Brad About Books: Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

Read from June 8 to 10, 2012

DESIRES OF THE DEAD
Published: February 15, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 355 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Series: The Body Finder, #2

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

Desires of the Dead is an electric sequel that surpasses the first book. Kimberly Derting has created another fantastic book.

What I loved the most about Desires of the Dead was how we got to explore the echoes and Violet's ability even more. It was very eerie in the first book, but in this sequel, it turns super awesome and definitely a hooking point of the book. And the relationship between Jay and Violet and how it grew was always tremendously great. It was really great to see their relationship evolve from what it was before; I appreciated how the author mixed that in.

And the chapters that weren't from Violet's POV were great as well. Fresh and definitely creepy, I always got shivers and goosebumps from those chapters. They literally scared me! And it doesn't hurt that they were titled after the Seven Deadly Sins. But the person who's point of view we get from those chapters really spooked me out {towards the end of the novel the most}, and Derting did a great job at weaving together a lush and vibrant new character.

I'm a sucker for murder mysteries, and Desires of the Dead is an excellent one. It was definitely hard to put down, and it's super cool when a sequel is even better than its predecessor. And the ending freaked me out! Oh my gosh! I was biting my nails and on the edge of my seat the entire last bit of the book, and I absolutely loved it!

Overall, Desires of the Dead is an excellent sequel that leaves a mark on YA literature. This is a series not to miss.

MY RATING

Brad About Books: Arclight by Josin L. McQuein

Read from February 3 to 7, 2013

ARCLIGHT
Expected Publication Date: April 23, 2013
Publisher: Greenwillow (Harper)
Format: ARC
Page Count: 400 pages
Source: Publisher

No one crosses the wall of light . . . except for one girl who doesn’t remember who she is, where she came from, or how she survived. A harrowing, powerful debut thriller about finding yourself and protecting your future—no matter how short and uncertain it may be. 

The Arclight is the last defense. The Fade can’t get in. Outside the Arclight’s border of high-powered beams is the Dark. And between the Light and the Dark is the Grey, a narrow, barren no-man’s-land. That’s where the rescue team finds Marina, a lone teenage girl with no memory of the horrors she faced or the family she lost. Marina is the only person who has ever survived an encounter with the Fade. She’s the first hope humanity has had in generations, but she could also be the catalyst for their final destruction. Because the Fade will stop at nothing to get her back. Marina knows it. Tobin, who’s determined to take his revenge on the Fade, knows it. Anne-Marie, who just wishes it were all over, knows it.

When one of the Fade infiltrates the Arclight and Marina recognizes it, she will begin to unlock secrets she didn’t even know she had. Who will Marina become? Who can she never be again?

Richly fascinating and deeply captivating, Arclight is a book that took over my mind. One of the highlights of the year.

You have no idea how excited I was to read Arclight. I dived immediately and found myself emerged into this world right away. The entire world in Arclight is one of my absolute favorites of all-time. The land of Light and the land of Dark fascinated me, and I loved that the author showed the reader both sides of the world. If you're looking for great world-building, Arclight is definitely the book for you.

And Marina is such a strong and fierce character. I felt for her through the entire novel, and she never once slipped up from her heroic elements. And the Fade! Wow! They are super eerie and creepy; and I'm being honest when I say that I actually had a nightmare about the Fade. Yeah. This book messed with my mind that much. And I loved every single bit of Arclight. 

And the ending. Oh my gosh, I so did not see that coming. I can't even fathom how much of an insane ending that was and how much I adored it. Josin L. McQuein's debut is one not to miss.

Overall, Arclight is a brilliant novel that enticed me and never let me go. An absolute must-read.

MY RATING

Brad About Books: Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Read from October 1 to October 3, 2012

SISTERS RED
Published: June 7, 2010
Publisher: Little, Brown
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 328 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Series: Fairytale Retellings, #1

Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend--but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for?

Sisters Red is the only book I've ever re-read, which is pretty epic. What's also epic is that this novel is phenomenal. A masterfully-done retelling, Jackson Pearce has created a lush and vibrant world that is one of my favorite books of all time.

The two sisters are simply brilliant. I love how we get the best of both worlds with this duo. They each have their strong points and weakness, and although they are totally different, Scarlett and Rosie balance each other out in incredible ways. Scarlett is the tough side of the sisters: the muscles and the fierce. But I think I connected to Rosie more; she's the soft and sweet sister that only does this for her sister, but she has a gentle heart, which I love. Pearce did an amazing job at crafting these two sisters, and she couldn't have done it any better. Mind equals blown.

Looking for non-stop action? Sisters Red has you covered. There is almost always an action scene going on, and there is never a dull moment in this book. I was always intrigued and hooked, and when the action scenes came around, I was flying through the pages. It definitely impressed me of how the action scenes played out: lots of fighting and action, little description. Because let's face it: you don't want too many descriptions of how the wall felt when you knocked your head against it, or how the wolf's fur felt when it brushed against your skin. It was always bang bang bang with the action, which is another key part of why I love this novel.

And the writing was gorgeous! Jackson Pearce put a spin on these words that blew my mind and enticed me into the story even more. I was scared about ripping a page, because I was turning the page so quickly! I couldn't get enough of this novel, even the second time around.

Overall, Sisters Red is an absolute must-read, fairytale fan or not. Captivating and fantastic, you definitely do not want to miss this novel.

M Y   R A T I N G

Brad About Books: My Very UnFairy Tale Life by Anna Staniszewski

Read on March 7, 2013

MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE

Published: November 1, 2011

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 192 pages
Source: Publisher
Series: Fairy Tale Life, #1

You know all those stories that claim fairies cry sparkle tears and elves travel by rainbow? They're lies. All lies. 
I've spent my life as an official adventurer. I travel across enchanted kingdoms saving magical creatures and fighting horrible beasts that most of you think are only myths and legends. I've never had a social life. My friends have all forgotten me. And let's not even talk about trying to do my homework. So -- I'm done!! I'm tired and I want to go back to being a normal girl. But then along comes "Prince Charming" asking for help, and, well, what's a tired girl like me supposed to do? 

My Very UnFairy Tale Life is definitely a fun and light read, but unfortunately, was a bit too juvenile for my tastes. But still, this definitely put some fun into my reading life!

Jenny was such a great protagonist! I loved getting to go on her adventures with her, and the author definitely did a great job at making the adventures epic and interesting for the MG crowd. I'm a big fairy tale fan, so getting to see some fairy tales interwoven throughout the story really appealed to me. Plus, there's a unicorn at the beginning of the book. What's not to love?

But my only complaint is that I didn't connect with the book. I noticed that if an adventure wasn't occurring, I would doze off from the story and get distracted. Not always, but sometimes. I'm not sure why though. Maybe it was too juvenile for me? Maybe I found some things a bit too girly? I'm not sure. 

That still doesn't take away from the fact that you can't read this book and not think that it was awesome. Again, the adventures were excellently crafted and masterfully plotted. Going back, I see lots of foreshadowing that I didn't catch before, and I adore that. Props to the author for doing that!

Overall, My Very UnFairy Tale Life was great; I had just had problems with a few parts in the book. If you're looking for something fun and adventurous, you must pick up this book!

Brad About Books: A Touch Morbid by Leah Clifford

Read from March 5 to March 6, 2013

A TOUCH MORBID

Published: February 28, 2012

Publisher: Greenwillow (Harper)
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 299 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Series: Touch, #2

Eden saved Az.

Eden won the battle-she saved her true love from the darkest evil. But the war has only just begun. With secrets swirling around her, powerful allies unraveling, and life-and death-as she knows it eroding, Eden and those she loves tread dangerous ground. Can she trust anyone? Will her unearthly powers be her salvation or her downfall? A sweeping, dark, and sexy paranormal romance that will haunt readers with an inventive mythology and a cinematic New York City filled with shadows and longing.

Talk about an amazing sequel. Leah Clifford's follow-up to A Touch Mortal was absolutely brilliant. Fast-paced and fantastic, A Touch Morbid is a delightful and amazing book. Definitely one of my favorites of the year!

Eden is one my favorite characters of all time. So much that I even featured her in a Top Ten Tuesday post. Clifford did an amazing job at developing her character even more. I absolutely adored seeing Eden grow ever stronger, and believe me, if you thought Eden was tough and fierce in A Touch Mortal, wait 'til you read the sequel! And of course, all the other characters are amazing. Az is just an awesome character, and I really grew to like Kristen in A Touch Morbid! Needless to say, the characters were great.

And the pacing was great as well! Non-stop action was thrown at the reader, and I couldn't believe some things that happened in this novel. Leah Clifford masterfully pulls off plot twists and making very epic things happen in a book. Because a lot of stuff in A Touch Morbid shocked me. And I couldn't get enough of it!

The whole storyline of spreading the Touch is phenomenal and unlike anything I've ever read. The stakes are raised even higher in A Touch Morbid, and the Touch became even more of a problem for our characters. I was constantly rooting for them and cheering them on. A Touch Morbid is definitely on my list for best sequels of all time.

Overall, I absolutely loved, loved, loved A Touch Morbid so much! Leah Clifford did a brilliant job with this sequel. Constantly captivating and engaging, this is easily one of my favorite series.

M Y   R A T I N G

Brad About Books: Firebrand by R.M. Prioleau

Read from December 27 to December 29, 2012

FIREBRAND
Published: April 15, 2012
Publisher: Createspace
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 182 pages
Series: Firebrand, #1
Source: Author

Kaijin Sora behaved like any studious child his age who constantly indulged in reading books and thirsting for new knowledge. But there was one thing that distinguished him from other children -- his tenacious passion for fire.

In hopes of curbing this strange and disturbing sickness, Kaijin's parents send him off to study magic. Unbeknownst to Kaijin, the knowledge he would glean during his years of intense study would only further kindle his inner flames.

What began as a simple childhood curiosity would ultimately transition into a blazing love so powerful, it kills...

Firebrand is an engrossing fantasy adventure filled with magic and mystery.

With lots of fantasy elements and fast-paced scenes, Firebrand is an excellently-crafted high fantasy novels that readers won't be able to put down.

I read Firebrand so quickly; within the matter of 24 hours, to be exact. It is tiny, but it's also super fast-paced. I do have to say that the world is a bit hard to dive into and understand, but once I figured everything out, I couldn't have turned these pages faster. What I loved about the novel was of how much action/fantasy scenes were interwoven to the main plot.

The world-building was masterfully structured. The author did a great job at describing this vivid world to the reader, and I could definitely picture everything in my head. It's one world that I would love to visit! I was captivated the entire time by the world - it seemed so beautiful and mysterious throughout the book, and I absolutely loved that.

And our characters are equally as great! Kaijin was a great main character, and I loved getting to know him and his backstory. Plus? Fire is pretty epic. And the way his inner flames spark to life was super, super awesome. I was definitely impressed of how the author mixed that into the story and made it fantastic.

Overall, Firebrand is a must-read for fantasy lovers. Think Game of Thrones for teens. It was absolutely wonderful!

M Y   R A T I N G

Brad About Books: The Selection by Kiera Cass

THE SELECTION
Published: April 24, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 327 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Series: The Selection, #1

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.

I started reading The Selection the day it came out (which was eleven months ago; gosh, I am horrible about posting reviews. I'm trying to get better, though!). And let me tell you, I was fanboying so hard after I finished it. Definitely fun and lighthearted, The Selection is not a book to miss.

Fun is the word that sums up this book. The Selection is FUN! I watch the Bachelor(ette) on occasions, so when I heard that this was a futuristic Bachelor-esce story, I knew that it had to be on my radar. And after I got done reading, I totally felt happy and full of soul. It just has so much fun between the pages and does almost pan out like an episode of the Bachelor: you've got your romance, you've got your drama (Celeste is the absolute worst), and you've got your secret sabotaging. It was super hard to put this novel down.

America was a really awesome protagonist. I enjoyed reading about her and her backstory, and overall, the author did a great job at crafting her character and her development together. The threads of love interwoven throughout The Selection really blew my mind. I noticed that the author put it parts of romance that I didn't see coming, and I adored that part about this novel.

I have two negative things to say about The Selection though: 1) Aspen? Really? That dude is a jerk. 2) I wanted to see more of the rebel attacks. I was expecting quite a lot of action when the attacks would happen, but I was let down when that never happen. But I have heard that they get super awesome and crazy in The Elite, and I'm definitely looking forward to that part!

So overall, The Selection was definitely a highlight of last year. There is no way that this book shouldn't be on your list. Beautifully and seamlessly-crafted, The Selection is one of the best debuts I've ever read.

M Y   R A T I N G