Fate Of Flames (Effigies #1) ~ By Sarah Raughley – 3.5 Stars

Tags

Adventure, Fantasy, Paranormal, Science Fiction, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon Pulse for providing an eARC  in exchange for an honest review.

368 Pages

Synopsis: When Phantoms–massive beasts made from nightmares and darkness–suddenly appeared and began terrorizing the world, four girls, the Effigies, each gained a unique power to control one of the classical elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Since then, four girls across the world have continually fought against the Phantoms, fulfilling their cosmic duty. And when one Effigy dies, another girl gains her power as a replacement. 

But now, with technologies in place to protect the world’s major cities from Phantom attacks, the Effigies have stopped defending humanity and instead have become international celebrities, with their heroic feats ranked, televised, and talked about in online fandoms.

Until the day that New York City’s protection against the Phantoms fails, a man seems to be able to control them by sheer force of will, and Maia, a high school student, unexpectedly becomes the Fire Effigy.

Now Maia has been thrown into battle with three girls who want nothing to do with one another. But what the first human villain that the girls have ever faced, and an army of Phantoms preparing for attack, there isn’t much time for the Effigies to learn how to work together

Can the girls take control of their destinies before the world is destroyed forever?

Fate Of Flames is a a little rough around the edges, but I think it’s a promising start to this new YA series. I’m going to get the negatives out of the way first. I found the characters for most of the book extremely annoying, although they did start to grow on me in the latter half of the book. Maia is likable but she comes across as being immature even for sixteen-years-old. She makes some questionable decisions that left me a tad frustrated. The other Effigies are, well, there’s really no other way to put this, brats. I understand that they’re forced into this dangerous life of battling the Phantoms, and that the life-expectancy for Effigies isn’t very long, but honestly! They spend so much time sniping and fighting each other, that they lose sight of who the real enemy is. Towards the end of the story though, they begin to work as a team, which gives me hope for the sequel. There are two male characters, Rhys and Saul who are actually much more interesting than the girls. At the beginning of the book, one is a hero and one a villain, but as the story unfolds, things get complicated and they may not be what they seem. There’s the beginnings of a romance between Maia and Rhys, but with all the action going on it stays mainly in the background. What saved this story for me was the unique storyline and fabulous world-building. It’s sort of a cross between Sailor Moon and Pacific Rim with maybe a little of The Avengers thrown in. It starts off with a bang, and the pace never slows down, which had me finishing this in two sittings. Despite my issues with the characters, I believe Fate Of Flames will have wide appeal for fans of YA fiction filled with action, paranormal, science fiction and fantasy. I’m hoping that the wrinkles with the characters are ironed out in the next book, because I think Effigies could truly be a great series. 

Burning ~ By Danielle Rollins – 3.5 Stars

Tags

Contemporary Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Paranormal, YA Fiction

Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA Childrens for providing an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: April 5th, 2016

Synopsis: After three years in juice, Angela Davis is just a few months shy of release, and she’ll finally be free from the hole that is Brunesfield Correctional Facility. Then Jessica arrives. Only ten years old and under the highest security possible, this girl has to be dangerous, even if no one knows what she did to land in juvie. As strange things begin to happen to Angela and her friends that can only be traced to the new girl’s arrival, it becomes clear that Brunsfield is no longer safe. They must find a way to get out, but how can they save themselves when the world has forgotten them?

Burning is a book that in the end pleasantly surprised me. I say this because despite numerous problems, somehow I wound up liking it anyway. It’s being billed as Orange Is the New Black meets Carrie. I haven’t seen OItNB, but as it’s set in a juvenile detention center, I think it’s a fair comparison. The supernatural elements though are more reminiscent of Firestarter than Carrie. There’s a diverse cast of characters, including Angela’s best friends Issie and Cara, but they don’t have much in the way of backstories which is a shame because I think they’re quite interesting. The two main villains: Brody, a sadistic prison guard, and Dr. Gruen, a sinister scientist recently arrived at Brunesfield with a hidden agenda, are both pretty one-dimensional and seem to have walked straight out of Villainy 101. There’s some light romance between Angela and Ben, a young prison guard, but it doesn’t really go anywhere until the very end. I was actually glad of this because the idea of a romantic relationship between a guard and a prisoner, even if they are close in age, would have raised all sorts of disturbing connotations. The pacing is also a little slow and most of the action takes place in the last few chapters of the book. What kept me reading though were Angela and Jessica whose relationship reminds me of the one between Katniss and Wren in The Hunger Games. Each of them on their own are appealing characters. Angela had a horrible home life with little in the way of role models, before being incarcerated for the past two years. Her only anchor to the outside world is her younger brother Charlie who she adores. Despite the circumstances she finds herself in she makes no excuses and freely admits that she has put herself there. When little Jessica arrives in shackles and put in segregation, needless to say everyone wonders what a ten-year-old could have possibly done that was that bad. Then Dr. Gruen offers Angela something she can’t refuse. Her freedom and the opportunity to reunite with Charlie in exchange for befriending Jessica and reporting back to the malevolent doctor. The problem is, the more Angela gets to know Jessica, the more she cares about her and wants to protect her. Jessica is a young sweet girl who has suffered from too much loss in her short life. She’s now dealing with a power that is bigger than her, and she grapples with trying to control it. Not surprisingly the ending is not a happily ever after. It’s a huge cliffhanger that has some heart-wrenching moments and nicely sets things up for the next book. Danielle Rollins who also writes under the pen name of Danielle Vega has been called “YA’s answer to Stephen King” and after reading The Merciless, Seize the Night, and now Burning, I think the comparison is justified. Like King, she has a talent for combining elements of horror with intriguing characters who crawl right inside readers’ heads. Despite the flaws in Burning, I really enjoyed it and I have no qualms recommending it to fans of YA fiction who are looking for something with a bit of a bite.

The Secret Fire ( The Alchemist Chronicles) ~ By C.J. Daugherty & Carina Rozenfield – 3.5 Stars

Tags

Adventure, Fantasy, Humor, Mystery, Paranormal, YA Fiction

I received this e-book from NetGalley and Atom in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: French teen Sacha Winters can’t die. He can throw himself off a roof, be stabbed, even shot, and he will always survive. Until the day when history and ancient enmities dictate that he must die. Worse still, his death will trigger something awful. Something deadly. And that day is closing in.

Taylor Montclair is a normal English girl, hanging out with her friends and studying for exams, until she starts shorting out the lights with her brain. She’s also the only person who can save Sacha.

There’s only one problem: the two of them have never met. They live hundreds of miles apart and powerful forces will stop at nothing to keep them apart. 

They have eight weeks to find each other.

Will they survive long enough to save the world?

I have to be honest and say that after reading the first few chapters, I didn’t think I was going to be able to finish this. But then, much to my surprise, I found myself slowly drawn in until I couldn’t wait to see how it ended.

At the beginning of the book the problem is the two main characters. Sacha comes across as smug, arrogant, and an insufferable know-it-all. I wanted to shove him off a roof myself a few times! But then you slowly begin to see the heavy burden of the curse that is weighing on him, and his love for his mother and younger sister who he’ll sacrifice anything to protect.  He also has a cheeky sense of humor that winds up being rather charming. Taylor is Sasha’s polar opposite. She is too perfect and has absolutely zero personality. But as she learns about her family’s legacy and their part in this ancient prophecy, she quickly learns that sometimes it’s okay to break the rules. When she and Sasha actually meet in person they bring out the best in each other. Taylor makes Sasha think things through a little more rationally before he acts, and Sacha teaches Taylor how to let loose a little and embrace her inner warrior. He also shows her how wonderful and beautiful the world is around her. Their relationship develops slowly and there’s actually only a hint at a blossoming romance near the end. 

My other issue was that except for a couple of instances, the secondary characters tended to fade into the background throughout most of the book. Given that Sacha and Taylor are teens who are going to need a lot of help if they’re going to defeat the prophecy and save the world, this strikes a slightly discordant note.

Except for a slightly slow beginning, the world-building is magical and exciting, and the scenes which took place in France had me wishing for the umpteenth millionth time that I could go live there. Sometimes when a book is written by two authors, there can be a bit of a disconnect where one leaves off and the other begins. This is definitely not the case here. While the chapters alternate between Sacha and Taylor’s POVS, this is done absolutely seamlessly. The story ends on the perfect note, and sets things up nicely for the second book.

I’m really hoping the rocky start doesn’t turn away too many readers, because I do think The Secret Fire has a lot to offer to fans of the YA paranormal genre. I’m looking forward to the next book!

Hellraisers (The Devil’s Engine #1) ~ By Alexander Gordon Smith -3.5 Stars

Tags

Horror, Paranormal, YA Fiction

I received this e-Arc from NetGalley and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (BYR) in exchange for an honest review. 

Release Date: December 1st, 2015

Synopsis: There is a machine from the darkest parts of history, concealed in an impossible location, that can make any wish come true, and the only price is your soul. Known as the Devil’s Engine, this device powers a brutal war between good anand evil that will decide the fate of every living thing on Earth. When a 16-year-old asthmatic kid named Marlow Green unwittingly rescues an ass-kicking secret soldier from a demonic attack in the middle of his Staten Island neighborhood, he finds himself following her into a centuries-old conflict between a group of mysterious protectors and the legions of the Devil himself. Faced with superpowers, monsters, machine guns, and a lot worse, Marlow knows it’s going to be a breathless ride–and not just because he lost his inhaler.

This is the first book I’ve read by Alexander Gordon Smith, and to be perfectly honest I have mixed feelings. I definitely enjoyed the horror aspects, and I thought the world-building was decent, but the overall story just didn’t capture my attention.

I’m not someone who has to have their protagonist be picture perfect. I actually like it when they have a few rough edges, but there does have to be something that draws me to them and I didn’t find this with Marlow. I did have a certain amount of sympathy for him because of the difficult circumstances he finds himself in, but I just found him to be a kind of bland character.

Pan, the “ass-kicking secret soldier” is brusque and aggressive to the point of being one-dimensional and unbelievable. I honestly couldn’t find one thing I liked about her. 

None of the secondary characters really stand out either. The only one I remotely connected with was Marlow’s best friend, but it wasn’t enough for me to become emotionally invested.

While it takes a while for the author to explain exactly what the Devil’s Engine is, the story is fast-paced with exciting action sequences practically on every page. I think though that’s part of the problem. It seems like the author put so much of his time into fight and chase scenes that there was very little left over for character development.

Hellraisers is the first book in a planned trilogy geared towards 12- 18 year olds. While there is plenty of violence it’s not gratuitous and is entirely in keeping with the storyline. Hopefully the characters will be more fleshed out in the next book. In the meantime, I think that teen horror enthusiasts will enjoy this interesting take on the classic Dr. Faustus, by Christopher Marlowe.

 

 

 

 

Divine Vices ~ by Melissa Parkin – 4.0 Stars

Tags

Mystery, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense, YA Fiction

 I received this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: September 29, 2015

Synopsis: The last thing sixteen-year-old Cassie Foster needs is trouble, but that doesn’t stop him from finding her. 

Nine months after the tragic accident that killed her mother and sister, this high school junior just wants a fresh start. Settling down in the quiet town of New Haven, Maine, she’s found peace at last…until the new resident bad boy, Jackson Matthews, comes into the picture. Arrogant, sarcastic, and devastatingly sexy, he’s the very last thing Caddie wants to entertain. Romance was never part of the plan. But when terrifying circumstances drive these two together, she finds herself in over her head and drawn in by his allure. As local girls begin disappearing, Cassie can’t help but wonder if it’s just a coincidence that everything started when this blue-eyed Casanova strolled into town. Will falling into Jackson’s arms mean she’ll be falling victim to a real lady-killer…or worse?

The answer will open the door to a world she never thought possible.

Divine Vices combines several popular YA elements: The paranormal, contemporary high school life, mystery, and forbidden love. Melissa Parkin takes these and adds some unique twists which prevents this from becoming too predictable and makes it an enjoyable read.

This is definitely a character driven story. Cassie is an appealing heroine who many teens will relate to. She’s suffered a horrible tragedy with the loss of her mother and sister, and because of that she’s had to grow up quicker than normal. She soldiers on with the help of her two best friends Ian and Gwen who are as different from one another as night and day. Despite this, this trio are completely supportive and loyal to one another. I also liked the peek at Cassie’s relationship with her dad. I’m hoping more of that will be explored in the next book.

I have to admit, I didn’t care for Jackson at all. Yes he’s good-looking but he’s also an arrogant, egotistical misogynist who really got on my nerves. That said, I understand the bad boy appeal, although I found myself wanting to take Cassie by the shoulders several times and push her in the direction of Ian, who I personally loved. He actually wound up being one of my favorite characters with because of his sweetness, goth/steampunk personna, and mad magic skills. He’s one of those personalities that stand out, long after you’ve finished a book.

There’s plenty of suspense which kept me turning the pages although I did feel that for the first half of the book there was too much dialogue and not enough action. Granted, the banter was witty and entertaining, but I was a little frustrated at times that the plot wasn’t moving forward a little quicker. Once I hit that halfway mark though, everything began to come together, culminating in an exciting conclusion which has me looking forward to the sequel.

Divine Vices heralds the arrival of a promising new arrival to YA fiction. With it’s combination of the paranormal, mystery, suspense, and romance genres, I think this will appeal to a wide audience. 

 

Sisters of Blood and Spirit ~ By Kady Cross – 3.5 Stars

Tags

Ghost Stories, Horror, Paranormal, Twins, YA Fiction

  This e-ARC was provided to me by NetGalley and Harlequin Teen in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: 3/31/15

Lark and Wren Noble are not your average twins. Lark is living, but Wren died at birth, and she only exists through her sister. It’s hard enough being a teenager, but when when you have a dead sister tagging along and at times taking over your your body, well, you become something of an outcast. Lark finally decides it would be easier to join Wren in the Shadow Lands, but her suicide attempt is thwarted by a classmate and instead she winds up at New Devon’ s mental hospital. Newly released, she’s approached by her savior and a small group of classmates who have been marked for death by a malevolent spirit, and now both Lark and Wren may be their only hope of surviving.

I’m a huge fan of The Steampunk Chronicles series by Kady Cross, so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading Sisters of Blood and Spirit. I can now say this is completely different than her other books and it’s a unique take on the paranormal. The worldbuilding is intriguing, although I wish there had been more included about the Shadow Lands. The plot was fast paced and exciting with plenty of chills and thrills. It actually reminded me of the tv show Supernatural with it’s references to “meat-suits” and it’s rules regarding iron and salt. I kept imagining Lark and Dean teaming up. I loved Lark who is a mix of snarkiness and vulnerability. Because of her treatment at the hands of her classmates and even her parents, she finds it very hard to trust people, and it was nice seeing her attitude thaw as the story progressed. Wren was an interesting character whose personality is the polar opposite of her sister’s and she serves as a counterbalance to her sister’s aloofness. At the same time sweet Wren also has a dark side which saves her from being too perfect. This is just touched upon, which brings me what I found problematic after finishing. I’m assuming this is the first book in what will be a series, but I wish there had been a little more regarding the sisters connection and their abilities. Was there anything in their family history to explain this? Also, the descriptions of the Shadow Lands were great, but I think it’s mysteries could have been explored a little more. To be perfectly fair, the book is under 300 pages, so there’s only so much that could be included. Hopefully the missing pieces will be part of the next book. 

Red ~ By Alyxandra Harvey – 3.5 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, Mysteries, Paranormal, YA Fiction

  This review is for an e-Arc from NetGalley and Entangled Publishing LLC in exchange for an honest review. Publishing Date: 3/10/2015

Kia has a bit of a temper and when you add in an uncontrollable talent for creating fire, well, you have a volatile mix. When she inadvertently injures her best friend, and is expelled from school, Kia’ s father sends her to live with her grandmother who works for the wealthy Blackwood family. While living in a castle on a vast estate seems like a dream, Kia soon realizes there is a lot more to Mr. Blackwood and his gorgeous yet inscrutable son Ethan, than meets the eye. When she discovers they’re hiding something in the forest that surrounds the estate, her curiousity kicks in and she determinedly sets out to unveil their secret. She also finds that there are far more dangerous creatures and beings out there than herself and any one of them could get her killed.

Red is the first book in what seems will be a trilogy or series. It reminded me of The Most Dangerous Game with an interesting mix of magic, supernatural, and myths from different cultures thrown in. Kia was my favorite character with her snarkiness and sass. She’s strong-willed, yet vulnerable because of her dismay and confusion over her fire-starting talent. Her relationship with her grandmother is great although I was a little surprised that her grandmother wasn’t more open with her about her family history. Ethan took a little longer to warm up to, as he’s very cold and aloof with Kia in the beginning. Once he confides in her however, he becomes much more likeable. The book is told in both of their voices and the always talented Alyxandra Harvey smoothly transitions them in alternating chapters. The mythology aspect was brilliant and intriguing and has left me wanting to read more. And therein lies the problem. There were some aspects of the story that were mentioned and then dropped completely such as the mysterious and sinister Cabal. I also felt the ending was rushed and it left me a little unsatisfied. But, ultimately I think this has quite a bit of promise, and I’m looking forward to reading more.

The Accidental Alchemist ~ by Gigi Pandian – 4.0 Stars

Tags

Alchemy, Cosy Mysteries, Gargoyles, History, Paranormal

 This ebook was provided to me by NetGalley and Midnight Ink in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Herbalist Zoe Faust is looking to start over. She leaves France and buys what she thinks is the perfect fixer-upper in Portland, Oregon. Then she discovers a three and a half foot living, breathing gargoyle in one of her shipping crates. Dorian Robert-Houdin was brought to life in the 1800s by a magician. Unfortunately he is now in danger of turning back into a statue and seeks Zoe’ s help in translating an ancient text. You see, in addition to being an herbalist, Zoe is also a three hundred year old Alchemist. While she’s trying to process this, Charles, the contractor who she hired, shows up dead on her front porch. And finally, fourteen year old Brixton, responding to a dare to break into her “haunted” house sees the walking talking Dorian. So much for a peaceful, uncomplicated life!

The Accidental Alchemist is a really cute cosy paranormal mystery. Zoe is interesting and likeable. Because of her personality and some of her actions though I found it a little hard to believe she’s 300 years old. She’s also a Vegan and this is discussed frequently. So much so that I did find it distracted from what otherwise was a great story. Dorian is absolutely adorable and his frustration over no longer being in France is hysterical! Plus he can cook! Brixton is a wonderful character who you instantly like even when you know he has some devious intentions. And finally, the possibility of a romantic relationship with Detective Max Liu is introduced without taking over the story. Ultimately this is a very different sort of cosy which seamlessly integrates both fictional and historical characters. I would very much like to see more books about Zoe and Dorian as they make a fantastic sleuthing team.

Rising Tide: Dark Innocence – by Claudette Melanson ~ 5 Stars

Tags

Bullying, High School, Paranormal, YA

Rising Tide is the first book in the Maura DeLuca Trilogy.

I thought I was finished with vampire books at least for awhile until I picked up Rising Tide and it immediately sucked me in. 16 year old Maura has never been part of the popular clique at school. Add to this a missing father who her emotionally distant mother refuses to tell her about, and a severe aversion to sunlight that makes her physically sick, Maura (Mink) should be miserable, but she makes the best of things. Now suddenly her mother Caelyn announces they’re moving to from their home in Pennsylvania to Vancouver and Maura couldn’t be happier. Less sun and a chance to remake herself? What’s not to be happy about? But as moving day approaches, she suddenly not only attracts the perfect boyfriend, but also kids who want to be friends with her. Unfortunately this comes along with strange physical changes that her mother persists in ignoring. What is the mystery behind all this, and should Maura start a relationship with someone she may never see again? Obviously the reader knows a lot of what’s going on with Maura. But Claudette puts enough twists in the storyline to still keep you guessing. She has a beautiful, smooth way of writing that keeps you entranced, which is probably why I finished this in one day. Maura is a wonderful heroine who is sweet, courageous, and loyal without being annoying. Her protectiveness towards her mother is incredible given that she doesn’t get much in return. YAs will relate to this book with it’s themes of relationships and bullying. It does end with a cliffhanger, so the second book can’t come out soon enough!

The Night Visitor ~ Dianne Emley

Tags

Contemporary Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal, Suspense, Thriller

This is a review of an ARC e-book provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The book will be available September 16th.

Things are not always as they seem in this harrowing paranormal thriller. Rory, the head of a major cosmetics company, finds her mind being taken over by her ex-fiance Junior. Once an aspiring artist he now lies in a coma, suspected of shooting himself after murdering Rory’s sister Anya five years ago. But maybe that’s really not what happened, for Junior is determined to maintain control over Rory’s mind until she discovers who the real killer is. The Night Visitor is a thrilling page turner whose action begins on the very first page and never lets up. I wound up reading until almost 3:00 in the morning until I finished because I couldn’t put it down. The story and characters are so tightly woven and detailed you can literally picture them in your head. It will jolt you with one surprise after another until you reach the end which you’ll never see coming. Even if you don’t normally read paranormal fiction this has great appeal since it’s the epitome of a great mystery that keeps you guessing. 5 stars!!!