Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

author’s website: Rachel Hawkins
release date: March 2, 2010
appeals to: Young Adult
genre: Fantasy
length: 336 pages
overall rating: 5 stars

*the inside flap*
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 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.

*my review*
Let me start by saying, this is all about a school for witches, shapeshifters, and faeries – obviously, this is a fantasy lover’s paradise! I’ve been reading about witches, faeries, and other fantasy creatures for as long as I can remember, the idea of combining them all into one school a school is pretty fun. Especially since it is written in such a contemporary setting.

Sophie was a wonderfully interesting character. She is very believable and makes the same mistakes you could imagine yourself making. I especially liked the different situations that Sophie finds herself in throughout the novel. She doesn't seem to be able to have her niche quite figured out, but what high school aged person does?! I liked the relationship Sophie began to develop with Archer, and I'm curious to see where that goes in the next book. Overall, this novel was a quick, fun read. There was humor, romance, magic, suspense, and a heck of an ending that left me seriously anticipating the next installment.

*short and snappy*
writing: quick and fun with humor, suspense, and realistic emotion
plot: slightly predictable, but there are twists that I didn’t expect
characters: interesting – Sophie is well thoughtout, but I am intrigued to know more about some of the other characters (especially Archer and Jenna)
judging by the cover: I love the cover. It has a different meaning than I thought it would, which might make it even better!

The Mark by Jen Nadol

The Mark by Jen Nadol

author’s website: Jen Nadol
release date: January 19, 2010
appeals to: Young Adult
genre: Fantasy/Paranormal
length: 240 pages
overall rating: 4 Stars

*the inside flap*
Cassandra Renfield has always seen the mark—a glow around certain people reminiscent of candlelight. But the one time she mentioned it, it was dismissed as a trick of the light. Until the day she watches a man awash in the mark die. After searching her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person’s imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.

Armed with a vague understanding of the light, Cassie begins to explore her “gift,” seeking those marked for death and probing the line between decision and destiny. Though she’s careful to hide her secret—even from her new philosophy-obsessed boyfriend—with each impending death comes the temptation to test fate. But so many questions remain. How does the mark work? Why is she the only one who sees it? And finally, the most important of all: If you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?

*my review*
The Mark had many components: romance, paranormal, Greek mythology, philosophy, and a character with a rough family history. Cassie’s ability to see “the mark” creates a struggle/dilemma for her that is the base line of the plot throughout this book. Do you tell the person or not? As I read, I kept thinking, “would I want to know that today was my last day?” and I couldn’t really decide. So it was easy to relate to Cassie as she struggled with the decision of telling people or not.

I enjoyed the story in this book and appreciated the twists and turns in the plot. I felt like Cassie was a contradiction in terms of her maturity. At some points in the story, she seems wise beyond her years, but then there are times where it is easy to see that she is obviously 16, with limited experiences. Overall, this was a fun book and there is definite potential for a sequel. (However, the ending is closure enough if there isn’t a second book.)

*short and snappy*
writing: clean and easy to read
plot: surprisingly twisty – as soon as you think the plot has become predictable, there is a twist
characters: solidly developed and very believable (I especially loved Nan)
judging by the cover: great cover! The image is wonderful, and I love the tagline - “If you had the power to see death, would you wish it away?” – it really gets you thinking about the story
miscellaneous: this is a 2010 Debut Author

In My Mailbox (#6)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that talks about books that have been bought, swapped, received for review, or borrowed from the library. It is hosted by Kristy at The Story Siren.

This week was Spring Break (!!!) so I decided I could add to my TBR pile, so I took a trip to the library.

I got from the library:

Chasing Tail Lights by Patrick Jones
Hourglass by Claudia Gray
Vampire Diaries: The Return: Shadow Souls by L.J. Smith
Fallen by Lauren Kate
You are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay
Nothing by Janne Teller

I also got a new bag from my mom - I think it's fantastic!

This is what has been going on for me . . . feel free to leave suggestions for what should move to the top of the stack!

Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu

Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu

author’s website: C. J. Omololu
release date: February 2, 2010
appeals to: Young Adult
genre: Realistic Fiction
length: 224 pages
overall rating: 4 stars

*summary* (from author’s website)
Everyone has secrets. Some are just bigger and dirtier than others.
For sixteen years, Lucy has kept her mother's hoarding a secret. She's had to—nobody would understand the stacks of newspapers and mounds of garbage so high they touch the ceiling and the rotting smell that she's always worried would follow her out the house. After years of keeping people at a distance, she finally has a best friend and maybe even a boyfriend if she can play it right. As long as she can make them think she's normal. When Lucy arrives home from a sleepover to find her mother dead under a stack of National Geographics, she starts to dial 911 in a panic, but pauses before she can connect. She barely notices the filth and trash anymore, but she knows the paramedics will. First the fire trucks, and then news cameras that will surely follow. No longer will they be remembered as the nice oncology nurse with the lovely children—they'll turn into that garbage-hoarding freak family on Collier Avenue. With a normal life finally within reach, Lucy has only minutes to make a critical decision. How far will she go to keep the family secrets safe?

*my review*
“Everyone has secrets. Some are just bigger and dirtier than others.” This first line provides a beautiful starting point to the reality of this story. In Lucy’s reality, the surface looks fine, but beneath that very thin and fragile surface lies a completely chaotic life in which nothing can be thrown away. Lucy’s mother has hoarded every minute thing that has ever played even a minor role in their lives. Their house has piles and piles and piles of junk that Lucy’s mother can’t seem to part with. This reality isn’t something Lucy likes, but she has found ways to live with it, especially since she knows she only has a few years before she can leave it behind

As I read this story, there was a change in my perception of logical responses. Logically, the first thing you do in an emergency is call the police. Except . . . if Lucy had called the police right away, it would have changed the surface picture that everyone knew. It would have changed people’s perceptions and opinions, and it could have changed Lucy’s few friendships. After reading the book and understanding Lucy, her logic seemed to make sense, and even more, you find that she was incredibly brave!

While this book spans less than 24 hours, memories that Lucy has while cleaning up the house paint a picture of her life growing up. There is a lot of depth created in this character because of the things she has had to deal with growing up. This was an intense topic with a genuine feel. It was well written and difficult to put down.

*short and snappy*
writing: smooth – the story is told with flashbacks, memories, and current plots woven together in a way that makes sense
plot: keeps you guessing – just when you think you know what she’ll do, Lucy surprises you!
characters: Lucy has incredible depth. The other characters are developed enough to play their roles, but this is really a story about Lucy.
judging by the cover: great cover! The cover shows the difference in what is inside the window and outside without being too obvious

In My Mailbox (#5)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that talks about books that have been bought, swapped, received for review, or borrowed from the library. It is hosted by Kristy at The Story Siren.

This was the week of the Debut Author novels! I put several debut novels on hold at the library, and they all came in this week!
I got from the library:
The Mark by Jan Nadol (read already – review coming soon!)
Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Dirty Little Secrets by C. J. Omololu (read already – review coming soon!)

I have also been catching up on reviews! Check them out:
Vampire Kisses: The Beginning by Ellen Schreiber
The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard
Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
The Tear Collector by Patrick Jones

This is what has been going on for me . . . feel free to leave suggestions for what should move to the top of the stack!

The Tear Collector by Patrick Jones

The Tear Collector by Patrick Jones

author’s website: Patrick Jones
release date: September 1, 2009
appeals to: Young Adult (high school)
genre: Contemporary/Urban Fantasy
length: 272 pages
overall rating: 4.5 stars

*the inside flap*
Between hookups, makeups, and breakups, there isn’t a day at Lapeer High School without drama turning to trauma turning to tears.
And tears are just as essential as air for Cassandra Gray. She and her family are vampires who thirst for human sorrow, and the energy that they soak in from a good crying jag can keep them fueled up for days.
Anytime a friend needs a shoulder to cry on, Cass is there. Anytime a boyfriend gets too secure, she breaks his heart. Cass’s work as a school peer counselor and hospital volunteer also provides the perfect cover and access to her family’s energy source. But she is getting tired of all the lies and manipulation – especially now that she’s actually fallen in love with a human. Can she bear to betray her family for a chance at happiness and a life lived with joy?

*my review*
I began this book intrigued by the concept of a vampire that feeds on tears instead of blood. And as I read, it made more and more sense to me! In most stories, vampires feed on blood, which is what keeps people alive, but really, aren’t our emotions what make us human? As Cassandra collects tears from her fellow students, you begin to understand that those tears represent so many of the emotions and feelings that actually make people who they are. There is a lot of depth to Cass’s character, mostly because of the conflict she experiences throughout the book. That conflict is fascinating! Cass knows that she has a duty to fulfill for her family, but as you read, you see her start to develop feelings of both love and anger –two very strong emotions for someone who can’t feel empathy. Her relationships with Robyn, Becca, Samantha, and Scott end up teaching Cass a great deal about humanity.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It wasn’t your traditional “vampire” novel. Instead, you meet a girl who has only one job – to collect the tears of anyone she can – and you realize that life without feelings and emotions isn’t much of a life. This is definitely a fantasy story with a vampire twist, but even more, this is a story of coming to understand yourself. It is a great read, and has a fantastic ending that leaves an opening for a sequel!

*short and snappy*
writing: engaging – I felt like I was experiencing Cass’s story first hand
plot: twisty – as soon as I thought I had figured everything out, something would change. (The ending is a fabulous twist!!!)
characters: multifaceted – Cass develops in ways she didn’t even know were possible
judging by the cover: love it! I think the cover could draw someone to pick up this book (which of course, is the point of a good cover) and it is directly related to the story too
miscellaneous: I’ve read quite a few negative reviews of this book because they think that the main character is too cold – but (for crying out loud) Cass can’t feel emotion! When you can’t feel emotion, what choice do you have BUT to be cold. I thought it was a fantastic story!

Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

author’s website: Lauren Baratz-Logsted
release date: September 7, 2009
appeals to: Young Adult
genre: Fiction
length: 208 pages
overall rating: 3 stars

*the inside flap*
In an explosion of his own making, Lucius blew his arms off. Now he has hooks. He chose hooks because they were cheaper. He chose hooks because he wouldn’t outgrow them so quickly. He chose hooks so that everyone would know he was different, so he would scare even himself.
Then he meets Aurora. The hooks don’t scare her. They don’t keep her away;. In fact, they don’t make a difference at all to her.
But to Lucius, they mean everything. They remind him of the beast he is inside. Perhaps Aurora is his Beauty, destined to set his soul free from its suffering.
Or maybe she’s just a girl who needs love just like he does.

*my review*
This contemporary version of Beauty and the Beast is the least paralleled fairy tale retelling I’ve read. There are definitely parallels in the story, but you don’t feel like you are reading a fairy tale. Instead, you experience a very interesting story about a boy’s conflicting feelings of guilt, anger, and intrigue and a girl’s feelings of loss, newness, and interest/curiosity in a boy. The perspective alternates between Aurora and Lucius by chapter, which only adds to the telling of the story.
Crazy Beautiful is the story of two very normal teenagers with very realistic issues, problems, and feelings. They are “real” enough to relate to. However, I felt like I needed to know more about Lucius’s accident. It is touched on and implied, but never really explained. I would have liked a better look into the event that changed him so completely.

*short and snappy*
writing: captivating – the writing style in this novel is very engaging and pulls the reader into the story
plot: steady, but with a very sudden ending
characters: deeply developed (but again, I’d have liked a little more back story on Lucius’s accident)
judging by the cover: I loved the cover!