Top Pearls 2013 - part 2

Today the second and last part of my and Voodoo Bride's Top Pearls 2013 list.
Here are another 12 books that we really enjoyed reading this year, and that I can advice to anyone looking for an awesome read.


Shards & Ashes - Anthology
This anthology with Dystopian YA stories is a must read for anyone who loves Dystopian YA.

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
A really cool, grim and realistic Post Apocalyptic YA read.

Five Golden Rings by Jeffe Kennedy
This BDSM romance isn't just a perfect read for the Holidays. It's a hot and delightful story any time of the year.

Between by Kerry Schafer
A beautiful Paranormal story about dreams, penguins and dragons.


Cold Blooded by Amanda Carlson
The best book yet in a very enjoyable and entertaining Urban Fantasy series.

Omens by Kelley Armstrong
A Paranormal thriller that keeps you reading. Armstrong proves she can do a lot more than write about werewolves.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
An amazing, gritty, and grim YA about vampires. A must read for anyone who loves YA and vampires.

Runemarks by Joanne Harris
This YA Fantasy is cool and full of suspense and magic.


(Deadly) Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock
A really suspenseful Paranormal YA about werewolves and the human nature.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
A hauntingly beautiful YA read.

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
An awesome Post Apocalyptic YA with vampires

Rising Darkness by Thea Harrison
A dark and intense Paranormal Romance.



And that's my list of Top Pearls for 2013!

I hope you will have a wonderful New Year's Eve, and I wish you lots of happiness and awesome reads for 2014!

The Year in Books 2013 - As Far As I Can Recall

Click Clack Gorilla posted a list of all the book she read this year and asked me to join in on the fun.

I agreed and started making a list.

Then I discovered I couldn't retrace all the books I read...

So here's what I could find. This list does not include my rereads and I'm pretty sure I left out some books I read, but didn't review. Most of the books in the list were reviewed on my blog, and some will be reviewed soon.

titles with * are novellas or short stories.


1 - Eve and Adam by M. Grant and K. Applegate
2 - Riveted by Meljean Brook
3 - For the Love of a Goblin Warrior by Shona Husk
4 - Lament by Maggie Stiefvater
5 - Full Blooded by Amanda Carlson
6 - Absolution by Susannah Sandlin
7 - Vengeance Moon by Lee Roland
8 - Scent of Magic by M. V. Snyder
9 - Redemption by Susannah Sandlin
10 - Platinum by Jeffe Kennedy *
11 - Birthmarked by `C. O'Brien
12 - Archangel of Mercy by Christina Ashcroft
13 - Ashes by I.J. Bick
14 - Pure by J. Baggott
15 - Wolf Nip by Vivian Arend *
16 - Still Sucks to be Me by K. Pauley
17 - Till the world ends - Anthology
18 - Shaedes of Grey by Amanda Bonilla
19 - Tiger's Eye by B. Annino
20 - Wolf Line by Vivian Arend *
21 - Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans
22 - Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien
23 - Iron Guns, Blazing Hearts by Heather Massey *
24 - Shards and Ashes - Anthology
25 - Rogue's Possession by Jeffe Kennedy
26 - Revel by Maurissa Guibord
27 - Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs
28 - Slide by Jill Hathaway
29 - Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
30 - Shadows by I.J. Bick
31 - Sky Tinted Water by Keta Diablo
32 - The Seduction of Phaeton Black by Jillian Stone
33 - Hattie Wilkinson Meets Her Match by Michelle Styles
34 - Promised by Caragh M. O'Brien
35 - The Archived by Victoria Schwab
36 - Omega by Susannah Sandlin
37 - Between by Kerry Schafer
38 - Ill Wind by Rachel Caine
39 - Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong
40 - Naturals by Tiffany Truitt
41 - Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock
42 - A Cup of Joe by Anita Ensal *
43 - Seven Kinds of Hell by Dana Cameron
44 - Mortality by Kellie Sheridan
45 - The Accidental Werewolf by Dakota Cassidy
46 - The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
47 - Rise by Anna Carey
48 - The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa
49 - Silence by Michelle Sagara
50 - Erebos by Ursula Poznanski
51 - The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
52 - The Panopticon by Jenni Fagan
53 - Allegiance Sworn by Kylie Griffin
54 - Viral Nation by Shaunta Grimes
55 - Chasers by James Phelan
56 - Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne
57 - A Werewolf in Manhattan by Vicki Lewis Thompson
58 - Wit Awakening by Maria Violante
59 - PODs by Michelle Pickett
60 - Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
61 - Hot Blooded by Amanda Carlson


62 - So Close to You by Rachel Carter
63 - Across the Universe by Beth Revis
64 - The Candle Man by Alex Scarrow
65 - The Dead by Charlie Higson
66 - Sky On Fire by Emmy Laybourne
67 - White Trash Zombie Apocalypse by Diana Rowland
68 - Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
69 - Vengeance Born by Kylie Griffin
70 - Alliance Forged by Kylie Griffin
71 - In the After by Demitria Lunetta
72 - Death and the Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones
73 - The Rising by Kelley Armstrong
74 - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children Ransom riggs
75 - Caste by RaeLynn Fry
76 - 100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes
77 - Rory by Ciye Cho
78 - The Outside by Laura Bickle
79 - River Road by Suzanne Johnson
80 - Elysian Fields by Suzanne Johnson
81 - The Outcast Prince by Shona Husk
82 - Storm Force by Susannah Sandlin
83 - Persephone by Kaitlin Bevis
84 - Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell
85 - The Dream Runner by Kerry Schafer *
86 - The Cold Kiss of Death by Suzanne McLeod
87 - Kindling the Moon by Jenn Bennett
88 - Awaken by Meg Cabot
89 - Cold Blooded by Amanda Carlson
90 - BirthMarked by Maria Violante
91 - Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
92 - Horde by Ann Aguirre
93 - Cruel and Swift Instruments of Nature by edward Lange
94 - Alien's Bride by Yamila Abraham
95 - Maid of Secrets by Jennifer McGowan
96 - The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
97 - Queene of Light by Jennifer Armintrout
98 - Alien in the House by Gini Koch
99 - The Peculiar Pets of Miss Pleasance by delilah S. Dawson *
100 - Rising Darkness by Thea Harrison
101 - Little David Lost by E.S. Moore
102 - Timewarp, Inc by Cotton E. Davis
103 - Ruby by Jeffe Kennedy *
104 - Wake by Amanda Hocking
105 - Bronze Gods by A.A. Aguirre
106 - White Cat by Holly Black
107 - Shady Lady by Ann Aguirre
108 - The Devil Inside by Jenna Black
109 - Reach by Karen A. Wyle
110 - Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston


111 - Countdown by Michelle Rowen
112 - AngelFall by Susan Ee
113 - Perdition by Ann Aguirre
114 - The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah rees Brennan
115 - Mars Evacuees by Sophia McDougall
116 - Pretty Girl Thirteen by Liz Coley
117 - Twinmaker by Sean Williams
118 - The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris
119 - Deadlands by Lily Herne
120 - Runemarks by Joanne Harris
121 - Agave Kiss by Ann Aguirre
122 - Firelight by Kristen Callihan
123 - Halloween: Magic, Mystery, and the Macabre - Anthology
124 - The Concrete Grove by Gary McMahon
125 - Oasis by Joan De La Haye *
126 - All Together Now: A Zombie Story by Robert Kent
127 - Alien research by Gini Koch
128 - World After by Susan Ee
129 - Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan
130 - Five Golden Rings by Jeffe Kennedy *
131 - Rogue Hunter: dark Space by Kevis Hendrickson
132 - Grimm Tales: For Young and Old by Philip Pullman
133 - The Selection by Kiera Cass
134 - Allegiant by Veronica Ross
135 - The Coming Dark by Erin McCarthy
136 - The Ghost Bride by Y. Choo
137 - The Naturals by J.L. Barnes
138 - Queen's Hunt by Beth Bernobich
139 - Wool by Hugh Howey
140 - Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
141 - Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
142 - Against the Dark by Carolyn Crane *
143 - Forsaken by the Other by Jess Haines
144 - Insomnia by J.R. Johansson
145 - The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
146 - Assassin's Gambit by Amy Raby
147 - The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron
148 - Draw the Dark by Ilsa J. Bick
149 - Omens by Kelley Armstrong
150 - Forever A Lord by Delilah Marvelle
151 - The Circle by Sara Bergmark Elfgren and Mats Strandberg


I will be keeping better track of all my reads and rereads in 2014 so I can post a more accurate list next year.

Want to join in on the fun?
Head over to Click Clack Gorilla to add your post to the list.

A Small Interview with Maria Violante + Giveway

One of the books that made an impression on me this year was BirthMarked by Maria Violante. It's an original Urban Fantasy read with a very sympathetic heroine.

I already interviewed Maria earlier this year, but I decided to ask her a few end of year questions. She not only answered my questions, but kindly offered a copy of BirthMarked to one reader of my blog as well.


Welcome back to Pearls Cast Before a McPig, Maria.
What was your favorite moment of 2013?

As an author, I'd have to definitely say that the publication of BirthMarked was a huge milestone for me--and when I got the first review, and it was just so positive, I was humbled and pleased and really emotional.

As a professional, it would have to be November 1st, because that was the day I started my new job/career in multifamily housing management. I just got hired at an amazing company that I thought was a total longshot for me, and I can already tell I'm going to be really happy there.

I think a special mention would be Thanksgiving. I went to TWO thanksgivings, with twice the turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing--jeez, I must have gained ten pounds! But being there with two different families was lovely, and my boyfriend (a very stoic man) took the opportunity to say something really romantic and I just melted.

What will you be doing on New Year’s Eve?

Hmm. . . I hadn't even thought that far ahead yet! I almost always figure it out a day or two before. I'm pretty sure that no matter what, I'll be with people I love (and probably tipsy) and with those two, you can never go wrong.

What are you looking forward to in 2014?

The sequel to BirthMarked, which I am having the hardest time titling, is like 75% of the way done. I got off track this last month or so, what with the new career, car trouble, all of the things that life just kinda throws at you . . . but you know, the thing that always brings me back in is reviews, believe it or not. I'll just be doing whatever, and my phone will ping, and I'll see that someone new has left me a review on amazon and just loved the book--and then I'll feel really inspired to work on the next one! So that's great.

What can readers expect from you in 2014?

BirthMarked, books two and three--is she the lighthouse, or the lily? And what's going to happen with her and Shawn/Dean/ALLTHEMEN?

I've also got another series that's just been taunting me. I've rewritten the first half of the first book three times now, and it's just fallen flat for me--and I started this other book, that wasn't quite making it. One day, I'm in the shower and bing!--a light goes on. They're not working, because they're two halves of the same whole.

So I'm really excited about that project. Over a year in just the idea stage, and I know it will be great.

Thanks for dropping by and have a great New Year's Eve.


==========================

Giveaway:

Maria will gift one reader of my blog with a digital copy of BirthMarked.
For your chance to win:
- Leave a comment for Maria
- Leave a way for me to contact you
- Do so before January 12th 2014

Open internationally for anyone who's legally allowed to enter this giveaway

A winner will be picked at random on January 12th or soon after.

Top Pearls 2013 - part 1

Here are 12 of 24 books we read this year that we wanted to give a shout-out, because they're really cool.
I haven't included the books that (will) have their own shout-out and giveaway post (except one).

Click the titles to go to my review, and stay tuned for part 2!


Alliance Forged by Kylie Griffin
This is a wonderful Fantasy Romance with a swoonworthy hero according to Voodoo Bride.

Absolution by Susannah Sandlin
A Paranormal Romance with yet another awesome hero, and with a solid action storyline that made this a great read for both Voodoo Bride and me.

100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes
This zombie retelling of Dante's Inferno is so cool I bought a print version after I finished reading the ebook.

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne
An awesome Post Apocalyptic YA.


Horde by Ann Aguirre
The epic conclusion of an amazing Post Apocalyptic YA trilogy.

White Cat by Holly Black
A cool Paranormal YA about a boy who grew up in a family of con men.

Angelfall by Susan Ee
Who knew books about angels could be this awesomely gritty? A great Post Apocalyptic YA.

Elysian Fields by Suzanne Johnson
The third book in a really cool UF series that keeps getting better and better.


Alien Research by Gini Koch
A great addition to a SF series that is cool, funny, and a pleasure to read.

The Outside by Laura Bickle
Words are not enough to tell you how awesome this 2nd book in a Post Apocalyptic duology with Amish and vampires is.

Forsaken by the Others by Jess Haines
What makes an already amazing UF series even better: Zombies!

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
A really fun and suspenseful Paranormal YA.

An Interview with Michelle Pickett + giveaway (closed)

Today Michelle Pickett visits my blog for an interview.
I love PODs, her debut YA novel. It's one of the best Dystopian books I read this year, and I'm already looking forward to the sequel.



Welcome to Pearls Cast Before A McPig, Michelle.
Could you tell a bit about yourself for those people who don’t know you yet?

Hi, Thank you so much for having me today! There really isn’t a lot to tell about me. Seriously, my bio is boring. I fall asleep reading it. I’m wife and a mom of three girls and a boy. I can’t remember a time I haven’t loved to read and I think my love of writing stems from my love of reading.

Monster Khaos (it’s the one with orange juice so I can pretend I’m being healthy) is my coffee of choice and my day doesn’t start until I’ve downed one of those puppies. A Red Bull will do if I don’t have a Khaos. I love Reese’s Peanut Butter cups and eat way too many while I write. I hate to cook, but love to watch cooking shows so I can pretend I’m a great chef. (Plus, I’m going to marry Gordon Ramsay. He just doesn’t know it yet...um, and neither does my husband. So, let’s keep this between us.) I live in Texas, but I have an absurd obsession with hoodies and I can’t write without one. Totally ridiculous, I know. But I strive daily to be abnormal. Being normal takes too much work and is boring. Having a few quirks is a lot more fun.

Oh, and random fact number...whatever...I have a degree in accounting. Why? I had to choose a major and it was first on the list. And when I started my classes I found out I rocked it, so it stuck. Too bad they don’t let me make-up stuff. Creativity in accounting is frowned on...like, in jail type of frowned on. Go figure.

I’m an unabashed romantic and love happy endings that give me butterflies for days after I’ve finished reading a book.

Could you tell a bit about your books?

I’m a young adult author. I write different genres in the young adult category. I tend to follow the stories in my head rather than what’s trending.

My debut young adult novel, “PODs,” hit the Amazon Bestsellers list. It’s a post-apocalyptic, dystopian, romance. The sequel “The Infected” will release in November 2014.

My next project that will release March 11, 2014 is the first book in a paranormal trilogy, “Milayna.” If you like kick-butt heroines, swoony heros, a little action, a little romance, a little betrayal, then Milayna might be a good fit for you. The second book in the series, “Milayna’s Angel,” will release September 2014, and the final book in the trilogy, “The Innocent,” will release April 2015.

My current work-in-progress is a new adult contemporary and a young adult/new adult dystopian. I’m excited about both projects; it’s hard to focus on just one at a time. I want to work on both simultaneously!

Buy Links for PODs:
Amazon ׀ Barnes&Noble ׀ Books-A-Million ׀ The Book Depository ׀

Pre-Order Links for Milayna:
Amazon ׀ Barnes&Noble ׀ The Book Depository



If you could meet any character in your book, who would it be and why?

I’d actually meet Adela, a character in the dystopian I’m writing now. She is the toughest heroine I’ve written. I find myself trying to box her in and her character just busts through the barriers I try to impose on her. She’s tough, but she’s a sweet and kind person who’s seen and been through a lot of hurt in her short life. I think when this book finds a publisher and hits stands, readers will fall in love with her as much as I have.

Of the books I’ve had/going to have published I think I’d like to meet Milayna the most. She has an unusual view of people. She can view things that are going to occur in their lives that may have a negative impact on them and/or their family. She is gifted with the ability to change how the event plays out and, therefore, protect the person. I think this would be a very humbling thing to be able to do, but I can see how it could be a burden, as well.

Where can you be found when you’re not at your desk writing?

I am a HUGE family person. So if I’m not writing I am where ever my family is.

My son started playing football this year (GO BULLDOGS!) so I’m a football mom. I’m in the stands yelling and cheering for the kids. It’s something new for our family and we’re having a lot of fun going to the games and playing ball at home. Even the dog plays.

My family will tell you that I torture them constantly with my camera. If my fingers aren’t on the keyboard, they’re on the shutter release button on my camera. They exaggerate a little, but I do like to chase them around with the camera, mainly because it irritates them. (ha-ha)

What did you do to celebrate the release of your first book?

LOL! Oh, well, it was my son’s 12th birthday so I had a house full of 12 year-old boys staying for a sleepover and a trip to incredible pizza (a pizza/arcade restaurant) the next day. My book debut didn’t get a whole lot of attention, but we did go out to dinner a couple days later.

But when my birthday rolled around, my husband made up for not having a big debut party. We had a big celebration at a seafood restaurant and we all went to the mall to see my book on the store shelves for the first time. And of course we bought one to have as a keepsake.



What authors have been an influence to you? And have you read any books lately that you want to share with us or have you been too busy with writing to read?

Wilson Rawls was the first author to really touch me. I mean, his book, “Where the Red Fern Grows,” was the first book that actually took me to a place outside myself where I felt as though I was with the characters, feeling what they felt. That book made me want to be an author. Another author who is someone I strive to emulate is Rebecca Ryman. I think she writes phenomenal characters. My favorite book of hers (and maybe all time) is “Olivia and Jai.” Jai is a character that just grabbed me from the first page he was introduced until the last page of the book. He was flawed, hurt, confused, vengeful, and just a jumbled mixture of raw emotion…just like people are. He isn’t the most likeable guy, but the way the author has written him is just fantastic.

I love Meradeth Houston’s Sary Series: Colors Like Memories and Chemistry of Fate. I think they are wonderfully written. I am SO lucky to be a beta reader and I got to read the third book in the series and it’s superb. She has a way of weaving words together that make them just sing. And she is the master of phenomenal first sentences. I mean, who doesn’t want to read a book when this is the first sentence:

“I greeted his tombstone the way I always did— with a swift kick.”

Great start, huh?

What will you be doing on New Year’s Eve?

I have three kids at home. I’ll probably be having, chaperoning, or helping in someway with a new year’s party for one of them. If I’m lucky I’ll get to end the year with a little writing, too. I think it’s good luck to end the year doing things you love.

So whatever I’m doing you can be certain it will involve my family in one way or another.

What are you looking forward to in 2014?

I’m looking forward to the release of the first books in the Milayna Trilogy. I hope readers who liked PODs (and even if they didn’t) will give me a chance in another genre. Sometimes readers think of an author writing just one genre. I like to write across genres. It keeps things interesting for me, and for my readers, too, I hope.

I’m also really looking forward to the release of the PODs sequel. I’m editing it now and the more I work on it, the more excited I get.

I’m hoping there’ll be more book publishing news to announce at some point during the year, but even if there isn’t, that’s okay. I love writing and plan to keep at it for a while.



Thank you so much for hosting me today. I’ve had so much fun answering your questions. I absolutely love to hear from readers, bloggers and other authors. Find me here:
Website: www.Michelle-Pickett.com
Email: Michelle@Michelle-Pickett.com
Blog: www.Michelle-Pickett.com/blog
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/michellepickettauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/michelle_kp
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/michelle-pickett

Thank you again and happy reading everyone!
~Michelle :-)

Thanks for dropping by!

============================


About PODs:

Seventeen-year-old Eva is a chosen one. Chosen to live, while others meet a swift and painful death from an incurable virus so lethal, a person is dead within days of symptoms emerging. In the POD system, a series of underground habitats built by the government, she waits with the other chosen for the deadly virus to claim those above. Separated from family and friends, it's in the PODs she meets David. And while true love might not conquer all, it's a balm for the broken soul.

After a year, scientists believe the population has died, and without living hosts, so has the virus. That's the theory, anyway. But when the PODs are opened, survivors find the surface holds a vicious secret. The virus mutated, infecting those left top-side and creating... monsters.

Eva and David hide from the infected in the abandoned PODs. Together they try to build a life--a new beginning. But the infected follow and are relentless in their attacks. Leaving Eva and David to fight for survival, and pray for a cure.

Read my review here

============================

Giveaway:

Want a chance to win a copy of PODs?
- Leave a comment for Michelle
- Leave a way for me to contact you
- Do so before January 5th 2014

Open to to everyone who's legally allowed to enter this giveaway AND lives somewhere the bookdepository ships to.

A winner will be picked at random on January 5th or soon after.

The winner is Barbara E.

Five Gorgeous Reads

Merry Christmas everyone!


In the spirit of my Top Pearls of 2013 I'm reposting the video I made with 5 books I think everyone should read. Not all of them I read this year, but the ones I read earlier had sequels this year that I absolutely loved as well, so I think it counts ;-)

Teaser Tuesdays - Allegiant

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I was very excited about this book and preordered it long before its release. Then the internet exploded with hate and spoilers before I received my book. I must say that made me hesitant to pick it up, and that's the reason I'm only just now reading it. I'm still hoping it will be a winner for me.

And please: no spoilers in the comments. I'm in denial about my unwanted knowledge as long as I can.


I follow him into the hallway, my arms burning from where the chair hit me. II am faster than he is - I slam into his back and he hits the floor face-first, without bracing himself.
(page 78, Allegiant by Veronica Roth)

Top Pearls Giveaway - Unspoken (closed)

It's that time of year again!

2013 is almost gone, so it's time to look back at the best reads of this year and to give away some books.

I decided to start off with a giveaway of a book that when I picked it up, I expected to just like, but instead it turned out to be an amazing read that I love.


Unspoken (read my review here) by Sarah Rees Brennan was a book I picked up because I was going to meet the author and I was curious what kind of books she wrote. And I fell in love! Unspoken is a wonderful Paranormal Young Adult read (don't let that cover fool you into thinking it's Contemporary YA) filled with humor and suspense.

I have one copy of this book for one reader of my blog!

Rules:
- Leave a comment telling me about one of your favorite reads of 2013
- Leave a way for me to contact you
- Do this before January 5th

Open internationally to everyone who's legally allowed to enter this giveaway.

I will pick a winner at random on January 5th or soon after.

The winner is Miki!

Grimm Tales: For Young and Old - Book Review

Grimm Tales: For Young and Old
by Philip Pullman

What is it about:
Two hundred years ago, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published the first volume of Children’s and Household Tales. Now, at a veritable fairy-tale moment—witness the popular television shows Grimm and Once Upon a Time and this year’s two movie adaptations of “Snow White”—Philip Pullman, one of the most popular authors of our time, makes us fall in love all over again with the immortal tales of the Brothers Grimm.

From much-loved stories like “Cinderella” and “Rumpelstiltskin,” “Rapunzel” and “Hansel and Gretel” to lesser-known treasures like “Briar-Rose,” “Thousandfurs,” and “The Girl with No Hands,” Pullman retells his fifty favorites, paying homage to the tales that inspired his unique creative vision—and that continue to cast their spell on the Western imagination.

What did I think of it:
I've loved fairy tales for as long as I can remember, so I was over the moon when I got Grimm Tales as a present on St. Nicholas Eve earlier this month.

And this is a lovely collection of fairy tales.

Pullman retells his favorite stories in his own words and with some small modifications. I had expected him to give his own spin to the stories, but instead he stayed close to the original tales and only occasionally he adds a bit to a story to make it flow better or to give an explanation.

And I think he did a great job. I have reread my big book of Grimm fairy tales many times and therefor recognized all of the stories, but it was a feast to reread them in this book and to see what Pullman did with them. It was also fun to see he picked most of my favorites, showing that he and I have a similar taste in fairy tales.

All in all this is a wonderful collection and I will give it a place next to my other books with fairy tales.

Why should you read it:
If you like fairy tales this is a book for you.

On McPig's Wishlist - Stolen Songbird

Not only do I love the cover of this book, but the story sounds very cool. I just hope there are proper trolls in this story, and not trolls who are just like humans, only with a bad hair day.


Stolen Songbird (The Malediction Trilogy #1)
by Danielle L. Jensen

For those who have loved Seraphina and Graceling comes another truly fabulous fantasy...

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.

Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.

But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.

As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.


Expected publication: April 1st 2014 by Strange Chemistry

preorder:

Rogue Hunter: Dark Space - Book Review

Rogue Hunter: Dark Space (Rogue Hunter #2)
by Kevis Hendrickson
ebook

What is it about:
TRAPPED AND HUNTED!

Shortly after her trial on New Venus, Zyra Zanr is captured by a team of rival bounty hunters and brought aboard their ship, the Lilith. They intend to take her to the planet Sojo, home of a powerful crime boss who nurses a grievance against her. Zyra fears for her life, knowing death awaits her at the end of the journey. Her captors' seething hatred of her leads to Zyra's horrifying torture.

Drugged, beaten, and near death, Zyra escapes her cell and is pursued. The enemy will stop at nothing to recapture her. Enraged by the abuse she has suffered, Zyra decides to turn the table on the Lilith's crew and show them why she is the most feared bounty hunter in the galaxy.

What did I think of it:
This is a cool read.

The previous book in this series was an enjoyable read, but had some awkward writing from time to time. Rogue Hunter: Dark Space doesn't have that problem. It's pleasantly written, and the story flows from action to dialogue and back without any hiccups.

The story itself is full of action and suspense. Zyra is trapped on a space ship, and is being hunted, or is she the one hunting? The tables get turned on both Zyra and her captors from time to time, keeping you guessing who will come out the victor.

I liked you got to know the crew of the Lilith, so you can relate to both them and to Zyra, making it hard to know who to root for at times. I must say it reminded me of the Alien movies a bit. The way death could lurk at every corner. I think this story would work very well as a movie itself as well.

The story ends with another cliffhanger, and I must say i'm very curious what will be next. All in all this is a very entertaining SciFi adventure and I'm keeping an eye out for what else Hendrickson will write in this series.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable and cool SciFi read.


Buy this ebook here

Teaser Tuesdays - Allegiance

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


Meanwhile, Armand laid one hand against the other. The gesture resembled those found in the ancient portraits of priest-kings. "It is not the council but the king who decides your son's fate," he said mildly.
(page 140, Allegiance by Beth Bernobich)

Five Golden Rings - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Five Golden Rings
by Jeffe Kennedy
Novella, ebook

What is it about:
On the first day of Christmas, my lover gave to me...

Matilda Campbell's plans to spend Christmas solo in the sun take an erotic turn when she encounters the handsome and enigmatic Miguel D'Oro on the plane to Mexico. As the CEO of a major firm, Tilda's used to being the one in charge--but now she'll have to learn how to take orders instead.

In the spirit of the season, Miguel offers Tilda naughty gifts for each of the twelve days of Christmas. There's just one rule: she must accept them--and fulfill his commands--or face the sensual consequences. Intrigued and aroused, Tilda agrees to let Miguel take control of her pleasure.

What follows is a week unlike anything she's ever experienced. From choosing her sexy new wardrobe and naughty accessories, to pushing her boundaries with BDSM play, Miguel satisfies every forbidden craving. But as their time together runs out, she must decide if there's room in her real life for her holiday lover and her newly discovered kinky side.

31,000 words

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
Jeffe Kennedy wrote yet another delicious story I could fall in love with.

The idea of a naughty twelve days of Christmas was alluring and I loved how Kennedy translated the song into a sensual and intense BDSM romance.

The story starts out uncomplicated enough. Tilda meets the attractive and charming Miguel and decides to take him up on his offer of a kinky Christmas, eager to explore her own sexuality. But what starts as a casual holiday fling, turns intense fast when their emotions get involved.

I love how Kennedy writes her BDSM romances. She gives her readers the hot, steaming bondage scenes as well as a romance you can believe in. As in many of her other stories she shows how submitting yourself to your lover isn't necessarily a sign of weakness, but how it can be one of strength. Tilda sure shows she's strong enough to handle Miguel.

All in all this story is hot, intense and very satisfying, and even though set in a tropical paradise it is a wonderful Christmas read. I can tell you this novella has earned a place on my list of Christmas traditions: bake a Christmas Bundt cake, watch The Sound of Music and read Five Golden Rings.

Why should you read it:
It's a delicious BDSM Christmas romance


Find buy links here

Shadow Allegiance - Release Day Alert

Today is the release day of Shadow Allegiance by Lacy Yager. Although it's the second book in a series, it has different lead characters, so can be read as a standalone. I must say it sounds very intriguing.


Shadow Allegiance (Unholy Alliance #2)
by Lacy Yager

A vampire hunter-turned-vampire seeks to destroy her enemies. Until she falls for one of them.

A Chaser born to kill vampires, sixteen-year-old Rachel Campton has grown up in her older brother's shadow. Until she wakes up a vampire, her own mortal foe. She's stronger, faster than her human self, but haunted by bloodlust and the loss of her beloved younger sister. Friendless and lost in enemy territory, Rachel must rely on Alex Wellington, a former nemesis and centuries old vampire who looks like a college football player.

As Rachel goes deep into vamp territory, she learns there is more to the vampire life than killing humans. She also discovers another side to Alex. He is more than a murderer, he is someone that she starts to fall for. Rachel faces the ultimate choice--her new life and unexpected love or the family she left behind, the family that may now want her dead.


Buy from Amazon
Author website
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Untold - Book Review

Untold (The Lynburn Legacy #2)
by Sarah Rees Brennan

What is it about:
It’s time to choose sides… On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy English town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission in order to kill for blood and power. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob Lynburn is gathering sorcerers so that the town can return to the old ways.

But Rob and his followers aren’t the only sorcerers in town. A decision must be made: pay the blood sacrifice, or fight. For Kami, this means more than just choosing between good and evil. With her link to Jared Lynburn severed, she’s now free to love anyone she chooses. But who should that be?

What did I think of it:
Unspoken, the first book in this series, was a more than pleasant surprise to me. I had expected a nice read and instead was totally blown away by how cool, funny and suspenseful it was. So I had to get Untold as soon as I could.

And this is yet another awesome read.

Again suspense and humor blended together seamlessly and kept me enthralled and entertained. I had a hard time putting this book down and read it in almost one sitting.

I love Kami, she's a really great character. She is strong and resourceful and honest about her feelings. Again her friends play just as much an important role in the story as in the first book. I like how they stand together and support each other as much as they can. Friendship and loyalty are both very strong themes in this series, and I think Sarah Rees Brennan succeeds very well in showing this without turning the story into a lesson on morality.

The story is very suspenseful and there were a few chilling scenes. I kept rooting for Kami to succeed and to find a way to defeat her enemies. There were some hints of things to come that I picked up on, but other events managed to catch me by surprise.

The ending is yet another cliffhanger that almost makes me scream in despair over the fact that the next book will not release until somewhere far into 2014.

All in all this is an awesome book and I will stalk Sarah Rees Brennan's website for news about the release of the next book.

Why should you read it:
It's a really fun and suspenseful Paranormal YA read.

On McPig's Radar - Still Dying 2

I received a digital copy of this book for review. If not for other review request and a towering tbr-pile I'd be tempted to start on it right away. it sounds like a really cool collection of zombie stories. I'll try to withstand temptation and finish my other reads asap so I can start on this soon.


STILL DYING 2
Zombie Anthology

Nine authors… Ten stories… nothing but zombie horror!

Dying Days creator Armand Rosamilia invited eight incredible authors to set foot in his world, and the results are creepy and the anthology a page-turner. Enter this zombie apocalypse… if you dare.

How Me And Bozy Became Dads by Patrick C. Greene
A road side inmate clean-up crew find themselves caught in the middle just as a plague takes hold of the city. Small time hoods Randall and Bozy find freedom—which just became worse than imprisonment.

Gator Aid by Frank Edler
Can a popular Floridian tourist trap survive and thrive as an attraction during the end of civilization?

The Trap Line by Sean Slagle
Spencer, his sister, and her boyfriend have been hiding safely in a hunting cabin since the beginning of the apocalypse. But all of that changes when another family of survivors shows up.

Dying Days: Television by Armand Rosamilia
What's more important than television, even during the end of the world?

Flight 509 by Jaime Johnesee
A man is stuck on a plane during the ZA and has no clue how to get out alive.

The Old Man And The Apocalypse by A.D. Roland
He just wanted to live out the rest of his days in peace. With the walking dead stumbling around his retirement community, it wasn’t too easy to do that, but he’d managed. An unexpected visitor reminds him, though, that sometimes life isn’t just about waiting to die.

The Happiest Kingdom On Earth by Brent Abell
Two men trying to stay alive in a zombie ravaged world find a group of survivors who have taken refuge in Florida’s premiere tourist attraction and find out how high the price of admission can be to stay in the “Happiest Kingdom on Earth”.

Dying Days: Stew by Armand Rosamilia
Stew and his dog Orion are just trying to scavenge in a restaurant when things get tricky. Can they survive a zombie attack and find hot dogs for Orion?

Lucifer's Revenge by Mark Tufo
A monsignor reluctantly finds himself in the midst of a zombie apocalypse.

Dying Days: Angel by Tim Baker
Angel Godwin must escape her own home or be taken by zombies.


Buy from Amazon
Buy from Smashwords
Buy the print version

World After - Book Review

World After (Penryn & the End of Days #2)
by Susan Ee

What is it about:
In this sequel to Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world.

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

What did I think of it:
I loved Angelfall so much, I preoredered World After immediately after I finished reading Angelfall. So when World After arrived I started on it as soon as I could.

And although this is once again a really cool read, I was missing something. I didn't really understand what it was at first. The world building was still dark and gritty, the story grim and suspenseful... So why wasn't I as addicted to World After as I was to Angelfall?

It wasn't until Raffe and Penryn encountered each other again that I understood what this book was missing until then. What made Angelfall so awesome for me was the interaction between Raffe and Penryn. They have this chemistry between them that keeps you invested and makes you want to keep reading about them. This interaction was missing for large parts of World After. Penryn on her own is still a cool character, but her complicated connection with Raffe is what makes her a great character.

Overall World After is a very cool read, and it ends in a way that made I will impatiently wait for the next book in this series, but I'll be honest and say that I hope there will be lots more Raffe and Penryn together in the next book.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool Post Apocalyptic YA read with angels

Teaser Tuesdays - Banished

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


'This is not some kind of faerie trick, right? I'm not going to be sucked into the mirror or anything?'
He has the decency to look worried for a second but then shakes his head. 'No, it's not that kind of mirror.'
(page 90, Banished by Liz De Jager)*


*This is from the Uncorrected Proof, so the final version may be different.

Alien Research - Book Review

Alien Research (Katherine "Kitty" Katt #8)
by Gini Koch

What is it about:
When rumors of a new super-drug surface, the FBI comes to Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini for help. It becomes quickly apparent that the drug is merely the tip of a deadly iceberg and a much more insidious plan is underway involving Titan Security, Gaultier Enterprises, and YatesCorp.

As newly discovered A-Cs and hybrids begin to surface, each with expanded and deadly talents, more and more signs point to a new evil genius who’s using the A-Cs and their enemies both as guinea pigs. Then Area 51 and the Dulce Science Center go silent while Alpha Team, Airborne, and most of the worldwide A-C Security team are there for training. And if that’s not bad enough, Centaurion Division is hit with more bad, and deadly, news: Chernobog the Ultimate, isn’t a hacker myth, he’s a real person -- and he’s on the bad guys’ side.

Now Kitty and company must find the real Dr. Feelgood and stop him or her before the latest version of Surcenthumain hits the streets and more people they love are harmed, or worse. But when the inconceivable happens, Kitty’s focused on two things only: reviving the ACE entity before their enemies realize Earth’s best protection isn’t actually active …and revenge.

What did I think of it:
I haven't come across a book in this series I didn't like yet, but there have been some books that I loved more than others. The previous book in this series was fun, but a bit confusing at times. There was a lot of talking and politics, and even though I really liked the book, I found myself secretly missing the action I got used to in the other books in this series.

So I was curious when I started Alien Research. Would it be like Alien Diplomacy and focus on story lines that didn't need action or would it be more like Alien Proliferation, which had action abound?

I'm glad to say this book is an action packed adventure that actually came close to equaling my favorite books in this series. There's a lot going on as always, and you have to keep paying attention, but luckily there were fewer characters to keep apart from each other than in Alien Diplomacy, so I could easily keep up with things.

There are some very interesting developments and revelations, and a few new and very intriguing characters get introduced (I'm already in love with one of them, I will confess). There's lots of suspense, intrigue and even heartbreak as well. I was shocked by some of the events, and had to blink away a few tears.

All in all I loved this book: it's fun, intense and full of surprises. I hope Gini Koch keeps them coming, because this series keeps on entertaining me. And certain events in this book make me curious what will be next as well.

Why should you read it:
It's a great SciFi adventure.

All Together Now: A Zombie Story - Book Review

All Together Now: A Zombie Story
by Robert Kent

What is it about:
Fifteen-year-old Ricky Genero is writing a journal of the zombie apocalypse. His high school has burned to the ground, his friends are all either dead or shambling corpses roaming the earth in search of human flesh, and his best friend died saving his six-year-old brother Chuck from a zombie horde. When Chuck is bitten and infected with the zombie virus, Ricky must travel among the walking dead in search of a cure.

WARNING

This YOUNG ADULT novel is mean and nasty and intended for a mature audience. It is absolutely not appropriate for younger readers. All Together Now: A Zombie Story is a gruesome, repugnant tale featuring horrific acts of violence sure to warp young minds.

What did I think of it:
This is a cool zombie read.

I will confess I had a bit of a problem with Ricky at times. He's a typical average teenager, with lots of prejudices. The way he described some of the other people in this story made me want to push him in front of a horde of zombies at times.

But luckily the story is cool enough to not get too annoyed by Ricky. There's lots of zombie mayhem and other intense situations.

The reason for the zombie outbreak is original and believable. Kent also did a great job with the pacing and the way people react at first.

Kent doesn't pull any punches. This is a violent story, that not only shows the zombie carnage, but also how humans can be just as nasty and dangerous as zombies, if not more so.

I really liked the ending of this story. I won't spoil too much, but it was both a clever and a cool ending.

All in all I very much enjoyed this story and I can advice it to anyone who doesn't shy away from zombie mayhem. I will keep n eye out for what else Kent will write.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool Zombie YA full of zombie mayhem.


Buy from Amazon

On McPig's Wishlist - Vellum

I heard Hal Duncan speak on a panel at World Fantasy Con last month, and decided I have to read his books. So I put this one on my wishlist right away.


Vellum (The Book of All Hours #1)
by Hal Duncan

An extraordinary, incendiary debut from a rare new talent, Vellum showcases a complex and sophisticated level of writing coupled with a fecund imagination that defies description.

VELLUM: THE BOOK OF ALL HOURS

It’s 2017 and angels and demons walk the earth. Once they were human; now they are unkin, transformed by the ancient machine-code language of reality itself. They seek The Book of All Hours, the mythical tome within which the blueprint for all reality is transcribed, which has been lost somewhere in the Vellum–the vast realm of eternity upon which our world is a mere scratch.

The Vellum, where the unkin are gathering for war.

The Vellum, where a fallen angel and a renegade devil are about to settle an age-old feud.

The Vellum, where the past, present, and future will collide with ancient worlds and myths.

And the Vellum will burn. . .

TBR-Orphans Update

I haven't given you an update for a while, so here it is.

In October I managed to read two Orphans:
Kindling the Moon by Jenn Bennett
and
Bloodstone by Nancy Holzner

November was a terrible month for my orphans, they were mostly neglected.
I did start on Queen's Hunt by Beth Bernobich though.

How about you?
Read any books lately that have been on your shelves for what seems like forever?

Oasis - Book Review

Oasis
by Joan De La Haye
Novella

What is it about:
2013 – The planet has been fried by solar flares turning it into a desert. The surviving population has been affected by solar radiation, turning them into Zombies. Only a handful of people remain unaffected. A family of civilians, guided by a crack army unit who has seen more action than they can handle, must make their way to the safety of a UN base at the South Pole called New Atlantis.

But can they make it to this oasis alive or will they only reach it as the undead?

What did I think of it:
This is such a cool read.

De La Haye manages to deliver a great zombie story in just 50 pages. In those 50 pages she succeeds in making me believe in the world and setting, caring for lead character Maxine and her family, and being gripped by the events and violence that they encounter.

De La Haye's website states she's a horror author, and believe me, this story sure shows you that she deserves that title. I was on the edge of my seat while reading this novella and had to finish it in one sitting to find out where this story would lead.

Overall this is a well written and suspenseful novella that I will most certainly reread. I will also check out what other stories De La Hay has written.

Why should you read it:
It's an awesome zombie horror story.


Find buy links here

Alien Research - Release Day Alert and Teaser

Today it's the official release day for Alien Research, the eighth book in the awesome Katherine "Kitty" Katt series by Gini Koch.

I got my copy early, but because I've been very busy I didn't finish the book yet, so instead of a review (which will follow asap, if I can sneak in enough reading time) here's the info about the book and a teaser:


Alien Research (Katherine "Kitty" Katt #8)
by Gini Koch

When rumors of a new super-drug surface, the FBI comes to Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini for help. It becomes quickly apparent that the drug is merely the tip of a deadly iceberg and a much more insidious plan is underway involving Titan Security, Gaultier Enterprises, and YatesCorp.

As newly discovered A-Cs and hybrids begin to surface, each with expanded and deadly talents, more and more signs point to a new evil genius who’s using the A-Cs and their enemies both as guinea pigs. Then Area 51 and the Dulce Science Center go silent while Alpha Team, Airborne, and most of the worldwide A-C Security team are there for training. And if that’s not bad enough, Centaurion Division is hit with more bad, and deadly, news: Chernobog the Ultimate, isn’t a hacker myth, he’s a real person -- and he’s on the bad guys’ side.

Now Kitty and company must find the real Dr. Feelgood and stop him or her before the latest version of Surcenthumain hits the streets and more people they love are harmed, or worse. But when the inconceivable happens, Kitty’s focused on two things only: reviving the ACE entity before their enemies realize Earth’s best protection isn’t actually active …and revenge.

=============

Teaser:

"Why are you dressed like...that?" Gower asked.
"He means like mummies," Chuckie added, in case we weren't clear that we all looked like bizarre fashion victims.
(page 136)

=============

Doesn't that all sound very intriguing and cool?!

Go order your copy today!

The Concrete Grove - Book Review

The Concrete Grove (Concrete Grove #1)
by Gary McMahon

What is it about:
Imagine a place where all your nightmares become real. Think of dark urban streets where crime, debt and violence are not the only things to fear. Picture an estate that is a gateway to somewhere else, a realm where ghosts and monsters stir hungrily in the shadows. Welcome to the Concrete Grove. It knows where you live.

Imagine a place where all your nightmares become real.
Think of dark urban streets where crime, debt and violence are not the only things to fear.
Picture an estate that is a gateway to somewhere else, a realm where ghosts and monsters stir hungrily in the shadows.
Welcome to the Concrete Grove.
It knows where you live.

What did I think of it:
This is a very disturbing read.

I will confess that I'm not sure if I like this book or not. It's a very strange, creepy, yet compelling read.

The things that are happening are disturbing, weird, and nightmarish. Reading this book felt like being trapped in a dream that seemingly makes no sense, but at the same time tells you dark and scary secrets.

There are several characters who take the stage. Some are likeable, others are despicable, and there are those who are just plain pathetic. All are linked one way or the other to the heart of Concrete Grove, a dark and dangerous estate, where reality and nightmares seem to blend together.

I was repulsed and intrigued by this story, and even when things happened that had me frowning, I couldn't stop reading. This story got under my skin and left me unsure what to feel about it.

I will most probably try to get hold of the other books in this trilogy, if only to find out if I eventually will make sense of this story and what I feel about it.

Why should you read it:
It's a weird, yet addictive horror read.

The Demon's Lexicon - Book Review

The Demon's Lexicon (The Demon's Lexicon #1)
by Sarah Rees Brennan

What is it about:
Sixteen-year-old Nick and his brother, Alan, are always ready to run. Their father is dead, and their mother is crazy—she screams if Nick gets near her. She’s no help in protecting any of them from the deadly magicians who use demons to work their magic. The magicians want a charm that Nick’s mother stole—and they want it badly enough to kill. Alan is Nick’s partner in demon slaying and the only person he trusts in the world. So things get very scary and very complicated when Nick begins to suspect that everything Alan has told him about their father, their mother, their past, and what they are doing is a complete lie. . .

What did I think of it:
This is a really cool read.

After reading Unspoken, I was eager to read more books by Sarah Rees Brennan, so I was very happy to get hold of The Demon's Lexicon, the first book in a trilogy.

The mood of this book is very different from Unspoken. Where Unspoken is filled with humor, this book is more serious, and even dark at times. And this mood fits the story very well.

Nick is a very interesting character. He's not a self sacrificing hero, he's calculating and always looking out for himself. The only other person who's important to him is his brother Alan. I must say I could relate to Nick a lot of the time, especially when his brother would do or suggest something noble I would advice against as well.

The story is intense and full of suspense and action. There were some things I guessed very early in the story, but that didn't spoil the story for me. There were enough other things to keep me on the edge of my seat.

The ending is satisfying, but leaves enough open to make me eager to read the next book. You can bet I will try to get hold of it soon.

Why should you read it:
it's a cool and intense Paranormal YA read.