me was Eve.  I don't quite know what to make of her just yet.  I think she tries to be tough but underneath her goth facade she may be a little fragile.  She is the only character that I really don't care if I know more about or not.  Rounding out the main characters is Michael Glass, owner of the Glass House.  He is easy to imagine and I felt very sympathetic towards him. I do like that the characters are diverse in their personalities and it will be interesting to see how their relationships develop.


I loved how the author mixed in a ghostly aspect in addition to the vampires. It makes me wonder and hope that there are more preternatural beings in future books. There really isn't any history of how this vamp town came to exist and they don't play a direct role until the very end of the book.  I'm very interested to learn more details about the background which I'm sure will be revealed in future books.  The action is satisfactory.  Not a lot of books can keep you on the edge of your seat like this one does.  It is very believable that anything can and will happen in Morganville.  


I am very excited to read the next installment of this series.  It ended with a huge cliffhanger! I want to know more about the vampires, now! Overall, this is a great read but if you are planning on getting this one, I suggest that you have the second book handy.


4 out 5 STARS

NOTE: The other name for this series is Naughts and Crosses. 


Sephy and Callum. One is a Naught while the other is a Cross.  They are childhood friends who have grown to love one another in a way that is not acceptable in their society.  It's simple: Naughts and Crosses do not mix. They desperately want to be with each other but first they must fight against the world and possibly even risk their lives for a forbidden love.  


This was an amazing book!  I don't want to take away any elements of surprise for the readers who have not yet read this one.  This is more than just a tragic love story.  Both of the main characters start off innocent and unaware of the hatred present in their society.  It is very relevant to the world as we know it and really made me think about the what ifs. Some people are more well off than others and some unfortunately are forced to grow up earlier in life.  This book shows that we should not judge people and also that your experiences shape who you are as a person. I was inspired to pay attention to how people around me stereotype others.   The author did a very good job tackling racism in a new  and different way.  


From the moment I started this book, it hooked me in and I never wanted to put it down.  All readers could relate to either one of the characters.  The story itself was very powerful and thought-provoking.  There were shocking twists and turns that kept me reading for hours.  I was very saddened by this book and almost brought to tears, but I loved it nonetheless.  It shows a hard, terrible, and unfortunate truth.  I loved that I was able to feel what the characters were going through.  People really need to look past the color of ones skin because we are all the made the same on the inside.  This is only the first in a trilogy  and needless to say I can't wait to get my hands on the next one (Knife Edge)


5 out of 5 STARS

Everything that has happened up to this point, has been building up to this book.  All of the demigods and their allies have been preparing, as  best they can, for the final showdown with Kronos.  The prophesy has been revealed and Percy has some life-altering decisions to make.  Kronos' army is stronger than ever and they know their chances of defeating him are slim, especially with the Ares cabin refusing to fight.  In addition, there is a mole within the group feeding information directly back to Kronos! The gods are busy fighting the titan Typhon who is rampaging across the country headed for Mount Olympus while Poseidon is fighting another titan Oceanus.  Our favorite group of heroes are on their own to stop the titan god of time in the conclusion to this epic story. 


Sadly, this marks the end of the Percy Jackson series.  Let me just say, this has quickly become one of my favorites!  From beginning to end, the books got increasingly good.  Despite minor complaints, this is a great story that anyone can enjoy: young and old alike.  From the first chapter and throughout, there was not a dull moment in this book.  You got action from beginning to end.  I know we are used to some comedic relief or banter between the main characters but there really wasn't any room for that in this book.  No complaints here because that definitely should be expected with a war raging and the possibility of the world ending based on the actions of a group of teenagers.  More people die and I was at the edge of my seat hoping that all of the main characters survive.  I liked the way the story unfolded and the wrap up left me feeling like reading this the whole series was totally worth it.  


If I had one complaint it would be that the battle seemed to be a bit choppy.  They would start fighting and stop and start again.  My one and only wish is that the fighting would have been a little more smoother.  That being said, I understand why it had to be broken up that way as well as it can't be expected for them to fight non-stop without at least taking a break to tend to the wounded.  Still, it felt a little choppy.  There was a couple of nice twists at the end, some of which I saw coming while others were a good surprise.  I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who likes young adult and even adults too! 


There is a teaser at the very end alluding to another series he is doing set in the same world but around different characters.  No doubt I plan on reading that one too. 


5 out of 5 STARS