Review: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Series: Anna #1

Genre: Paranormal, Horror

Format: Paperback

Published: July 5, 2012, first published August 30, 2011

Publisher: Orchard Books

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story...
Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.
So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.
When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.
And she, for whatever reason, spares his life. -Summary from Goodreads

My Review 

Cas Lowood never stays anywhere for long. He and his mother routinely blow in and out of towns for the family business: ghost killing. It doesn't leave much time for making friends, but when Cas is researching the gruesome ghost of Anna Dressed in Blood, a ghost known for ripping people up, he needs all the help he can get! He is determined to discover why Anna spares his life despite being just as gruesome as she was rumoured to be.

As far as this book goes, it's pretty darn creepy and mysterious. On my paperback there is a warning against younger readers due to some graphic content and I think that that warning is entirely warranted. In this world, ghosts are excessively gross and Anna rips people limb from limb. And I like it that way. It's original. I loved Cas and the premise of a male YA main character who was actually pretty darn bad-ass. 

I liked the characters in general, even if the supporting characters are at times clichéd  Cas meets Carmel, the typical popular girl at school who turns out to be a bit more complicated than that. And Thomas, the nerdy boy with the ability to read minds who happens to have a pretty big thing for Carmel. It's a fairly standard set of sidekicks, but the real icing on the cake is Anna herself. She's scary, yet fragile and there's something innocent lurking behind her evil eyes that makes you want to know more. It had really me turning the pages to find out what happened to her to make her that way.

So, if you're looking for a creepy read, then look no further than Anna Dressed in Blood. It's a refreshing male perspective to the YA genre. And with Halloween approaching, this would be a great series to pick up! It's got blood and guts with some mystery and romance thrown in. What else could you want from a ghost story?

Find Anna Dressed in Blood:

Goodreads | Amazon UK | The Book Depository

Find Kendare Blake:

Website | Blog | Twitter

Review: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series: Lux #1

Genre: Science Fiction, Romance
Format: ebook, Published May 8, 2012
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Rating: 4/5 stars

Starting over sucks.
When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.
And then he opened his mouth.
Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.
You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is. - Summary from Goodreads

My Review

This book is a whole lotta snarky dialogue and spiffy sci fi. It's like I Am Number Four and Twilight had a baby and it is far more attractive than its parents. Katy is a normal girl, a book blogger, and high school student who moves in next door to aliens. Just being around their extra-terrestrial powers marks her and makes her visible to their rival aliens who would use her to get to Daemon and his sister Dee. Not to mention, humans who find out about the aliens often end up disappearing.

The characters in this book are its bread and butter. My favourite character is most definitely Dee. She's such a loveable and bubbly person, but you know she's a lot more complicated than that. The main character, Katy, is also one of the most relatable characters I've read in awhile. It's refreshing to read a main character and not think 'No, dummy! What are you doing!?'. Daemon is something different all together. He reminds me of that boy on the playground who is so mean because he's got a big fat crush on you. His sass and angst doesn't really bother me like it does some people, in fact I think it adds fuel to the fire in a really good way. 

The world building in this book was pretty darn spot-on. I can't wait to read more about these Luxen aliens made of light. I really enjoyed the writing in this book. This may be my first Jennifer Armentrout book, but it won't be my last. This book was so entertaining and easy to read! I didn't give it five stars because most of the main plot was rather predictable after a while. That being said, it didn't stop me from wanting to keep reading it! If you're looking for a saucy YA romance book, this is definitely one for you! Highly recommended.

Review: Fated by Alyson Noel

Series: The Soul Seekers #1
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Format: Paperback, Published May 24, 2012
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Rating: 3/5 Stars

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Immortals comes a breathtaking new saga brimming with magic, mystery, and an intoxicating love story that will steal your heart away. Meet The Soul Seekers.
Strange things are happening to Daire Santos. Crows mock her, glowing people stalk her, time stops without warning, and a beautiful boy with unearthly blue eyes haunts all her dreams. Fearing for her daughter’s sanity, Daire’s mother sends her to live with the grandmother she’s never met. A woman who recognizes the visions for what they truly are—the call to her destiny as a Soul Seeker—one who can navigate the worlds between the living and dead.
There on the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico, Daire sets out to harness her mystical powers. But it’s when she meets Dace, the boy from her dreams, that her whole world is shaken to its core. Now Daire is forced to discover if Dace is the one guy she's meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she's destined to destroy.

My Review

I originally picked up this book because the premise seemed interesting and I hoped for a scenic setting in the Southwest. I'd read another book by this author and it really wasn't my favorite, but I'm glad to report that I enjoyed this book much better! Daire, who is used to travelling the world on movie sets with her celebrity makeup artist mother, begins to have some pretty freaky visions. Other than putting her straight into a mental institution, Daire's mom decides it might be less traumatising to ship her off to her grandmother in New Mexico. Long lost grandmother then tells Daire that she hails from a long line of Soul Seekers, who have the ability to see visions and visit other realms. And of course, Daire meets a boy. But can he be trusted? His identical twin certainly can't be.

This book started out rather quickly. The scene was set and I got a good feeling for each of the characters, even if Daire was a bit annoying until you got to know her. The characters in general were fairly basic. Not bad. My one gripe is that if you're going to have a blind character, would it be so hard to actually have them be blind? It's kind of a cop-out that she can just 'sense' everything in the world without her vision. Like Daredevil. If she had actually been blind, I think it would be more interesting.

After the first part of the book, I felt like there were pacing issues. It became slow suddenly when Daire was transported to New Mexico. There was an entire chapter about her 10 hour drive and her zoning out at a gas station. Yep. I'm still not sure how that was relevant to the story. When she arrived at Paloma's (the grandmother) house, it returned to normal and we got to learn more about her visions. Daire had to piece together who she was, but then all of a sudden she wasn't confused any more and she knew she had to go after the bad guys. I had to flip back in the book to see if I'd missed something, but it turns out I didn't. Her powers and knowledge of the bad guys practically came out of nowhere just because Paloma said so.

It was a bit unfortunate how the writing would win me over from my previous Noel book experience and then become awkward again. I didn't like how characters would talk for an entire page. It didn't make for natural dialogue in my opinion and it should be used sparingly. Needless to say, I found a few problems with this book, but for some reason it makes me want to read more. I know, I know-- you're probably confused. The premise just kind of sucks me in and I want to know a bit more. I want to know more about Dace and Cade and the spirit world. Plus, I actually want to find out what a Soul Seeker actually is. I've read this whole book and I still am not entirely sure. Read this at your own risk if you like Paranormal or Native American stories. Who knows, you just might enjoy it.

Find Alyson Noel: 

Website | Twitter | Goodreads Page

Find Fated: 

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Book Depository

Review: Redemption by Veronique Launier

Series: Hearts of Stone #1
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
To be published September 8, 2012 by Flux
Find the author: Website // Twitter
Find it:  Goodreads // Amazon UK
Rating: 3/5 Stars

Guillaume: For five hundred years I've existed as a gargoyle. Perched atop an old Montreal church, I've watched idly as humanity wanders by. With the witch Marguerite gone, there is no one left to protect, nothing to care about. I never planned to feel again. But then a girl released me from my stone restraints, allowing me to return as a seventeen-year-old human boy. I must find out all I can about this girl's power . . .
Aude: Getting attacked twice in as many days is strange in itself, but even stranger is the intriguing guy I keep running into. There's something so familiar about him, like a primal drum rhythm from my dreams. But spending time together only raises more questions--about my heritage, a native Mohawk prophecy . . . and an unearthly magic threatening our city... - Summary from Goodreads

My Review

When I discovered this book, I was super excited at the prospect of a paranormal romance involving gargoyles. I know we've all read vampires and werewolves, so it was nice to read something new. Redemption is an original addition to the world of Young Adult paranormal romance, even if it lacks a bit of finesse. 

This book alternates between Aude and Guillame's point of view, and I'm not certain if I enjoyed that. Looking back I think it's the best way to tell the story in order to get Guillame's back story, but I don't think I enjoyed the alternating POVs as much as other books I've read. Their voices weren't as distinct as I would have liked. On the other hand, I absolutely love this author's ability to set a scene. My favourite aspect of this book was the setting of Montreal and Veronique does an amazing job at making me want to visit! 

While I enjoyed reading this book, I feel like parts of it were underdeveloped, as if it just needed some oomph. I really wanted to like the characters, but I felt pretty apathetic about the side characters like Guillaume's companions. Perhaps they just needed some more memorable scenes or background stories. They have so much potential!

I'd recommend this book to anyone curious about a paranormal romance with gargoyles and like an alternating point of view. It's a fresh take on paranormal romance, albeit not gracefully executed. I'm not entirely convinced that I'll continue with the series. 

Review: A Witch in Love by Ruth Warburton

Series: Winter Trilogy #2

Genre: Paranormal, Romance

Format: Paperback

Published July 5, 2012 by Hodder Children's Books

More about the author: Website // Twitter // Bio

Find the book: Goodreads // Amazon UK

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Anna still finds it hard to believe that Seth loves her and has vowed to suppress her powers, no matter what. But magic - like love - is uncontrollable and soon, Anna is being hunted. Abe wants Anna to embrace her power, while Seth is pushing Anna to accept that his feelings are real. She finally does ... a moment too late. Suddenly, it's like the Salem witch trials all over again: burnings, torture and faceless judgements. In the face of the ultimate betrayal, who will save her?
The second novel in the Winter trilogy, this follows the critically acclaimed debut A WITCH IN WINTER. - Summary from Amazon

My Review

A Witch in Love is an amazing follow up to A Witch in Winter, a book that had me begging for more. I had high expectations for this second installation and I'm glad to say they were blown away! After the ending of the first book, Anna has sworn off using her magic for good. With Anna being hunted down, however, how long will she be able to keep her magic at bay? Well, she'll try to. In a book full of magic and sweet romance, this book has the 'wow' factor.

Anna is such a relate-able main character with her common sense and stubbornness; I found I only liked her more in this book. Her determination to discover things about her past and bring along her best friend and one of my favourite characters ever, Emmaline, really moved the plot along. The other, and perhaps most important relationship in this story, is the romance with Seth. It was such a refreshing romance to read. It just seems so realistic to read their ups and downs and to read a non-obsessive YA romance.

The secret world of the witches in London was a fascinating addition to Anna's magical world. Readers will definitely develop a love-hate relationship with the wider witch world when their knowledge of them from the first book is added to the knowledge gained in the second. This is also due to the introduction of another antagonistic group of people who really did give me the chills.

Readers who love witches and romance will definitely love this book series. I found this second book to be unputdownable. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book and to find out what else we will discover about Anna's world.

Review: Passion by Lauren Kate

Series: Fallen #3
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Format: Audiobook
Released: June 23, 2011 by Listening Library
Find the author: Website // Twitter // Goodreads Page
Find the book: Goodreads // Amazon UK // Audible

Luce would die for Daniel.

And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn't need to be that way....

Luce is certain that something - or someone - in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime...going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel...and finally unlock the key to making their love last.

Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history. Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames...forever.

Sweeping across centuries, PASSION is the third novel in the unforgettably epic FALLEN series. - Summary from Goodreads

Passion is the story in the Fallen series that everyone wants to know about, but may not necessarily love reading. Luce is determined to visit her past lives and understand the curse of their love. Flinging herself into each life after another, Luce discovers that she and Daniel do indeed have a special love rather than a cursing forcing them and it took an entire excursion across time to see it.

Luce grew on me a bit in this installation of the series. She was much more proactive than usual and stubborn in an admirable way. Not very many new side-characters were introduced, as the previous ones show up in her past lives or chase after her into the past. So, nothing too interesting there. The interesting part was learning all of the different lives Luce has lived and died loving Daniel. While I was intrigued at first to learn of the incarnations of Luce, it became rather old (and predictable since she inevitably dies in each life) after awhile.

I feel that this book would have been better suited as a novella. We just have Luce and Daniel's 'epic' love thrown in our face a good dozen times to reiterate the power of their love. It was entertaining, I suppose. I liked it for learning about their past, but it was too long and repetitive. I maintain that it could have been a novella, but I do recommend reading it if you are invested in the Fallen series. The background information you've been craving doesn't disappoint. The ending of Passion promises a very gripping fourth book that I will probably read.

*Audio Review*- As usual, the narrator delivers. Justine Eyre is a consistently fabulous audiobook reader and enhances the experience of listening to the book.

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Review: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Series: Unearthly Series, Book #2

Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Format: Paperback
Published January 2, 2012 by Egmont Books
Find Cynthia Hand: Twitter // Website // Goodreads
Find the book: Goodreads // Amazon UK

For months Clara Gardner trained to face the fire from her visions, but she wasn't prepared for the choice she had to make that day. And in the aftermath, she discovered that nothing about being part angel is as straightforward as she thought.
Now, torn between her love for Tucker and her complicated feelings about the roles she and Christian seem destined to play in a world that is both dangerous and beautiful, Clara struggles with a shocking revelation: Someone she loves will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.
In this compelling sequel to "Unearthly," Cynthia Hand captures the joy of first love, the anguish of loss, and the confusion of becoming who you are.

Hallowed is a beautifully powerful sequel to Unearthly. Clara has troubled herself over the events of the last book concerning her angelic purpose. It didn't go to plan, but now there's an even more troubling vision clouding Clara's mind lately. A funeral, only months away, tells Clara that someone she loves dearly will leave this life forever. She will have to face some secrets about the angelic world she lives in and face emotional distress no one her age should have to face.


This book was a very emotional and revealing follow up to Unearthly and I enjoyed Clara immensely. While she's a worry-wart for pretty much the entire book, it's not without reason and I think it shows maturity, the thing Clara gains most of all in this book. The supporting characters become much more complicated and interesting than in the first book. I find myself intrigued by Jeffrey's angst and happy that Clara and Christian get to spend more time together (even if Clara doesn't want to). I couldn't get enough of the love triangle. It's so much more fabulous than the first book. Some more fabulous things include the addition of new mentor-type characters for Clara that come with some really interesting backgrounds. 


In addition to the characters, the plot was just fantastic. After mind-blowing revelations, romantic tension, and a prom scene that actually didn't make me want to throw up, I am seriously craving the third book! If you love love triangles, angel mythology, and serious secret reveals, then you will love this series. I hope to see more clashes between the good and bad angels in the third instalment! 

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Review: Torment by Lauren Kate

Book 2 in the Fallen Series
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Format: Audiobook
Released September 28, 2010 by Listening Library
Find Lauren Kate: Twitter // Goodreads Page // Website
Find the book: Goodreads // Amazon UK // Audible
My Review of Fallen (Fallen #1)

Hell on earth.
That’s what it’s like for Luce to be apart from her fallen angel boyfriend, Daniel.
It took them an eternity to find one another, but now he has told her he must go away. Just long enough to hunt down the Outcasts—immortals who want to kill Luce. Daniel hides Luce at Shoreline, a school on the rocky California coast with unusually gifted students: Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans.
At Shoreline, Luce learns what the Shadows are, and how she can use them as windows to her previous lives. Yet the more Luce learns, the more she suspects that Daniel hasn’t told her everything. He’s hiding something—something dangerous.
What if Daniel’s version of the past isn’t actually true? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else?
The second novel in the addictive FALLEN series . . . where love never dies.

The premise of reincarnated love and angels hooked me from the beginning of the series and it hasn't let me go yet! This book seriously furthered the world building of the fallen angels. It's darker, but somehow more light-hearted at the same time. I hope that makes sense. Luce is now surrounded by happier people than she was at Sword and Cross, but she's changed a lot. Now moodier than ever, Luce tries in vain to get answers about her relationship with Daniel and tries to seek out her countless past lives.

As much as I love Lauren Kate's angels, I didn't like Luce in this book. This book took place over just eighteen days and Luce's maturity level lowered with each one. It was like a constant battle between Daniel and Luce trying to get her to stay put in a place where she was told she would be safe. Luce constantly places herself in danger because she's mad at Daniel for keeping her in the dark for just a few days. I feel as though she's turned into a clichéd human girl in a paranormal romance, placing herself in danger and then requiring the romantic interest to constantly save her. What a shame!

I hope the next book will show Luce's stubbornness in a better light that won't make her seem as whiny. The premise is just so addictive, that I know I will keep reading the series. Lauren Kate writes in a way where I simply have to know more. I've not read a series I've been so love/hate with, but I have to keep reading!

*Audio Review*: I liked the narrator just as much in this book as I did in the first. She's simply a great narrator and makes it worth while to listen to the novel on audiobook!

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Review: Die for Me by Amy Plum

Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Format: Audiobook
Released May 10, 2011 by Harper Audio
Originally published by HarperTeen
More about the author: Website // Twitter
Goodreads // Amazon UK // Audible

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.
When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.
Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

At first, this book felt just like any other insta-love paranormal romance even though it was set in Paris, a fun and different location. What I got as I read further, was something pleasantly surprising. Amy Plum takes the over done template of teen paranormal romance and turns it into a gem. I'm not entirely sure how she does it, but I think it definitely has something to do with her innovative, non-vampire or werewolf ideas.

Amy Plum's world of Revenants is extremely intriguing and left me wanting more. The very idea of self-sacrificing immortals is a seriously cool addition to paranormal fiction. Revenants, especially the romantic interest Vincent, are mysterious, benevolent, and kick-ass to say the least. And yes, you read correctly; there is only one romantic interest in this book. No love triangles!

The protagonist, Kate, wasn't the most unique female lead, but she did have her quirks. She doesn't back into a corner and she's really pretty nosy. This works out well when the reader wants Kate to find out more information or fight for herself and it's never out of character when she does. The side characters really add something to this book. They're funny and endearing and I just want to hug them sometimes!

Overall, this book is really great. The setting is beautiful, especially because the author knows her Parisian landmarks, and the world building is really great. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes paranormal romance. It's awesome!

*Audio Review*: Being that this book is set in Paris with numerous French characters participating in the dialogue, the narrator has to put on some cheesy French accents. At first this really did bother me. I've taken about eight years of French myself, so I cringed many times when things weren't pronounced correctly. This is hardly something that a normal person would notice, however. I just hope that I read the second book rather than listen to it.

Review: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: Romance, Light Fantasy
Format: Audiobook
Published by Scholastic Audio
More about the author: Website // Twitter
Goodreads // Amazon UK // Audible

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.
At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.
Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

I wouldn't describe myself as someone who loved horses or even enjoyed the riding culture. In fact, I would say that I was a little bit scared of horses. The thing about The Scorpio Races is that it both enthralled and terrified me in the best way possible. Let me see if I can do this book justice. It is quite possibly the most beautiful book I've read in a very long time. There aren't any paranormal creatures or demon slaying heroines, just people surviving on a tragically gorgeous island, somewhere I'd guess was in the Irish Sea, braving mythical horses so terrifying that I won't want to touch a real horse for a very long time.

The story is told between the point of views of Puck (also called Kate) and Sean, two very different characters with the same courage. Sean is a young man of quiet strength trying to achieve his dream. He doesn't just want to win the races; he wants his freedom and the right to call his horse his. Sean races to validate the innate bond and special relationship between him and his horse, while Puck races for what's left of her family. While Sean is quiet, Puck is a wild yet calculated strength determined to prove herself and win the money for her brothers. It's their slow and tantalising relationship that creates an irresistible romance that builds and builds whilst devouring up the book. There is no insta-love here.

The plot was not at all what I expected. I had pictured in my mind some sort of Hidalgo-esque race, but we don't get that. We get masterfully crafted tension. The race itself is very brief, but not disappointing. It's a finale to a story that becomes emotionally driven with action added on the side. So, once readers understand that it has action but is not based upon it, I think it will truly be appreciated as I have appreciated it.

*Audio Review*: I don't know how to describe how fantastic the audiobook was. The two narrators voices were perfect (though I swear that Sean sometimes sounded like a bored Rupert Everett), and the small amount of music was composed and performed by the author herself. It's a beautiful listening experience that only makes the book better.

Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate

Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Format: Audiobook
Released December 8, 2009 by Listening Library
Originally published by Delacorte Books
More about the author: Website // Twitter
Goodreads // Amazon UK

Seventeen-year-old Luce is a new student at Sword & Cross, an unwelcoming boarding/reform school in Savannah, Georgia. Luce’s boyfriend died under suspicious circumstances, and now she carries the guilt over his death with her as she navigates the unfriendly halls at Sword & Cross, where every student seems to have an unpleasant—even evil—history.
It’s only when she sees Daniel, a gorgeous fellow student, that Luce feels there’s a reason to be here—though she doesn’t know what it is. And Daniel’s frosty cold demeanor toward her? It’s really a protective device that he’s used again... and again. For Daniel is a fallen angel, doomed to fall in love with the same girl every 17 years... and watch her die. And Luce is a fellow immortal, cursed to be reincarnated again and again as a mortal girl who has no idea of who she really is. -Goodreads

Fallen was exactly what I had expected. That gorgeous cover and irresistible premise draw you in only to give you something fairly enjoyable and altogether just okay. I knew it, yet I still wanted to listen to this audiobook and find out what I was missing. I was, in fact, missing a fairly predictable romance set in a fabulous setting with a storyline much darker than I expected.

I absolutely enjoyed the eerie, moss covered setting of Sword and Cross and was literally begging for more information about the angels as I read. It's just that I didn't think the things that happened in the meantime were all that exciting. Personally, I think what kept me from singing this book's praises was Luce herself. While Daniel, Cam, and the other supporting characters all had their charm, Luce didn't do it for me. I know she's had life a bit rough recently but she really needed to stop whining and assuming that Daniel was dating a girl that,  for all Luce knew, Daniel had only met just two or three days prior.

I had come to grips with Luce's obsession-love before I even began this book, so the romance in this story didn't bother me. It was what it was and it wasn't too bad. I often found myself enjoying the scenes where Daniel was present and I understood what Luce saw in him. Their mysterious connection was actually very fascinating to me and it kept me wanting more. To get that, I think I'll have to pick up the other books in the series, something which I just might do.

Overall, this was a really easy book to keep up with. While the romance was predictable, the rest of the book wasn't and it definitely has some potential to keep me happy with the books to follow. I'd recommend it to somebody unafraid of insta-love (though it's with a reason) and intrigued by fallen angels. I think I may have to pick up the second book in the series to satisfy my curiosity of Lauren Kate's angel mythology.

*Audio Review:* This book was narrated by a single female reader with a pleasant voice. It was entertaining to listen to and I'd recommend the audiobook.

Review: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Format: Audiobook
Released August 1, 2009 by Scholastic Audio
Originally published by Scholastic Inc.
More about the author: Website // Twitter
Goodreads // Amazon UK

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.
Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever. - from Goodreads

This book was genuinely a good surprise. While the book centres more on Grace and Sam's relationship (and their dual narratives) rather than the wolves themselves, I still found this to be a charming read. The wolves of Mercy Falls aren't what I would call werewolves. They're more like people who turn into actual wolves for half the year. Whilst they are wolves, they don't have superpowers but their bite can turn other humans into wolves. It's a new take on werewolves that doesn't involve scary monsters, just people clinging to their life before they turn wolf forever.

The romance between Sam and Grace was nothing short of sweet. While Grace's parents were conveniently out of the picture for most of the book, Sam and Grace spent their cold evenings trying to keep Sam warm and human. Although there is some extremely toned down only mentioned teen sex, their romance isn't as physical as you would expect from the previous sentence. It's actually the romance that stole my heart and didn't have me focusing on some of the plot that would otherwise irritate me (like the convenient lack of parents). Because of an event that took place six years before the start of this book, Sam and Grace were already infatuated with each other and I actually believed it! While not the deepest of romances, I enjoyed it.

If you want a book that centres on romance with a side of wolves, then this book is for you. It isn't perfect, but this book has me looking forward to reading more of Maggie Stiefvater. She is obviously full of talent. This is a highly recommended read for those sappy-paranormal-romance lovers who don't mind the lack of scary werewolves in a werewolf book.

*Audio Review*: This book had really good pacing in the narratives (read by both a male and female). The female's voice was the typical high school girl voice and the male's voice was a tad boring to me. In fairness, Sam is a really serious person anyway. I'm not sure if I gained anything more by listening to it rather than reading it.

Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Genre: Romance, Dystopian
Format: E-book, 336 pages
Published April 24, 2012 by HarperTeen
More about the author: Website // Twitter
Goodreads // Amazon UK

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

With The Selection, I'm not even sure where to begin! It was a seriously delicious surprise topped with girly sprinkles. Yep, that must be the only way to describe it. I was instantly drawn to this book. Just look at that cover! It makes me regret not holding out for the physical book, but I couldn't pass up having a dystopian, girly, and The Bachelor-esque novel as quick as possible. The paperback is going to be released in the UK June 7 this year, but I apparently could not wait that long.

The main character, America Singer, is not high up on the caste system. Her family and caste are resigned to the artisan life of supplying society with art and music, but there's one thing her family doesn't know- she's in love with someone even lower down the caste system! When Aspen, the passionate first love of America, pushes her into participating in the Selection to win over the heir to the throne's heart, he breaks hers in the process. America is whisked off to the castle to wear fabulous dresses and endure the drama of living amongst 34 other girls competing for Prince Maxon. The drama of the girls does not disappoint, but it's the underlying drama from the rest of the kingdom that brings deeper turmoil to the castle. It's something that I hope is built upon in future books.

The plot itself is very satisfying and makes me ache for the second book. The characters, specifically America, were quite fickle at times, and frustratingly so. In fairness, if America was certain of her feelings there would not need to be further novels in this series. The two love interests could not be more different from each other. The story was written in such a way that I simply cannot chose who I want America to end up with! What was deeply lacking for me, in my opinion, was the world building. I wanted to be immersed in this future North American monarchy and learn more about the caste system. Perhaps there is more to learn in the following books, but I was deeply disappointed. There was the capacity for it to become more on par with the world building in say The Hunger Games, as there are provinces and revolts, but it simply did not go there. It didn't even try. I even wanted a bit more of The Bachelor out of this book. They described the country as rooting for certain girls in the Selection, but to be honest, I quickly forgot that it was televised since it is seldom mentioned that there are cameras present.

For what The Selection is, it's an extremely guilty pleasure. I gobbled up a good quarter of this book just making sure it had downloaded to my e-reader properly. I recommend this book to someone looking for a large serving of a girly read with very small side of dystopia! It'd be perfect for anyone hesitant to read dystopia in the past.

Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Genre: Science Fiction, Romance
Pages: 398
Format: Paperback
Published March 3, 2011 by Razorbill
Originally published January 11, 2011
Goodreads // Amazon UK

AMY
has left the life she loves
for a world 300 years away.

Trapped in space and frozen in time, Amy is bound for a new planet. But fifty years before she's due to arrive, she is violently woken, the victim of an attempted murder. Now Amy's lost on board and nothing makes sense - she's never felt so alone.

Yet someone is waiting for her.
He wants to protect her -
and more if she'll let him

But who can she trust amidst the secrets and lies?
A killer is out there - and Amy has nowhere to hide...

Across the Universe is a truly fast-paced and mysterious science fiction romance with elaborate world building. Does that sound like too much to you? Well, I too was surprised at how much was craftily woven into this fantastic novel. Beth Revis even managed to pull off (fantastically, I might add) alternating point of views between Amy and Elder, the boy destined to become the ship leader's successor.

If I had to pick my one favourite aspect of this novel, it would have to be the world building. Life on the ship was so skilfully peppered with a seriously original setting aboard an enormous spaceship headed for another earth-like planet. Food is grown to the book and population is controlled through calculated hormonal urges. There are a lot of creative ways the ship inhabitants have to survive without knowing about the frozen people in the levels below. I cannot praise it enough! 

The characters of this book were really well suited to each other. Amy stuck out like a sore thumb not only with her red hair and pale skin while everyone else had brown hair and olive skin, but she awoke on the ship with the thoughts of someone from the old earth. Having been woken up too early, she is the only one who remembers life on earth and isn't afraid to tell people how life should be. Elder is a genuinely sweet yet defiant character. With Amy's influence, he's able to see the wrong in the status quo aboard this ship and will stop at just about nothing to correct it. Their romance was slow and sweet and truly believable.

What kept me from giving the book five stars was the murderer. As the mystery of the frozen people murders was such an instrumental part of the book, I was disappointed with the murderer. I felt like it was obvious the whole time who was doing it, but I was still intrigued as I felt we were still kept in the dark about why the murders were happening in the first place.

This book is a definite must read to anyone into science fiction. I think it would even suit those put-off by other science fiction books before, as it does have a strong dystopian aspect and romance. I can't wait to get a copy of A Million Suns, the second book in this series!

Review: A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton

Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Pages: 346
Format: Paperback
Published January 5, 2012 by Hodder Children's Books
Goodreads // Amazon UK

Anna Winterson doesn't know she's a witch and would probably mock you for believing in magic, but after moving to the small town of Winter with her father, she learns more than she ever wanted to about power. When Anna meets Seth, she is smitten, but when she enchants him to love her, she unwittingly amplifies a deadly conflict between two witch clans and splits her own heart in two. She wants to love Seth, to let him love her – but if it is her magic that's controlling his passion, then she is as monstrous as the witch clan who are trying to use her amazing powers for their own gain.

Although a perfect fit for the paranormal romance genre, A WITCH IN WINTER avoids fangs, excessive body hair and submissive female leads, and tells the heart-wrenching story of a couple meant to be together, but being forced apart. Seth is utterly irresistible and Anna is an empowered, proactive young woman with unimaginable magic inside her. This is fast-paced, sensuous writing with believable incantations inspired by Warburton's research into witchcraft legend and old English.

I picked up A Witch in Winter not expecting much from it and merely hoping for a mildly entertaining read on the bus. What I got once I started reading it was something else! This book was simply great. A seriously fast paced plot with a magical air about it. Another expectation blown!

Winter is a very eerie and damp sort of village that Ruth Warburton does a fantastic job of describing. The main character, Anna, is the clash having come to Winter straight from London when her dad moves her out there. If I hadn't been living in the UK for 18 months now, I think I'd have a bit of trouble understanding a lot of the British terms, especially in Anna's school setting. From an American perspective where the UK is something of a novelty, this book won't disappoint! You just might need to look up what an aga is.

The world building is formed around the town and a traditional witch-world of covens and spells. It's the right amount of keeping up with paranormal traditions while adding in some originality. I adored the house Anna's dad bought. It's creepy and old with a lot of mystery about it. Overall, Ruth Warburton blended in her world building seamlessly into the plot without making the whole book about it. Sometimes it's hard to find a book that does that.

The way Ruth Warburton wrote the characters was one of the main reasons I enjoyed this book. From the start when Anna cast a spell on Seth, you could watch the transformation of their relationship from beginning to end. From farcical love spell to a sincerely sweet romance. Seth was one of the sweetest and self-sacrificing love interests I've had the pleasure to read and Anna really grew on me.

I didn't find the book perfect. There were some flaws I found in the antagonists (mainly I just didn't find them all that threatening and a little hokey), but it was an extremely enjoyable read and I will definitely pick up the second book, A Witch in Love when it comes out this summer. Tehre are still plenty of questions to be answered, chiefly what kind of powers Anna has and if her mother had anything to do with the witch world. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who likes the traditional grimoire-coven witch world.

Review: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Pages: 272
Format: e-book
Published February 7, 2012 by Penguin Group
Goodreads // Amazon UK

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

I didn't know much about this book before I picked it up, other than it was a witchy historical fiction novel, but I still had high hopes for it because of the great reviews I read. After having read it, I wish I'd had more things to say about this book. The setting is a very alternate turn of the 19th century New England. I didn't dislike the setting, in fact, I feel as though it was one of the book's redeeming qualities to have such an original historical setting. It wasn't just historical fiction with witches, this New England had a completely different history and political set up. When it came to the beginning of this book, that's where my praise sort of stops.

The first half of the book I was not that engaged in it. All I read was "blah blah blah the Brotherhood is bad". Not a whole lot happened until Cate learned about the prophecy. Then it got interesting. After I read about why the Cahil sisters were in danger I couldn't put the book down! The world of secrets and witches finally comes to life. I think it was very clear by the end of the novel that this is just a foundation book. This book laid out the history and world of witches, while the other books in the series will hold all the action (I hope).

I really liked the characters and character building. I felt as though the relationships between the three girls were very believable and an accurate glimpse at siblinghood. The only character I got annoyed with was Cate. I don't know how to describe her other than by calling her a party-pooper. She's probably the most uptight character I've read in a really long time, though necessarily so. She has to be the responsible one, since no other witch appears to be. The only time she lets her hair down is around Finn. Oh, Finn! I was incredibly excited to see such a nerdy and adorable guy be a love interest in a book. He just really did it for me! Finn and Cate's forbidden fling was the best part of reading through Cate's point of view. They're probably my new favourite fictional couple in a long time.

I didn't give this book four stars because of the beginning. In my opinion, it was slow and took too long for anything much to happen. I did, however, enjoy the rest of the book immensely so I'm giving it three stars. I wish it was more. I'd say read this book if you like corsets and magic. You won't be disappointed if you don't want much more out of this book!

Review: Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Format: e-book
Published March 1, 2012 by Sourcebooks Fire
Goodreads // Amazon UK

It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before.

Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.

A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…

I've had some pretty lame experiences with angel books, though lately my feelings have changed! Embrace is an original take on the world of angels and humans with a decently fresh heroine. As I was reading it, I completely forgot that this was a debut novel. That's a really good sign in my book. Or in Jessica Shirvington's book.

The story itself was pretty good. Violet is thrown into the world of the Grigori and hunted by exiled angels. The mythology and background information was extremely interesting. I was constantly wanting to know more and it kept me turning the pages. I've always been fascinated by angels and heaven and their darker counterparts. This book doesn't disappoint in that department. I felt Violet's frustration of having her world change around her and being told she's special for a Grigori and not getting any answers. I want answers!

The characters were where it became mediocre to me. Not that they were badly written, it's just that I thought they were really predictable. Violet is a very resolute and strong character, it just annoyed me that she thought she could go to a night club without running into trouble when she knew she was being followed and she had been warned. Goodness. Now for the love interests, Lincoln and Phoenix. Lincoln was written as nearly perfect, so he never did any wrong except in Violet's eyes. Phoenix was just really creepy. He's manipulative and obsessed with Violet. Because of this, I couldn't get myself to care about him- I just wanted him to go away.

Embrace isn't perfect, but it was a seriously interesting page turner so I gave it four stars. Overall, I think it is a really great debut for a lot of readers. Read it if you've been spurned by angel fiction before or read it if you're really into mythology and angel hierarchy. I'll read the next instalment, as Embrace left me with so many questions.