Embrace

Written by Jessica Shirvington

Goodreads Synopsis: 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...

My Confession: This was my very first ARC (advance reader copy, for those of you not schooled in publishing terms). It appeared in my mailbox at work as if by magic, a puffy manila envelope of promise, come to bring me the slightest of smiles on a Monday afternoon.  The bundle of joy contained an uncorrected proof for a new YA series, the first of which is Embrace, a story of fallen angels and a love triangle-gone-very-wrong. It's a three-book series that has already been published (and made quite a splash in) Australia, so the final two books in the series will be released in six-month increments. Given the usual year (at least) between series that are written a book at a time, the pacing for these novels could prove influential in how the story is embraced (whoa, no pun intended there) by American YA readers.

And, all in all, I think people will like these books. First of all, the cover art is brilliant. I'm a big fan of bright, bold colors, and the purple used here is undeniably eye-catching. Second, people still love paranormal romances. Why this trend hasn't died out yet still muddles my mind a bit, but there is a market for books like these, especially when they're done well, which is definitely the case here. The story is complicated and varies greatly from other fallen angel stories out there. Violet is a pretty strong heroine, with a background in martial arts and a complicated, estranged relationship with her father. She seems to have been forced to fend for herself, which leaves her a bit callused and abrasive.

But she falls for Lincoln, a much-older martial arts instructor who takes a special interest in Violet. The two become close friends when he offers to teach her one-on-one. You immediately get the impression that Lincoln is the only stable thing in Violet's life, her trust and confidence in him so physically tangible. So when she finds out that he is hiding his true nature from her, she's shattered. His interest in her begins to look like obligation, and as she grapples with his betrayal, she falls under the spell of another guy, a fallen angel named Phoenix, whose influence on her life proves detrimental to not just her relationship with Lincoln, but the bigger angel battle currently being waged around her.

Recommendation: You're going to get sucked in, so get ready. The story is very addictive, and while the numerous twists and turns will leave you a bit whiplashed at times, it's a pretty inventive rollercoaster. I really like these characters. I like Lincoln, and I like Violet. This isn't so much a love story as it is a story about forgiveness: forgiveness of others and forgiveness of yourself. And then it's a battle. A giant, psychological and physical battle that's pretty awesome. But the one thing I have to harp on, because I just have to, is the barrier that keeps Lincoln and Violet apart. Because they're destined "angel partners," a physical relationship between the two is impossible. In other words, just like a famous vampire novel phenom, sex can kill them.

Oh, please.

Rating: 4/5

367 pages, published by Sourcebooks Fire (March 6, 2012)

*I received this book free from YPG*

Crossed

Written by Ally Condie

Goodreads Synopsis: In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky--taken by the Society to his certain death--only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.
Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander--who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart--change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.


My Confession: I really enjoyed the first book in this dystopian trilogy, Matched. I was completely drawn in to this world where free will has become a fairy tale. When Cassia leaves in the first book to go after Ky, I was under the impression that she understood what she was leaving behind, and she was okay with that. Xander, her family, her friends--she cared for them, but needed Ky to feel complete. Which I was all for. Regardless of what the "Matching" pool said, it's made clear that Ky is her soulmate.

And yet, here we go again with Xander. There was so much about Crossed that I liked, from the scenes in the wilderness to the new characters introduced along the way. I loved the dual-narration of this sequel and found Ky's voice authentic and moving. Seeing inside his head was the key to making this a complete and whole story. Despite the barren landscape and occasional lags in plot, there was a lot of depth to this continuation of Cassia and Ky's story. But then a "secret" is revealed about Xander that changes the whole game. And for me, not in a good way. What makes this trilogy so good is that it's built around not a love triangle, but a choice: Cassia's choice between Xander and Ky isn't superficial; it represents a choice between the life she's expected to lead, and the life she wants to lead. Xander is the warm, comfortable, Society life; Ky is rebellion. Now, after the secret, it's back to being just a choice between two boys, not the two sides of herself. And, with that, I think this trilogy loses a little something.

Recommendation: I am not jumping off this bandwagon--not in the least. I'm still excited to see how this story ends, how Condie brings some form of resolution to a very complicated situation. However, I wish the need for a love triangle wasn't pushed so hard in this book. I like Ky, a lot. I like him and Cassia together, and despite what we discover about Xander (which, for some reason, I have a hard time believing), I still believe Ky and Cassia are meant to be together. And I don't appreciate a monkey wrench being thrown into their situation just for the sake of it. They're both such damaged and complex characters, and they have no problem getting in the way of their own relationship. There's obviously much to uncover about the two of them, much that they still hide from each other--that's the more interesting obstacle to their love. Not another person.

Rating: 4/5

367 pages, published by Dutton Juvenile (Nov. 1, 2011)

The Hunger Games

Written by Suzanne Collins

Goodreads Synopsis: In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before--and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

My Confession: It took me a really long time to jump on the Hunger Games bandwagon. If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me, "Have you read The Hunger Games yet?" -- well, let's just say I'd be a very rich woman. Each time, my response was no. No, I hadn't read them. No, I didn't know what they were about. Some bookaholic. Slowly but surely, I started noticing that the series was becoming a phenomenon, with movie hype garnering extraordinary momentum every time I turned around. Everybody--and I mean everybody--has been talking about this series. I guess I was just flat-out curious. And mildly ashamed that, with my self-proclaimed bookworm status, I hadn't picked this book up before.

And....it blew me away. It absolutely blew. my. mind.

Character Power: I've never read anything quite like this. It twisted me inside out and wrung me out to dry. My immediate and intense attachment to the characters, especially Katniss, Gale, and Peeta, goes to show how powerful the story is. While the novel's overarching situation--life in a post-apocalyptic world controlled by a Big Brother-esque government that takes pleasure in killing twenty-three children a year in a nationally-televised bloodbath--it's how the main characters react  to these absurd circumstances that makes the novel so compelling. The scenes in the "arena" are so blood-curling, so unfathomable, and so incredibly written. I had a serious problem putting this book down for more than two seconds at a time. I felt like I was there, experiencing everything with Katniss--every fear-filled, survival-driven decision. She's an amazing narrator, full of strength and will. She's a rockstar in a world that's taken away every chance to feel joy.

Recommendation: READ IT. DO IT. NOW. And I mean, finish this blog and go to the bookstore. I had no idea what I was missing, but let me tell you--I was missing out. It's impressive how much this book makes you feel. There were so many times where I couldn't believe what I was reading; the story, at times, gets so painful, so absurd, so unbelievable, but it never stops feeling real. You will get sucked in. And if you're a reader, you know what a brilliant sensation that is.

Rating: 5/5

374 pages, published by Scholastic Inc (Dec. 14, 2009)

The Wings Trilogy

WINGS
Written by Aprilynne Pike

Goodreads Synopsis: Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful--too beautiful for words.
Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.
In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

My Confession: I picked this book up mainly because the cover was just so mesmerizing. I loved the simplicity of the title and was intrigued about the notion of faeries and how their seemingly centuries-old folklore could be modernized. The main character, Laurel, discovers that she's a faerie. And not just any ordinary faerie, of course, but a very important one--one who was purposefully planted in the human world for a special mission. The world Pike creates here is new and fresh. It's light, airy, and fun--just like the plant and sunlight-driven characters. There's action, danger (courtesy of the token "bad guys"--trolls), and romance, which, by the end of the novel, looks more like a love triangle than the beginning story allowed. There's sweet human David, who knows all about Laurel's secret, and doesn't care. He even fights the trolls alongside her. And then there's Tamani, the darkly handsome faerie assigned to guard Laurel, whose deep and otherworldly affection dates back to when they were young faeries together. Pike doesn't let the story get bogged down with the typical adolescent angst that usually comes from such triangles. Laurel has a good head on her shoulders, and the action and drama that center around the faerie world take precedence over the romance. As it rightly should.

SPELLS

Goodreads Synopsis: Six months have passed since Laurel saved the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Now she must spend her summer there, honing her skills as a Fall faerie. But her human family and friends are still in mortal danger--and the gateway to Avalon is more compromised than ever.
When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable?

My Confession: I enjoyed the first book so much that I didn't hesitate to pick up the sequel when it hit shelves. And let me tell you, it was just as great as the first. This time, we get a closer look into the faerie world of Avalon, where Laurel is called to spend her summer learning how to fulfill her "destiny" as a powerful Fall faerie. Having only attended school in the mortal world, Laurel is charmingly out of place, despite many of the faeries knowing who she is and treating her like a celebrity. The descriptions of this fantastical faerie realm were vivid and breathtaking, the scenes of carnivals and street fairs startlingly realistic for such a made-up world. We also get to see a lot more of Tamani, which is by no means a bad thing (I think you'll discern my Team Tamani leanings--I always side with the tall, dark, and handsome immortal). Laurel's history with and exploration of Avalon doesn't overtake the whole book--there's plenty of action and danger waiting in the human world. More dastardly characters are introduced, and I must say, I'm impressed with the heroine's lack of damsel-in-distress syndrome. Laurel continually comes off as strong, smart, and quick-thinking. The plot here is fresh and interesting. New faerie "rules" come to the forefront often, but their discovery makes sense. Pike makes sure that her audience is never confused and muddled in this world she's created--even better, they believe in it. Spells, unlike Wings, ends on a cliffhanger. Guess we know what I did next....

ILLUSIONS

Goodreads Synopsis: "I don't do patrols, I don't go hunting, I just stick close to you. You live your life. I'll keep you safe," Tamani said, sweeping a lock of hair from her face. "Or die trying."
Laurel hasn't seen Tamani since she begged him to let her go last year. Though her heart still aches, Laurel is confident that David was the right choice.
But just as life returns to normal, Laurel realizes that a hidden enemy lies in wait. Once again, Laurel must turn to Tamani to protect and guide her, for the danger that now threatens Avalon is one that no faerie thought would ever be possible. And for the first time, Laurel cannot be sure that her side will prevail.

My Confession: If you thought Spells left you hanging, just wait until you reach the breathless conclusion of Illusions. I don't know when the fourth and final book is coming, but I hope it's soon. Very, very soon. The energy and action builds slowly in this book, but the undercurrent of what could be going on just smolders. Tamani reenters Laurel's life once again, but this time, it's in a place she least expects--her school. Naturally, this turns David into a smoking pile of jealously and barely-suppressed rage. Not gonna win you points, human boy. Anyway. For the first time, we get to watch the story unfold from someone other than Laurel's perspective. Much of the narrative comes from Tamani's point of view, which sheds a certain light on his character that we hadn't seen before. It was interesting hearing his and Laurel's conversations through his ears. I was so used to having Laurel as my filter, but Tamani was just as interesting, if not more so. I can't help thinking that there's still more to his character. Perhaps that's why I find him so fascinating, as opposed to David, whose shining traits, while undeniable, do seem to work against him this time. The characters are still evolving, the action still pulsing, and the danger still frightening. Nothing is solved at the conclusion of this book; in fact, a whole new can of worms seems to have been opened. Unlike some supernatural series, who beat the same plot point into the ground over four to seven books, this series does not. It continually finds new ways to introduce old problems and build off them.

Recommendation: I can't wait to see what happens next. If you haven't read these books, or read the first and never finished, use this time before the final installment to reacquaint yourself.

Oh, and watch this.

Until book four....

Series Rating: 4.5/5

Published by HarperTeen

The Summer I Turned Pretty

Written by Jenny Han


Goodreads Synopsis: Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.


My Confession: This was a really sweet read. From the carefree prose to the breezy descriptions of the delectable shore line, this story felt light. As someone who has treasured summers down the shore, I felt like this book really captured the atmosphere of the otherworldly sensation of sand between your toes and young love in your heart. I don't know about you, but I'm always more optimistic when I'm at the beach. It's always been my safe place, my home-away-from-home. When it's time to leave, you usually have to drag me away (kicking and screaming is not just for toddlers, you know). Having tried to write about my love for and connection with the shore, I know how hard it is to create that special emotion and convey it to a reader. Han, however, does a pretty good job with it.


I enjoyed how the book was formatted. By starting in the present and then jumping back and forth in time (you're given fair warning, so the transitions are smooth instead of jerky), you get a real feeling for why Belly is so in love with the shore--and Conrad. Belly, who's only 16--even though there are moments when she seems much older--has been in love with the older Conrad her entire life. Even though he's brooding, moody, and never seems to acknowledge her as anything more than a pest, she turns to mush inside whenever he's around. Knowing this right up front, I was a little leery that this book would turn into Belly-pining-for-Conrad-and-Conrad-never-noticing-Belly. 


I was pleasantly surprised.


Early on, it becomes clear that Conrad does notice Belly as something more than a younger sister, but something keeps him from acting on it. And Belly, not one to turn down a good opportunity, meets a boy that summer and pursues a relationship. While Conrad remains in the back of her mind, it was refreshing to see that she didn't spend her entire summer doing her hair all pretty so Conrad might notice. Even though I never doubted (and I think this is the point) just how deep her feelings for Conrad run. She really does love him, but something holds her back, too. 


A Fresh Breeze: This YA novel has many layers. On the surface, it seems like a superficial love-triangle story of a pretty girl torn between two boys (brothers, no less). But that's not exactly how this plays out. Friendships are explored--between the kids as well as the adults--and serious issues, such as cancer, are dealt with out in the open. Belly proves herself to be a rather un-shallow character, and her summers revolve around more than boys. She has a close relationship with her family and feels extremely linked to Susannah, Jeremiah and Conrad's mom. And while her love life took up a significant amount of the book, there was enough substance that keep this story from getting annoyingly pubescent. 


My Recommendation: It's pretty much the perfect summer read. It's light, airy, and fun. It delves slightly deeper than you might expect, and every time you think you've just about had enough, something new happens that takes the plot down a different road. The Summer I Turned Pretty is the first book of a trilogy, so the ending has almost no resolve. Personally, I'd be interested to see where Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah go from this point in their story. Han does a great job of creating multi-faceted characters that are easy to invest in and root for. Yes, it's classified as YA lit, but I think anyone who knows what it feels like to spend a summer down the shore will enjoy this. 


Rating: 4.5/5


276 pages, published by Simon & Schuster (May 5, 2009)

Fallen

Written by Lauren Kate

Goodreads Synopsis: There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori. 

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move. 
Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

My Confession: I, for one, am royally sick and tired of supernatural romances that involve werewolves, vampires, and immortals of any kind. Twilight seemed to spawn some literary phenomenon where, all of a sudden, romances weren't good enough unless one of the amours was undead, and the other was constantly at risk of being killed by said-undead lover. Which is why I initially hesitated when presented with this book. The cover, which is startlingly beautiful despite the darkness, immediately signaled to me that once again, the concept of two normal humans falling in love was not going to be found in these pages. 

And I was correct. Daniel, the gorgeous, unattainable male, is an angel. Yes, an angel. Okay, this was mildly new. And the fact that he spends the first couple hundred pages blowing Luce off and acting like he doesn't give a damn gained him a few points as well. She, on the other hand, basically falls dead at the sight of him (even after he flips her off--a gesture I found wildly hysterical and extremely refreshing) and spends most of the book looking like a psychotic stalker. She just won't leave him alone, despite the fact that he clearly wants nothing to do with her.

Plot Twist: When, of course, he actually is madly in love with her. Well, her soul. See, Luce and Daniel are caught up in a reincarnation problem of sorts. Hundreds and hundreds of years ago, Daniel and Luce fell in love. Only, that love is what killed Luce. But, every seventeen years, she reappears as someone else, and Daniel, happily immortal and unchanging, finds her. But, just like every other lifetime, Luce dies just as she and Daniel are about to get together. And she doesn't just die, she's murdered as some form of karmic payback to Daniel for something he did in the past. Of course, we don't know what that thing is. Got that? Yeah, took me a while too. 

The whole "I need to stay away from you because I'm dangerous" thing has gotten a bit old, hasn't it? The only thing that saves this book from being totally predictable are the supporting cast of characters, and the "bad guys" that aren't so different from the good guys. There's also some really well-placed biblical references throughout the book; they're used as a way of explaining the whole "fallen angel" story. Having gone to Catholic school my entire life, I know the story of Lucifer (aka Satan) pretty well. Putting a literary spin on the battle for heaven was a pretty cool concept. There are some interesting, different moments here, and the fact that Luce and Daniel don't spend the entire novel in a grossly unrealistic love-fest makes this a fairly pleasant read.

Recommendation: I'm not sorry I read it. I was happy to see a female character with a hint of a spine and a boyfriend who actually fights with her and doesn't apologize five seconds later. There are some cool battle scenes and some supporting characters with real depth. The fact that it takes place at a reform school is an added, unexpected bonus. 

Rating: 3.3/5

452 pages, published by Delacorte Press (Dec. 8, 2009)

Something Borrowed

Written by Emily Giffin


Goodreads Synopsis: Rachel has always been the good girl- until her thirtieth birthday, when her longtime friend Darcy throws her a party. That night, after too many drinks, Rachel ends up in bed with Darcy's fiancée. Rachel is completely horrified. She pretends it didn't happen, maybe it will all go away-and so will her feelings for this guy. 
She prays for fate to intervene, but when she makes a choice she discovers that the lines between right and wrong are blurry, endings aren't always neat, and you have to risk all to win true happiness.

My Confession: I'm sure there have been plenty of books written about lifelong friendships, cheating, and romance. I've read quite a few of them. And let me tell you, none of them captivate me the way Something Borrowed does. Maybe it's because I've been the Rachel to far too many Darcys in my life. Maybe it's because I believe in that special connection, the one that causes you to throw all caution and convention to the wind and lead with your heart. But it's most likely because these characters feel like your best friends, and you're left wishing that more men were like Dex, who despite most rom-com conventions, is not--and does not turn out to be (thank God)--an asshole. The relationship between Rachel and Darcy is nicely depicted and picked away at as the story goes on. As the girls' history was unraveled, I became more and more sympathetic toward Rachel, despite the fact that she is her best friend's fiancée's "other woman." You become invested in this story, so much so that you'll find yourself picking sides. I'm on Team Rachel, but reading Giffin's sequel, Something Blue, may change your mind.

The Hollywood Factor: Yes, someone was smart enough (or stupid enough, depending on how you feel about books becoming movies) to scoop up the film rights to this novel. Something Borrowed, starring Kate Hudson as Darcy (evidently the filmmakers didn't get the memo that Darcy is a brunette) and Ginnifer Goodwin (I think I'm good with this...I think) as Rachel. The trailer, just released last week, looks hopeful. I'm guilty of watching it a few times, lingering on the casting choice for Dex (Colin Egglesfield) and wondering if he can live up to the stud of my imagination. The addition of John Krasinski as Ethan, Rachel's friend who plays a small but significant part in the book, but seems to play a much larger role in the movie, looks like a positive move. I'm usually cautious about scripts adapted from books. They're just never as good. But I'm holding out hope that when Something Borrowed hits theaters on May 6, it's going to do the phenomenal book justice.

Recommendation: Read it. Then see the movie with your girlfriends. Then read it again. And when you're ready (even though you'll probably balk, seeing as how most people hate Darcy by the end), pick up Something Blue. Trust me, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Stay tuned for that review.

Rating: 4.5/5

322 pages, published by St. Martin's Press (June 1, 2004)