REVIEW: Pure by Julianna Baggott

Title: Pure

Author: Julianna Baggott

Reviewed by: Cassie

The Fairies Say: Dark and Exciting!

Summary (from BN.com)

We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .

Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .

Those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his family is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.

First off, I'd like to mention that on my copy of the book, it said that Fox already bought rights to make this into a movie. So, if that's your thing, maybe you'll love this! But before I get into it, I'd like to point out the summary has improper grammar. Everyone does not equal their/they. Big no-no.

Pure is different. I thought this was going to be a lot of different things; I thought Pressia and Partridge were quite possibly going to fall for each other (When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again); I thought she was going to go on some wicked adventure on a fight-to-survive non-stop adventure; I thought it was going to be some epic battle. I was, however, pleasantly (depends on how you view things) surprised. I say 'depends on how you view things' because I did not expect this extremely dark aspect of life. But it is. And it's a harsh darkness, not a dark beauty. But man, Julianna Baggott WORKS IT!

The story begins with Pressia's grandfather telling her the story of how things got to be how they were. Basically, somehow the U.S. was using bombs/detonations in defense and either we bombed ourselves on accident or the opponent bombed us. And from the Detonations, the world shattered. Humans and animals fused with each other molecular-ly and with the earth, metal, plastic, dolls... you get what I mean. Nine years later, Pressia's about to have to stay hidden from the OSR because she's about to turn sixteen. And that means they're going to come collect her either for training to kill, or to be killed.

The characters in Pure were definitely unique. Pressia: tough, but in an innocent way. She hasn't had to kill and she hasn't been hunted. As the story progresses, she matures. She's half-Asian (WOOT!) and she's not only on a journey to survive, but she's also trying to get memories and a sense of family. She wants to live live. Partridge: he's difficult to like at first, and also the 'outcast character'. You know, the one character the author creates so s/he is an outcast (even if for no reason) and we feel pity for him/her even though he might be annoying. However, he is cool in that surgically-enhanced-smart-thinker way. Bradwell: he is blunt and suspicious, and also a genius. He is a complex character and I must say, he was a success for me. The rest of the characters were important, yes, but there are so many and too many of them are deep to keep this post short.

Honestly, I don't think there were any issues. I just didn't take with it well because it's so blunt. It's layered, brutal, and fabulously new. The world is cruel, savage, and has a strange beauty to it. All of the characters are beautifully flawed and complicated. Pure doesn't do tea and biscuits; no, it pours the scalding tea on you and crumples the biscuits onto your burning skin. It's harsh and throws you into such a uniquely disturbing world that it's slightly stunning. As in, whoa-seriously-um-WHAT-WHOA-foreverdisturbed would be my train of thought. I admit, I began the book and wanted to put it down. I didn't think it was worth my time, but I stuck through it because I knew you fabulous readers would like a review. And then, eventually I was drawn in and I wanted to return to reading it.

Pure is a world where humanity's cruelty is really highlighted and elaborated. Unimaginable monsters pop out of the pages, countless strangers are murdered in cold blood, and the world keeps spinning despite these horrible things. It's definitely something that will stick with me, and if it does become a movie, I will probably go see it. But it might be rated R so I'm not sure if I really want to, knowing what happens on these pages.

Don't let the darkness of it scare you off though! And, don't forget to follow us! We have 0 followers and we always follow back and I will make sure it is worth your time!!

Cassie :)

REVIEW: Spark by Brigid Kemmerer

Title: Spark

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Reviewed by: Cassie

The Fairies Say: Scandalously good

Summary (from BN.com)

Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally.

Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can't.

Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he's not doing it.

And no one seems to believe him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.

Gabriel can't let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that's right at his heels. But there are some risks he can't help taking.

The fuse is lit. . .

Praise for Brigid Kemmerer and The Elemental Series

"Five hot guys, one tough heroine, plenty of romance and non-stop action. . . Elemental is the new series to watch." --Inara Scott, author of The Marked

"Overflowing with action, snappy dialog, and hot guys--The Elemental Series will take your breath away." --Kim Harrington, author of Clarity

May I just say I was super duper excited for this? Like, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this bad boy (and yes Gabriel is one and yes he is extremely sexy) and when I found out it was on the way, I proceeded to: 1.) squeal like a little girl with ice cream 2.) drop my iPhone 3.) start twirling and clapping my hands in excitement 4.) have an EXTREMELY stupid happy grin on my face. I could FEEL it. 

And I would like to say for those wondering, Brigid Kemmerer did not disappoint.

Spark starts out with Gabriel telling a leaf to burn. He's staring at it intensely and.... yeah it's pretty attractive. In my mind's eye at least. It's before school starts and yadayada and the boys pick up Becca and (to Gabriel's extreme annoyance) Quinn. Then we get to Trig. and the horrible new sub who springs a pop quiz on them. Gabriel is extremely flustered and gets them all wrong... but that brainiac sophomore next to him makes it so he gets an 80. He doesn't understand why... or her.

Like in Storm I enjoyed Brigid Kemmerer's characters immensely. They have their flaws but now we can delve into them!

Gabriel- man, when I got my hands on the first chapter I was like "OH MY GOD GABRIEL. Let me have your babies." As the story continues, we get to understand Gabriel. And there's a whole lot to understand. He's got this guilty conscious... and this inability to communicate right... and this angry personality. And it is attractive. Whew, I was like...

Layne- I like, LOVED Layne's character!!!! She's that stereotypical nerd. Nothing special about her- glasses, braid, turtleneck, and no brands. Except, maybe there's more. And Gabriel is on a mission to figure her out. She's smart, perceptive, strong, and caring. Perfect for Gabriel.

Becca & Chris don't get much spotlight (which is totally fine with me!), neither do Nick or Quinn really, but we get a little peek-a-boo with Hunter and Michael. And I liked that. Quite a bit.

Well truthfully I had VERY minimal issues with Spark. That may have to do with my infatuation with Gabriel but hell, who cares? Okay, sorry, thoughts of our resident fire elemental distracted me. *deep breath* Okay, focus Cassie.

One of my issues was Quinn and Nick. Heck, I don't know why, but they annoyed the heck out of me! Quinn, in this book (to me), was annoying, melodramatic, and just... ugh. My fingers were itching to slap when her name popped up. Nick also annoyed me. He's Gabriel's twin (except smart and "the good twin") but once they have a fight about Gabriel being a jerk towards Quinn, Nick totally deserts him. What a bitch.

Two: I felt like not much happened in Spark except Gabriel's issues. And hey, I am not complaining. It's just something I noticed and felt was kind of a problem.

Three: Gabriel and Layne knew each other for two weeks and suddenly they're each other's world. Considering how their personalities compliment the other's so well and the situation, yes, I can understand. I just don't like it. It felt cheap and I would've really preferred it be Ferrari quality. If it was deeper, I would be dead right now, yes, but I would also not feel cheated. Hmm... which is better? *strokes imaginary beard*

Overall, I totally love this book. It's going on my favorites shelf on goodreads, just FYI! I mean, who can resist a book about Bad Boy + Nerd = lurrrve? Did someone just raise his/her hand out in the world? And thinks that it's okay? Excuse me sir, but NO, IT'S NOT!!!! 

Get outta here. AND GET THIS BOOK.

Leave a comment ( I love getting them!!) and please follow us! We have zero followers and I swear I will make it your time to read these reviews.

Cassie

OPAL Cover Reveal!

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Follow this link to an ~~~ EPIC CONTEST ~~~ Announcement. You will want to bookmark this page!

http://jenniferarmentrout.blogspot.com/p/october-1-2012.html

USA TODAY Bestselling author, Jennifer L. Armentrout, lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She also writes adult romance under the name J. Lynn.

Find Jennifer on: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website | Blog

Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Title: The Night Circus

Author: Erin Morgenstern

Reviewed by: Cassie

The Fairies Say: Timelessly beautiful

Summary (from BN.com)

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.

The Night Circus is a riveting novel beautifully depicted. Set mostly in the later 19th century, this is where it gets the timeless feel to it. Filled to the brim with breathtaking descriptions and an enthralling story. Spun with perfection, The Night Circus will leave you pondering about it for some time after you put it down.

It starts off with "The circus arrives without warning." This particular few pages is set as "You look around..." and then switches off to how the story began. This particular story begins with six-year-old Celia, arriving at her father's office. And then it continues to grow.

We don't get to know the characters very deeply, but that's because the connection is replaced with amazing descriptions. However, I did see Celia as a fellow introvert book-lover. Her dad is obsessed with her winning the competition and some of the ways he prepares her are disturbing. She deals with life as she can, and fits in well with the circus. Marco was a bit of a mystery. You learn that he, too, is a book-lover. He is a bit less introverted, however, and we learn he journals, draws a bit, and dreams magnificent things. His mind is fascinating, from the things he creates, and I wish we got more of his thoughts. Isobel... Oh my I felt so heartbroken with Isobel. Lovesick and betrayed, with the intent to do well but broken. Bailey, a younger character, is also quieter and a book-lover. He's a dreamer and sacrifices his life for something he believes in/loves.

There are other characters-quite a few others- but they're not quite described much.

My issues with the book were that I felt totally misled. I had thought I was going to get this epic romance with an awesome environment- a circus, what better? It could totally be romantic- and instead I get... well this. The Night Circus is definitely more focused on the details and surroundings than the feelings, relationships, and character development. You can't connect with any singular character at all really because of the way the book is written. It jumps around from year to year, perspective to perspective, and only briefly focuses on feelings. Very briefly, mind you. And for me, I just don't like that. However!! If you love proper etiquette and totally 19th century mannerism and relationships, you'll love this. And if you like your books as stories you can totally see as a movie (The Night Circus seems like a partially B&W, partially color movie- but all classic) then you'll really like this, too.

Overall it's a great book, just not my cup of tea. (and yes- there's TEA! in this book) I still really liked it, it's just I like relationships I can connect with and I rely on feelings the author can make me feel, other than perfect surroundings and a lovingly spun story.

By the way... I must say, Erin Morgenstern works some magic. I never knew one could get so seductive with 19th century wear... She makes it WORK! There is one scene where I just stopped, mouth open, thinking OH MY GOD I JUST DIED

Yup that was me.

All right I'm signing off, but don't forget to subscribe!! We have zero. And we promise we will follow you back. Pinky swear.

Cassie :)

Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr

Title: Carnival of Souls

Author: Melissa Marr

Reviewed by: Cassie

The Fairies Say: Deliciously Dark

Summary (from BN.com)

In a city of daimons, rigid class lines separate the powerful from the power-hungry. And at the heart of The City is the Carnival of Souls, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition that allows every daimon a chance to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures-if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live.

All Mallory knows of The City is that her father-and every other witch there-fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of a typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it's only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable. While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the Carnival of Souls.

From Melissa Marr, bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely series and Graveminder, comes a brand-new tale of lush secrets, dark love, and the struggle to forge one's own destiny. 

Carnival of Souls is just as it is described: decadent, full of lush secrets, and dark love. The world built is incredibly creative and new. I've never heard of or read about anything like it. Not to mention, it's quite flawlessly created. The City is a place where daimons thrive, where the daimons massacred and exiled witches, and where pleasures and death are sold in the Carnival.

The book starts out from Mallory's POV in a coffee shop, where Kaleb is introduced. All that Mallory knows is that she can't endanger Kaleb with her world. Little does she know it's quite the opposite... Soon we move onto Aya's POV, where she is prepping for her death-match with her former betrothed. Pretty complex, huh?

With the varying POVs it's hard to focus on the protagonist when there wasn't a clear one. Instead, I'll describe each main character and then the lesser ones. 

First off, Mallory thinks she is human, but with an adoptive witch-dad. She trains each day for many hours on how to survive a daimon attack. She has to be compliant with her dad's wishes- in fact, we soon learn she may be magically persuaded to not contradict him. Mallory is a decently strong female character, but because of her dad's influences, we can't really tell if she's truly strong character-wise. She's a bit of a loner but likes everything any other teenage girl likes.

Kaleb is two-sided; to his enemies he is ruthless and deadly. To those rare people he cares for, he is warm-hearted and likable. He's intense and has the idea "survive by any means possible".

Aya literally has a secret that keeps her from fitting in to either world. She's a secret outcast and her reason for fighting in the death is valid and I liked her probably morally the most. She wants to help The City out of her selflessness and... yeah. She's definitely a strong female character and does what she believes in, despite the vary large repercussions. She's a feminist in a world where women are simply... lesser.

Because of the varying POVs there are two different romances going on. One between Belias and Aya (formerly betrothed) but it's not much of a romance. It's more of a bittersweet (maybe even just bitter) old love that got betrayed. I definitely want to know what happens!

The second is between Mallory and Kaleb. I'm not really sure what this is; we don't get much of how they met, flirtations, etc. They definitely have a connection but there's the problem of secrets between them. Kaleb is totally for Maleb.. Kallory? (ha, calorie) but Mallory on the other hand? She is really, really attracted to him (her words: if she had felt this way with the previous guys who had kissed her, she wouldn't be a virgin still) but she has issues with him and their situation. Hopefully, in the second book, this romance will be touched upon, too.

My only issue with the book is that a lot of things weren't described in detail. If they had, I think this would have been one of my favorites. Instead, I found myself frustrated with the varying POVs- while they were helpful to get a feeling for the story, they stopped me from getting a feel for the relationships, world, and people. Fret not, however, because the world is still very well created!

Overall I thought this was a great read with a lot of darkness and mystique about it. The City and the Carnival of Souls is not what I expected. The society they live in is not one we see much, but an interesting one nontheless. And I love the cover- I have a thing for masks (which there are a lot of in this)- and the title!

Off to study! Don't forget to follow us on the right! -->

Cassie :)

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Title: The Near Witch

Author: Victoria Schwab

Reviewed by: Cassie

The Fairies Say: Magically bewitching!

Summary (from BN.com)

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. There are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger--a boy who seems to fade like smoke--appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion.

As the hunt for children intensifies, so does Lexi's need to know-- about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab's debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won't soon forget.

The Near Witch is a story of intrigue and magic. The village has a timeless feel to it and the mystery involved in it is one that will have you wondering what happened. With witches and a budding romance, this book will has a definite fairy tale feel to it, possibly even a bedtime story feel.

Lexi is a rebellious sixteen-year-old who wants to be like her father despite her village's ideal feminine woman. She likes hunting/tracking, she loves carrying her father's knife and wearing his boots. He taught her his beliefs and opened her mind to more possibilities than anyone else would have. For that reason, she has an open mind and believes in magic. She's independent and loves her family. I'll admit, sometimes I felt like I couldn't relate to her, or like throwing the book at her head. I also had a minor issue with her name- Lexi? In a historic-feeling setting? Odd.

The characters are interesting, a bit cookie-cutter, but hey. Her mother, on the other hand, I liked. Even though her mom is broken after Lexi's dad died, she still has a bit of her old spark in her. She helps Lexi in a quiet, unspoken way that I felt was extremely cool for a mom. Lexi's fellow villagers were okay, but Tyler was the stereotypical "territorial friend-who-wants-to-be-more despite rejection." I kept waiting for him to, I dunno, be interesting and try to kiss her, but nope. Just glares- a no he does not have sexy-smolder-eyes, he has in-the-back-alley eyes. At least I imagine so.

On the other hand, the guy Lexi falls for is a witch. And yes, he even calls himself a witch, with a serious face, and does not even think of saying warlock. A male witch... that's like a male nurse! Only few can pull that off... Cole was intriguing, but I felt like he wasn't very developed and that he had younger-YA feel to him. He's mysterious, has a heart-breaking past, and he has powers he can't control. Lexi comes crashing into his life and wabam! he wants to learn to be different.

Overall, I felt like this was more of a younger book, and had a definite fairy tale feel to it. My only issues were that the relationships and characters felt a bit underdeveloped, along with the excitement for the climax.

Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to follow us!

Cassie :)

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Title: Pushing the Limits

Author: Katie McGarry

Reviewed by: Cassie

The Fairies Say: A sweet romance with a bite to it!

Summary (from BN.com)

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.

But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

You can take one look at the cover and judge it, or you can take one look at the cover and hear me out. Heck, you might be judging it now and thinking, "wow I really like that." Or maybe, "Hmm I need a pick-me-up romance." Either way, I'd like to put out there that Pushing the Limits is not a light-hearted romance and while it is contemporary, it focuses a lot on very deep issues. The author wrote in the back that the main idea of the book is of two teenagers, both lost and broken, finding hope and traveling that road of redemption together.

The beginning of the book starts with how Noah and Echo meet- they both have a new counselor and chance upon each other. What do you know and Echo ends up being Noah's tutor. Somewhere along the lines of her trying to persuade him to accept the lessons, Noah sees Echo's disturbing scars. And then the idea of hope comes into play. Hope of normalcy, hope of love, hope of redemption. These hopes develop as the story goes on. In the beginning, we learn that Echo can't remember how she got her scars. We also learn Noah is trying to reunite his broken family.

Echo is a complicated character. At times she's a smart-aleck and feisty and interesting. Most of the time she's stubborn, thoughtful, and artistic. She's pretty deep- she has two real friends, an overbearing father, her mom is bipolar and possibly tried to kill her, her best friend and brother died, and tons of other issues. Not to mention those ugly, ugly scars on her arms. She's understandably frustrated with her situation and you will find yourself rooting for her the whole story. However, at times I was frustrated with her for being a bit spineless. She doesn't really speak up for herself and at times her usually deep character will become shallow/annoying.

Noah is also very deep. We get varying POVs from him and Echo, and at first I was kind of annoyed with him. In the beginning all he likes about Echo is: she's feisty, she makes him have a conscious, and she's hot. Quite a few times I was cringing, seeing descriptions about Echo (and her cleavage and butt and how she smells...) Did I really need to read that? But as the story goes on, you will root for him just as much as Echo. He's a deep, caring guy beneath it all and some of his thoughts made me want to cry they were so adorable. He's the kind of guy who never tells a girl he loves her and this was just a small one:

"My heart swelled, causing my chest to ache and breathing to become nearly impossible. Paralyzed by her beauty, I hovered over her. She was no nymph, but a goddess." (p. 285)

Seriously, he and Echo were meant to be together.

My main issue was that the pages seemed to lag a little towards the middle/end. The plot seemed pretty dragged out- I'm not into purely romance books. I wanted to get into the issues more, but hey- I am not complaining. The romance was great. If you're looking for a nice sick book, this will be a good one!

Okay I'm off to do stuff, but don't forget to put your email in that box to the right!! --->

Cassie :)

Cold Fury by T.M. Goeglein

Title: Cold Fury

Author: T.M. Goeglein

Reviewed by: Cassie

The Fairies Say: Amazingly action-packed; Sara Jane's left hook will get you!

Summary (from BN.com)

Jason Bourne meets The Sopranos in this breathtaking adventure

Sara Jane Rispoli is a normal sixteen-year-old coping with school and a budding romance-- until her parents and brother are kidnapped and she discovers her family is deeply embedded in the Chicago Outfit (aka the mob).

Now on the run from a masked assassin, rogue cops and her turncoat uncle, Sara Jane is chased and attacked at every turn, fighting back with cold fury as she searched for her family. It's a quest that takes her through concealed doors and forgotten speakeasies--a city hiding in plain sight. Though armed with a .45 and 96K in cash, an old tatter notebook might be her best defense--hidden in its pages the secret to "ultimate power." It's why she's being pursued, why her family was taken, and could be the key to saving all of their lives.

Action packed, with fresh, cinematic writing, Cold Fury is a riveting and imaginative adventure readers will devour.

Cold Fury is definitely one for those who love action, thrills, and tons of little new details/twists. "Jason Bourne meets The Sopranos"? That had me there; who doesn't like the two? And together? Impossible! Or, at least, impossibly amazing.

The story starts out with Sara Jane having flashbacks, explaining to herself and the reader the little hints she never picked up on about her family's business. The first a hundred or so pages are this and this alone, with a few bits and pieces of "very recently". And then... and then the action starts. She comes home from a mediocre-ly successful dance and bam! Her house is in shambles, she almost just died, her family is missing and probably dead, and she also has pretty much no idea what to do. That plus the Chicago Outfit/mob and crazy people trying to get at her, and you have one very promising story line.

Sara Jane is a very deep, somewhat emotionally-detached person. She's got the mindset of a fighter (which figures because she learned boxing at age six-something I greatly envy because my parents never let me) and I can very much see her character. She doesn't care about her appearance, doesn't care about making friends really, and has the mindset "if the world comes to me, great. If not, no big deal." She's an admirable, very strong heroine, and she definitely (let me stress definitely) kicks major butt. At points I felt her a bit too emotionally detached, but it may have been because of the fact a male author wrote this female POV.

The other characters were lightly touched base on, but I felt I could warm up to them in the upcoming books. Not many, except for Willy (who is awesome, by the way) are really examined. I'd like to point out, though, that the "bad guys" are very good at being bad.

The guy...s aren't very touched based upon, either. I felt as though this was because, again, it's a male author, so if you're looking for a kick-butt heroine who also happens to have a yummilicious boy in the background, you're in for a disappointment. However, there is a guy named Max from school who is a little (okay, a LOT) cute and wonderfully awkward. And then there's Tyler from the Outfit who is very handsome and quite the suave guy.

My issues, for the most part, were these: 1.) the action-packed promise was a bit of a letdown; I didn't feel as if it was super duper action-y 2.) Sara Jane was a bit too detached for me 3.) NO ROMANCE... for the most part

However, if these issues do not bug you, I think you will love it! It's a great read and I can't wait to read the next!

Off to bed now (don't forget to put your email in the subscription box off to the right)

Cassie :)

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

Title: Something Strange and Deadly

Author: Susan Dennard

Reviewed by: Cassie

Rating: 3 glass slippers

Summary (from BN.com)

There's something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia...

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about.

Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she's just read in the newspaper.

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor.. from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she'll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including the maddeningly stubborn yet handsome Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

I was a bit disappointed when I read Something Strange and Deadly because I had been hearing quite a bit of hype over it. I read that it was going to exceed my expectations and that the tale is spun wonderfully. While I have to agree with the fact that it was spun very nicely, I must say it just wasn't my cup of tea. Think of Clockwork Angel with the romance feeling of Masque of the Red Death and sort of mish-mash together old London and zombie-esque Dead. This book is one I would wait until October, fellow readers! It's definitely got the creepy-zombie vibe going. It's dark, it's got some gory descriptions, and it's got zombies. Perfect for a nice sit-down by the window/fire on Halloween night with a cup of hot cocoa nearby. And also, make sure it's not too dark when you read it. It's a bit... scary.

To begin with, Eleanor is an admirable lady/girl of her time. Her family is a fake of the high society in Philadelphia. Her mother is horrible with their money, her dad died six years ago, and her brother abandoned them to pursue his own interest three years ago. Basically, Eleanor is in a bit of a pickle. Despite her upbringings, she is a stubborn girl who is pretty likable. There were a few bits where her inner bitch comes out (it's pretty amusing), a few rare times where she swears (one particular one had me guffawing), and some parts where she has "scandalous thoughts". Oh, that was a good one. I have such "scandalous thoughts" daily...

Anyways, some parts of the story I found I liked her a lot, while other parts I wanted to slap some sense into her head. She acts very quickly, usually without thinking, (of course) and is way too curious for her own good. She has a strong will and a strong heart. And... AND she wears those awesome 19th century dresses! *in love*

Anyways, as I mentioned before, the romance sort of has that feeling like in Masque of the Red Death. This is because, well the very proper relationships. It's increased tenfold, so there's not much romance except some admiring glances and maaaaybe a scandalous kiss/touch. Ah yes, so that's slightly why it wasn't my cup of tea. The admiring glances left me wanting to pull my hair out while simultaneously pouring hot tea into people's faces. Oh yes, I believe that is quite possible. Mmhmm, in fact, I'd make it possible. However, if you like that sort of thing (no not the tea/hair pulling, you scalawag) then I highly recommend it. (that reminds me, there are some very good insults like "scalawag". I must remember to look for them later)

Furthermore, the plot was very well-woven, except I found myself knowing the going-to-be twist in the first 40 pages of the book. This may be because of a similar plot I read (or perhaps my superior intellect? ;) but I'd still encourage those who hate easy-to-guess twists to give it a chance. It's still got some twists that you won't expect and it's especially darkly yummy. Er, scratch that. I don't want to think of cannibalistic zombies.

Additionally, I'd just like to say this is a book series to watch. Perhaps it is because this is her debut novel, and the next in the series will be better. Now, I remind you to reserve this book for Halloween! Yes, it's deliciously spooky and definitely will give you a chill or two.

Off to the next book! Don't forget to put your email in that subscription box to the right!

Cassie

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Title: For Darkness Shows the Stars

Author: Diana Peterfreund

Reviewed by: Cassie

Rating: 5 glass slippers

Summary (from BN.com)

It's been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family's estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot's estate is floundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth - an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go. 

But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret - one that could changer their society... or bring it to its knees. And again, she's faced with a choice: cling to what she's been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she's ever loved, even if she's lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen's persuasion, For Darkness Shows the Stars is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

Whoo that was a mouth-full! But as you can see, it is one gobsmacking, astounding, close-your-mouth heck of a book. The cover- flat out gorgeous. The idea- simply wonderful. The truth?- it was the loveliest book I have ever read. 

I think I'm going to go rogue here and just tell you: this book is amazing. It's deep, it's thought-provoking, an emotional hurricane, and full of a bittersweet love. When I first picked it up, the most I was hoping for was a 3.5. I thought, well, at best it's a boring dystopian; at worst it's a horribly written historical fiction piece. Now I can honestly tell you I could not put it down, and even when I had to it was on my mind until I went to sleep. Mind you, I couldn't even go to sleep until a good half hour had passed because I was up thinking about the story.

The concept is written flawlessly- there was an apocalypse-like 'phenomena' in which humankind was basically wiped out because of its desire to be God. The survivors of the horrible war/epidemic came to be Reductions- humans who had backtracked mentally and had very little brain capacity. However, there was a second race, the Luddites, who shunned man's ways of trying to be God, and holed themselves underground. They emerged (after a sign from God) to be God's hand in guiding and leading the human race. They set strict rules for themselves so the epidemic never happened again. Yet sometimes the temptation is too good...

The plot (which I'm sure we have Jane Austen to thank for the main gist of it) is beautiful. And I mean no joke exquisite. We learn what happened to Elliot that put her into this position. It's heartbreaking and at the high points I seriously wanted to cry. That never happens to me. Strategically placed within the book are letters (in no particular order) that were traded between Kai and Elliot as children. We learn how they were best friends as small kids, which soon turned to love at age fourteen. These are extremely "aww!!!!" worthy and made my heart squeeze. The story is simply jaw-dropping : tears, morals, (seriously true) love, heartbreak, envy, hope, and so many different emotions. The emotions are weaved in perfectly and beautifully.

The characters are very, very good. They all have a history that you dive into (deeply or not) and you learn to feel empathy towards almost all of them. We get very well acquainted with Elliot's past and her mistakes/decisions. We learn somewhat of what is going on with the Cloud Fleet (and Kai). We find out what's happening on the North estate. At some points you may want to drop kick Kai or slap Andromeda, but in the end the reader learns to understand what makes these characters what they are.

What really made me like this book is the love. Elliot regrets her decision every day to not go with Kai. When Kai shows up, she's shocked. Immediately, however, Kai shows her he couldn't care less about her. Somehow, Elliot can't stop loving him though. Even when he's with a new girl and horribly insults her in public, her heart still yearns for her 14-year-old Kai from four years ago. This itself made me love the book, but also the author's ability to make the reader truly feel Elliot's feelings towards Kai. When her feelings change, the reader adopts this new aspect of Kai wholeheartedly. Next, I found it amazing that Diana Peterfreund persuaded me as a reader to enjoy Kai as a romantic interest. The reading lacked physical descriptions and especially any touching, but somehow my heart strings were pulled and I couldn't help immersing myself in this love. IT BLEW MY MIND. I just couldn't handle all the raw emotions. The last page is what really got me; I was just like...

yet also

This is an engrossing, entrancing, and unforgettable read. Agh! Diana Peterfreund- please do a retelling of Pride and Prejudice now!! Your world is magnificent!

I highly recommend, and there also is a prequel of Kai's POV called Among the Nameless Stars AND I MUST READ IT!!!

Go read them both!!! 

Cassie :)

Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: Team Human

Authors: Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan

Reviewed by: Cassie

Rating: 2.5 glass slippers

Summary (from BN.com)

Just because Mel lives in New Whitby, a city founded by vampires, doesn't mean she knows any of the blood-drinking undead personally. They stay in their part of town; she stays in hers. Until the day a vampire shows up at her high school. Worse yet, her best friend, Cathy, seems to be falling in love with him. It's up to Mel to save Cathy from a mistake she might regret for all eternity!

On top of trying to help Cathy (whether she wants it or not), Mel is investigating a mysterious disappearance for another friend and discovering the attractions of a certain vampire wannabe. Combine all this with a cranky vampire cop, a number of unlikely romantic entanglements, and the occasional zombie, and soon Mel is hip-deep in an adventure that is equal parts hilarious and touching.

Acclaimed authors Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan team up to create a witty and poignant story of cool vampires, warm friendships, and the changes that test the bonds of love.

I must admit, I was hoping for more. When I began reading this, this was basically what ran through my head... "Asian protagonist, SCORE!" then "feisty, short protagonist who happens to be Asian! SCORE!" and finally "Vampires... Hmm... ZOMBIES!!" Yeah but then it went downhill.

The protagonist-

Let me just say this: if you like stubborn, loyal, hilariously strong-willed, and witty, Mel (short for a horrific name) is for you! She's easy to like (though not necessarily relate to) and she is the type of person who would put her neck out for her best friends. Unfortunately, she is also extremely rude, opinionated, and thinks she is always right. Despite that, she is really funny. And, though she is very opinionated, the reader can thoroughly understand her objections.

The guy-

Kit is... cute. He is fascinated he can make Mel laugh (he lives with non-laughing vampires) and human customs. At first he's all gung-ho on becoming a vamp once he turns 18, but then Mel comes along. Fun, adventure-loving, witty, and Asian Mel. His desire to become pale, painless, and laughless dwindles drastically as he learns just how much he'll miss laughing with humans (ahem Mel) and the possibility of learning to love as a human. (We don't really get this deep admittance but we assume this) He's very sweet, very cute, and did I mention his full name is KITTEN???!! Oh there are so many naughty things I could say about his name right now, but I will spare you all. For now.

The plot-

I liked the overall idea of it, but when it played out, I just didn't get in the groove. I sort of sat there reading, and thinking "Oh that's nice." and "Well that must stink" (1. during a romantic scene and 2. when a zombie attacks) I mean, that romantic scene could have been heated and yummy and totally WOWZAS with me thinking "IneedafanIneedafanIneedafan, I'm going to go faint now." and "OMG ZOMBIES!! ZOMBIESZOMBIESZOMBIES!!" But alas, no. Because trust me, books have made me think that. I have literally in the past slapped the book down and waved myself as if to fan myself. However, the plot is a nice idea. The mystery twists quite nicely and the moral dilemma is deep and relateable.

For those looking for a fun, light read with a bit of a mystery to it, I highly recommend it! For those looking for a passionate, deep, heart-wrenching novel, I'm afraid this is not for you.

Subscribe please and have a nice Labor Day weekend!

Cassie

Endlessly by Kiersten White

Title: Endlessly

Author: Kiersten White

Reviewed by: Cassie

Rating: 3.5 glass slippers

Summary (from BN.com)

Evie's paranormal past keeps coming back to haunt her. A new director at the International Paranormal Containment Agency wants to drag her back to headquarters. The Dark Faerie Queen is torturing humans in her poisonous realm. And supernatural creatures keep insisting that Evie is the only one who can save them from a mysterious, perilous fate.

The clock is ticking on the entire paranormal world. And its fate rests solely in Evie's hands.

So much for normal.

Endlessly picks up right where Supernaturally left off, pretty much. Evie is still Evie and Lend is still Lend, and they still both love each other to bits. The Faerie Realms are just as beautiful and deadly as before. But now, a whole lotta paranormals are in town. And they're asking her to save them from their mysterious, perilous fate that only she can fix. As always the faeries are deeply involved, and this time so is the IPCA. 

The heroine-

Evie, as always, is short-attention-spanned, stubborn, loving, and funny as always. In Endlessly, Evie is approached by paranormals so she can help them... but the faeries are involved. And it would be beneficial to them, too. As we know by now, Evie has a distinct dislike for all faeries and has even threatened to kill her ex-faerie boyfriend. So, of course, Evie says no to their appeal for her help. But something happens so that Evie learns she must help the paranormals, or else. Thus, she goes on a journey (prolonged, as always) to save the paranormals.

The romantic interest...s-

Okay honestly most people would go, "what's with the "s" at the end? Lend is her soul mate, stupid!" And I will openly admit I would say back, "RETH! RethRethRethReth! *calming breath* Reth is in the book, stupid."

Now, Reth is not Evie's romantic interest. No, he is mine. Because this golden faerie boy is F-I-N-E, and I mean fine. In this book Reth shows a vulnerability (against his will, I'll admit) and I would kidnap him (unless he wants to kidnap me, like he has shown to do to Evie... but then it wouldn't really be a kidnap, would it?) if I could. Anyways, I just found him to be very deep and vulnerable in this book. Maybe a bit idealistic but hey, this is Reth we're talking about.

Lend- Ah, Lend is so cute! He and Evie are like, the cutest couple EVER. Their moments... oh their moments! So darn cute, and so darn loving, and so darn awesome! Lend is not That Guy That I Just Met And I Think I Love And Is Really Hot. No, Lend (to Evie) is That Guy Who I Love And Is Beautiful In Every Single Way. Thus this when I read their moments:

Mmhmm, that's right.

Overall-

Overall, I liked the characters and idea but I felt like.. well. 1.) It wasn't as hilarious as I had hoped it would be. Don't worry there are still quite a few legitimately laugh-out-loud moments :D 2.) I found myself wishing the plot would just get on with it already! When I mentioned it was prolonged, it's prolonged. Not put-this-book-down prolonged, but please-continue-with-the-action-already prolonged.

Side note: the plot is very creative! 

Okay, enjoy Labor Day weekend for me! And possible subscribe?

Thanks!

Cassie