Review {38} Until I Die by Amy Plum

Until I Die
Revenants #2
By: Amy Plum
Other Books in Series: Die For Me
Published: May 8th 2012 by HarperCollins Publishers
Obtained: Library
Categories: Young Adult, Immortals, Zombies, Paranormal Romance
Rating: Did Not Finish

Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there's one question they can't ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can't resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he'll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake - and that's Vincent's immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with  more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series.

So unfortunately I did not finish the second installment in the Revenants series. This really bothers me because 1 - I hate not finishing books, and 2 - I enjoyed Die for Me a lot, so I was excited to jump back into Kate's life in Paris. The main reason why I ended up bailing on this book over halfway through it, is because it was just unfolding too slowly for me. There was very little action since the numa are currently in hiding, and no attacks had been made against the Revenants since the events of the first book. Until I Die follows Kate as she searches for answers to questions she has about the history of the revenants and numa, and whether there will ever be a way for Kate and Vincent to be together, and live in a way that Vincent isn't causing himself pain by not fulfilling the urge to die, and that they can age and live together without denying one or the other in any way.

I don't really have any problems with Plum's writing style. I find it acceptable, easy to read, flowing, and pleasant. I think my main issue with the book was the pace. There weren't many problems with settings, or events that were occurring either; though I am pretty sure I have figured out how the book ends without having actually finished it. I was finding Vincent and Kate's relationship kind of annoying too; as was Georgia, Kate's party-girl sister. I also could just be in the mood for something more fast-paced and action-packed, and it's just the wrong time for me to have picked up this book; which happens to me from time to time.

I know that I bring this up often in reviews of series, but I again fall back on my formula for a trilogy; where book 1 is the setting up of the series, book 2 is the action, and book 3 is the conclusion. In my opinion, it seems like book 1 & 2 could've almost been combined to be one longer introduction to the series, since Until I Die deals with so much background and info. I have a feeling that I will end up picking this book up again in the future to finish, or buy it when it's cheap before the final book comes out. Overall, I think the premise is unique, and interesting and a fresh take on a growing "zombie" genre in Young Adult.

Review {37} Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Insurgent
by: Veronica Roth
Series: Divergent #2
Published: May 1, 2012 by HarperTeen
Obtained: Library (but NEED to buy & ASAP!)
Challenge(s): None
Categories: Young Adult, 2nd book in series, Dystopian, Romance, Betrayal, Non-stop Action,
Other Books in the Series: Divergent, Free Four
Rating: 5 Cupcakes - Positively Enticing!

One choice can transform you - or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves - and herself - while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable - and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

*Please note that there may be spoilers if you haven't read either Divergent or Insurgent. Proceed at your own risk!*

I have been dying to read this book since I closed the cover of Divergent way back when. I was hoping to reread Divergent before picking up Insurgent buuuut, I couldn't wait. I think that did a disadvantage to me, unfortunately. I loved Divergent, even though in my review I claimed that the beginning was slow, and didn't hold my attention well. This is why I wanted to reread it, because I think I missed stuff in the first half of the book due to my impatience. Bah! Anyway, when I first cracked open Insurgent (at midnight, saying I'd only read one chapter... ha ha yeah, as if THAT was possible!) I was fully engrossed in the story immediately. There is something about Roth's writing that just grabs me and doesn't let me go. I think I would read anything she has written because I love her style that much. She doesn't give superficial thoughts and emotions from her characters. Several times in the book it is referenced that people have 'layers' to them. I completely agree, and with her writing she peels layer upon layer away, giving you an in depth, personal look into their minds, their lives, and their very essence. This gives us the ability to relate and understand the characters like I've never before had. It's absolutely incredible, and on a scale of 1-10 for writing, I would give Roth an 11!

While I still desperately adore Tris and Four, I really did not like their interactions and relationship in the second installment of the series. Let me clarify. Both characters go through intense emotional experiences in Insurgent. Tris is reeling from the death of her parents and dealing with the guilt of shooting Will. Four is still holding a grudge against his abusive father, and finding himself trusting his mother, Evelyn, whom he believed abandoned him as a child. Four had told Tris that his mother was dead, and so begins the first in a line of lies and betrayals between the two. Both are harboring secrets, and half-truths are told, leaving each of them wary of the other. This eventually leads them to two different goals in the end; with Tris teaming up with Four's father, Marcus, to help reveal the information that Erudite leader Jeanine Matthews was so desperate to keep hidden; and Four teaming up with his estranged mother, Evelyn, who has formed a union between the Factionless and the loyal Dauntless to storm Erudite headquarters, kill Jeanine, and form a new Factionless society, with her as the leader; unbeknownst to Tori, who's hand kills Jeanine. I also feel that the resolution of their relationship at the end will not last. I believe that part of the first half of book three is going to still deal with Tris and Four figuring out exactly what they want from each other, what they will need to keep their relationship strong and continuing into the future, and they will need to figure out if they can put past hurts and betrayals behind them. If not, there may not be a Tris and Four in the future.

This book, to me, fit perfectly as a second novel in the series. I didn't write the review immediately after finishing it, because if I had, I probably would've given it a two- or three- cupcake rating, and most of my followers would probably want to rough me up for that! LOL But I slept on it, mulled it over while drinking my coffee, again while I was in the shower, some more while doing my hair, and now again as I'm writing the review. For a series to be successful, namely a trilogy, the first book needs to set up the scenario, book two gives you the conflict, and three will be the resolution. With that formula, Insurgent is genius for a second-in-a-series book. It slams you with information and action from page one and never really gives you a break. There were nights where my eyes were literally half-closed, my body begging me to put the book down and go to sleep; but I couldn't. I had to keep reading, even though as I was reading I was telling myself that I didn't really care for the book as much as the first. 

But then morning came after the night I finished the book, and the clouds parted, the sun shone down, and I realized that I did like the book. I did like it, because it was exactly what it was supposed to be. I did figure out what the secret was that Jeanine was hiding however; but it didn't really change anything as far as my enjoying the book. The ending left you with one ginormous cliff-hanger, and I believe that the final book will give us all the answers to questions that were left over from both Divergent and Insurgent. I think I figured out what was going on, after thinking 'wait a minute, why is there no "history" to the factions? It's the characters we are reading about now, and their parents. That is as far back as the lineage goes.' After viewing the video that the Erudite were so desperate to keep hidden, more questions are left hanging in the balance, and leaves Tris wondering just what her part (and her family's part) is in all of this. Luckily, there is nothing more that she can keep hidden from Four at this point, since everything is public knowledge now.

There is a lot more than just Tris and Four's relationship that will need resolution in book three. We will need to see Four deal with his parents; either working with or against one or both (assuming he'll team up with one of them, since they both have different visions of the future of the factions.) We will need to see all of the characters deal with the loss of loved ones - whether it be friends or family, because Roth takes no liberties in killing people off. 

I believe that Roth has an incredibly talented, and successful writing career ahead of her, and I am eagerly anticipating the release of book three next year. This series could easily be made into a movie, as the whole time I was reading the book, the scenes flashed through my mind like stills from a video. Overall, this series is absolutely mesmerizingly incredible!

Review {36} Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Spirit Bound; Vampire Academy #5

By: Richelle Mead

Published: May 18th 2010 by Penguin/Razorbill

Edition: Hardcover, 489 pages

Obtained: Library

Challenge(s): None

Categories: Vampires, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Young Adult, Magic/Spells/Incantations/Curses, Vampire Academy Series, Action, Kick-Ass Heroine

Rating: 4 Cupcakes - Simply Delectable!

  

Salvation has it's price.

The words stunned Adrian for a moment, but he kept going. "You're lying. What you're describing is impossible. There's no way to save a Strigoi. When they're gone, they're gone. They're dead. Undead. Forever."

Robert's next words weren't directed at Adrian. They were spoken to me. "That which is dead doesn't always stay dead..."

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri's birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir's - and to her best friend, Lissa Dragomir. It's graduation, and the girls can't wait for their real lives outside of the Academy's cold iron gates to finally begin. But even with the intrigue and excitement of court life looming, Rose's heart still aches for Dimitri. He's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance, and now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her... forever.

But Rose can't forget what she's learned on her journey - whispers of a magic too impossible and terrifying to comprehend. A magic inextricably tied to Lissa that could hold the answer to all of Rose's prayers, but not without devastating consequences. Now Rose will have to decide what - and who - matters most to her. In the end, is true love really worth the price?

Fall in love with Rose and Dimitri all over again in Spirit Bound, the eagerly awaited fifth novel in Richelle Mead's enthralling Vampire Academy Series.

*As always - please proceed with caution if you have not yet read this book or the preceding books of the Vampire Academy Series*

Initial Reaction (Upon finishing the book): Hot diggity dog, Richelle Mead! You've done it again with your insane-crazy-roller coaster of nonstop emotions!

Characters: So we've been around the Academy Crew for a year now (in the book's world...) so I wanted to review the character development and how they've grown and changed since book #1. I think for the most part each character has maintained their initial personalities and beliefs with growth and maturity for each in different areas. The biggest changes, not surprisingly, have been within Rose herself. While she still embodies the traits we first admired her for - strong-willed, determined, loyal, stubborn, blunt, and devoted - she has grown emotionally over the course of the series. She's experienced true love, lost her virginity to said true love, lost true love to the Strigoi, gained love in the form of Adrian Ivashkov, set out on a mission to kill first true love, dropped out of school, re-enrolled in school, graduated and passed her trials, became an official Guardian, learned who her father is, broke a criminal out of jail (and lost said criminal in Las Vegas), am I forgetting anything else?!?! 

Plot: I rarely do my own plot summaries but for this one I wanted to because so much happens in this book that I feel it is necessary to bring us into book #6. In the fifth installment we find Rose and Lissa (and Christian and Eddie...) graduating from St. Vladimir's and moving on to life at Court. Rose is still hung up on finding out that Victor Dashkov's half-brother, Robert, has successfully brought back a Strigoi by staking them with a spirit-charmed stake. Determined to find out if this is true so that there is hope of Dimitri being reestablished as a Dhampir, Rose brings Lissa and Eddie along on a trip to Alaska, to break Victor out of Tarasov prison. With the hopes of freedom, Victor goes along with the trio to Las Vegas where they meet up with Robert - and then get attacked by Strigoi Dimitri. In all of the chaos, Victor and Robert are lost, and Adrian shows up since he thinks Rose and Lissa are just enjoying a "girls trip" before they begin their lives in the real world. Defeated, Rose and her entourage return back to Court hoping nobody will figure out that she, Lissa, and Eddie are the ones who released Victor.

Back at Court, Queen Tatiana is hellbent on keeping Lissa and Rose apart by sentencing Rose to punishments such as filing, and building courtyards. Eddie is not speaking to Rose, which is tearing Rose apart as she always valued Eddie's friendship. Lissa goes on a trip to Lehigh University to ensure that is where she wants to attend school. Since Rose has been forbidden to join her, Lissa takes Christian with her along with Guardians Serena and Grant, and Priscilla Voda. Lissa and Christian practice staking, so that when Lissa is finally able to charm a stake with spirit, she can go after Dimitri and turn him back from the undead. After dinner one night, the group is attacked outside of the restaurant by a group of Strigoi and are held captive in a warehouse by Strigoi Dimitri. He "Talks" to Rose through Lissa, since he knows about the bond, and is pretty sure she is in Lissa's head at that moment (Which, conveniently, she is.) A group is established back at Court to go after the Strigoi, and Rose goes too. In the warehouse a battle between Strigoi, Guardians, and Moroi breaks out. Lissa and Christian, a fire user, team up to trap Dimitri so that Lissa, after many, many attempts, can stake him with the spirit-charmed stake. Unbeknownst to Rose, Lissa was successful in doing so.

After staking Dimitri, his soul is "healed" by Lissa and returns to his body, declaring him a Dhampir once more. He then clings to her as his "savior". Everyone returns to Court.

Dimitri heartbreakingly decides he does not want to see, speak to, or have anything to do with Rose because he cannot forgive himself for any of the things that he did to her while holding her captive in Siberia while he was Strigoi. Rose is willing to forgive and forget, but Dimitri tells her to go on with her life and her relationship with Adrian because he no longer loves Rose and will never love her again. These words finally slam into Rose's head and heart, and she decides then and there that Adrian is who she loves and will be with (even if she planned to end things this summer since a Dhampir and Moroi Royal cannot truly be together forever...) Back in her room, things get pretty hot and heavy between herself and Adrian but the lack of protection brings the events to an end... almost... Rose lets Adrian drink from her.

Another huge story line is that the Queen and the Council decide to lower the age of Dhampir's becoming Guardians from 18 to 16; much to the chagrin of all Dhampirs - namely Rose. Rose's outburst during the Council hearing ends with her being removed - and hurtling a threat at the Queen. The next morning Rose is arrested and charged (and falsely accused) with high treason for killing Queen Tatiana. Adrian has the family lawyer agree to represent Rose, but just as the hearing begins, Abe - Rose's father - shows up to be her counsel. Abe promises he will not allow Rose to be convicted and executed - but Rose's outburst about how "IF she had been the murderer she would've done X, Y, Z..." doesn't help her case and she is sentenced to go to trial and placed in the same cell that Dimitri was held in. While on the way out of the hearing, Ambrose give Rose a note supposedly from Queen Tatiana herself - telling Rose that Lissa is not the only Dragomir - that Eric Dragomir had an illegitimate child, and that it is up to Rose to find this child so that Lissa can be placed on the Council. Due to an ancient Moroi law, a member of a royal family cannot gain their place on the Council unless there are at LEAST 2 members of the family.

And that is where we end with book five.

Last Words: I initially gave this book a 3-cupcake rating after I finished the last page. After giving myself 24-hours to digest everything, I did decide to bump it up to a 4. Here's why - the intense emotional content of this book really did something weird and funky to my heart! A lot of times I try to "put myself" in the shoes of the characters in order to truly gauge my rating. After doing this, I realized that the book didn't deserve just an "I liked it." While I cannot say "I loved it" I will absolutely agree with "I really liked it". Mead has no problem serving up heavy helpings of pure, raw emotions and that is something I truly love about her writing. There is something very simplistic but deep about her writing style. It's almost like you read the words on a superficial level, but your mind goes into overdrive deciphering the depth and meaning of them. It's incredible, and it's what made me change my rating. Based on her writing style alone I had to rate the book higher.

What I didn't really like, is that everything is hard for the characters, but the solution sometimes seems too easy. I am basing that statement on this event; Lissa staking Dimitri. So when Lissa leaves Court for Lehigh, we know she is trying to charm a stake with spirit so she can bring Dimitri back. As far as we know, she hasn't succeeded yet. We don't learn that she has, until she literally stakes him. It doesn't seem like there was too much struggle for her to figure it out, even though she's grappled with her spirit powers since learning of them. (Dream walking like Adrian, for example). So I think it felt a little easy to me for her to have figured it out. I do love how Christian teamed up with her to help her stake Dimitri though; however I feel that was a bit easy too? Maybe I'm just being too critical. Overall, the book was great, and I'm happy to see Lissa and Christian rekindling their relationship and also happy Rose did/is give/giving Adrian a fair-and-square chance. I'm very eager to get into the meat of book #6 because I really cannot guess what will happen with all of the loose ends needing to be tied up in this last, final installment in the series.

Check out Spirit Bound on:

Next Read: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Review {35} Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Blood Promise

Series: Vampire Academy #4
By: Richelle Mead
Published: August 25th 2009 by Razorbill
Edition: Hardcover, 503 pages
Obtained: Library
Challenge(s): None
Categories: Vampires, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Young Adult, Paranormal, Magic/Spells/Incantactions/Curses, Vampire Academy Series
Rating: 3.5 Cupcakes (Rounded up to 4 Cupcakes) - Simply Delectable!

Add it on Goodreads

Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same.

The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters ... Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa - her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess - or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She will have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved?

Now, with everything at stake - and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend - can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

***Careful – there are spoilers if you haven’t read books 1-4!***

My Thoughts: I liked the fourth installment of the famed Vampire Academy series, but I'm not in love with it. While reading it, I enjoyed each page and every trial and tribulation that Rose faced; however after finishing it and picking up book #5 ... I don't know, it felt like a filler book. What I mean by that is... Rose had to do what she did - she had to go after Dimitri and kill him. She had to leave the Academy. I understand all of that. But back in Montana, Lissa was left in the hands of Avery Lazar, who happened to be a spirit user as well ... who was using her influence to turn Lissa into a rebel so that she could kill her, and bring her back as her own minion. I  just feel like that wasn't a necessary story line minus the chasm now formed between Lissa and Christian. 

Don't take that as me saying I didn't like the book as a whole, because I did. It's got the same gut-wrenching, heart-string pulling, action-packed insanity that the first three books have. Those are all of the factors that kept me engaged and not willing to put the book down so that I could get some sleep! With each book Rose continues to grow, and become someone that surprises even her at times. She spent a lot of time in the first three books giving to others, giving herself for the benefit of those she loves and cares about - which is what a Guardian should do. But now we find Rose doing something for herself, and in a sense for Dimitri as well, as she is going to carry out a promise that she had made to him. Rose has to get closure for her relationship with Dimitri. She needs to finally realize he is gone, close the book, and begin a new chapter. Of course, nothing goes that easy for our dhampir heroine. Oh no. First she has to become Dimitri's blood whore, take on a houseful of Strigoi, and finally face the facts - she has to stake Dimitri once and for all ... or face death or worse - Dimitri turning her into a Strigoi like him.

While in Russia, Lissa spends time with Dimitri's family and watches scornfully as they celebrate his memory at the memorial service in which they all gain closure - everyone except for Rose. Rose also meets Sydney, who is an Alchemist, as well as Abe "Zmey" who turns out to be Rose's father. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I figured that out the second I saw his name. But that really didn't change my feelings on the book, I just happened to have put those few pieces together from the previous book(s). I am hoping that we get to see more of Oksana as well, because I really enjoyed her character as well as her husband. The fact that a dhampir and Moroi can be married and living together while bonded gives us hope that when Rose gets back to the Academy and keeps her promise to Adrian, that just maybe they can figure out how to work their forbidden relationship.

Overall, I think for a mid-series book this one gave us enough of what we needed, wanted, and craved and is carrying us over to book five just fine. As I've said prior, I'm happily surprised at how much I've come to love this series and feel like the characters are friends I go to school with (if only I were a kick-ass dhampir!!)

If you've read the first four books, let me know what you thought!

Review {34} Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Grave Mercy
Series: His Fair Assassin #1
By: Robin LaFevers
Published: April 3rd 2012 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Edition: Hardcover, 1st Edition, 549 pages
Obtained: Library
Challenges: None
Categories: Historical Romance, Magic/spells/incantations/curses, Young adult, 4 Cupcakes, Action, Fantasy, Kick-Ass Heroine, Forbidden Love, Betrayal
Rating: 4 Cupcakes - Simply Delectable!
Where you can buy it: Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo  |  Amazon
Author Info: Website  | Blog  | Twitter
Add it on Goodreads

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the gods of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts - and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany - where she finds herself woefully under prepared - not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death's vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

My Thoughts: This book came at the perfect time for me as I was desperately craving some historical fiction. Mix in a bit of fantasy and romance, plus a kick-ass heroine and holy moly! I was hooked from page one! Ismae is such a refreshing female lead. She is strong, devoted, dedicated, yet emotionally flawed and confused. With no plans to ever do anything with her life besides serve Mortain through the abbess, when she finds herself falling in love with Duval, she feels that she is betraying her duty. 

I am thankful that LaFevers chose to include a list of characters at the beginning of the book because there were so many players in this novel, that it would've been difficult to keep track of them otherwise. The mix of history and fantasy was seamless and brilliant. At no time did the writing or settings/characters feel forced or unrealistic. I think I would've liked to have seen more of Ismae at the convent learning the poisons and training and less of the time meddling in court politics with Duchess Anne, only because I found some of the time Ismae was at court to feel slightly dragging, even though it fully held my attention and kept me engaged. 

Each page was full of action, adventure, love, and deceit. It was amazing! To see Ismae fully evolve into who she became in the end was wonderful. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction, fantasy, and heroines who can take of themselves! I'm very excited to delve into book two in this trilogy which will focus on Sybella's story. 

Review {33} Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Frostbite
Series: Vampire Academy #2
By: Richelle Mead
Published: April 10th 2008 by Razorbill
Edition: Paperback, 327 pages
Obtained: Library
Challenges: None
Categories: Vampires, Magic/Spells, Paranormal Romance, Suspense, Mystery, Urban Fantasy, Action
Rating: 4 Cupcakes - Simply Delectable!
Where you can buy it: Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon  |  Kobo
Author Info: Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Blog

Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose...

It's winter break at St. Vladimir's, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy's crawling with Guardians - including Rose's hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn't bad enough, Rose's tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason's got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks... This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price...

My Thoughts:

Why did it take me so long to read this series?! I really enjoyed Vampire Academy, and when people started telling me that Frostbite was even better, I was psyched to read it... which I did immediately after finishing book 1, and I'm currently reading book 3 right now! The most appealing aspects of these novels are the incredibly abundant amounts of action, and the insane emotion you feel from Rose. Rose is such a complex character, even though you seem to get her at face value and you think there's just maybe 2 sides to Rose, you then finish book 2 and you are like, Nope! Rose is Rose, regardless of who she's interacting with; but she handles situations so differently. Every reaction that Rose has is so emotionally charged, and when she's put to the test she always manages to kick butt! Everything about this book was addicting and delicious, and I can see myself adding the entire series to my personal library and will be rereading these too, because the re-readability is very high.

The story line as well is so captivating, and it literally grabs you and won't let go. Like I would literally find myself doing things with the book clutched in my hands - cooking dinner, cleaning the house, etc. I did not want to put it down. There are moments where I just was literally shocked at what Rose was put through, and awed at how amazing she handles things. If you haven't read these books and you love Vampires - you need to go get it right now. Like, Right. Now. Immediately. Go.

Have you read Vampire Academy & Frostbite? What did you think of them?!

Review {32} Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy
Series: Vampire Academy #1
By: Richelle Mead
Published: August 16th 2007 by Razorbill
Edition: Paperback, 332 pages
Obtained: Own
Challenges: 2012 TBR Pile Challenge
Categories: Vampires, Magic/Spells, Paranormal Romance, Suspense, Mystery, Urban Fantasy, Action
Rating: 4 Cupcakes - Simply Delectable!
Where you can buy it: Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon  |  Kobo  |  Book Depository
Author Info: Twitter  |  Website  |  Facebook

St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school - it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St. Vladimir's - the very place where they're most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi - the world's fiercest and most dangerous vampires - make Lissa one of them forever.

My Thoughts: I went into this not really thinking I'd like it; but when I finished, I realized that I actually really enjoyed it! Like any first book, the beginning is a bit slower as it fills you in on everything that is going on, and explaining all of the characters, and story lines, etc.  I was even kind of annoyed with both Rose & Lissa when they first got back to the Academy. I had trouble connecting with Rose because I was reading her one way, and then we start to learn about how she used to be when they were previously at the Academy, so it was conflicting for me. But once I was into the bulk of the book I started seeing how kick-ass Rose Hathaway is! And Dimitri - YUM! The tension between Rose and Dimitiri is wonderful! And Christian, oh, Christian! Love the bad boys!!

What I liked as well is that there was ALWAYS something going on. There were very few, if any dull, slow moments. It was a very nicely paced story, in my opinion. I love the development of both Rose and Lissa's characters throughout the story; and the ending was pretty much perfect to lead us into the second book. The world that Mead has created is wonderful, and one you can easily visualize and spend lots of time in. I've already picked up the next two books in the series from the library and have already started Frostbite!

Read this if you like: Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine, Evernight by Claudia Gray, Night World by LJ Smith, Chicagoland Vampires by Chloe Neill, Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Review - Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

Embrace
Series: The Violet Eden Chapters #1
By Jessica Shirvington
hardcover, 367 pages
Published March 6th 2012 by Sourcebooks Fire
Obtained: Library
Where you can buy it: Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo
Author Info: Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook
Categories: Paranormal, Romance, Angels, Love Triangle, Suspense, Urban Fantasy, Action
Challenge: 2012 Debut Author Challenge

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 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 the 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...

*Warning! Review may contain spoilers; please continue at your own risk!*

My Review Breakdown

Story/Plot: 4/5
Characters: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Cover: 4/5
Final Score: 19/25=5 Cupcakes

My Rating: Positively Enticing!!!

Initial Thoughts: Wow. Let's say it once more. Wow. 

When I first dove into Embrace I wasn't totally enthralled. But when the action started and secrets and betrayals took center stage; I was smitten.

Story/Plot: When a genre runs rampant through the Young Adult world, it's almost guaranteed that books will begin to show similar themes, and story lines. Where most angel books out there deal with good/evil, light/dark, heavenly angels/fallen angels; Embrace also contrasts these two components but does it in such a unique and individual way that there aren't many books I can "compare" it to. This is a very good thing!

Characters: I can't lie; I really didn't like Violet's character all that much. Her motto is, "Don't run and don't quit" yet that's precisely what she does to Lincoln; who she spends the first few chapters telling us she's desperately in love with, even though he doesn't share her feelings. If I loved someone that much and I find out they knew something like Linc knew about Violet, I wouldn't completely dump them and even come to hate them, especially when they are your ticket to fulfilling your destiny. Even before Phoenix's interference, Violet had given up on Lincoln, which she then does to Phoenix as well. This is my main hangup with Violet's character. For someone so strong and resolute, she certainly isn't willing to extend her motto to the people in her life. 

It was also very difficult to watch Violet come out and deny her destiny; saying she would not embrace. I understand if anyone in real life was put in this situation they would experience hesitancy as well, and even a plethora of other emotions as well; but in the end you buck up and accept what you are, who you are, and who and what you will become. Violet is given this incredible gift and yet she wants nothing to do with it until she is forced into it. 

I just had a difficult time really connecting to Violet's character. There isn't really anyone in her life that I feel she truly loves and cares about. Her mother died when she was born, so she never knew her and therefore didn't have a real connection to her. Her father is a workaholic and really doesn't see much of Violet, and doesn't take a huge part in her day-to-day life. Lincoln was a huge part of her life and her heart, until she felt betrayed by him. Same with Phoenix. The only person who is a beacon in her life is Steph, but even with Steph I just feel a very superficial relationship between them and nothing very deep or layered. When Violet tells Steph her secrets I do feel their bond strengthen, but it seems that Violet keeps herself arms-length away from everyone, sometimes even herself.

Also, the way she turned away from Lincoln, someone who could help her and be her confidant and ally, to be with Phoenix, and take advice from him is just baffling. When Phoenix is her sworn enemy, the fact that she trusts him over Lincoln chafed me.

When it comes to Lincoln, I truly feel sorry for him. Having to keep such a secret from the girl that he truly loves isn't easy - especially when she feels betrayed and turns her back on him when she finally learns the truth. When all he wants in the entire world is something he cannot have is just tragic. I don't feel he deserved what Violet did to him; and I think the fact that she embraced just so that she could save him is something she's going to hold over him; even though they are working on making things OK between them.

I got the creeps from Phoenix throughout the entire book, even when Violet was with him and believed him to be good and truthful with her. I'm not sure how I feel about him, my feelings are very mixed. I do feel bad for him though when Violet does to him what she initially did to Lincoln, even though Phoenix kinda sorta deserves it. I'm sympathetic towards him only because he really does love Violet.

Writing: There's no doubt that Shirvington has talent. She is one heck of a storyteller, and you can tell she writes confidently, each word handpicked and lovingly chosen to tell Violet's tale. At first I felt that things were happening too fast, but then the book balances the pace out and it's a nice combination of action and events. The first part of the book left me with a lot of questions but by the end they're about 95% answered. My thoughts on the book changed when Violet embraced and the angel of light, Uri, told her that he wouldn't give her any answers, she has to find them (within) herself. That's when everything changed and I realized DUH! I have to figure this out for myself as well! Shirvington will give you the info and it's up to you to figure it out and interpret it. The symbolism in this book is incredible, and the fact that my brain got a workout while reading is what gave this book a 5-Cupcake rating. And the emotions conveyed in this book were just incredible. I have read a lot of books and I've felt like I've been on emotional roller coasters while reading them, but Embrace is the ultimate emotional roller coaster. The emotions that I personally felt while reading this book left such a lasting impression on me. 

Ending: I've been reading books lately that give me a very satisfied feeling when I close the book. Embrace continues this trend, which makes me happy! Other than how Violet turned on Phoenix, I feel that the ending worked well as a conclusion to events in this book, and will slide us into the action of book 2.

Cover: I don't think anyone can argue that the cover is something special! I love the violet background that starts out dark in the bottom left corner and sort of fades as it reaches the upper right corner; appearing almost like the amethyst-mist that Violet sees at the club, Hades. The feathers are interesting to me because they are all dark, pointing up, and falling. So I assume they represent the Exiles; however at first glance I wanted to think they meant Violet's choice between following the light and dark (but this was quashed when I realized all of the feathers were pointing in the same direction, and not some up and some down like I thought at first; aka pointing up to "Heaven" and down to "Hell") I also like the font used for the title and how the smoky appearance mirrors the "wings".

Final Thoughts: Joy runs rampantly through my veins at the thought of there only being five months until the release of the sequel, Enticed, in September of 2012. The final installment, Emblaze, releases in March of 2013.

Read This If You Like: Illuminate by Aimee Agresti, Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins, A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink, Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen, Undeadly by Michele Vail

Review - Cardboard Characters by Julie Seifert

Cardboard Characters
By Julie Seifert
Ebook, 247 pages
Published March 1st 2012 - Self-Published
Obtained: From the author for review
Where you can buy it: Kindle  |  Nook
Author Info: Goodreads  |  Blog  |  Twitter
Categories: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult, LOL, 4-Cupcakes

Set under the boiling sun of Tampa, Florida, the young adult novel, Cardboard Characters, tells the story of sixteen-year-old Leah Bergan, a girl who knows that you can't build a boat out of cardboard.  And you should trust her on that. She and her best friend, Eddie, have been trying for months. And not just cardboard: plastic, paper, and the hood of a junkyard car. They're running out of ideas and time.

Time gets even tighter when Leah is accidentally cast as the lead in her high school's play. Suddenly Leah is stuck in the spotlight - and stuck going to four hour rehearsals. Instead of being surrounded by the ocean, she's now surrounded by a bunch of wacky drama kids, who like to stare deeply into the distance and make up stories about doors.

Leah just wants to survive the play without humiliating herself, but the student director, Minerva Watson, has others plans. To Leah, it seems like Minerva only has two goals in life: 1) Turn Leah into an actress, whether she likes it or not and 2) Keep the drama club from getting shut down by the student government. But when one of Minerva's schemes involves Leah's friend, Eddie, Leah is forced to choose between protecting him and lying to everyone, including her long-lost love Nathan, or telling the truth and losing everything. Then, of course, things go horribly wrong, and Leah ends up stuck twenty miles outside a town called Christmas, next to a gift store selling alligator meat. But with the help of her crazy cast-mates, Leah might just make it home, take the stage, and even finish her boat, learning a little bit about life, love, and character development along the way.

My Thoughts: I typically don't read very many YA Contemporary Romances, so when approached to review this title, I figured I'd go for it, maybe get myself back into the genre that I used to read exclusively. Leah Bergan is a breath of fresh air. She's quirky, and spunky, and engages in silly games of "pretend war" with her best-guy-friend, Eddie. Leah is okay with the fact that she's not popular, because she likes who she is; even if she has moments of insecurity, wondering if her actions have gone too far. Overall she is a very loyal character to her friends.

Leah is part of the drama club, and when time comes for auditions, she decides to botch it, so that there's no hope of being cast, and so she can join her best friend, Olivia, on set design. Of course that would be too easy, and the show directors, Mr. Treeny and Minerva Watson, decide she's perfect...for the lead!

A lot of the story centers around Leah going from knowing who she is, to suddenly questioning everything in her life. She's always worried about what her confident, successful mother is thinking of her - and assuming she wishes she'd had a normal daughter, and not gotten stuck with Leah; she knows that Eddie - whom everyone in school thinks is gay - is secretly in love with her; and then there's Nathan aka Treasurer Boy. Leah and Nathan had a class together last year, but Nathan had a girlfriend, one that Leah knew was pretty, and confident, and didn't do anything silly or ridiculous like Leah does. Therefore when Nathan starts popping up at rehearsals since the student government is monitoring the drama club, she's surprised to find herself getting closer to him.

We all can recall that year of high school where it seemed that everything went wrong, only to somehow right itself in the end. When a scholarship is given to Eddie to use as he wants (aka give it to the drama club to save their production of "Afterland") because he brings "diversity" to the school, things start to go downhill and fast. Leah suddenly finds herself torn between her loyal buddy, Eddie, who's suddenly hanging with the wrong crowd; and Nathan, who deserves the truth but Leah finds herself lying to, to protect Eddie. Everything reaches a pivotal moment where Leah thinks she's lost everything and everyone; including herself.

I really loved Leah's character. She's so easy to relate to, that when she suddenly finds herself unsure of everyone in her life, and everything around her, I found myself rooting for her! She doesn't give herself enough credit, and when she runs away and finds herself in a tiny town, back on stage at the local theater near where her car broke down, Leah finally realizes that the thing holding her back the most, has been herself.

Seifert's writing style is a fresh spin on the YA world. Reading Leah's story was like reading a note or a journal entry that she'd written and let me have a peek at. It's witty and engaging, and keeps you rooted to your seat, wanting to keep reading no matter what else demands your attention! With a happily-ever-after ending, and character's you truly grow to love, I'm glad to have read this book and will definitely recommend to any lovers of Young Adult novels.

My Rating: Simply Delectable!!!

Review - Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

Spellbound
Series: Spellbound #1
By: Cara Lynn Shultz
Paperback, 324 pages
Published: June 21st 2011 by Harlequin Teen
Categories: Paranormal, Romance, Reincarnation/Past Lives, Urban Fantasy, Witches, Magic/Spells, Page Turner, Plot Twists, 4-Cupcakes
Obtained: Library
Where you can buy it: Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon  | Kobo
Author Info: Goodreads  |  Blog  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Connor, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to - Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives - visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

My Review Breakdown

Story/Plot: 3/5

Characters: 3/5

Writing: 4/5

Ending: 4/5

Cover: 3/5
Final Score: 17/25 = 4 Cupcakes

My Rating:  Simply Delectable!!! 

Initial Thoughts: I remember seeing this one when it first came out, and adding it to my Goodreads, but I never got around to it until now, when I found it waiting there on the bookshelf of my library, just calling out, "read me! read me!" 

Story/Plot: I love when you pick up a book expecting one thing, and then getting whiplash by a plot twist that you SO were not expecting! That's what Spellbound did to me. I was expecting a typical urban-fantasy, teenage witch type story, but when one of my favorite topics, reincarnation, made its appearance, I was so excited I wanted to jump up and down while shouting, "Woo hoo!" 

Characters: Emma is such a wonderful character. Having survived a horrible living situation, and coming to live with her aunt in New York City, Emma's growth and strength is amazing. Brendan's such a sweet guy, and totally swoon-worthy! Ashley, Emma's peppy, but naive cousin is a great character as well! And I definitely love Angelique! Now, character's I hated. Anthony and Kristin. I don't understand Anthony's anger, maybe more back story would've answered that question. I have just never encountered someone so angry. And Kristin is the stereotypical Queen Bee (or Queen B*tch!) I'm curious to see what happens to her after her little prank that nearly got Emma killed.

Writing: Shultz's writing style is great. I really found myself easily engaged; and found her to be a great storyteller. Every aspect of the book is well written with wonderful descriptions and it's very easy to find yourself front and center of the action; able to easily picture everything and nothing feels forced or hesitant. I felt the romance between Emma and Brendan wasn't insta-love but I feel it definitely was very fast. Even though they have the whole past life thing working for them, I think it need just a little more time to get totally serious. I also wasn't a huge fan of Anthony's story lines, only because it seemed very far-fetched that he would attack Emma with the intent to kill her. I'm wondering if somehow Anthony is someone from their past, and curious to see what becomes of him in the future books.

My only other hangup is Emma's abilities as a witch. I kind of wish that maybe Emma reflected back on times in her life where maybe her abilities maybe tried to manifest themselves, or gave any hint that she had them. I'm hoping to see her abilities strengthen as she grows into her power, and to see how it effects her family, or if anyone else shares her powers with her.

Ending: Spellbound has one of those wonderful endings where you're left satisfied, but know there's so much more coming! I think its a good break from the first book, leaving the reader excited for book two.

Cover: I like the cover, but I don't love it. I what I like is the plain blackness with the bridge and the shattering streetlamp. I don't like the girl on the cover; though. I'm not sure why, but I don't. I do love the font though, and how Spellbound is written across the center of the book, big and white.

Final Thoughts: Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I'm super excited to read book 2 (Spellcaster; which releases 3/27/12). Spellbound is a wonderful, magical tale weaved with true love, and destiny leaving readers desperate for more!

Review - Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Glow
Series: Sky Chasers #1
By: Amy Kathleen Ryan
hardcover, 307 pages
Published: September 13th 2011 by St. Martin's Press
Obtained: Library
Categories: Sci-fi, Action, Page-Turner, Romance, Dystopian, Suspense
Where you can buy it: Amazon  |  B&N
Author Info: Goodreads  |  Author Site

What if you were bound for a new world, about to pledge your life to someone you've been promised to since birth, and one unexpected violent attack made survival - not love - the issue?

Out in the murky nebula lurks an unseen enemy: the New Horizon. On its way to populate a distant planet in the wake of Earth's collapse, the ship's crew has been unable to conceive a generation to continue its mission. They need young girls desperately, or their zealous leader's efforts will fail. Onboard their sister ship, the Empyrean, the unsuspecting families don't know an attack is being mounted that could claim the most important among them...

Fifteen-year-old Waverly is part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space; she was born on the Empyrean, and the large farming vessel is all she knows. Her concerns are those of any teenager - until Kieran Alden proposes to her. The handsome captain-to-be has everything Waverly could ever want in a husband, and with the pressure to start having children, everyone is sure he's the best choice. Except Waverly, who wants more from life than marriage - and is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.

But when the Empyrean faces sudden attack by their assumed allies, they quickly find out that the enemies aren't all from the outside.

My Review Breakdown


Story/Plot: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Ending: 4/5
Cover: 3/5
Final Score: 21/25 = 5 Cupcakes

My Rating:  Positively Enticing!!!

Initial Thoughts: I saw this one on Goodreads and decided not to buy it because it didn't get the greatest of reviews. I decided to wait until I saw it at the library. Well, let me say that once again, you can't always go on what other people thought about a book, because this one blew my mind! I literally could not put it down, and when I did put it down, I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Characters: The characters were very well developed, and you can feel what the characters are feeling. When the book starts you can see where the characters had so much room to grow and develop and Ryan didn't disappoint! Waverly is an amazing character; I adore her! I can't wait to see how her and Seth and her and Kieran develop in the next book. I believe I'm Team Seth though right now!

Writing: I am so so so happy that the book is told in the third person so that we could get both sides of what was going on aboard the New Horizon and the Empyrean. The writing is amazing; fast paced and keeps you reading even when you should've gone to bed hours ago! There is pretty heavy subject matter going on, so it's probably for an older YA audience, but its not really anything that is bad. Ryan seems to have really planned out every facet of the book, leaving nothing open-ended or confusing; and you can tell that she really cares about her characters.

Ending: I think the ending was done well. We get a tiny happy moment, and then we're thrown back into the drama. There are so many ways that the sequel can go with the way that Glow ended.

Cover: I'm becoming a fan of the basic, simple covers. This one is all black with a girl (Waverly) in a porthole, with pink shooting around it. The pink is clearly the nebula, and the porthole represents the ship, and the way Waverly is laying could be how she is feeling; held down, trapped, etc.

Final Thoughts: I cannot wait to pick up the sequel when it's released on July 17th, 2012!!

Read this if you like: Tankborn by Karen Sandler, Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts, All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin, Neva by Sara Grant, and Scored by Lauren McLaughlin

Review - The Hollow by Jessica Verday

The Hollow
The Hollow #1
By Jessica Verday
hardcover, 544 pages
Published September 1st 2009 by Simon Pulse
Obtained: Own
Categories: Paranormal Romance, Ghosts, Urban Fantasy, Retelling, Mystery, TBR Pile Challenge
Other Books in the Series: The Haunted, The Hidden
Where you can buy it: B&N  |  Amazon
Author Info: Goodreads  | Author's Site

When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. It only makes things worse that everyone now treats Abbey like either a freak show or a charity case. Thank goodness for Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again ... but also special.

Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all of this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her - one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

My Review Breakdown

Story/Plot: 1/5
Characters: 3/5
Writing: 2/5
Ending: 2/5
Cover: 3/5
Final Score: 11/25 = 3 Cupcakes

My Rating: Mmm ... Yummy!

My initial thoughts: I got this book as a gift for Christmas back in 2009 when it was first released. I love retellings, and I thought that this was going to be a retelling of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. It's really not a retelling so much as incorporating the theme and characters from the original story. I believe that Verday does a decent job in making the story her own even with this fact.

Story/Plot: I feel bad giving such a low score, but a majority of the book I have to admit I was kind of wondering where it was going, and what story the author was trying to tell. I'm not saying that the story told is bad, because obviously I did finish the book, and it was engaging at times, but I need more; way more; which is becoming the theme of this review! Keeping important plot points secret to include in additional books in the series is fine, but I think in this case it might hurt the series. It is very slow, and doesn't reveal anything - even for a first book in a series. This might cause some people not to want to continue on with the series, but on the flip side it might make people even more curious to pick up the next book because they like the mystery and secrets surrounding the story.

Characters: In my opinion, Abbey's character is really the most developed; which in a way is expected as she is the MC and all. However; I feel that a lot of the other characters were lost along the way. For example, Abbey's parent's go back and forth from being really busy and never around; to skipping work and taking Abbey bowling. They act really worried about their daughter, and then at times they aren't around for her. So that was confusing to me. I believe that Caspian, Nikolas, and Katy's characters would've been so much stronger had we learned more about them earlier on. I expect that their characters will be built upon more in the second and third books in the series. Also, it was difficult to get a grasp on Kristen. There's no lack of explanation from Abbey of what their friendship was like, and there's no doubt you are mourning with Abbey, but I feel like we don't really know who Kristen was, other than who Abbey believed her to be. When Abbey found out secrets about Kristen it started to open up the possibility that maybe she really isn't the girl that Abbey always believed her to be.

Writing: The first half of the book, I will admit, the writing was rough. Once you hit the halfway point, it almost seems like another person picked up the task of writing, taking us through to the conclusion. So kudos for that! Unfortunately, I found the pace to be painfully slow, and it felt like there were so many scenes included that almost didn't need to be. All of the secrets come out in the last 100 pages or so; so you spend over 400 pages not really learning anything. However; I will say that those 400 pages before the real conclusions begin, there is no doubt that you've been through an emotional crash course; and I do believe that Verday did a wonderful job handling the ridiculous amounts of sorrow and sadness in this novel.

Ending: I like the ending as far as concluding Abbey's character in this book. I don't like; however, that we still really don't know what's been going on with Nikolas, Caspian, and Katy, yet they are a huge part of the book. But, like stated previously, I believe that they will be developed more in the concluding two books.

Cover: I like the cover. It's very haunting and mysterious, just as it is supposed to be. It makes it even more so using all dark, gothic colors which really bring all of the themes of the book together on the cover. I don't know why the model is supposed to appear like she could be almost be naked? That's the only thing I am not sure about. Otherwise I love the incorporation of water, and the necklace, which I believe is supposed to be the one that Abbey receives as a gift.

Final Thoughts: I will pick up the second book in the series, but might get it from the library rather than purchasing. I think Verday has amazing potential and great ideas; however I'm not completely sure that it was truly executed in The Hollow. This isn't to say the book is awful, it is setting up what I believe will be action-packed, secret-spilling sequels. 

Read This if you Like: Immortal by Gillian Shields, Meridian by Amber Kizer, Devoured by Amanda Marrone, Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready, and Intrinsical by Lani Woodland