Review: Born Wicked

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Melissa's Musings:

My husband bought this for me as a Christmas gift and it's my first read of the new year. I have to admit, it started out a bit slow. I wasn't really interested in Cate, Maura and Tess. As the story goes on it gets to be more interesting.

The setting is an alternate history of sorts. It reminds me a lot of the setting of the Handmaid's tale, with the religious undertones, the Brotherhood, who control the actions (and minds) of the women in the town. Plus there's the counterpart of the Sisterhood. Secret is, they're all witches and they're working against the Brotherhood.

Cate has a lot on her shoulders, given that before her mother died, she made a promise to keep her sisters safe and to keep them together. Little did she know there was a great deal of danger and sacrifice on her part required to do that. It turns out, Cate and her sisters are part of a prophecy of tells of three sister witches who are meant to bring about a second coming for the witches of the world.

There are many secrets, between many different characters in this story. It highlights perfectly just how imperfect we all are.

I think of all the characters Tess, the youngest sister, and Finn, are my favorites. Tess for her sweet, innocent nature, and Finn for his bookishness and love of learning. The romance between he and Cate is sweet, and had me rooting for them.

The one thing missing is the true nature of their skills with magic. Cate spends a lote of time controlling her sister's use of it, and understandably so, but this left me wanting. When it comes to stories that involve magic, I really like for that to be explored fully, and it wasn't here. I have a feeling and hope that will pickup in book 2.

I'm intrigued to see what happens next and am very glad to have book 2 waiting for me to start. Since this story picked up the pace towards the end, I'm really hopeful that the next installment in the series will keep the momentum going.


Has anyone else read this? Or has anyone started any new series they want to share that are worth checking out?

Review: Hera, Queen of Gods

Title: Hera, Queen of Gods

Author: T.D. Thomas

Series: Goddess Unbound # 1

Publisher: Self Published

Published: October 3, 2012

Format: Kindle

Pages: 536

Dates Read: June 26-July 5

Source: Received from the author

in exchange for an honest review

Add on Goodreads

My Rating: 3 Stars

Synopsis: 

Hera couldn't care less what the other gods think, even when it's about her. And it often is. Frankly, Hera couldn't care less about anything, except doing her duty as queen - protecting order and defending the mortal world against any threats. But when the Fates go missing, Hera and a handful of other gods must temporarily become mortal to search the human world for the missing goddesses.

Hera finds that mortality begins to change her. It's not just the loss of her divine powers. She expected that. It's deeper somehow. It's affecting how she thinks, how she feels, what's important to her. And it gets much worse after she meets Justin, who defies every prejudice she once had

about mortals. At the worst possible time, and despite all her efforts, Hera's black-and-white world starts to unravel.

Torn between who she's becoming and who she needs to be in order to fulfill her duty, Hera must survive a horde of murderous creatures sent to exploit her new weakness. In the end, only Hera can stop a traitorous plot conceived by a secret alliance of ancient and new enemies, a plot that threatens to destroy not only the order Hera is sworn to protect, but all of existence itself

Melissa's Musings

I have to admit, my knowledge of Greek Mythology is a little sparse, given that the only time I remember learning about it was in 6th grade, and that was now several years ago. At first, I was tempted to Google and fact check the powers and roles of all the different gods that were mentioned, but I decided to let myself get carried away into the story instead.

I do have to say though that I've never read a story that put such a modern twist on the subject before. I really liked the fact that Thomas set the story with these gods and goddesses inhabiting the bodies of teenagers. Definitely not something you would expect.

The story progresses quickly and is quite action packed. A little too much so, if I'm being honest. Once the story got going it seemed like the characters were constantly battling/running from something. First it's half man half bear. Then, it's snakes. And then a giant. And harpies, among other things.

While all this action definitely makes you want to keep turning the pages, it really takes away from the character development. I felt like the story was more about the action and less about the characters themselves.

If I had to pick a favorite though, it would be Hera. She's strong, somewhat closed off, but also has a softer side. Her spark with Justin is an interesting twist too, given that she despises the fact that Zeus falls for mortals all the time. But, since Justin becomes a Dreamer throughout the course of the story maybe it's just a little different for her?

Justin's ability to move to and from the Dreamlands was also an unexpected twist. It felt like a reward for all the stuff he was quickly expected to believe and go along with when he started helping the gods on their mission to find the Fates.

There's also an element of magic in the story which was an interesting touch as well.

This was a unique story, and, despite a little too much action I'm curious to see what else happens to these characters.

Has anyone else read this? Or would you recommend any other stories that feature Greek mythology?

Review: Mission One of Auggie The Alien

Title: Mission One of Auggie the Alien

Authors: Leah Spiegel and Megan Summers

Publisher: Createspace

Published: June 4, 2013

Format: Kindle

Pages: 120

Source: Received in exchange for an honest review

Add On Goodreads : Add To Your To Read Shelf

Synopsis: This is the humorous story of a 4th grader, seen through the eyes of a human hybrid alien child, sent to Earth to study our culture - to see if they could coexist with the humans.

Auggie has to try and understand 4th graders slang, body language, and the unwritten protocols of the classroom; all in an attempt to blend in. He upsets his teacher, Mrs. Malumrector, who constantly thinks Auggie’s trying to get smart with her when getting stupid with her would be counterproductive. Not only does Mrs. Malumrector not get Auggie’s literal logic, nor do any of the other students in his class. That is except for Left Hand Chuck who thinks Auggie’s hysterical and helps him by teaching him how to use human slang. 

But if Auggie truly wants to complete his mission of blending in with the other children he needs to cheer for both teams, except if they’re losing. He needs to learn not to wear the ‘P and the J’ with the feet conveniently attached to school because they’re for sleeping in only. That ironically enough, Grandpa isn’t going to faint from low blood pressure even though his eyes often tend to roll upwards whenever Auggie is speaking. ‘Pop-a-Squat’ isn’t a good name for a dog, even though he’s great at it. And under no circumstance is he to bring his pet to school even if his teacher has her own pet there, Emily, another student in his class who is neither a gerbil nor a fish.

My Rating:  5 Stars

Melissa's Musings:

This is a very cute story of Auggie, a half human half alien hybrid child from "a galaxy far far away" who has been sent to earth for onsite observations, to see if his kind can peacefully co-exist with humans. We follow him as he accomplishes the three very  important goals he's set for himself: to be invited to a sleepover, to go on a social outing with more than one friend, and to be invited to a birthday party.

This book is laugh out loud funny. I really grew to like Auggie's quirks and idiosyncracies as I read through the story. In some ways, he reminded me (a little) of a young version of Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory. I couldn't quite picture Auggie physically in my head as I read, but that was okay because his antics and smarts certainly kept me entertained. 

I don't read children's books too often, but it was neat to look at the world through Auggie's eyes. His unusual responses to events and the way he handled them were refreshing. As an adult reader it made me wish I could be a kid with such enthusiasm and zest for life as Auggie has.

There are some great plays on words and fun scenes in this book. If you're looking for a new series to start reading with a child in your life, I'd definitely recommend this one.

Blog Tour Stop: Rally Round the Corpse Review and Giveaway!

Hello fellow readers!

Today I'm hosting a tour stop for the fantastically funny mystery, Rally Round the Corpse. Read on to see my thoughts on the book and enter to win your very own copy!

Title: Rally 'Round the Corpse

Author: Hy Conrad

Publisher: Seven Realms Publishing

Published: May 29, 2012

Formats: Paperback, E-book

Pages: 337
Source: Received from author in exchange
for my honest review as part of blog tour

Synopsis:

It's been two years since her fiancé's death. Amy Abel needs to start over. What better way for a shy, risk-averse woman to start than to sink all her savings into a travel agency specializing in adventure? Her first project is a mystery road rally through the European countryside. At the starting line in Monte Carlo, Amy finds herself attracted to Marcus Alvarez, the most mysterious of her two dozen game-loving clients. But the rally gets off to a rocky start when an eccentric writer, the only person who knows the game's solution, is himself murdered back in New York. Who would kill a harmless mystery geek, and why are weird accidents beginning to happen along the way? To her horror, Amy discovers that this fictional mystery was based on a real, unsolved case, one that Marcus knows too much about. Now she has no choice but to join forces with Fanny, her domineering mother, and solve this on her own, before the killer strikes again.

My Rating:

4 Solid Stars!

Melissa's Musings:

I have to admit, I'm not a big mystery fan. But, when I got the invitation to be on this book tour, I jumped on it because the plot seemed like a lot of fun. Who could pass up the chance to read about a traveling expedition based around a mystery game? Think, Clue but more adventurous.

The great thing about this story is that there isn't just one mystery to solve. There are multiple mysteries, and not all of them are fictional. One of the fun details in this book is that the mystery for the rally tour is based on a real crime. And that's where things get tricky. A few of the people on the tour were individuals who are in some way connected to the real crime. 

Everyone in this book has secrets. Especially Amy, the tour director. There are things she doesn't want to admit to herself. Like how she feels responsible for her fiancee's death. And how she is starting to have feelings for Marcus. The romance between Marcus and Amy is by no means simple, but it is sweet. They fit well together. They also clash just enough to keep you wondering if they're really right for each other.

I really enjoyed the variety of characters in this book. There are a lot of them, but the great thing about the structure is that you aren't overloaded with details,or confused by the sheer number of the characters. They are all well fleshed out, and have separate, distinct personalities. A few of my favorites have to be Holly and Fanny. 

Holly is a snarky, smart twelve year old, who's accompanying her uncle on the mystery tour. She's bold, and not afraid to speak her mind. I felt bad for her, since the tour was full of adults and she always seemed to be getting pushed to the side, but she managed to hold her own.

Fanny is my favorite because she loves a challenge. She's the master of persuasion, and a great extractor of information. She sells honeymooning couples African safari trips without batting an eye. Dress up in a wacky disguise and make claim to taco recipes to get close to an important family? She'll do it. Fanny gets so engrossed in the roles that you'll find yourself laughing out loud when she adds in unneccessary details, or hatches crazy plans like having Marcus escape detection by sneaking out into a neighbor's garden and through their house.

She's also a bit of a meddler, at least when it comes to Amy's love life. As mothers are apt to be, I suppose. This could have gone either way, and this personality trait could have come off as really annoying, but actually it's very sweet, and you can see that for all her meddling, she really has Amy's best interests at heart.

I don't know if it's just because I don't read many mysteries, or the fact that I got so swept up in the story, but I definitely did not have this one figured out by the end, at all. There are some unique twists and turns and some oddball characters that really keep you on your toes.

A great story for anyone new to mysteries or someone who's already a big fan.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*

Giveaway Details:

As a part of this blog tour stop one person will win their very own copy of Rally Round the Corpse!

This giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY*

*If the winner is in the US, they will have their choice of e-book or print copy. An International winner will get an e-book only.
This giveaway will run until February 15, 2013 at Midnight PST
Winners will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond to their notification email, otherwise another winner will be chosen.
The author NOT Melissa's Midnight Musings is responsible for sending the prize to the winner.

Enter to win Below!:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview With Ilana Walters Author of "The Adventures of Stanley Delacourt"

Hello Fellow readers! 

Today I'm thrilled to bring you an author interview with Ilana Walters, author of The Adventures of Stanley Delacourt (Hartlandia #1)

First, here's some info on the story. 

Synopsis:

Ten-year-old Stanley Delacourt loves his quiet life in the peaceful village of Meadowwood. At least, he does until his best friend is killed. Then the town library—where Stanley lives and works—is burned to the ground. The individuals responsible for both tragedies are a nasty group of soldiers. They work for the kingdom’s new leader, Christopher Siren. With the grown-ups too fearful to take action, Stanley vows to confront Siren. He plans to get answers and demand justice. Little does he know that his journey will involve sword-wielding knights, kidnapper fairies, and dark magic. 

Stanley has only two allies back home: a witch named Meredith, and a young apothecary called Sophie. Can they help him discover the reason behind Siren’s crimes and end this terrible reign? Or is Stanley set to become the next victim in the tyrant’s evil plot?

If you enjoy the fantasy works of Rick Riordan, Lemony Snicket, or Philip Pullman, then explore the world of Stanley Delacourt today!

Sounds like a great story doesn't it?? I'm definitely looking forward to reading it. Be on the lookout for my review in the upcoming months And now, the interview:

Meet Ilana Walters

Ilana Waters is a freelance writer who lives in New Jersey. When not creating content for websites, she can be found working on novels and short stories—as well as nibbling string cheese. She once pet-sat an electric eel, and enjoys walking in circles around the park for no particular reason.

Her first book—The Adventures of Stanley Delacourt: Book I of Hartlandia—is a middle-grade fantasy. It is available at Amazon, Barnesandnoble, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Ilana is currently writing Book II of the Hartlandia trilogy, due out in 2013.

The Interview:

When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer? What was your "aha" moment?

I’ve wanted to be writer since I was six years old. My first grade teacher said I was good at writing, so I figured that’s what I should do (this really tells you something about the power of labels). I didn’t take writing seriously as a career until a couple of years ago. I figured it was now or never. I chose “now.” 

Where did the inspiration for The Adventures of Stanley Delacourt: Book I of Hartlandia come from?

All right, I know this sounds silly, but it came to me in a dream. Really--it did! I woke up and knew the basic plot and three of the main characters. The rest of it is loosely based on equal parts life experience and wish fulfillment.

Who is your favorite author?

Hmmm . . . there are too many to choose just one, but off the top of my head I can think of Lemony Snicket, Michael Ende, Philip Pullman, and Diana Wynne Jones.

Do you have a writing routine? A special pen, a certain type of music, time limits?

When I can no longer justify procrastinating, I write. Er, yeah; that’s pretty much my routine.  >.<

Do you enjoy edits/rewrites, or do you not like them?

Believe it or not, I really like making my work the best it can be! And there’s always something satisfying about finishing a project, because then you can move on to something new.

Which character in The Adventures of Stanley Delacourt: Book I of Hartlandia was your favorite to write and why?

I think it was Sophie, because I could see her so clearly in my mind. And she blows up at people the way I wish I could sometimes, so that was easy to write.

How do you come up with your character names?

Well, most of them were done for me as part of the dream. But Stanley’s name actually has a special, magical meaning that will only be revealed in the trilogy’s third book. So stay tuned!

What is the hardest part of being a writer?

I’m sure the “hard” parts are different for everyone. Personally, I find coping with the randomness of the business very difficult at times. You never know what will do well or poorly, and sometimes there seems to be no logic to it. But I suppose that could be said for much of life, no? 

Why did you choose to write a fantasy book over other genres? What drew you to the fantasy genre?

I’m allergic to reality; facts make me itch. Plus, I love the sheer freedom of the genre. You can literally do/be/say whatever you want. You’re not hemmed in by irritating things called “facts.” You can create any scenario or outcome you desire. I can definitely live with that! 

When you're not writing, what are your other hobbies/passions?

Procrastinating writing. I have taken procrastinating to an art form! Okay, okay: coffee, reading, and cats. I’m a writer—what else did you expect? 

 Are you working on any new projects?

Oh my, yes! I have plans for many, many, many new books! The Adventures of Stanley Delacourt is the first in a trilogy. I also have a short story and a novella coming out that are set in the same world. Finally, I’m doing a YA vampire paranormal romance—because I heard there was a shortage of those. ;-)

Quick Fire round:

Coke or Pepsi?

Coke Zero, or regular Pepsi if I’m having a calorie splurge. 

Chocolate or Vanilla?

I can’t believe you even asked—chocolate, of course! Sorry, vanilla lovers. ;-)

Rainy winter days or blazing hot summer days?

Oh, blazing hot summer—definitely!

Hard Copy or e-book?

Depends—hard copy at home, e-book for travel/errands.

Favorite book?

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith

Last book you read?

The Seven Tales of Trinket, by Shelley Moore Thomas. Outstanding!

What's a quote that inspires you?

“Two men look out through the same bars; one sees the mud, the other sees the stars.”

What's your favorite comfort food?

All of them!

Connect With Ilana:

I can be cyber-stalked at these fine locations:

IlanaWaters.com

Twitter

Goodreads

Amazon

Amazon.com/uk

Barnesandnoble

Apple

Kobo

Smashwords

 I want to say a huge thank you to Ilana Walters for stopping by Melissa's Midnight Musings today!

Fire Baptized by Kenya Wright is Full of Fire Alright

Title: Fire Baptized (Habitat #1)

Author: Kenya Wright

Publisher: Dragonfairy Press

Published: January 16 2012

Format: Kindle

Pages: 286 pages

Source: Received from the author

in exchange for an honest review

Read:  October 8-9 2012

In A Few Words: Full of Action

My Rating: 4 Stars

Goodreads: Add This To Your TBR Shelf

Goodreads Synopsis:

Since the 1970s humans have forced supernaturals to live in caged cities. Silver brands embedded in their foreheads identify them by species: a full moon for Vampires, a crescent moon for Shifters, a pair of wings for Fairies, and the list goes on, for each supernatural species has been tagged and categorized by humans.

Lanore Vesta is marked with a silver X, the brand of Mixbreeds, second-class citizens shunned by society. She stays to herself, revealing her ability to create fire only during emergencies. All she wants to do is graduate college and stop having to steal to survive. But when she stumbles upon a murder in progress, she catches the attention of a supernatural killer. Now all she wants is to stop finding dead bodies in her apartment.

Enlisting help from her Were-cheetah ex-boyfriend MeShack and a new mysterious friend named Zulu, she is steered through the habitat’s raunchy nightlife. But their presence sometimes proves to be more burden than help, as they fight for her attention.

While the corpses pile up, and the scent of blood fills the air, Lanore is left wondering: will she find the psycho or die trying?

Melissa's Musings:

First things first, this book is full of action. Right from the very first line you are sucked in and captivated. I immediately wanted to know more and kept swiping forward on my Kindle to find out what would happen next.

One of the best things about this book is the way that the magical and real life elements are combined. There's a lot of heavy issues in the book like drug use, prostitution and racial and class issues that are interwoven into the story. Sometimes this can be really difficult to pull off, especially within a supernatural setting, but the author made the integration relatively seamless.

The supernatural combinations in this story are unlike any I've ever come across before. For example, Lanore is half demon, half fairy. And MeShack is a Shifter with demonic powers/blood.  Those are two combinations I haven't run across before. 

As a character, Lanore is very strong. She stands up for herself and can hold her own. She has her weaknesses, but, who doesn't? I'm very interested in learning more about her background. You get bits and pieces, about how her father is a demon and her mother is a fairy, and some of the backstory associated with that. There's a lot more to it though, and I have a feeling that there are some great twists, having to do with her heritage as being half fairy, so it'll be interesting to see what those are.

There is a love triangle here, and I have to say that I like this one. I like the aggression and possessiveness that both Zulu feel towards Lanore, because it's raw and real. Each of their attraction to her is very apparent in their actions. And, I really like the fact that she's not going all mushy over either one or playing games with them. She's very clear on what she wants. Whether they listen to her or not, is another story. The bonds between MeShack and Lanore and the one between Zulu and Lanore are very different, but I think they're equally intense. It'll be interesting to see how that all plays out and who she ends up with.

Here's where I have to put up one note of warning for people. The sexual tension in this book is slightly intense. The sexual scenes are descriptive, so if those make you uncomfortable then you may not enjoy the book as much. There aren't a lot of these scenes, but the few that there are are very descriptive, so just be forewarned about that. Also, the killings in this book are rather gruesome so if you're on the squeamish side, you may want to be prepared for that as well.

If you're looking for an action packed supernatural story, this is it. 

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins: One of my new favorites

Title: Hex Hall (Hex Hall #1)

Author: Rachael Hawkins 

Publisher:  Hyperion Book CH

Published: March 2, 2010

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 336

Source: Library

Read: September 1-2 2012

In A Few Words: Laugh Out Loud Funny

My Rating: 5 Stars

Goodreads: Add This to your TBR Shelf

Goodreads Synopsis:

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.
By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her

Melissa's Musings:

Let me start out by saying I absolutely LOVED this book! I have a soft spot for books about witches as it is,  but I enjoyed Hex Hall for more than the fact that I love books about witches.

The writing is very easygoing, and the dialogue is, lets say true to the characters. It flows easily. Most of the characters in this book are teenagers, and they talk like they're teenagers. In some books this can get annoying, but not here. I think the easiness of the dialogue is one of the reasons I was able to fall in love with Sophie so quickly. She's just easy to relate to, and real.

One of the interesting things about this book is that it starts out with Sophie having already been a witch for three years. A lot of books about witches start out before, or right as the witches come into their powers, so that readers can see them grow into the powers and test them out. It was surprising that this story started out with  Sophie already having been a witch for so long. I have to say I was curious about the background and the past three years of her having her powers. Some of these events are mentioned, but there isn't a whole lot of detail. I'm hoping the first three years of her having powers is explored a little further in the coming books in the series.

Another thing that I love about this book is that it's hilarious! There were moments that had me laughing out loud, to the point where my sister asked me what was so funny. I made sure to note one of my favorite quotes that had me laughing. Of course it'd  be funnier in context if you read this book, but it stands well by itself too.

In this scene, Sophie is trying to create a dress for the upcoming All Hallow's eve ball, and she's not having much success.

I opened my eyes to stare at a bright blue tulle monstrosity with a skirt that would hit me at mid thigh. I'd look like the really slutty bride of Cookie Monster. (pg. 233)

Just the thought of a bride of Cookie Monster has me smiling as I'm typing this, so the thought of a slutty one at that is even more funny.

The names in the story are unique as well. Sophie is a common name, but then there you have characters with names like Chaston and Elodie, and those are a bit more unique. Plus the name of the school is Hecate Hall, which is cool in and of itself, since Hecate was the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. Fitting name for a school of supernatural students.

Since I've read a lot of books with witches in them, I did find it a little strange that when Chaston, Elodie and Anna are trying to convince Sophie to join their coven, they keep saying that they need a 4th to make them stronger. Usually, the symbol of the pentagram is important in books about witchcraft, so I associate 5, not 4, as being a number of strength.

And, one of the best things about this is that there's a Harry Potter reference in this book! I won't spoil it for anyone who wants to read it, but books with HP references always make me smile.

I'd recommend this to anyone looking to start a new series about witches, or anyone looking for a fun read.

This was an awesome book and I can't wait to read the other two in the series! Have you read it? What did  you think?

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Title: Crank (Crank #1)

Author: Ellen Hopkins

Publisher:  Margaret K. McElderry Books

Published: October  5 2004
Format: Paperback

Pages: 537

Source:   Library

Read: August 20-21 2012

In A Few Words: Intense, different

My Rating: 4 Stars

Goodreads:Add to your TBR pile

Goodreads Synopsis:

In Crank, Ellen Hopkins chronicles the turbulent and often disturbing relationship between Kristina, a character based on her own daughter, and the "monster," the highly addictive drug crystal meth, or "crank." Kristina is introduced to the drug while visiting her largely absent and ne'er-do-well father. While under the influence of the monster, Kristina discovers her sexy alter-ego, Bree: "there is no perfect daughter, / no gifted high school junior, / no Kristina Georgia Snow. / There is only Bree." Bree will do all the things good girl Kristina won't, including attracting the attention of dangerous boys who can provide her with a steady flow of crank. 

Soon, her grades plummet, her relationships with family and friends deteriorate, and she needs more and more of the monster just to get through the day. Kristina hits her lowest point when she is raped by one of her drug dealers and becomes pregnant as a result. Her decision to keep the baby slows her drug use, but doesn't stop it, and the author leaves the reader with the distinct impression that Kristina/Bree may never be free from her addiction. 

Melissa's Musings:

I've never read anything by Hopkins before, so this was very different for me. It's an intense read.

I have to admit, it took me a while to get used to the fact that it's written in verse, but I really grew to like it. I liked the way that writing it in verse allowed Hopkins to play with the words and their arrangements on the page, like the formation of V's when Kristina is talking about her virginity, or the cascading slopes when she describes her descent into madness. I also liked how in some of the pages, the words are spaced in such a way that you can get two different meanings out of them. If you read them all together, as part of the story, it can mean one thing, but then when you read the separated words on their own in a line it can mean something completely different. Writing the story this way really makes you think.

I did feel bad for Kristina at one point, because it seemed like her family was kind of dysfunctional, and they really didn't pay all that much attention to her. I also felt for her when she got raped, because that's just wrong. But in the end, she put herself in her situation with the choices she made and she's the only one who can help herself out of the drug addicted haze, so I felt, I don't know, indifferent to her in that regard I guess.

I have to admit that I was disappointed right of the bat at the very first page at one thing in particular. I suppose I'm the only one to blame for this since had I read the synopsis first I would have known already. But, everyone raves about Ellen Hopkins so I didn't even think to read the synopsis before starting this. Since it's in the synopsis anyway, I don't really think I'm spoiling things by saying that I was disappointed to read about "the baby" in the book on the very first page prior to even beginning the story. I think putting that out there on the first page wasn't really necessary. It spoils a major plot point right in the beginning. You could have let the story build up to that without announcing it beforehand. It would have been more effective if there had just been a note added at the end.  But, I suppose it doesn't really matter either way, it was just a little annoying as a spoiler when I first read it.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story and am looking forward to reading more of Hopkins' work. I'd recommend this to anyone looking to try reading a new and unique way of writing a story.

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins: A Little Too Sweet For Me

Title: Sweet Evil (The Sweet Trilogy #1)

Author: Wendy Higgins

Publisher: HarperTeen

Published: May 1 2012

Format: Paperback

Pages: 450

Source: Won in a Goodreads Giveaway

Read: August 12-15 2012

In A Few Words: Sweet, a bit sappy

Goodreads:Add to your TBR pile

Goodreads Synopsis:  Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

Melissa's Musings:

There are a lot of good things about this book. And then there are some that aren't so great.  I have mixed feelings about this book. I did like it, but it wasn't absolutely the most amazing book I've ever read. 

I really enjoyed how the supernatural elements/abilities are presented in this book. Higgins did a nice job of integrating them naturally. They weren't necessarily "introduced" so to speak as they can be in other stories. They were just a normal part of Anna's life, (for Anna anyway.) She wasn't awkward when she was describing them. The choice of powers is nice too. Being able to see the colors of a person's aura isn't something I've read in a lot of stories as of late so that was refreshing. 

For as much  simplicity that Anna talks about her powers with, she is oversensitive about everything else. The major drawback of this book is that Anna cries so much. She cries. And cries.  All.The.Time. I understand that it's part of her struggle to come to terms with what she is and what she has to go through, but it just got old fast. Even Anna knows that she cries too much. I forgot to mark down the page number where this is said, but Anna says, "For once, my eyes stayed dry." When even the character knows she cries too much, you know you have a problem.

I also didn't see enough growth from Anna to be really satisfied with her as a  character.She's just too sweet, too vulnerable, too innocent, especially to be thrown into the world of sins, temptations and demons. In addition to her constant crying, she's just whiny and mopey when it comes to Kaidan, always wanting to sneak him phone calls and pining after him. I was hoping that her having to change her look and personality a bit for her training might help her to realize that she doesn't have to be so reliant on him to feel good. Unfortunately that didn't happen.

The romance in the book is sweet. There is a love triangle, which seems to be typical of so many YA books these days. If I absolutely have to choose a team, I'm team Kaidan. I honestly don't even see a need for the triangle though, because the dynamic between Kaidan and Anna is complicated enough, since Neph are forbidden from falling in love and risk being killed if they are found out. 

There are a lot of serious social issues in this book. It's crammed full of them actually. It's not overdone though, just surprising to see the range of issues that are dealt with. The main issue is religion, seeing as there's lots of talk about temptation, sins, hell, etc. I liked how this is talked about in a simplified way that's not overly "preachy"

In addition to the aspect of religion, this also touches on adoption, drugs, date rape, abortion, prostitution, and involuntary sterilization to name just a few. They aren't mentioned in great detail or anything, but that's a lot of issues to even just mention in one book.

Overall, I did enjoy the book. It's unfortunate that the second book in the series hasn't been picked up because I'm really curious to see what happens. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a fast read with a likeable main couple.

Have you read this book? What are your thoughts on it?

*Please note I won this title in a giveaway from the Goodreads First Reads program.

Review: The Sword and the Prophet by Missy Larae

Title:  The Sword and the Prophet (#1)

Author: Missy LaRae

Publisher: Self Published/Createspace

Published: March 27 2012

Format: Kindle/e-book

Pages: 150

Source: Received a copy from the 

author in exchange for an honest 

review

Read:  August 11-12 2012

In A Few Words:  Full of action

My Rating: 3  stars

Goodreads: Add it to your TBR pile

Goodreads Synopsis:

Fifteen year old twins Lily and Tyler are on a mission. Escape from their abusive mother, hop a train to Charleston, South Carolina, and don't get caught. They've been kept in virtual seclusion their entire lives, and in one night make a break for it and succeed. However, something isn't right with their new Aunt and Uncle, and they realize they've escaped one nightmare and stumbled into something even far more sinister and deadly. 

Lily and Tyler both feel the call of the moon, and the first night she's able to go outside and feel it on her skin, Lily dramatically changes into something that both fascinates and scares her. Desperate to escape their Aunt and Uncle the twins devise a plan, but are thwarted at the last second. 

With time running out they finally manage to escape, and find help in the form of a smooth talking teenager named Talon with fire in his hands and an otherworldly aura. 

Just who are they, and where are they from? Are they even human? They must rely on one another if they're going to find out and manage to survive.

Melissa's Musings:

I have to admit that when I was first reading this book, I didn't like it all that much. I was set to give it a two star review  until about half or three quarters of the way through, but then it started to grow on me, and so I increased the rating.

One thing that was somewhat off putting was the main characters accents. The characters were from the south and the accents were written into the story with a lot of " woulda, coulda, happenin, threatenin" etc. I think that the author was trying to use the dialogue to get us to more readily identify with the characters by doing this but I feel that it would have been more powerful if the dialogue had been more proper and we could have just imagined the accent for ourselves.

A great thing about this story is the fast pace. There's always something happening, or something new going on, but not too quickly in terms of the action. There are also  not very many spots where the action lulls or there's too much over explanation. 

That being said, I have to admit I felt a little blindsided by the alien twist to this story. At first it's just a couple of kids who are trying to escape their cruel mother. Suddenly there's the introduction of an alien pod and all these sorts of powers and a different world.  I have to admit that I don't read much science fiction or fantasy so I'm not sure if this type of segue is normal or not, it just seemed fast and a bit out of place to me.  It could have been transitioned better.

Once you do get into the alien world and through the explanation of that world, it's a very interesting story. I like how one of the Kingdoms is the Kingdom of Dreams and members of the Kingdom of Dreams get their power from the moonlight. I've always loved the moon and stars so that was a personal plus for me. I also enjoyed how the people of this species could push their feelings into one another, and be able to sense feelings, that way it's nearly impossible to tell lies. I think it would be interesting to be able to do that, although it might be hard to deal with sometimes.

One other sticking point for me though were the names. They seemed so "normal" that it was strange. They're supposed to be on some other world faraway in the galaxy and they have names like Tyler  and Lilybelle, and a ruler named Jackson? That seemed odd to me. I would think that given where they are the names would be more, I don't know, exotic, I guess.

Overall, I grew to enjoy the story. I would recommend it to anyone who's looking to try out something new in the fantasy genre.

Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins * May Contain Spoilers*

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Published: October 31st, 2008

Format: Hardcover

Pages:  374

How I received this book: Got it as a gift

Read: May 23-25

My Rating: 5 stars

In  a Few Words: Powerful, poignant, brutal

Goodreads: Add it to Your Shelf

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.(less)


Melissa's Musings:


I realize that there are already thousands of reviews on The Hunger games out there in the blogosphere, but I've finally gotten around to reading it. (I jump on the bandwagon of books that get really popular really late in the game.) So, I figured I'd add my two cents as well.

I was immediately hooked and glued to the story right down to the last page. Not just the first line, but the whole first paragraph, speaks volumes. I immediately wanted to know more.  There were very few things that I didn't like about this novel. While not perfect, this is an excellent read. I can't wait to get started on reading the rest of the series.

The Hunger Games is so immensely popular that I don't think there's anything I can say about it that hasn't already been said. Regardless, I'll still tell you all what I thought of it.

Collins does an extremely good job of hooking the reader in and keeping them engaged throughout the story. The pacing is perfect. I didn't find any spots that were too slow, and it also wasn't so fast that you'd get overwhelmed. Just enough to keep you turning pages and not wanting to put it down.

One of the best parts of this book is the imagery. I'm a complete stickler for details in novels, particularly the use of color as I've mentioned in some of my previous reviews. Collins' descriptions of Katniss in her opening  ceremonies outfits really stayed with me. The images of her and Peeta being on fire in their matching outfits  struck a chord in my mind, I could see it as I read.

There's also really great contrast between the stark, bleak environment of the districts and the rich, luxury of the Capitol.  In the districts you can just see that Katniss and the others don't have the luxury of a hot bath and yet in the Capitol Katniss has a shower with 100 different bubble bath types/scents at her fingertips.

I think Collins might have used some of these smaller details to make the brutality of the Games themselves more potent. At least that's what it did for me. As a reader it took me to a place in my mind where I thought about how there's a lot I take for granted. While I may not have a shower with 100 different kinds of bubble bath I do have the luxury of some basics that many other people in the world have never had, so it did cause me to think twice and be more grateful for what I do have.

One of the more scary descriptions that stuck with me both in terms of imagery and in terms of an interesting plot twist is the description of the mutts that are attacking Cato, Katniss and Peeta on the cornucopia. I won't explain who they are so I don't ruin it for anyone who hasn't read it, but just the idea of wolf like beasts with 4 inch claws chasing after someone  is creepy enough to give you the shivers. It certainly threw me for a loop when I read it.

The relationships in this book are intricate, even the brief ones. Even though the conditions are mostly brutal, there is a real opportunity for relationships to form. Some of them are underdeveloped but still powerful. Some are formed out of necessity.

Katniss and Gale's relationship feels to me  like it's still forming. I think they're floundering around with their feelings for one another. Over the course of the Games it seems like Katniss comes to realize that she has feelings for Gale because she is so concerned about getting home to him. I have to say I felt cheated when Gale's thoughts get cut off as he is saying his goodbye to Katniss before she leaves for the Capitol. Another way to keep us sucked in.

Katniss and Peeta's relationship at first is out of requirement, as a strategy for the games. It really works in their favor too. They become the favorites of the Games and the rule change that their relationship results in (and the subsequent twists and turns with the ending of the games because of that rule change) really drive the plot forward. The sad thing is, Peeta's feelings for Kat are real, and she's just playing along. I really felt for Peeta. Especially with his history with Kat and the things he's done for her. It doesn't seem like much but in the scheme of things it's a lot, and it's clear that he cares for her a great deal.

The one thing I don't like, is that I know, or at least I think I know where one set of relationships is heading. I have a feeling that there will be some sort of love triangle situation between Kat, Gale and Peeta in the next two books. Call me bitter, or cynical if you want, but love triangles just seem so cliche to me right now. I think that's just a sign that I've been reading too many stories with love triangles in them.

*****SPOILER ALERT******

The relationship that I thought was the most powerful, however brief, was the one between Katniss and Rue.    Rue and Katniss really look out for each other, regardless of the fact that they're supposed to be fighting against each other for their lives. Kat feels strongly for Rue, she becomes a surrogate little sister. You can tell how much she cares for Rue in the scenes immediately before and  after Ru"e's death.  Rue asks Katniss to sing for her, and Katniss doesn't want to but then she thinks,

...But if this is Prim's, I mean Rue's last request, I have to at least try."

Katniss has transposed her sister, the very person she sought to protect in taking her place as a tribute in the Games with Rue. In this scene, they are one in the same, and the love that Kat feels for Rue is obvious in the song as well as her thought to cover Rue in flowers. I particularly enjoyed this scene for it's poignancy both in the relationship between Kat and Rue and also for the slight against Capitol in that seemingly innocent yet blatantly defiant acts.

*****END SPOILER ALERT****


As powerful and moving as that scene is, it brings up another point which is one of the other negatives of this book and that is the horrible prospect of children killing each other. Story or not, the whole prospect of this is brutal and harsh. It's shocking, which is a good way to draw readers in, I 'll give it that. I just wish that there were more explanation of the background of why Panem has to be this way. I wish there were more reflection from the characters as to the brutality of it, even though somewhere in my head I know that numbness to it is how they have to be to survive it.

It's this element of the story that kept me from getting the book for my nephew as a birthday present. He really wants to read it, but I just didn't feel comfortable giving him a book where the majority of the plot revolves around kids killing one another. I just wasn't sure if at 10 years old he should really be reading that kind of a story, or if he would fully understand the implications of it.

I'm hoping that in the next books there will be more explanation for the reasoning behind the Games and how Panem came to be the way that it is.

One of the fun little details that I truly liked, just because I tend to pay attention to these sorts of things were the variety in the characters names. Katniss especially, although I hope that many people don't start naming their daughters Katniss as a result of the popularity of The Hunger Games. (I'm sure there have been some already)

I also really hope that Cinna plays a part in the next book because I really enjoyed his character and his connection with Katniss as well.

Although there were a few elements that I didn't care for in this novel I would recommend it to anyone looking for an excellent dystopian story.

When Destiny Knocks: A Review

How I received this book: The author provided it in exchange for an honest review.

Read from: April 21-22
My rating: 1 star
I would describe this novel as: Unedited

As the cover seems to  be unavailable, here is the synopsis instead.

Goodreads Synopsis:

16 year old Karlie has had a pretty normal life... But when her Mom dies she is forced to move over 1,000 miles away to live with her Dad. That's when things start getting weird.

She can't explain the earthquakes that nobody else feels, or why she no longer sleeps. But most of all she doesn't know why she trusts Shane so much, even though his Dad wants her dead.

Suddenly, Karlie's normal life is turned upside down and she enters a world she never dreamed could really exist.(less)

 A Paraphrased blurb:

The story opens with Karlie arriving in Arkansas mere days after the death of her mother. Her relationship with her father seems strained at best. She starts at her new school and instantly has a group of friends who always seem to be there wherever she goes. They tell her to stay away from Shane, that he's not safe. Then they start to tell her that she's special. Chosen. That she has special powers. And then, there's also Alex. What path will she choose?

My Thoughts:

I recently reviewed one of White's other books, My Fairytale Life, and wasn't too pleased with it. You can read that review here .

White sent me When Destiny Knocks before I'd even read or reviewed my Fairytale Life. After reading My Fairytale Life, I was really hesitant to even read When Destiny Knocks because I was afraid of not liking it. But, I pushed that aside because I really wanted to give her another chance. I had hoped that maybe the issues that I had with the previous book would be smoothed out with this book.

Unfortunately, I was wrong.

The main issue with the story is the editing. Or, in my opinion, the lack thereof. There were errors present in my Fairytale Life as well, but I think there were even more errors here. From the first page I found myself editing the book both in my head and making notes within my Kindle application. And I'm not talking a word or two every ten pages, but a word, phrase, or tense change multiple times on some pages. The characters often switched back and forth between tenses in the same sentence! Also, there were multiple characters dialogue in the same paragraph. As far as I know, when a new character starts speaking, a new paragraph should be started. It's not a good sign when you have to edit as you read. A reader wants to get lost in the story, not edit it.

The lack of editing may be  the result of White's fast paced publication schedule.  When Destiny Knocks was published Dec 24, 2011. My Fairytale Life w as published 5 weeks later on January 30 2012. The next book in the Destiny series, When Destiny Strikes was published earlier this month. And the author has yet another book scheduled for publication in June 2012. This  author seems to be too focused on publication and not focused enough on the quality of their work.

 I understand that stories come quickly. And I know that it must be really exciting to say that you published another book. But, just because you want to publish a book doesn't mean that you should let the quality of your work suffer.

The pacing of this novel is fast. Though, I was pleased to see that this time the story takes place over the course of a few months rather than a few weeks, like My Fairytale life. That is one positive that I noted.

The characters, though, are lacking. There's not enough background information for me to become involved with them, or invested in their journey. Especially with Karlie. She's the chosen one. Of course, as a reader, I want to know why? I want to know what makes her so special. I understand that White is trying to keep the suspense up for the readers, but if you don't give us something, we're going to lose interest. The characters all keep telling Karlie that she's special, but that it isn't safe to tell her why or what her powers are. Well why not? Why isn't there more interaction about this between the supporting characters? I think if the supporting characters played a bigger role, the story could  have been shaped and paced a lot better

When we do eventually  find out what Karlie's powers are, there isn't much explanation to them. They're just stated briefly, without detail, and it's on to the next event in the story. I want details! I want to be able to imagine myself inside the story, to be awed at the scope of her importance, and her powers. and I wasn't able to do that here.

There's another love triangle in this story, so those who like them will be happy. This time I was at least happy to see that the love triangle  characters weren't a vampire and a werewolf. This time they were an angel and a demon. That is slightly less cliche.

 I will say that White does a decent job of ending her books on cliffhangers. Sadly, my slight interest in the next book isn't because I want to see what happens to the characters so much as I want to see just how far off track the author will take the story next.

Suffice it to say it's highly likely that I will not be reading any more books by this author.

You never know, you may end up really enjoying this book. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes a quick read, or who likes love triangles.

Have any of you  read this book? If so, what did you think of it?

I would love to hear your thoughts on it.

My Fairytale Life: A Review

My Fairytale Life

How I got this book: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review
Read from: April 13th-14th
My rating: 2 stars

My Fairytale Life opens with tragedy and focuses on the life of 17 year old Jadyn and her father, who have become vampire hunters. After a tiring ten years on the hunt, they move to Miami to escape that life. Little do they know, they're not going to get away that easily.

I have to be honest, I was somewhat disappointed by this book. It's a combination of a lot of things, but I think that I'm partly to blame for my disappointment as well. Seeing as I just finished The Forever Girl, which also had vampires and paranormal elements in it, I think I may have had my hopes up a little too high.

While I am going to be honest in my review I'd rather start off with some positives instead of being a Debbie Downer right out of the gate.

One plus is that this is a very quick read. If you're looking for something to tide you over on a car trip, this would work.

Also, if you enjoy love triangles, then this book is for you.

That being said, there are a lot of things that don't work for me.

The dialogue is stuffy in places. It's  stiff, and too formal for teenagers. Honestly it felt like a journal entry all the way through.  Also, for someone who is supposed to be very close with their dad, Jadyn and her dad definitely don't speak like they are.

One particular issue that really detracted from my reading of the story were formatting errors in my copy. I reviewed this on the Kindle app for PC and in my copy every time there was a word with a double l, like pulled, it would eliminate the second l and make the last letters a separate word so pulled became pul ed. I can certainly fill in the missing gaps but it just got really old. Also, the formatting with the title and the authors name was all skewed as well so I would be reading a line in the dialogue  and suddenly right in the middle of a line there would be: "story story story My Fairytale Life Heather M. White 91 story story story."
So that got to be distracting.

There are also some issues with homonym mixups and tense changes right in the middle of sentences.

By far the biggest parts of the story that didn't work for me was the love triangle, and also the pace.

**SPOILER ALERT***

Jadyn moves into this new town and immediately is drawn to Beau who (it's not hard to figure out) is a vampire. She's also attracted to another guy Jeremy, who warns her to stay away from Beau. Jeremy, we later find out, is a werewolf.

As I was reading the leadup to Jeremy's revelation of being a werewolf I was saying out loud, "Oh no, don't say he's a werewolf" and then when it's revealed that he is, I groaned and read on. The only difference here (at least for me because I haven't finished the Twilight Series yet so I don't know if this is accurate or not) is that Jadyn likes Jeremy (werewolf) more than Beau (vamp)  in this case.

***END SPOILER***

The pace of the story is also questionable. This all happens in three weeks which just doesn't seem plausible. Even making it a couple of months would have made it work better.

The end of this story is predictable but it does leave a nice setup for the next book.

I know that my review was mostly negative, and I'm not happy about that. But, I figure it's better to be honest than try and be nice and sugarcoat things.  I'm not saying that this book is bad, it's not. I think that with some more editing and polishing it has  potential. It just doesn't work for me as it is  right now.

And just because this book didn't work for me doesn't mean that it won't work for one of you.