A Soul Unsung

Frost is an exceptionally well written gripping novel that tells the story of a "haunting." The question of whether it's of a demonic nature or more of a psychological one, is what the reader's are faced with. It's a bit of a mystery, as the audience is plunged deeper into the depths, with each turn of the page. Baer has created a unique way of exploring the paranormal, with Frost. Right away, the cover of this debut novel itself, tells the reader that it's going to be a story that possesses a creepy vibe. First you notice the model's face, then in the distant background you start to see what appears to be an old house that looks as if it might possess some secets and mystery of its own, and then finally you notice that it's shrouded in fog and the tree's are pretty barren of leaves - void of life. That was all I needed to capture my attention, enough to know that Frost was a novel that I would not only enjoy, but would want to read in attempt to solve the mysteries contained within. Everyone has their own personal demons that they live with, ones that they wrestle with constantly and try to overcome at some point. It's when those personal demons start taking on certain paranormal elements, the whole story starts to change and somehow shift into something else entirely. It almost reminds me of those old gothic classics, in a way. That's what Frost is, that's the story that this novel has to tell and Bare does a marvelous job at telling it. I wouldn't say that Frost is your average paranormal haunting, but I will say that it's one of the most different and unqiue, of all the paranormal novels that I've read before dealing with hauntings. This one felt a bit more personal, a bit more real and close to home. I'm not exactly sure that it had to do with the psychological aspect of it, but it was surely enough to keep me up at night for a good while, wondering what was going to happen next and jumping at every little sound I heard. Baer does a fantastic job of giving the reader's characters that are not only unique, but are interesting as well. Leena, the main protagonist, seems to be wrestling with her own set of demons holding her back. It seems like this is the affect Frost House appears to have on some, while Celeste comes off as a bit neurotic or paranoid to a degree , in accusinng everyone else of vandalising her stuff, while carrying on an almost "too close" tumultuous relationship with her brother David (who has developed a growing attraction to Lena). Trying to keep up with Leena's confused mind-set is a little hard at certain points, but Baer tackles it head on and manages to do a wonderful job delving into it and pulling it apart unraveling certain pieces along the way throughout Frost. I found it a bit weird or almost awkward, in a way, to see how attached Leena was to Frost House when it seemed like it was doing more harm than good (as far as all of the incidents, the creepy noises, and the strange happenings) that were going on. There was just so much confusion going on with this novel, that sometimes it was hard to tell what was really happening. This can be both a good and a bad thing, in this case I think it's a little bit of both. Almost all of the characters were relatable and likeable (give or take a couple of them), which is something that doesn't always happen. I found myself enjoying the many different quirks that they possessed. Another thing that I found myself enjoying as far as characters go, is the fact that Frost House was just as much a key character in the novel, as the rest of the physical characters were. In a way, it was the equivalent of a supportive character, and yet so much of the novel surrounded it. It gave it an intensely eerie feeling to the book. Perhaps, you could go so far as to say that Frost House was the main character in a way, and Leena was the supporting protagonist. Baer's attention to detail, the plot itself, and all of the explanations for the strange things that take place in Frost House, is flawless. She gives enough to keep the audience hooked, as well as to interpret the ending as they felt it was. Sometimes, there just simply aren't resonable enough explanations for why certain things happen or when they do. It's not always that black and white, a fact that I'm personally glad to see Baer unaffraid to tackle and do so in such a successful way. She writes with a style that is all her own, setting the tone of Frost almost immediately, drawing the reader in and dazzling them with her turn of phrase and psychological bordering on paranormal attributes, as subtle as they may have been. Frost is a beautifully written novel, that is fast paced, leaves the audience to ponder a few things on their own, that will not disappoint. This isn't your typical R.L. Stine or Christopher Pike, in YA literature. Although the paranormal aspect of it, may have been a bit subtle the fact that it plays on one's psychological nature makes it even better in my opinion, which is why I have no qualms about giving it four stars. The lack of the fifth one that I would have possibly given, lends itself in part to the confusion I felt while trying to figure out and understand Leena's mind and the rationale behind some of her actions. I realize that this may have been Baer's intention all along, but it was a small bone of contention for me personally. In short, this is a lovely blend of creepy, that as a reader you will not want to miss out on. Think The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer or perhaps Imaginary Girls, fans of those novels and other's similar to them will not be disappointed.

Paranormalcy is a sarcastically witty supernaturally charged, action packed, captivating, engrossing read that keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the last. It's basically kind of like a paranormal ball of mystery chalked full of secrets and revelations that spill out, build, and progress as you venture further into the novel. White did a fantastic job of creating likable character's, including paranormal creatures of all kinds and denominations so that there's a little something for everyone, developing the plot, and paying special care to the basis of the IPCA. Right away, it gets straight into the story and introduces you to its main protragonist, Evie, who is a character that I very much enjoyed. She can see through paranormal glamours. She's just your basic Veronica Mars of the Supernatural world. Evie, comes across as bright, witty, likeable, and in some ways a bit naive but that's more understandable once you get to know her. She doesn't let anything get her down, which is a breath of fresh air from some of the self-deprocating protragonists I've come across. Evie's pretty much a very badass super-hero chick in her own unique way, sporting around a super snazzy pink sparkly taser that she's affectionately dubbed as Taisy. Total spazz, but incredibly cute and fun to get to know, she just seems to be the sort of character that you could hang out with and have a lot of fun. She comes along with a mermaid best friend who speaks to her through a computer, is pretty much stalked by an cruely evil yet interesting faery named Reth who is perfectly diabloical and quite educated in the art of manipulation, and Lend (a shapeshifter she is currently crushing on) who is just as sweet as he is mysterious. He's mysterious in the way that he can pretty much shift into the appearance of anyone he sees, yet still remain invisible as he is. They don't really know all that much about him, which further adds to the mystery of him. It lends that much more intrigue to the story unfolding. I love how protective Lend is over Evie and how she befriended him totally crushing on him the whole entire time, while he was a sort of prisoner of the ICPA. It's endearing that she can see through his glamour to the real Lend and their relationship is incredibly sweet. I like that their romance didn't overpower the main plot of Paranormalcy and remained there, subtley in the background highlighted when needed. The thing that I found most interesting was the unique twist on the paranormal genre involving faeries, that White was able to pull off quite well. It was a breath of fresh air that it featured vampires and werewolves in a lesser light, while giving the stage over to the main protagonist, who spends most of her time trying to just survive in their world trying hard to prove that she's not just another one of them. There may be more to that story, than meets the eye. So, be on the look out for that. White marries the perfect balance of sinister tension with a perfectly hilarious new twist in a paranormal novel geared towards young adults. Finally, vampires are as they should be represented, rotting empty corpses casting glamours to appear as if they're attractive. I like that she stuck to the traditional mythology surrounding faeries, while still sort of building her own in a way. The paranormal world through her eyes and colorful discriptions, are what make Paranormlacy an appealing read. Fans of the paranormal romance and fantasy genre's will most definitely not be disappointed in this novel. It's totally worth the five stars that I'm giving it. If I could give it six, it would be for how pretty the cover is.

Bitter End is a book that will take the reader on a rollercoaster full of emotions, so powerful that it will leave them feeling raw, conflicted, and filled with such awareness that they will find themselves unable to ignore it any longer. This is a novel that I personally feel, every young adult and adult in general, should be reading and the lesson it provides is one that they could greatly benefit from. Jennifer Brown does not hesitate to tell the complicated story of a young girl, Alex, who finds herself in an abusive relationship, dealing with jealousy issues, physical violence, and hurtful words that are just as effective as every pinch endured. Her turn of phrase is excellent if not poetic in a sense and lends itself quite well, to the strong character development and the darker more rich and complex theme of abuse. This is probably one of the most realistic portrayls of domestic abuse in young adult literature, aside from Deb Caletti's more recent novel, Stay. The story does well to illustrate the simple act of falling in love with someone, then realizing later on that they really aren't the person you fell in love with. They came with flaws and sometimes, those flaws possess more of a hurtful nature than a loving quality. So many questions about the inner working's of the main protagonist come to life, because Alex is so convinced that Cole would never hurt her that he could never hurt her. So, when he does, she takes it and she makes excuses for why he did it when there are no excuses. She becomes so alone and even starts to blame herself, most of all. Alex wants to believe with all of her heart, that there is no way possible in the world, that he would ever truly want to hurt her and that every time Cole says he's sorry and that he will change - that he will make up for it - she believes him. He's chipped away so much of who she is, that this is what is left of her at this point in their relationship. Alex is a complex character and I applaud Jennifer Brown for bringing her to life and giving her such a strong and powerful voice big enough to stop the abuse, that's more realistic than any I've read before. Bitter End is a novel that has so much strength and spirit and bravery, that it is almost necessary and probably should be mandatory to read it and learn from it, and to learn how to break the cycle of abuse. It is a cycle and until it's broken, until it's made very clear that it is not going to be tolerated or accepted, it will continue to happen for as long as it can until these young girls and women are strong enough to find a voice loud enough to demand that it stops. It's very clear to me that Jennifer Brown had a clear and concise vision for the story that she wanted to tell and she should be applauded for exposing the horrific and realistic truth about domestic violence and how it can destroy lives and all of the people involved. This is why, I am giving it the full five stars, because it was that compelling and it was that realistic, but most of all it was that important.

Carrier of the Mark is not a novel that I will be forgetting about anytime soon, as I have many questions regarding certain aspects of it. I believe that it has a wealth of potential that it quite possibly taps into, as you follow along with the story it has to tell, whether or not some of it is confusing in some ways is left to the reader to decide for themselves. It is a bit different and unique, but that in and of itself, and I applaud Leigh Fallon for that. There was so much to the story, that needed to be told and sometimes it felt as if it were a bit too much, in a way it was a touch overwhelming with everything being given to the reader all at once. Then the relationship aspect of it, that occurs between Adam and Megan, seemed quite intense and almost rushed in a sense. I think I would have liked to have seen that slowed down just a bit and pulled back on. I have always been one for slow build up's to a romantic interest, it makes it more realistic in a sense. Although, I will have to say, that I found these two quite adorable. Fallon also gets bonus points for not writing in a love triangle, as fun and interesting as those can sometimes be, sometimes it's much nicer without them hanging about and mucking things up in the process. The scenery was gorgeous and very well depicted in the novel. With every flourish of Fallon's beautiful words, I felt like I was right there with the character's and was experiencing everything they were. Reading this novel, felt like reading beautiful poetry set to real life motion. It was undeniably beautiful. There is just no other way to describe it. And the thing is, as confusing as the prophecy and the Carrier's were to me, I very much enjoyed that aspect of the novel. I felt like there was so much more to the story and that it would be revealed with the next book, if I could just wait long enough for it. I have this strong desire to know more about them, like more on the history of how the legend came about and why the Carrier's function as they do, and what makes that prophecy so important? As confused as I am with some aspects, I find myself captivated and driven by a natural desire to know more. I want to see other stories given the chance to unfold, such as Rian's, Adam's older brother whom I was quite taken with. The supporting character's are just as interesting as the main protagonists, few of them I think I may have ended up liking a bit more. The only flaw, that I keep inherantly coming back to, is that it seems as if Fallon has this desire to tell everyone's story all at once to get them out there, but I do feel it muddles up the plot and again becomes a bit overwhelming to the reader with everything being given to them all at once, instead of built up over a period of time and then revealed. The plot line was well developed, I do feel, with some room for improvement and a little less clutter or confusion. Carrier of the Mark does provide an interesting and unique story, with some pretty memorable supporting character's as well as the two main protragonists that accompany them. I found myself deeply invested in this story and all that it had to offer, it's almost as if you're leaving normal and you're headed out into the great unknown. It's just that strong feeling of wanting to know more, even if it is dangerous to know and you do have a strong keen sense of power to keep the balance in the world from shifting. All of this and so much more, is what Megan now has to deal with and it's probably one of the most interesting and confusing things that I have ever read in a long time. For me, personally, Carrier of the Mark was powerfully alluring, massively exciting, and filled with so many questions that I want the answers to. Which is why, I have no problem giving it four of five stars, I would have given it the full five if it hadn't been for some of the confusion and the feelings of being overwhelmed by all of the stories that were being told at once. These are minor flaws though, and they don't slow me down in recommending this book to all who enjoy great paranormal novels that provide unique stories being told. In my opinion, Carrier of the Mark was a great debut novel for Fallon and I look forward to seeing more from her. It just simply possesses everything that I would want a new debut young adult paranormal romance complete with legend's, original storyline's, and star-crossed romance to entail.

Witchlanders is a cleverly written brilliant tale of magic. Coakley is sure to draw her reader's in with fantastic world building, memorable character's, unique storytelling dymanics, and a mystical plot worth reading more than once. It possesses all the elements that will leave its audience clammoring for more, once they've turned the last page. The worlds that Coakley has created and illustrated in Witchlanders are simply unlike any other that I've personally read before. They are rich and lush in the detail, that she pays so careful attention to. Readers will want to sink into to the pages of this amazinglycomplex story, in attempts at getting closer to the truth. What they will be met with is great loyalty, the suspenese of lies and truth meeting at a sort of crossroads, and the importantance of family, honor, and a very undeniable strong sense of duty only to discover that all of this is bound together by magic. Questions will be formed in their minds, about what the main protagonist believed to be true all his life and what really is true, and the answers to them will slowly begin to unravel and come to light. There are so many fascinating things going on in Witchlanders that have the ability to possess so much imagination and creativity in things such as the Gormy Men and the bone-throwing witches, which were interesting and captivating. The level of originality presented by Coakley will definitely astound any reader. Witchlanders has a lot of things going for it, but the two things that I found the most refreshing about it, was the fact that it's not a romance and it's also narrated by two males which is not very common in a lot of the young adult fiction that I've found myself reading. Ryder is an interesting character that's been very well developed, with a lot of thought put into him. In fact, I would go so far as to say, that he's one of the most realistically written and easily believable character's I've read in young adult fiction in the last several months. He doesn't believe in the magic, because his mother spent so much time telling him that "boneshaking" was more of a parlor trick, than anything with real substance to it. Ryder rejects the belief in magic or anything that his mother has to tell him as a result of the boneshaking and her predictions that an assassin will soon be arriving to cause them all great harm. He's a strong, yet determined and sometimes an angry young man, that's dealing with his own personal grief and realizing that he does have a certain sense of duty that he holds himself accountable to. These are wonderful qualities for any strong male protagonist to possess and the very reason, he's likeable in that sense that he's loyal and dependable. Coakley has this magical ability to ensure that all of her character's shine, whether they're main characters meant to move the story along with personal depth and growth, or they're smaller character's that server a sense of purpose all their own. They are all carefully crafted, well developed, and thoughout intelligent people who make the story worth the reader's time. In it's very essence, Witchlanders is a novel that is very compelling and eye-opening, with with an amazing world that has the ability to put the reader right there in the middle of it. This is fantasy at its highest level and I don't know any other way to say it, except to say that I fell in love with it - ALL OF IT - and I would gladly fall all over again willingly. Coakley just has this uncanny ability to convince the reader to put away everything and read this book. This is an author who writes with tremendous amount of integrity and it shows in her character's, in her world building skills, and her attention to detail by making all of the character's (small or large) shine in so many wonderful ways that it only illuminates the story being told more. Her villians are wonderful at being villians and she's mastered the art of having her character's look even further inside and question themselves and their motives. Her myth's and mysteries take on a life of their own. They captivate and intrigue the reader, enticing them to read further and delve between the pages of a phenomenally unique story being told that isn't compounded by teenage love at first sight and becomes more about the adventure, the journey of figuring things out and what they mean, of becoming that person who is so filled with honor and intent at protecting those around them from sheer evil forces, all the while learning to embrace what they've been taught were nothing more than parlor tricks for those easily bought. Witchlanders is just wonderfully amazing read that readers who enjoy fantasy, will not be disappointed in.

Witch Song was a rich and compelling fairytale of magic and dark controling forces, that gives a unique twist to witchcraft and witches, in general. It was powerful and interesting. Argyle's ability to create a world in which the power of song is used to create magic, is not only masterful but brilliantly clever. In a world where Brusenna's kind are becoming more and more scarce and opposing darker forces seem to be growing stronger with the shifting of the seasons and the winds, Senna must somehow find the strength within herself to stop the Dark Witch from destroying the rest of her kind. No one else, not even her gaurdian Joshen, has the strength to do this. It lies only with her and she must summon every ounce of bravery that she has tucked away deep inside of her in order to defeat the Dark Witch and keep her from succeeding in destroying, the very essence of Witch Song. The attention to detail in the world building, the memorable character's, and in the genius behind the origins of the magical world, Argyle has managed to write the perfect debut that is sure to keep reader's on the edge of their seats. She seems to write with a hint of innocence attached, co-mingling with the perfect chemistry of drama, bravery, and adventure taking the reader's on an epic journey of heroism unlike any other. It is simply powerful when an author is able to write with this much conviction and heart, making it easy for her audience to connect with the story and the character's within. The beauty in Witch Song doesn't just lie in the bravery of Senna or the beautiful subtle romance depicted between Senna and Joshen, but in the simple words used to describe the world in which Argyle has penned so flawlessly. Her scenery takes on sort of a medevil feel to it, that possesses the ability to transport the reader back to another time and place, that almost seems a world away. This is exactly the type of novel that one would find themselves getting lost in and aching for more, once the last page has been turned.

After Obsession is an intriguing novel, full of suspense that will grab the reader's attention almost immediately. What makes After Obsession so interesting, is the paranormal elements paired with Native American traditions. There character's are well developed, the plot gives a unique spin on possession in general, and the imagery is so well penned that it puts the reader in the story along with the character's giving them a chance to experience the adventure as well. Jones and Wedel are able to incorporate the supporting characters in such a way, that they end up providing some pretty good insight into the events of the story unfolding. It's a rather supsensful and thrilling journey, this story takes the reader on and one they won't want to miss out on. It's filled with strong, independent character's who aren't afraid to jump in and do what they need to in order to keep the darkness from winning. These are attributes that make them shine, so well. The connection shared between the two main protragonists, was handled fantastically well. I personally enjoyed their connection and applauded Jones and Wedel for not turning this connection into insta-love. Both of these character's possess flaws, but they are so well developed that those flaws don't work against them in contrasting with the story and their task at hand. It was certainly interesting to read about Alan's Indian Warrior Spirt and all of the insights into Native American tradition and to see the way they so flawlessly tied in River Man. All of these things, make After Obsession a very creepy, suspenseful read that will give the reader goosebumps and have them wary of things that go bump in the night. The psychological edge, is thriller enough to make me want to read it again, personally.

Between is a book that is richly filled with great build up in anticipation and was overall very well written and developed. I fell in love with how compelling this novel became at times, mixing and blending the paranormal with much more contemporary elements. The mystery and intrigue is enough to draw any reader in and keep them engrossed from start to finish and Jessica Warman does an excellent job in keeping suspense and mystery exciting and fresh for the audience. The darker issues and themes that were introduced, were very well addressed and handled in a smart manner. It provided the just enough bittersweet emotion, before you realized a certain thing pertaining to the main protagonist of the story. It's hard to write a review about this novel, for fear of giving too much away. One of the things I ended up liking the most about it, was the fact that the romantic developments in the story, ended up taking a backseat to the more important issues (such as drinking and bullying) were concerned. For once, there's a fantastically written and highly compelling young adult novel out there that doesn't focus all of it's energy on the romantic aspects. The flashbacks were handled beautifully providing background knowledge that lends itself well to the story and Liz was this character that I wasn't sure if I would personally enjoy or not, in fact a good portion of the time she's not quite as likable as I would have liked her to be ideally, but she's real and she comes with these flaws that make her understandable as you continue reading the story. Give or take a couple of drawn out moments and you'll find that you're reading a novel that sort of fits together much in the same way that a gigantic jig-saw puzzle might. I have to say that it's quite interesting to see how well the story itself comes to life and resolves itself in such an surprising way, filled with heightened bittersweet emotion, heartbreak, betrayal, lies, and a great flare of mystery that leaves you coming back for more in the end.

Sasha is Anabo, a daughter of Eve who possesses enough pure spirit to allow her to love a son of hell. Jax is the son of hell, that she gives herself over to love. The Mephisto Covenant is God's promise at redemption for Jax and after spending a thousand years of bringing people to Hell On Earth and trying to find another Anabo, he's finally found that redemption in Sasha, but it's more to him than just that. He wants her to love him, it means something to him. Of course, she isn't safe anywhere as long as she keeps holding out on joining the Ravens and if Eryx finds out that she's Anabo, he'll kill her. The question quickly becomes, can Jax keep her safe and can she love him despite the fact that he's a son of hell? Will she give up her mortality to become Mephisto, so that he can gain the peace and redemption through her love, which is pure, strong, and true? What can I say about this novel that I haven't said already? It was a beautiful, compelling, and a very well developed story of love and sacrifice and redemption. I could not have asked for more and yet, I do want more. As soon as I turned the last page and closed the book, I found myself yearning for the next novel in the series, and realizing the first one isn't even out on the shelves yet. How very lucky was I, to receive an ARC of a book that was one of my top three most anticipated reads, this year. Trinity Faegen did a marvelous job at marrying religious theology and romance with a mortal, in such a brilliant way that possessed a hint of underlying realism. The character's were engaging, the plot was well developed, the pacing never stagnated, and the imagery blended effortlessly into a seemingly fascinating story that involved Russian spies, religous theology, normal teenagers, cult-like behavior, and romance that will definitely keep the reader captivated throughout the entire read. There was no mistaking who was good, bad, right, or wrong with this novel. You knew who all the players were and what their game was, their reason for being there. It was nice to see them play to their strengths or fall to their weaknesses, but still do it all with such realistic attributes accompanying them. It was easy to sympathize with the main protagonist of The Mephisto Covenant, Sasha, whose life seemed to be turned upside down the minute she found out her mother had lost her job at the State Department and was being deported back to Russia, then realizing she was going to be moving in with her Uncle Tim and a woman who hated her father as much as she hated her mother, if not more so. The love story was probably one of my favorite things about The Mephisto Covenant, because it wasn't an instant relationship from the beginning. Sasha, knowing that she wanted to be with Jax, also struggled with that because of who she was and what he was. She was good and pure and he was a son of Hell, so the question became "how could she be with someone like him?" The irony is, that while being a son of hell, Jax was probably the most truthful and honest character that you could trust in the novel. He meant well and tried to respect Sasha's wishes as much as he could, even if it hurt him to do so. I usually shy away from books with overly religious tones or theology, but with The Mephisto Covenant it was a bit different. It didn't feel all that preachy. It was more your basic good vs evil epic battle and not just another "fallen angel" fell in love with a mortal and now they're bonded through out all eternity. It was a quick, sharp-witted, new take on an old story with twists and turns that leave the reader wanting more. In my opinion, that is the mark of a truly fantastic novel, and I can easily give it five stars.

In Sara Shepard's novel Everything We Ever Wanted there are varying shades of relatable characters that we, as reader's, are introduced to. This may make reading this book a bit uncomfortable at times, but it also helps to enlighten the reader as well. Shepard is a well-rounded seasoned author who has tackled many an issue in previous novels, such as her Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game series. She is quite versed in penning and seemlessly incoporating the mystery element into her novels, quite flawlessly. The way in which she writes her characters, is both natural and relatable. Some would argue, almost a bit too relatable but that's when you know an author is doing something right. When they possess the ability to take the their time in cultivating these characters and developing storyline's for them that cause the reader to self-reflect a bit and see shades of themselves in the characters presented. Everything We Ever Wanted may not be everything these character's thought it would be, nor what they necessarily hope for. There's a reason why we're told as children and adults, to be careful what we wish for because it might not be everything that we thought it would be. In other words, it might not be everything we want. Shepard manages to tackle the lack of communication in Sylvie's family, in such a way that's so real and honest, something that I personally think hits home more than anything and shows that sometimes when you do have everything, you find that you really don't. All of the monetary status in the world, isn't going to buy you a family that's built on honesty if you can't open up and talk to one another, and Shepard does a fantastic job of illustrating that in this novel. She goes gon to show the reader, that sometimes no matter how much a person tries, things just can't be fixed that easily with money or with words that contain hollow meaning after there's been such a lack of communication. Everything We Ever Wanted is a mature emotionally written novel, that is sure to leave the reader introspectively examining themselves and their personal or moral values long after turning the last page. The only quibble that I would personally have with the book, would be the pacing. At times, it seemed to move a bit slow. Other than that, it is a wonderfully written and well developed book that is worth any reader's time.

Dark Souls is a fantastically well written and intriguing ghost story set in York, England. Right away, it introduces you to a tragedy that has spun the Tennant's world on it's axis, very nearly breaking them. Then it wisks the reader away on such a lively, well developed, and paranormal adventure with a ghost that leads them down cobblestone alleyways, around dark corners, and into the virtual un-known. Morris's eye for detail and imagery, bring the story to life in such a way that the reader almost feels as if they're stepping out onto the streets and slipping between the pages of the novel. She posseses the ability to tell a story well enough, that the reader will find themselves unable to put the book down, until the last page has been turned. The character's are reltable, the pain and heartache the tragedy of the car accident that occurrs, delivers such an emotional blow that it will have the reader ensconsed in nothing but aching sympathy for this family. This is a book that will move the reader to tears, as much as it will deliver a well written and thoughout suspenseful fright. One of the things, that so easily makes this book stand out, is the fact that it's not just your typical run of the mill ghost story. There is so much more to it, than just that. It is real. It is powerful and it is heartbreaking. There is a longing for healing, in this family that is so palpable that the reader can understand, the reason for the family's decision in taking this trip to York, London. It's a way for them to bond as a family, by spending time and learning how to cope with the tragedy they've just suffered. Behind the veil, though, there is also mystery that intrigues and gets the senses tingling and the minds wondering. It prods at the reader beckoning them to come along with, Miranda and Nick as they attempt to find out who the ghosts are, what their history is, and how they came to their deaths. The ghosts were especially interesting as character's, in my opinion, because they still possessed the scars and wounds that were inflicted on them at their time of death. That's a bit of a unique quality for a ghost to possess in a young adult paranormal ghost story. I haven't seen that element utilized quite as much and it made for an interesting twist in things to come. The depth and the wealth of history of York, London that Morris provides the reader with wonderful background scenery, in regards to incorporating it into the story and works seemingly flawless as it gives the novel so much more character and depth, of its own. I personally, found the prose to be one of the most beautiful elements of this well developed and creatively told, ghost story. Morris's eye for detail and imagery, all but puts the reader in the story along with the main protagonists. The reader could easily close their eyes and wake up, in a darkened cobblestoned alleyway, encountering a ghost and being regaled with a tale of how their death came to be. It is very delightful, as well as suspenseful and full of mystery and intrigue. The only drawback, that I could see would lend itself to the pacing of the story, the first half of it was a bit on the slow side. However, as it progresses it starts to pick up and let's the reader in on more secrets and interesting things. I would have no problem recommending Dark Souls to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with an interesting side of paranormal.

"To control or be controlled." That seems to be the over-all theme of Johnson's debut novel, Possession. It's almost a game and to play it, Vi (the protagonist reader's are introduced to), has to make the choice to become like the Thinker's in a way to keep from being controlled by them herself. She finds herself living in this dystopian society of sorts, where it's essentially good vs bad, and the Thinker's are the one's holding all of the cards and making the decsions. The bad, well those are the free thinkers, the one's who refuse to be manipulated and controlled. Vi, is well on her way to becoming one of the Goodies who wishes to be controlled no longer. Possession is quite a captivating story told, at times, confusing for the reader to follow along with what Johnson is trying to convey. It is my personal opinion that the author gets a little too caught up in knowing what's happening all of the time in the story, that she sometimes forgets to include little tidbits that would be helpful to the reader in explaining things further. In theory, the premise is fantastic and the story is quite captivating and enough to keep the reader turning the pages. The draw back is the lack of history established in the novel, itself. There could have easily been a little more world-building included towards the beginning of the story, to help the reader better understand the motives of the character's and the society itself. Johnson does well in providing the reader with well written solid character's that are relatable, a well developed plot with a bit of a unique twist to it, and wonderful imagery. Possession is a fast-paced interesting read, that provides some twists and turns towards the end, that the reader will not be expecting. It can be quite surprising and suspensful.

As I Wake is a powerfully emotional driven novel, that includes mystery, intrigue, and a plot that's filled with ambition and wonderful development. The idea that dreams can transport the main protagonist, Ava, to another world leaves the reader curious and wanting to find out more about these dreams and why she is having them. Scott does a wonderful job of delivering an emotional punch that sometimes wrenches the heart. Ava has awakened and is not only dealing with the fact that she has amnesia, but also these dreams that she seems to be having as well. It's easy to see how she could be confused and a bit unfocused in some ways. It also helps the reader to symathize with her and to want her to have an outcome, that will be better for her. It was interesting to see how, Ava was almost two different people, in two different alternate places. Sometimes it worked, yet other times it seemed out of place and a bit off-putting. It was as if things were constantly changing and yet, instead of evolving and getting better each time, it made things all the more confusing. While, I do think that there was some good character development, I'm not sure if the growth or minimal development was enough to showcase As I Wake in the best possible light. At times, some of the elements appeared to be working against each other, in a way that could leave the reader a bit confused as to what was happening, why certain things had changed, why Ava was so different in each alternate world, and various other things pertaining to the plot. The writing style for As I Wake is unsually different, which is a good thing in my personal opinion. At times, it felt as if there was often a poetic flow to Scott's words. The way in, which Scott set-up and displayed her unique writing style in this novel, lent itself quite well in making it easy to read. It developed its own personal cadence, in a sense. It is my personal opinion, that As I Wake can be a frustrating read for some readers, but I also think that it is a novel that possesses the ability to hold the reader's attention with its own personal mystery and ingrigue. It's different and unique in the fact, that it refuses to tie up life in tiny bits and if that's what reader's are looking for, then this will not be the book for them. There are simply questions asked and answered and unanswered. It's a simple understated look at life, dreams, and the underlying sense of something else just beneath the surface. Those are all wonderful qualities that As I Wake possess and Scott doesn't disappoint with her writing style and unique sense of complexitity to tell a story that compells the reader to continue reading and find out more or not find out more, as it may be. The familiar and the un-familiar are explored and it's new territory for Ava and the reader as well, which is why I would recommend this book to anyone who has read prior Elizabeth Scott

Half-Blood is a uniquely captivating world filled with wonderful mythology, demons, and angels, that will keep reader's engrossed until the last page is turned. Armentrout's creative world-building skills are impeccable, as she delivers a fantastic cast of characters, an intriguing plot, and amazing mythological history for the Half-Bloods and the Pures. This wonderful novel explodes onto the scene and delivers a powerfully intense action-packed punch, that compells reader's to delve deeper into the story and see what it has to offer. It introduces a society that is defined by how much aether is in the bloodstream, thus further defining what makes the some of the main character's half-blood's, while other's are pure. Half-blood's have no control over the actual elements, but they are faster and stronger than any normal mortal being and can actually see daimons, whereas pure-bloods cannot. They are given two options in life with neither one offering a bright shiny happy ending. Half-Blood's can either choose to become a guard or a Sentinel, risking their lives to serve and protect the pure-bloods from daimons or they can be taken into servitude and stripped of their free-will. The most important thing to remember, is that pure-bloods and half-bloods absolutely cannot mix. There is such an intricate way the mythology of this world is introduced to the reader and the compelling aspects it possesses. Armentrout has filled her book with such feircely dymanic character's that are incredibly likable, relatable, and possess so much character depth that the reader can't help but want to follow along on their journey. Alex, the main herione of the book, is pretty much a force to be reckoned with. While, she's not exactly one for the rules, she is still strong enough to deal with some pretty heavy things and still remain quite admirable, adventurous, out-going, and a bit snarky at times it's called for. She's also not one to really care what other's tend to think of her. It is incredibly wonderful to see how Armentrout has introduced such a strong young female character who's encrouaged enough to take control over her own life, and do so in such a way that she can be well respected for it. There is aboslutely not near enough of that in young adult literature today. It is amazing to see that Alex doesn't sit around on her thumbs waiting for what's going to come next, she just does what she has to do in the moment, and whatever happens next she tackles it head on with super strength and an extraordinary amount of courage. She just takes what life throws her way (however crappy it may be) and meets it head on, dealing with the fall out the best way she knows how given her circumstances. Armentrout has masterfully created such a wonderful cast of supporting character's that lend themselves so well to the story when they are needed and then fall back seemlessly into the background, when not. Half-Blood does a brilliant job at evoking many thoughts and questions, one of which stems around Seth, who is a bit of a mystery all his own. He is Apollyon, a half-blood who has the ability to control all four elements and so much more beyond that, which makes probably makes him my favorite character easily. He is simply, what daimons should be afraid of. Seth probably possesses the ability to help them the most, though he's been called back by the Sentinel. I happen to love the interaction between him and Alex the most, because of the way that he's able to get up underneath her skin. He is simply a character that, I as a reader, would love to get to know better. I feel like there is so much more potential invested in his story and so much more history surrounding the Apollyon in general. There is also quite a lovely blend of humor and mystery, written into the story keep the reader on their toes, that add lends a bit of unique flavor. The way, in which Armentrout, set this world up is not to be dismissed. Readers will love everything about this book, the seemingly flawless blend of mythology with action packed adventure, that will leave them rooting for the good guys to win. Fans of such books as The Vampire Academy and The Mortal Instruments series, will absolutely adore this novel. It's written in such a clever way that it leaves the reader demanding more of this fantastic world, the mythological backdrop, answers to questions that were raised, and the forbidden. This book will not disappoint.

Glow is an utterly amazing, truly epic ingenious, plot driven captivating story that will leave reader's engrossed until the very end. It's full of fantastic twists, turns, and heart-pounding adventure that never stops. The depths and layers, in which Kathleen Ryan tackles, is simply beyond astounding and will leave the reader feeling incredibly satisified when they've finished the last page. Ryan has this truly genius way of putting the reader right into the story, along with the main protagonist, and begs the question of "what would you do?" in a situation like that. Could you be brave enough to survive the fight, let alone save everyone who was left, even when there was absolutely no turning back? It is a concept and story arc that is very well established, developed, and carried out in seemingly flawless effort. Waverly, is a wonderfully crafted and developed protragonist the reader is introduced to, who comes off as very likable and possesses much more heart, strength and bravery than your average teen heroine normally would. Waverly is taken captive and introduced to what seems like a terrifying future, when the New Horizon boards and attacks the Empyrean. So many questions become visible and secrets are revelaed along the way. It is a scary and dangerous path and Waverly and the rest of the girls must find a way to rise up and overcome this struggle. Serious issues are dealt with in such a way that it leaves the reader feeling with the character's in the novel. Oppression, violence, sex, and free choice are among many of these serious matters that are not only discussed in Glow, but also acted upon quite frequently throughout the story as it develops and pulls the reader in more deeply than before. The villians in this story are wonderful assets that bring so much depth and intrigue of their own. They are perfectly written, well developed, strong individuals who truly believe in the choices they are making for the greater good of their people that will lend to their survival. Anne Mather is a mystery of her own making, who is so incredibly hell-bent on the mission that she believes she must carry out, and isn't afraid of doing what she feels she must (such as resorting to blackmail and/or murder) in order to make it happen. She possesses such a strong flavored personality that it's almost scary in such a fantastically written and phoneomenal way. She is what every villian in a book should resemble, because she is not afraid to make the hard choices, and carry them on her shoulders even if she becomes the most hated or feared of them all. The love triangle that's introuduced between Kieran, Waverly, and Seth is handled in such a delightful way, that it doesn't detract from the story at all and it actually makes quite a bit of sense. There is more to Seth, than just filling out the third point in the triangle. He is quite dark and mysterious, an enthralling villian of his own making and possibly one that readers could feel a bit of sympathy for. It is very enjoyable to read, because Ryan made sure that it new its place in this story, and blended it in quite well wherever needed so as not to interfere or take over the lead. It is apparent that there is a clear definition of good vs evil showdown here. The question remains, who will prevail when the final installment gets here? Glow leaves the reader with a cliff-hanger to end all cliff-hangers, which will send them into a virtual tail-spin waiting for the next book to follow. It is a fantastic dystopian meets deep space read and fans of The Hunger Games trilogy or Across The Universe will find this book to be an truly captivating and engrossing read.

Crossed is a fantastically well written and fast-paced adventure that will keep reader's on the edge of their seats all the way through. There is so much that this novel has to offer and it gives the reader a whole new outlook on the Soceity itself. There are highly intense emotional moments throughout Crossed that will have reader's feeling with the character's. The qualities and depth this story and the character's possess is absolutely phenomenal and they are both written with such style and finesse that you're almost left with your jaw agape. So much more was tackled in Crossed than there was in Matched and it's done in such a magnifient way. It's not just a story about love and friendship, it's so much more than that. It's a story about hope, about fighting that great epic battle and believing in something so much that you would risk everything for it - including your life - however small or hard it may be. Both Ky and Xander will break your heart and make you love them so many times over and Cassia shows so much strength and heart and courage as she fights for everything she believes in throwing everything she has and is into it. Condie's use of classic poetry and her beautiful colorful imagery painted with words and flourishing descriptions are what make the story even more powerful and inspirational. There is struggle, triumph, fear, challenge, heartbreak, betrayals, and redemption all embrodiered into the story that follow along the many twists and turns making reader's want to see Ky and Cassia find one another and come out better for it having survived on the other side. As I've said, Crossed is a novel that packs a powerful emotional punch to the gut, that will leave reader's gasping for more. One of my favorite things about Crossed, is that it is incredibly character driven and Condie has a way of writing in depth and layers to her character's, that make them more than just a name you're reading on a page. They seem to come alive and leap off of the page at you and it feels as if you've known them your whole entire life or you're just getting to know them and deciding whether or not you like them. They are written in such a relatable and wonderful way, that it's hard not to develop a strong sense of fondness for them and to want to root for them to survive and succeed. The love triangle between Ky, Cassia, and Xander is handled in such a way that it was hard not to root for both couples at certain points of the story along the way. Their paths cross, yet also divides them at the same time, keeping them apart and forcing distance between them. As secrets are revealed, the past is discovered, and the future is contemplated things are changing all around them not just from the outside, but also from the inside as well. As they struggle to reconcide these feelings, they're faced with so many insecurities, hurts, and heartache that is so real, vivid, and palpable that you could almost feel it wafting off the pages. That's poweful, when an author is able to move you to tears and then make you smile through those same tears as well. Make no mistake, that Crossed is not just a story about love, but it's also a story about war as well. War that is actually being fought in a very real and literal sense and war within the character's themselves as they face incredible (sometimes almost unbareable) odds and struggle to overcome them. Reader's will root for them to overcome their fears and rise up with the strength to fight for their own future, whatever it may be with whomever they choose. Crossed is the ultimate symbol of courage, strength, and inspiration and Condie doesn't hesistate to deliver a stunning sequel in this wonderful series. I would most defintiely recommend this novel to anyone who is a fan of dystopian fiction.