Release Day Blitz - The Angel Killer by Lisa Voisin

We are super excited to celebrate the release of Lisa Voisin's THE ANGEL KILLER, the second book in The Watcher Saga, with an awesome excerpt from the book and a giveaway!

And if you haven't yet heard about this exciting series, there's also some information on the first book, THE WATCHER, along with its book trailer, a bit further down in this post.

First up, here's some information about THE ANGEL KILLER.

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THE ANGEL KILLER

Title & Series: THE ANGEL KILLER (The Watcher Saga #2)
Author: Lisa Voisin
Release date: January 5, 2015
Publisher: InkSpell Publishing
Pages: 286
Formats: Paperback

Description

Now that she’s found him again, all Mia Crawford wants is some downtime with her fallen angel boyfriend, Michael. But the call of duty keeps him away—from school and from her—with more demons to smite than ever.

When Michael is mortally wounded by a cursed sword, Mia must perform an ancient blood ritual to save him. But the spell exacts a price. Haunted by visions of war, torture, and despair, Mia discovers the world is in more danger than she ever imagined. Behind the scenes, an evil adversary pulls all the strings.

After redemption, there’s Hell to pay.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO | AMAZON CA | GOODREADS

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About Lisa Voisin

A Canadian-born author, Lisa Voisin spent her childhood daydreaming and making up stories, but it was her love of reading and writing in her teens that drew her to Young Adult fiction.

Lisa is also a technical writer, a meditation teacher, and the leader of the Young Writer’s Club, a local writing group for teens in her home town. A self-proclaimed coffee lover, she can usually be found writing in a local café. When she's not writing, you'll find her meditating or hiking in the mountains to counteract the side effects of drinking too much caffeine!

Though she’s lived in several cities across Canada, she currently lives in Vancouver, B.C. with her fiancé and their two cats.

WEBSITE | BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | MAILING LIST

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The Excerpt

I found Michael waiting on the stone path outside his basement suite. He greeted me with a brush of his lips, lacing his fingers through mine, and led me into a large back yard, bordered by evergreens. The center of the soft, moist grass featured a rocky pond, complete with a trickling stone fountain and two Adirondack chairs. Though the yard was well kept, leaves from a giant maple lay strewn about like reddish-brown confetti, glistening with raindrops in the late afternoon sun.

Michael tugged off his old, gray hoodie and slung it over one of the chairs. Underneath was the white tank top he normally wore flying. Goose bumps raced along the length of his bare arms. Turning to face me, he shook out his shoulders, the muscles rolling as he gave them a shrug.

“Ready?” he asked.

“For?”

“Combat training.” He stretched an arm across his chest and cracked his neck as though he were warming up. Was he expecting a workout?

“Combat training? Don’t you think that sounds a bit intense?” I swallowed. My voice sounded tight and high. “Violent, even?”

“What did you expect? Origami?” Stretching his other arm now, he cocked an eyebrow at me. “You wanted me to teach you, right?”

“No—yes.” I cleared my throat. “I mean no, I didn’t expect origami and yes, I want to learn.”

“Good.” He smiled. Was he enjoying my awkwardness? I tuned into his energy, attempting to get a feeling off him, but hit a wall. Was he blocking me? His expression became neutral too.

Above our heads, flyers hovered at the edges of the sigils that surrounded the yard, circling a constant threat, like giant vultures. I motioned to the sky. “Can’t they see us?”

“Not really. They can’t see or hear anything inside the protected space.” Changing the subject, he turned to me and winked. “Ready for your origami lesson? I thought we’d start with escapes.”

I folded my arms across my chest. The idea of fighting Michael felt like a joke—a David and Goliath joke. “Escapes?”

“Yeah. We’re gonna start with the basics. Teach you how to get out of that stranglehold the soldier demon had you in yesterday.” His feet shoulder-width apart, he motioned for me to come closer. “But we can’t do it if you’re all the way over there.”

I took a hesitant step toward him. Though I’d asked for this, the reality of it sounded painful. “Combat training,” I muttered disdainfully.

“I won’t hurt you.”

“I know,” I said, but I wasn’t so sure.

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The Giveaway

The release day blast includes an awesome giveaway to ONE WINNER for a print copy of THE WATCHER (US/CA/UK) OR THE ANGEL KILLER (US/CA/UK) AND a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Enter in the Rafflecopter below...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About The Watcher

Series: The Watcher Saga #1
Release date: March 4, 2013
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Pages: 556
Formats: Paperback, eBook

DESCRIPTION

Millennia ago, he fell from heaven for her.

Can he face her without falling again?
Fascinated with ancient civilizations, seventeen-year-old Mia Crawford dreams of becoming an archaeologist. She also dreams of wings—soft and silent like snow—and somebody trying to steal them.
When a horrible creature appears out of thin air and attacks her, she knows Michael Fontaine is involved, though he claims to know nothing about it. Secretive and aloof, Michael evokes feelings in Mia that she doesn’t understand. Images of another time and place haunt her. She recognizes them—but not from any textbook.
In search of the truth, Mia discovers a past life of forbidden love, jealousy and revenge that tore an angel from Heaven and sent her to an early grave. Now that her soul has returned, does she have a chance at loving that angel again? Or will an age-old nemesis destroy them both? Ancient history is only the beginning.

AMAZON | AMAZON CA | INDIEBOUND | KOBO | CHAPTERS/INDIGO | GOODREADS

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The Trailer

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Blurb: 

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

From Goodreads.

My Review:

This is a difficult review to write, because I LOVED THIS BOOK so much, it's hard to be objective. In fact, when a book is this
thought-provoking, this well written, and this emotionally satisfying,
I kind of froth at the mouth a bit and squee like a total fangirl.

Right from the first sentence, I was gripped by Hazel's view of the world. She looks at life with the view of someone who knows she could die, thus giving her a sense of universality, of courage and poignancy, that most adults don't even have.

Augustus, for all his looks and ironic charm, is still a boy. He's a beautifully crafted, fragile, multi-dimensional, and unforgettable character.

These two young adults fall in love in the most sensitive and beautiful way. It's a delightfully tragic love story, one which readers-young and old- will never forget.

I can't believe it took me so long to read this book. My only complaint is that it's taking forvever to come out in paperback, so I can afford to buy a copy!

My Rating: 5/5 Stars!
Reviewed by: Lisa

Review: The Watcher by Lisa Voisin

Synopsis: 

Millennia ago, he fell from heaven for her.

Can he face her without falling again?

Fascinated with ancient civilizations, seventeen-year-old Mia Crawford dreams of becoming an archaeologist. She also dreams of wings—soft and silent like snow—and somebody trying to steal them.

When a horrible creature appears out of thin air and attacks her, she knows Michael Fontaine is involved, though he claims to know nothing about it. Secretive and aloof, Michael evokes feelings in Mia that she doesn’t understand. Images of another time and place haunt her. She recognizes them—but not from any textbook.

In search of the truth, Mia discovers a past life of forbidden love, jealousy and revenge that tore an angel from Heaven and sent her to an early grave. Now that her soul has returned, does she have a chance at loving that angel again? Or will an age-old nemesis destroy them both?

Ancient history is only the beginning.

Jessica's Review:

If I had to describe The Watcher in one word it would be luscious! Thankfully, I can use so many more words to describe it.  One might think that luscious is a strange word to be describing a paranormal romance that is filled with tension and excitement but it isn’t.  Every sentence on every page is luscious and full.   Here’s a small passage from the book that exemplifies what I mean:

 “Instead of saying more, he brushed his fingertips along my cheek, and his halo glimmered.  I could hear the waves slapping the rocks behind us, the wind whipped against my skin, but the touch of his hand on my face was all I could think about.  It sent a current through both of us and filled me with longing for something I wasn’t sure I understood.”

I melted when I read that paragraph; it conjured up so much for me – love, longing, acceptance and of course lusciousness. The Watcher is filled with such imagery and draws you into a vivid and engaging world.  With every turn of the page I am further drawn into the poeticness that Lisa Voisin brings forth.  I am emotionally invested in the characters of Mia, Michael and even Damiel and I want to know and see and feel everything that they are doing and Lisa provides all of those answers.

The Watcher is a magically crafted novel with such incredible writing. Sentences jump off from the page; the book has become a movie in my mind that I can revisit anytime I like. It is alive and full and I fully recommend it.

Now one might say that I am a little bias with my review because I know Lisa and have known her for over a decade, and we are friends.  Well I am bias!  But let me be clear, my friendship with Lisa did not change how I felt about the book. Had I not known Lisa and had read this book I still would have been totally engrossed and entranced with the world that she had built.  It is excellently written and so well presented.  I just hope that I can aspire to write as beautifully as Lisa has.

Rating: 5 Stars

Blair's Review

I wholeheartedly agree with Jessica: this book is luscious! It's beautifully written, vivid, and sensual. The words seem to rise up out of the page and mold themselves into a new world around you, one that you can smell and taste and wholly inhabit. But the book doesn't rest on beautiful writing - there's enough tension to keep the pages turning well after bedtime! I loved it from the first sentence to the spectacular, jaw-dropping ending.

There are books out there with beautiful writing but no tension. There are books with high tension but mediocre writing. I like both those sorts of books. They have their place in my (cluttered) bookshelf. But The Watcher manages to hit that magic balance between beautiful writing and high tension, sacrificing neither for the sake of the other. It is an absolute pleasure to read. And the romance is intense. Romance isn't what typically attracts me to books, but I had to see how this one played out. Especially after a certain hiking scene early on...

I loved this book, and I fully recommend it. I do have to make the same disclaimer as Jessica - that Lisa and I are friends. We met about a year and a half ago, right around the time that Lisa was submitting. I read a draft early on in our friendship, before I knew Lisa well, certainly before I knew her well enough for our friendship to color my opinion of her book. So I also want to be clear that our friendship did not change how I felt about this book. Even if I'd never met Lisa before in my life, I still would have blazed through this book and been left wanting more.

Rating: 5 Stars

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon |Amazon.CA |B&N | Indie Bound | Inkspell | Kobo

About the Author: 

A Canadian-born author, Lisa Voisin spent her childhood daydreaming and making up stories, but it was her love of reading and writing in her teens that drew her to Young Adult fiction.

When she's not writing, you'll find her meditating or hiking in the mountains to counter the side effects of drinking too much coffee.

She lives in Vancouver, B.C. with her fiance and their two cats.

Find her: Twitter | Facebook | Website | Blog

The Trailer:

http://youtu.be/ukoCDlW05-Y

The Giveaway:

Lisa Voisin and Inkspell Publishing are giving away print (US/Canada/UK) and eBook (INT) copies of The Watcher as well as this lovely angel wing necklace.

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Review: The Obvious Game by Rita Arens

Blurb:

“Everyone trusted me back then. Good old, dependable Diana. Which is why most people didn’t notice at first.”


"Your shirt is yellow."
"Your eyes are blue."
"You have to stop running away from your problems."
"You're too skinny."

Fifteen-year-old Diana Keller accidentally begins teaching The Obvious Game to new kid Jesse on his sixteenth birthday. As their relationship deepens, Diana avoids Jesse's past with her own secrets -- which she'll protect at any cost.

My Review:

I know this book was written for teens, and it's perfect for them, but it's also perfect for adult survivors of the teen years! Though the book is set in the early nineties, its story is timeless.

Diana is a young girl facing the anguish of her mother's illness and her own eating disorder. It was handled with brilliant sensitivity. I found myself relating to Diana on such a deep and emotional level. I too grew up with a mother who had cancer, and I also had an eating disorder that I kept hidden. So reading Diana's story had me like this at some points:

And I LOVED it!

Diana's symptomology was so spot on that I didn't notice the signs of the disorder at first, much like any who was ill wouldn't. But then, things evolved. The story is beautifully written with character development that was so rich and genuine that I couldn't put the book down.

I don't want to say much more or reveal any spoliers, but I will say this book wasn't just a wonderful read. I haven't been so emotionally impacted by a book in a long time. So much so that it was a healing experience for me. And for that, Rita Arens, I must truly thank you.

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Reviewed By: Lisa

Release Day Party - The Watcher

Millennia ago, he fell from heaven for her.

Can he face her without falling again?

Fascinated with ancient civilizations, seventeen-year-old Mia Crawford dreams of becoming an archaeologist. She also dreams of wings—soft and silent like snow—and somebody trying to steal them.

When a horrible creature appears out of thin air and attacks her, she knows Michael Fontaine is involved, though he claims to know nothing about it. Secretive and aloof, Michael evokes feelings in Mia that she doesn’t understand. Images of another time and place haunt her. She recognizes them—but not from any textbook.

In search of the truth, Mia discovers a past life of forbidden love, jealousy and revenge that tore an angel from Heaven and sent her to an early grave. Now that her soul has returned, does she have a chance at loving that angel again? Or will an age-old nemesis destroy them both?

Ancient history is only the beginning.

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon |Amazon.CA |B&N | Indie Bound | Inkspell | Kobo

Book Details:

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Format: eBook and Paperback

Length: Super Novel

ISBN: eBook: 978-0-9856562-1-8

Paperback: 978-0-9856562-2-5

Price: US $14.99  (Paperback)

US $4.99 (eBook)

About the Author:

A Canadian-born author, Lisa Voisin spent her childhood daydreaming and making up stories, but it was her love of reading and writing in her teens that drew her to Young Adult fiction.

When she's not writing, you'll find her meditating or hiking in the mountains to counter the side effects of drinking too much coffee.

She lives in Vancouver, B.C. with her fiance and their two cats.

Find her: Twitter | Facebook | Website | Blog

The Giveaway:

Inkspell Publishing is offering a chance to win the following:

• One of 2 Paperback copies of THE WATCHER (US, UK, and Canada-only)
• One customizable eBook sleeve (US, UK, and Canada-only)
• One of 5 eBook copies of THE WATCHER (Worldwide)

Note: The eBook sleeve giveaway is customizable. The winner will get to choose from a lot of designs and the name will be sewed in too if they wish. The designs are absolutely beautiful and the image below is only a sample. 

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Trailer Reveal - The Watcher

Author Lisa Voisin’s THE WATCHER will be releasing exactly one month from today, on March 4th, 2013 and we’re super excited to be able to share with our blog’s readers a short excerpt from the book and to be a part of the book’s awesome trailer reveal!

There is also a giveaway for a pre-order copy of THE WATCHER for US/Canada residents. So be sure to enter below.

THE WATCHER is author Lisa Voisin’s debut novel and is a book Eileen Cook says, “…is sure to keep readers turning the pages late into the night.”

And after having read both the excerpt and the book’s description, we couldn’t agree more! But we’ll let you decide for yourself. They’re both included below.

As is the book’s wicked cool trailer!

The Video

With some gothic techno beats, super cool images and a description that is meant to tease, this trailer totally sets the mood for this story. What do you think? 


This video was created by none other than Parallel Words YA's own Elinor Svoboda. Some little-known trivia about this trailer is that Elinor Svoboda, who created it, directed Tegan and Sara's documentary "India" as part of the Get-Along video that has been nominated for a Grammy.

Find The Watcher on: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Inkspell | Kobo

About THE WATCHER

Millennia ago, he fell from heaven for her. 

Can he face her without falling again? 

Fascinated with ancient civilizations, seventeen-year-old Mia Crawford dreams of becoming an archaeologist. She also dreams of wings—soft and silent like snow—and somebody trying to steal them.

When a horrible creature appears out of thin air and attacks her, she knows Michael Fontaine is involved, though he claims to know nothing about it. Secretive and aloof, Michael evokes feelings in Mia that she doesn’t understand. Images of another time and place haunt her. She recognizes them—but not from any textbook.

In search of the truth, Mia discovers a past life of forbidden love, jealousy and revenge that tore an angel from Heaven and sent her to an early grave. Now that her soul has returned, does she have a chance at loving that angel again? Or will an age-old nemesis destroy them both?

Ancient history is only the beginning.

The Excerpt: 

Instead of saying more, he brushed his fingertips along my cheek, and his halo glimmered. I could hear the waves slapping the rocks behind us, the wind driving them in. That same wind whipped against my skin, but the touch of his hand on my face was all I could think about. It sent a current through both of us and filled me with longing for something I wasn’t sure I understood.

“I’m sorry.” He stepped back and shoved his hands into his pockets as the light around him faded. “You don’t know what it’s like. Being near you now, remembering those moments we had…” His hair blew into his eyes, but this time he didn’t move. I wanted to brush it back, but I didn’t know how he’d react. Would touching him be bad?

“You want to know who you were?” he asked. “You may look different, but you’re the same. I look into your eyes and see you.” He took in a deep breath, fixing his attention on the horizon. I’d seen and heard so much now that the logical part of my brain had long since given up arguing with me. I could feel what he was saying was true.
All of it.

Find it on: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Inkspell | Kobo

About the Author:

A Canadian-born author, Lisa Voisin spent her childhood daydreaming and making up stories, but it was her love of reading and writing in her teens that drew her to Young Adult fiction. 

When she's not writing, you'll find her meditating or hiking in the mountains to counter the side effects of drinking too much coffee.

She lives in Vancouver, B.C. with her fiance and their two cats.

Find her: Twitter | Facebook | Website | Blog

Giveaway details: 

ONE pre-order copy of THE WATCHER by Lisa Voisin open to US/Canada.
Must be 13 or older to enter.
ONE entry per household.

Winner will be announced in the Rafflecopter and contacted by email.

Winner will have 48 hours after notification to respond or another winner will be chosen.

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Review: A Vision of Green: L.H. Cosway

Synopsis

Since moving to Chesterport Flo has discovered new friends and a hidden world.

After spending seventeen years as an Empath, thinking she was either delusional or very, very different, she has found others who are different too. She helped battle a coven of dark witches and watched as their leader got sent to her judgement. All now seems peaceful in her new town, but it's not going to last.

For one, Flo's dad is back on the scene and has taken over her dead grandmother's house with his new girlfriend. Dealing with him makes Flo think that maybe everyday people can be monsters too, as he blackmails her into giving up the one person she needs the most. Secondly, Flo hears a story about strange goings on in the nearby forest, and becomes obsessed with the magical things that might lie in its green depths.

A Vision of Green is the second instalment in the Florence Vaine trilogy, where Flo finds herself yet again immersed in mystery, romance and things that are just a little bit scary. She will come across new adversaries, supernatural and otherwise, discover more about her own identity and grow in ways she had never anticipated.

Review

I have an admission. I actually read this book several months ago. I had emailed L.H. Cosway to let her know that I had read the first of the Florence Vaine trilogy and had posted a review of it on this blog. She was so gracious as to send me book two to read. I gobbled up the book in just a few short hours. It was thoroughly amazing. Now for the reason why I waited this long to review it. Well, it was because I didn't want the book to end, and so, by not reviewing it earlier, it felt like I was still enmeshed in Florence's world. I was also a little embarrassed about my review of the first book, A Strange Fire, where I mentioned that I didn't think it necessary that Florence was portrayed as an abused teen. I was so wrong. So my apologies.

In book two, we are further brought into Florence's life where she is dealing not only with the horror that comes from being abused, but also furthering her relationship with Frank. And really that is the least of it. I was so upset that the book ended and couldn't believe that I would have to wait until summer 2013 for book three to come out. But wait I must. I totally recommend reading the Florence Vaine Trilogy. It is fast paced, exciting and riveting.

I can't say enough about L.H. Cosway. She is an incredible writer that takes you on a journey and brings you so vividly into the world that she has created. You cry when the characters cry, wince when they do, laugh with them and feel like you are really there. Her books are rich with detail and imagery that flows brilliantly with the story. L.H. Cosway is fast becoming one of my favourite YA authors.

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rated by: Jessica

Review: Glimmer by Phoebe Kitandis

Story Synopsis:

When Marshall King and Elyse Alton suddenly wake up tangled in each other's arms with zero memory of how they got there or even who they are, it's the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future.

Terrified by their amnesia, Marshall and Elyse make a pact to work together to find the answers that could restore their missing memories. As they piece together clues about their lives, they discover that they're in the idyllic mountain resort town of Summer Falls. Everyone seems happy there, but as Marshall and Elyse quickly learn, darkness lurks beneath the town's perfect facade. Not only is the town haunted by sinister ghosts, but none of its living inhabitants retain bad memories of anything--not the death of Marshall's mom, not the hidden violence in Elyse's family, not even the day-to-day anguish of being a high schooler.

Lonely in this world of happy zombies, Marshall and Elyse fall into an intense relationship founded on their mutual quest for truth. But the secrets they're trying to uncover could be the death of this budding love affair--and of everyone, and everything, they love in Summer Falls. (from Goodreads)

Blair's Review:

Holy cow!

This book just came out of nowhere, and it's so good. Lisa got it for free at a sci-fi conference we both went to (cause we're geeks), and we both read it, and let me reiterate: holy cow.

Best free book ever. But I would have happily paid for it.

I'll admit that when I was reading it, I wasn't thinking many review-y type thoughts, because I was too engrossed in the mystery. Books which begin with a memory wipe can be a little cliche (Oh...the character doesn't remember anything...where have I heard that before? Only everywhere.), but Kitandis weaves such a gripping mystery around the memory loss that the trope seems fresh and new. I especially loved the disconnect between the characters' real selves and the selves they presented to the world, because it felt so true.

I've been asked to give my professional opinion on the memory loss. The truth is, I don't have one. When books try and pass off their neurological phenomena with a quasi-scientific explanation, I'm much more likely to huff and puff and pick holes and complain. Nothing suspends my disbelief quite as effectively as bad science. But it's pretty obvious within the first five pages that we're dealing with magic here. Magic's okay. Magic doesn't exist within my scientific world. I can suspend my disbelief for magic. Ironically though, the fact that the characters lose their names along with their histories actually makes this magical story more scientifically plausible than all the 'I-only-remember-my-name' stories.

Lisa's Review:

I'll reiterate Blair's "Holy Cow" statement. Yes, I was totally thrilled to score this awesome read at a sci-fi conference. Not because it was free and hardcover (and that doesn't affect my review, by the way). But I found this world and the plight of Marshall and Elyse so engrossing I couldn't put this book down. Seriously. I need to make a new category for this sort of book, like the "sleep-lost-reading-this" rating or "useless-the-next-day-at-work" rating or the "I-even-took-reading-breaks-at-work" rating. Because when all those things happen, the book is clearly five stars for me.

Is that subjective? I guess so.

 Blair's Rating: 5 stars

 Lisa's Rating: 5 stars

Our Top Halloween Reads 2012

This week, in honor of Halloween and #allhallowsread, we've chosen our favorite Halloween reads. Here's some information about All Hallow's Read, sponsored by Neil Gaiman.

If you want to give a young adult in your life (or anyone who love YA books) a fun Halloween read, check out some of these.

Lisa's Picks:

1. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan - This book takes place in the not-too-distant future after the zombie apocalypse. The world is creepy, and yet well done. For more information, read my review.
2. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake - This is a Great Halloween read. Just your average "boy meets girl. Girl kills people" story.  It reminded me a lot of the TV show, Supernatural, as well (which I love). Cas is a witty and engaging main character. The story is well-paced and fun, as it builds to a surprising blockbuster ending. I especially liked that it was set in Canada. 
3. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong - (part of The Darkest Powers Trilogy - it's all great) Is set in a creepy institution where "troubled teen" Chloe discovers she is really a Necromancer. This book has it all, creepy ghosts, werewolves. See Blair's review for more.
4. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - Though probably written for a middle grade audience, this book has all sorts of great creepy and both YA and adult appeal.
5. The Sandman - The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman - This series of classic comics is available as a graphic novel (somewhere). This was my first introduction to Neil Gaiman (of so many years ago) and I have been a huge fan ever since. An escaped nightmare, called simply "The Corinthian" made me sleep with the lights on.  

Blair's Picks:

1. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - I love this story about a boy who grows up in a graveyard. LOVE IT. It's the sort of book I wish I could write. It has the bonus of appeal to both YA and middle grade.
2. Mort, Reaper Man, Soul Music, Hogfather and Theif of Time, all from the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett - Ha! I bet you thought that it would be the Tiffany Aching books, didn't you? She's witchy and YA. But no. If I had to pick a Halloween-y Discworld sub-series, it's the Death books. Why? Because how can you get more Halloween-y than Death? That' right, you can't. Plus, he's my favorite Discworld character of all time. Best Death ever. The characters Mort (Death's apprentice) and Susan Sto Helit (Death's granddaughter) give the books some YA appeal.
3. Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts - Because zombies. Every Halloween countdown needs zombies. Okay, this book's creatures aren't really zombies, but they do come in apocalyptic, world-eating hordes.
4. The Passage by Justin Cronin - More apocalyptic hordes. This one isn't technically YA, but neither is Stephen King, and a lot of teenagers read him. If you're one of those teens, give this vampire romp a try. It has the added bonus of no added sparkles.
5. Coraline by Neil Gaiman - Apparently my weaknesses include spooky Neil Gaiman books that cross the line between middle grade and YA. This fantastically creeptactuar story about a girl who discovers another world behind a locked door is well worth the read, at any age.

Jessica's Picks:

1. The Dark Tower Series - Stephen King - Hello. Stephen King the epidemy of fright.
2. Running with the Demon (Book 1) - Terry Brooks - A fight between good and Evil and a teenager that must make the choice between the word and the void - what more could one want.
3. A Knight of the Word (Book 2) - Terry Brooks - A little bit about voids, evil, fallen knights and a college girl who must still save everything (There is a third book too but Nest Freemark has transitioned from teen to adult.)
4. Earthsea Trilogy - Ursula K. Le Guin - Magic, dragons, demons and the prices paid
5. City of Beasts - Isabel Allende - although not technically scary in the sense of ghosts and ghouls it is about the destruction of things not understood.

Review: The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong (Darkest Powers #2)

Story Synopsis:

If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl — someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I’m as far away from normal as it gets. I’m a living science experiment — not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a sinister organization call the Edison Group. What does that mean? For starters. I'm a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control: I raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever.

Now I’m running for my life with three of my supernatural friends - a chaming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch - and we have to find someone who can help us before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying. (from Goodreads)

My Review:

A couple of weeks ago, I reviewed The Summoning, the first book in the Darkest Powers trilogy. I liked that book. A lot. On to the sequel, The Awakening. Guess what? I liked this one, too!

Armstrong once again delivers a story that's fun, quirky and filled with pulse-pounding suspense. The characters are just as interesting as before. A mega-bonus (from my point of view) is that Armstrong again devotes a couple of pages to pointing out how NOT to treat people with mental illness, and for that she gets my applause and virtual hugs.

The plot is not quite as gripping as the first book, and a lot of it involves getting the characters from Point A to Point B. That said, I can't really fault a book for focusing on moving the characters from one place to another, since my all-time favorite trilogy is Lord of the Rings, and that's about 70% walking, as one does not simply walk into Mordor. Some of the best stories out there are journey stories. But with The Awakening, I got the distinct feeling that the book's real job was to set me up for the third book. Part of this was because a lot of scenes followed a patten: Chloe is, intentionally of unintentionally, testing out her powers. Let's see what happens! Readers, take note.

Even with this business-time aspect, Armstrong still manages to create a fun, page-turning addition to her Darkest Powers trilogy. Next stop: The Reckoning.

Rating: 4 stars

Rated by: Blair

Review: Fire by Kristin Cashore

Story Synopsis: 

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.

This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she had the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.

Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City, The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom.

If only she weren't afraid of becoming the monster her father was.

Lisa's Review:

Kristin Cashore's ability to weave a world, filled with unique and interesting characters always makes her stories worth reading. I enjoyed Graceling, the previous story written in this world, and I truly enjoyed Fire, but not in the way I expected. Cashore has a way of pulling you into her world so that the story and its characters stay with you. However, while I enjoyed this story and found it compelling, I am not convinced it should really be categorized as Young Adult. This book is fantasy, pure and simple. Truly enjoyable fantasy. Not really YA.

Before you get mad at me for saying this, please hear me out. It's not that the these books were overly complex or that anything addressed in these books wasn't suitable for young adult (or even some middle grade) readers. It's about the Young Adult fiction category itself. I still believe the story to be very good.
Young Adult fiction is usually characterized as follows:

• First person narrative: Generally, young adult fiction is written in first person and Fire is written in third. There are always exceptions: the later Harry Potter books (though the series started as middle grade) as well as The Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series come to mind.
• Protagonist is high-school aged: The idea behind YA versus regular fiction or even the upcoming "New Adult" category is that the main character in YA fiction is experiencing things that relate to being that age in some way. I've even heard that stories set the summer after graduation no longer qualify the story for Young Adult. While Fire is seventeen at the start of the book, she is treated like an adult woman in all aspects.
• Story takes place over a short time frame: The idea is that the stories are faster paced and events take place closer to real time than adult books. However, Fire takes place over the period of a year or more, with many major events happening.
• Written in scenes, more than summaries: This gives a sense of immediacy to the story. Most YA fiction is written in scenes where characters interact. Fire is not written in as many scenes, so there's less immediacy to some of the events, giving the story more of an 'adult' pace or feel.

In fact, the only thing making this story young adult is the fact that Fire is seventeen when the book begins (18 when it ends) and that any sex scenes are written in a completely fade-to-black kind of way. Otherwise, her publishers and promoters have stretched the genre to bring a good story to young readers.

This book is a strong work of fantasy and could just as easily thrive on the adult shelves. Marketing it as YA, however, made this book, and Graceling, truly stand out, and made it available to readers of all ages. It's an argument in favor of adults reading fiction that's classified as "Young Adult".

While I truly enjoyed the book, I can't help but feel a little manipulated when good stories are cut to fit a YA genre simply because it's a "hot" genre. While it's true that there are always exceptions to any rule, sometimes the exceptions outnumber the rules.

If we based a book's YA status on the age of the characters alone, Game of Thrones could be added to the YA shelves because there's a few young characters in there. Just sayin'.

Blair's Review:

I think Lisa covered this pretty well so I won't add much, except to say that I agree. I enjoyed reading this book, but it didn't feel YA. As for the reasons why, I didn't have as many as Lisa - she knows a lot more about the rules and trends of YA than I do. For me, it was Fire's age that made the difference. She could have been 20-something and it would have been the exact same book.

That said, I really liked the book. What I love about Kristin Cashore's writing is that her made-up world is so detailed that it feels real. At no point does the world feel like it exists solely as a setting for the story; it bursts with a life of its own. I can imagine all sorts of stories taking place behind the scenes. Cashore opens the door to the world and invites us in, and I'm more than happy to enter. (And it's got a map. I love books with maps. Maps are like invitations. Dear Reader, please enter this fantasy realm. A map is provided for your enjoyment and convenience.)

Similar to Graceling, the pacing is a bit uneven. There's a reveal about 2/3 through the book which feels artificial - Fire knew this detail which is critical to her character, and we're in her head, so why didn't we know it too? The "A ha!" moment felt tacked on for effect. And there's the whole it-doesn't-feel-like-YA-thing. It feels like its been jammed into the YA mold.

Well-developed characters and a rich world make this book worth reading. But it should be marketed to adults as well. I'm sure there are adults out there who would enjoy this book, but won't come across it because its only on the YA shelves. That's kind of a shame.

Our Ratings:

Lisa's Rating: 3.5 or 4 stars
Blair's Rating: 4 stars

Review: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong (Darkest Powers #1)

Story Synopsis

 My name is Chloe Saunders and my life will never be the same again.

All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys, and keep on being ordinary. I don't even know what that means anymore. It all started on the day that I saw my first ghost - and the ghost saw me.

Now there are ghosts everywhere and they won't leave me alone. To top it all off, I somehow got myself locked up in Lyle House, a "special home" for troubled teens. Yet the home isn't what it seems. Don't tell anyone, but I think there might be more to my housemates than meets the eye. The question is, whose side are they on? It's up to me to figure out the dangerous secrets behind Lyle House...before its skeletons come back to haunt me. (from Goodreads)

My Review:

I have a confession to make. When I first heard about this book, I thought it was going to be a paranormal romance along the lines of a certain other series which I hate and which will remain unnamed. So I wrote it off my book list and forgot about it...until my fellow blogger Lisa recommended it to me. Lisa's recommendations tend to be spot-on, so I swallowed my skepticism and picked up this book. And guess what? Lisa was right. This book is great. Lesson learned.

The main character, Chloe, is full of endearing quirks, including a stutter and a tendency to see the world from behind the lens of an imaginary film camera. All the secondary characters are well flushed out, especially the awkward, intelligent Derek. The plot is gripping, the pacing excellent, and the writing is clean and fun.

All of these are reasons why you should read this book. But none of them are the main reason why I loved this book.

That came in the form of a five-page scene between Chloe and the psychiatrist Dr. Gill. I've mentioned before that in my real life, I'm a neuroscientist. WARNING: I'm about to nerd-out. Okay? Here we go.

The set-up for the scene is that Chloe has just had a run-in with a dead janitor that no one else could see. Dr. Gill is telling Chloe that she might be schizophrenic. What follows is one of the most honest discussions of schizophrenia I've ever seen in a fiction book, let alone a YA paranormal. While Chloe freaks out over the possibility of being "schizo", Dr. Gill calmly and concisely lays out what schizophrenia is, what it is not, what is myth, and what is real. In our society, schizophrenics are subjected to a stigma that is undeserved. That Armstrong devoted a chunk of her book to pointing out and responding to that undeserved stigma is amazing. As soon as I read that scene, I knew that it didn't matter what happened after in the book, I was going to like it. This book gets a big, fat, Neuro Seal of Approval.

But if you don't base your opinions of books on five-page scenes that actually have little to do with plot or character development, that's okay, because there's lots of other reasons why this is a fun and gripping read. It's several years old now, and paranormal is drifting out of the YA market, but if you missed this one when it was first released, I highly recommend you pick it up now.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Rated by: Blair

Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Synopsis: 

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

From Goodreads.

My Review:

Matched is a hard book for me to review, because I really, really loved it. At first, I picked it up to get over another book I read (which shall remain nameless) that truly upset me, and I was delighted by how quickly I got into it.

Cassia lives in a world that is perfectly organized by the data that been collected about people their entire lives. In this world, disease has been prevented and people know exactly how long they will live. Even their mates are chosen for them, and behavior is predicted based on probability. Everything is sorted and accounted for, leaving nothing to chance. In the Society's world, creativity is not an option.

As the synopsis suggests, Cassia, the main character is presented with not one, but two possible matches: one sanctioned by the state, and the other an 'error in the system'. The idea that a perfectly structured world could have errors opens Cassia's eyes to new possibilities and the idea that the world she lives in is not in everyone's best interest after all.

Condie creates a remarkable world, one whose presence I felt through the characters. The dilemmas she brings up are universal: how much can data predict behavior? are we being watched? is it wrong to question authority? and what is the essence of creativity?

To some, this story is evenly paced. However, with this pacing, Condie gives us time to feel the experiences and breathe the air of Cassie's world, while I fell in love with the characters. As a writer, I greatly admire Condie's writing style. Her pacing gave me time to stop and admire the scenery, without bogging me down in the slightest. I found the story, its characters and the adversarial world they live in, strong and compelling enough to draw me in. It kept me engrossed from start to finish. 

My rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by: Lisa

Review: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Story Synopsis

The New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments continues—and so do the thrills and danger for Jace, Clary, and Simon.What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

My Review:

I have to admit that going into this 5th book of the Mortal Instrument series, I didn't have high hopes. A devout fan of the first 3 books, I was enchanted by the Shadowhunters and their bittersweet world fighting demons and Cassandra Claire fast pace with equal amounts of action and romantic tension. Once the 4th book came along, I was already distanced; I actually think I put it down for a few months before finishing it. I was hoping to be refreshed by City of Lost Souls, and while it had some great conflict and story development, overall, I found it lacking intrigue.

Not to say it wasn’t fun, Claire gives new pieces to the parameters of the world, the evils of Sebastian and the various romantic plotlines of the story. Her writing continues to be engaging and wise, but the pacing at times seemed off, with some slow periods that would then speed into action that lacked a proper build up.  I wonder if it’s the absence of “the real Jace” in this novel, which made me appreciate how a smart-ass bad-boy can take a story from good something special (fellow writers, take note).

Perhaps it’s because I’ve been loving the prequel series, Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince so much, that City of Lost Souls felt a little watered down. And while the book feels loyal to its progressive, modern take all the way through, I admit the cheese factor of the ending made me want to rip open the book and throw in some hot sauce. But maybe that’s a good thing, maybe that means I care so much about the characters and their realization that I wanted more.

And I will get it - we all will. I know I will not hesitate myself to read the final book when it comes out despite my less-than-romance with the last two. If you are a fan of the series, I don’t doubt you will enjoy City of Lost Souls, if anything to keep you in the loop for how the epic series will close.

Review by: Elinor

3 out of 5 stars

Review: Red Glove by Holly Black (Curse Workers #2)

Story Synopsis:

Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.

That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.

When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?

Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose. (from Amazon.com)

My Review:

I know the traditional thing to do when reviewing a sequel is to compare it to the original. I think, in this case, that won't work. I read White Cat two years ago while curled up fetal on my bed, trying to distract myself from food poisoning. I'll say this much about it: My brain now associates that book with extreme abdominal discomfort, yet I still think it was a good read, which should tell you something about how fantastic a read it truly is.

On to Red Glove, which I read during a lightning weekend trip across the continent. I was tired, a little hungover (wild weddings will do that), and being accosted by arm-rest hoggers, crying babies, tight connections, other people's loud headphones, and an evil woman who crumpled my garment bag. Bitch. Red Glove took all that madness and made it bearable.

One of these days, I'm going to read Holly Black's books for pleasure alone and not as a distraction from pain and irritation, because they're worth much more attention than what I'm giving them.

What I'm getting at, with all this venting about flights, is that Red Glove is a fantastic book. I blazed through it. Granted, I didn't have much else to do, now that it costs $6.71 to watch a movie on a plane. But I would have kept reading even if the movie had been free. Cassel is a great main character - unique and compelling. The secondary characters are also engaging and well-developed. The writing is both descriptive and casual; the story dark and disturbing with frequent bursts of humor. It sucks you in and doesn't let go. Black's ability to take our world, add one magical twist, and still keep things completely relatable, is impressive; the fact that her magical twist has very real implications for the real world is even more so.

As with White Cat, the central mystery is a little predictable, but in Red Glove it took me a bit longer to crack it. Also, I don't know Lila's character very well, even though she's the romantic interest and a driving force in the plot. In White Cat she's a cat, in Red Glove she's cursed. We almost never see her as her true self, so who is she? I hope that the third book gives readers the chance to know her better.

Overall, highly recommended, especially if you're sick or facing a flight.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Rated by: Blair

Review: Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Story Synopsis:

In America after the Second Civil War, the Pro-Choice and Pro-Life armies came to an agreement: The Bill of Life states that human life may not be touched from the moment of conception until a child reaches the age of thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, a parent may choose to retroactively get rid of a child through a process called "unwinding." Unwinding ensures that the child's life doesn’t “technically” end by transplanting all the organs in the child's body to various recipients. Now a common and accepted practice in society, troublesome or unwanted teens are able to easily be unwound.

With breath-taking suspense, this book follows three teens who all become runaway Unwinds: Connor, a rebel whose parents have ordered his unwinding; Risa, a ward of the state who is to be unwound due to cost-cutting; and Lev, his parents' tenth child whose unwinding has been planned since birth as a religious tithing. As their paths intersect and lives hang in the balance, Shusterman examines serious moral issues in a way that will keep readers turning the pages to see if Connor, Risa, and Lev avoid meeting their untimely ends. (from Amazon.com)

My Review:

Oh.

My.

God.

This book is AMAZING.

I need to stop and breathe for a second if I'm going to do any sort of logical review. Otherwise you're just going to get 300 words of fan-girl squealing. No one wants that.

<breathing>

Okay.

In Unwind, Neal Schusterman takes the abortion debate to a  horrifying conclusion: Abortions are outlawed, and instead, teenagers can be "unwound". All their organs are donated, so that no part of them technically dies. The story follows three teens scheduled for unwinding.

It's gripping, it's breathtaking, its brain-blowingly amazing. Shusterman handles a complex and emotionally charged debate with deft skill, creating a book that will leave your fingers clutching the pages and your brain whirring as it tries to sort through all the implications. The characters are more than just stand-ins for the author to preach (as so often happens with morally charged books), but full-fledged entities with story arcs that will leave your heart pounding. I got choked up a couple of times. I really did. There's one scene in particular - one horrifying, gut-wrenching, eye-tearing scene - which I don't think will ever leave me. It's going into my personal list of "Top Ten Most Haunting Scenes". I'm still shuddering.

Even while creating believable characters and weighty storylines, Schusterman managed to do his science homework. In my non-blog life, I'm a neuroscientist. Speculative neuroscience in fiction tends to make me facepalm. It's ridiculous. Writers (screenwriters included) blather on and on without actually knowing any more about the brain than what can be read in the first sentence of a Wikipedia article. But Schusterman managed the neuro sci-fi bits excellently. Okay, there was one slight speed bump, but the story was good enough that I didn't care. Disbelief suspended, I totally bought into it. This book gets my Neuro Seal of Approval.

I started pulling out quotes that I wanted to put in the blog. I even went to far as to dog-ear a couple pages - a practice which normally makes me cringe. But in the end I dropped them all. The issues raised by this book go far beyond the abortion debate, and their weight is too much to get across in a few cherry-picked quotes. This is a book you need to discover for yourself. I don't care what side of the debate you're on, this book is a must-read.

My Rating: 5 stars

Rated by: Blair

Review: Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars by Nick James

Story Synopsis:

A devastated Earth's last hope is found in Pearls: small, mysterious orbs that fall from space and are capable of supplying enough energy to power entire cities. Battling to control the Pearls are the Skyship dwellers—political dissidents who live in massive ships in the Earth's stratosphere—and the corrupt Surface government.

Jesse Fisher, a Skyship slacker, and Cassius Stevenson, a young Surface operative, cross paths when they both venture into forbidden territory in pursuit of Pearls. Their chance encounter triggers an unexpected reaction, endowing each boy with remarkable—and dangerous—abilities that their respective governments would stop at nothing to possess.

Enemies thrust together with a common goal, Jesse and Cassius make their way to the ruins of Seattle to uncover the truth about their new powers, the past they didn't know they shared, and a shocking secret about the Pearls. (from Amazon.com)

My Review:

I love a good sci-fi. Give me a book brimming with crazy technology, imaginative ideas about outer space, wild physics, and spaceships. Tie it together with a compelling message about the real world, and you won't see me again until the book is done. But sci-fi has always been underrepresented in the YA market. With Curiosity landing and Kepler on overdrive, the time is ripe for some crazy sci-fi. So along comes Skyship Academy, blasting into the YA world like one of its own ubiquitous Pearls. It's a breath of fresh air. Which is ironic, since I don't think the characters get a single breath of fresh air over course of the entire book. Recirculated and processed air, if they're lucky.

Set 83 years in the future, James' comic-book inspired story envisions a world made bleak by terrorism and counter-terrorism. Earth is scorched beyond recognition. The only sanctuaries are the Chosen Cities on land or the Skyships above the clouds. It's a compelling yet terrifying vision of our future; one that makes you think twice about the paths we have chosen, or may very likely choose.

The story is told from two points of view - one in first-person present-tense, the other in third-person past-tense. Whether or not you like this will probably depend on your own personal taste. I admit I was a little disoriented by the first switch. But James' ability to write engagingly from both POVs is impressive. The style grew on me, likely in part because it's so unique. A side-effect was that I felt less connected to Cassius (3rd person) than to Jesse (1st person). Despite, or perhaps because of this, I ultimately found Cassius to be the more compelling character, and the one whose arc I'm most looking forward to reading in the sequel. Regardless of the POV, James' casual, engaging style pulls the reader in, and provides more than a few laughs - especially when we're seeing through the eyes of the quirky, relatable Jesse.

This book is thought-provoking and fun, packed with action and excellent world-building and complete with an ending I didn't see coming. The second book comes out on September 8th, so I only have to wait a month before finding out what happens next. It's going to be a long month.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Rated by: Blair

Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Story Synopsis

Kristin Cashore’s best-selling, award-winning fantasy Graceling tells the story of the vulnerable yet strong Katsa, a smart, beautiful teenager who lives in a world where selected people are given a Grace, a special talent that can be anything from dancing to swimming. Katsa’s is killing. As the king’s niece, she is forced to use her extreme skills as his thug. Along the way, Katsa must learn to decipher the true nature of her Grace . . . and how to put it to good use. A thrilling, action-packed fantasy adventure (and steamy romance!) that will resonate deeply with adolescents trying to find their way in the world.  (from Amazon.com)

My Review

When it comes to books, there are few things I like more than a girl who kicks butt. Double bonus points if she's smart and/or funny as well. Arya from A Song of Ice and Fire. Katniss from The Hunger Games. Trillian from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, because butt-kicking doesn't have to be physical; intellectual prowess can whallop butts as well. So it should be no surprise that I'm a fan of Katsa, the butt-destroying heroine in Kristin Cashore's gripping book, Graceling.

At times it's predictable, and at times the troughs between the peaks are a bit too wide and deep, but this is one of those situations where I just don't care. I liked the characters far too much to bother with the book's minor weaknesses. I've already gushed about the awesomeness that is Katsa - watching her develop over the course of the book was, for me, the prime reason to read through 500 pages. Oh, and the romance. Did I mention the romance? This book has a really good romance. But it has balance between romance and action, and I like that. There's a lot more going on than smouldering eyes. It's got good world-building, too. I love it when a fantasy world is written with enough depth and detail that it feels like a possible reality.

Graceling has spawned a companion novel and a sequel, both of which have skyrocketed up my way-too-long, never-to-be-cleared reading list. Kristin Cashore is one of those authors where, as soon as I finish one book, my fingers start twitching to grab the next. I can't wait to see where she takes her characters and her world.

Rating: 4 stars

Rated by: Blair