Grief and growth combine in Songbird to weave a heartbreaking tale of one girl organizing the pieces of her broken life. Utilizing both the past and tGrief and growth combine in Songbird to weave a heartbreaking tale of one girl organizing the pieces of her broken life. Utilizing both the past and the present, Songbird is filled with all of the high and low notes in Dani's life. Dani's physical and emotional journey is gripping and realistic and the three boys that love her are entrancing.
After seeing her father kill her older brother at six, living off and on with her alcoholic mother and being tossed from foster family to foster family, Dani is struggling to reconcile all of her grief from the past. Each day is a constant reminder of the hurt she;s suffered and Dani is finding it hard to get out of the past long enough to live this life she has now. As a reader, I really wanted things to look up for Dani. At the same time, I did grow frustrated with her when she wouldn't make things better for herself. She has a major crush on her friend Reece but can't imagine telling him. While I understand this, I wanted her to take charge of her life since so much of it before had been reacting to awful situations she was put it. When she finally does, her voices rises into one of the most beautiful crescendos I've encountered.
I don't envy Dani her choice between Reece and Colin. Reece has been there for Dani since she moved in with her permanent family. He's been her biggest supporter and her protector. But he's also never noticed her the way she notices him until homecoming. But after, he gets weird. At first, Dani really doesn't like Colin but she gets to know him and all that changes. Colin can very easily shift into the hole that Reece leaves in her life. I liked that the boys were both good choices and that Dani doesn't have an easy time figuring out what's right. While Dani does make some poor decisions getting ot her final one, I understand all the reasons behind them and have to say that I'm not sure I'd have done anything differently if I was in her place.
And then, of course, there is Jace. He's a physical presence in the novel even though we only get him in flashback. Dani's transformation through is directly related to her grief at the lose of her brother and "normal" life without him. While the switch between past and present was a little jarring sometimes, it worked well to really make the reader understand Dani's sorrow and the trials she had to face. I wish the mysterious phone calls had been in the novel a little earlier and with more variety to spice up the plot more but the story was far more about Dani dealing with her demons. Ms. Fristoe approaches the subject with tenderness and is easy to read.
Songbird is a touching debut about loss and life after. Dani's journey was a pleasure to go along with and the past and present merging into the story was an effect tool for showing the reader the demons she keeps. If you like stories that deal with sorrow and song, this is definitely one not to miss!...more
A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie takes a cold hard look at the parts of people that most novels don't show you. There is always a Renee in your class-- A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie takes a cold hard look at the parts of people that most novels don't show you. There is always a Renee in your class-- the boy that's a little off, super obsessed with comics/videogames and doesn't really know how to respond in social situations. In Blackstone's debut novel for teens, he takes a close look at what it really means to be unique.
Renee has one of those voice that is unforgettable because of it's unique humor and because he sees the world in a completely different way. There were so many times when I would snort out loud, share lines with my co-workers or marvel at little things I hadn't noticed in years because it meant something to him. Coming from a less than stellar background, he has to work hard to feel normal when his own father never let him forget that he wasn't. His OCD shows up in most aspects of his life-- he sniffs his hands, washes them refusely, has to eat a certain kind of cereal, and won't step on cracks (lest he break his mother's back). As a reader, it felt so good to see how Renee was able to grow and exerpience things he wouldn't normally allow himself to. It was also so rewarding when things went right for him and when he stood up for himself.
The background characters were just a unique as the leading. It takes an odd cast to make Renee come out of his shell but it really feels rewarding when they all can learn from each other. The writing was really interesting in this novel because it wasn't the normal guy voice. Renee was vastly different. Entire paragraphs would be pasted in certain parts of the novel because of Renee's OCD and served their purpose well.
While reading, I kept wondering where this novel could possibly go. I was rooting for Renee from page one and had no idea how he was going to get out of his rut. I wish it would have moved along a little bit quicker. I didn't know where it was going and by the middle of the novel, the plot felt like it was floundering a bit.
Because of it's vastly unique nature, I'm not sure this is a book for everyone. At it's heart, this is an issue book and sometimes they are a bit hard to get through. I wish the plot would have come out a little quicker but the unqiue cast of characters and extreme chararacter progress helped curve that. Blackstone was able to create a novel with an equal amount of honesty and humor. If you can stomach the incredibly odd and oh-so-gross boyish humor, A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie is definitely worth a readthrough!...more
Shadow Dancer combines a fun concept with interesting characters for an easy read. The paranormal aspect was well developped and the two main characteShadow Dancer combines a fun concept with interesting characters for an easy read. The paranormal aspect was well developped and the two main characters attraction was undeniable. There were a few problems with the writing, at times the dialog was a bit cheesy and it did feel rushed at parts but over all, Shadow Dancer was a wonderful read.
Sunny was a great character to follow around. She was a natural at Shadow Walking and she had a great spark. It's nice to find a character who had power and was able to wield it. Sunny is definitely special and instead of handicapping her, Ms. Rene worked to make her understand and use her power. I also enjoyed that Sunny was pretty gutsy. There were plenty of points in the novel where other characters would have wimped out and Sunny ran marching in. Her counterpart, Leif, was the typical handsome and dangerous stranger but he tested her in ways others haven't. Their attraction to each other was undeniable but I would have liked a little bit more anticipation before they finally got together. It felt a bit too easy at times.
Shadow Walking, which is essentially pulling over shadows so that one is invisible, is something I've never read about before and I found it all really interesting. This paranormal aspect felt very well thoughout and added a lot to the story. I would have liked to know more about and the place the Shadow Walkers and Shadow Guards came from Arcadia. The battle scenes were fast, exciting and clear cut and the plot had several twists.
I did have a few problems with the writing which would have been cleared up with a finer tooth comb. The author tended to use a lot of words when there only needed to be a few. For instance, there would be several "sad and sorrows", "angry and mads" and "gorgeous and beautifuls". Also, there were a lot of phrases that were a bit confusing and didn't feel realistic (like "for Pete's sake" which I've heard of but never heard anyone use). Sunny's voice was pretty solid for the most part but I would have liked a lot more of everything. I think this novel would have benefitted with slowing down and building more tension.
While Shadow Dancer did have it's problems, it was easy to pick up and read and had a really great concept. Coupling an interesting paranormal aspect with a solid cast of characters, I think Shadow Dancer is definitely for some people. If you're looking for something to add to your Kindle that's entertaining and unique, I'd say go for it!...more
Because of Stork's unique nature, I had very high expectations for its sequel Frost. It exceeded those expectations exponentially, wrapping up all I lBecause of Stork's unique nature, I had very high expectations for its sequel Frost. It exceeded those expectations exponentially, wrapping up all I loved about the first novel and improving them to provide an exciting new adventure for Katla and her friends. From the setting to the story to the mythology, Frost is a winner!
Katla is back and is stronger than ever in this new installment. After the events of the last novel, she's more confident in herself, trusting her own instincts even without the guidance of Hulda. It was nice to see a lead that is willing to make risky decisions and instead of whining about the consequences, she excepts them and resolves to do something about it. Katla's strength gave this novel that extra sparkle and truly made her unforgettable. Her journey to find herself took her to the ends of the earth-- literally-- and really brought her character to life. I also really enjoyed that we got to see more sides of Kat here. In the last novel, she loved fashion and maintained it in this one but we also found out she could dance. Those scenes helped to round her out as a character.
While the other characters we'd gotten to know in the first novel such as Penny and Pedro didn't play as large a part as in this novel, we did get to know Kat's family and their roots better. Jack managed to be his same amazing self during certain parts and that just made his absence even more noticeable. I really enjoyed getting to know Kat's grandfather better and their journey to the roots of their origin was a fresh breath of air. Kat's kind and loving relationship with her grandfather is another things that gives me more respect for her. You can tell she cares because she donates much of free time to his shop and looking after his well-being. Brigid was wonderfully wicked, both sweeter than sugar and colder than ice, and it was great that she didn't fool Kat for a second.
I really enjoyed the changing of the scenery too. While the small town still felt like home, it was great to travel to Iceland with Kat and visit her roots. It gave the novel a perfect breath of fresh air to keep it exciting. The problems with voice that I found in the first novel have completely disappeared in this newest installment, the plot is fast pace and this story felt more cohesive as a whole. While the last left a lot of strings up in the air, this novel finished many plot lines which was satisfying. As with the previous installment, it mixed many new mythologies and blending them together in an exciting plot. The parallel to The Snow Queen was wonderful and helped me remember my love for that story and worked nicely with the legends of the Storks, selkies and of course, Jack Frost.
It's rare when a sequel can surpass it's previous installment, especially one as vastly different and interesting as Stork. Frost takes all the elements that made Stork unforgettable and melds them together with an entirely new story. I loved watching Katla blossom and overcome and can't wait to see what she and Jack will accomplish in the next novel. Frost truly is just like a snowflake, one of a kind and all the more beautiful for it!...more
Anna Dressed In Blood is an off-the-wall story debut that utuilizes a realistic and likable male voice, one very fascinating job and a toe-curling ploAnna Dressed In Blood is an off-the-wall story debut that utuilizes a realistic and likable male voice, one very fascinating job and a toe-curling plot. Cas Lowood is one heck of a lead that you won't mind spending three hundred pages with and Ms. Blake's writing is competent and sure. Anna Dressed In Blood is so creepy it's good!
I loved that this story was written in a male's perspective. Cas reminded me of the best of both Supernatural brothers rolled into one guy that was equal parts serious, humorous and cocky. From the moment he starts his story to his last words, he grows and learns. I loved that in the beginning he was confident but as he spoke you could see the little boy peeking out, trying to fill his father's shoes. This gave his character a lot of room to grow and grow Cas did. Seeing him learn to lean on other people was surprisingly fulfilling. Even though Cas didn't seem to care that he was solo in the beginning, the author did a great job letting the reader know that something was seriously missing. Just fair warning, Cas is a little rough around the edges with his foul language but he is respectful to his mother and generally cares so for me, that canceled it out. Like I'd mention in other reviews of the same genre, he was a strong enough character to lead the reader through the horror of his surroundings and competent enough that he didn't look dumb running to the noise that go bump in the night. For me, that's essential.
The ghosts that Ms. Blake created were interesting. Hopping from town to town with Cas is like getting to hear the best spooky stories each place has got. And spooky they were! Some of the scenes with Ana had me scooting to the edge of the lamp light so that the shadows were as far away as possible. The way the house was described was incredibly creepy but I liked that at the same time, after a while it felt familiar. Sort of like a metaphor for Anna herself. The author did an awesome job setting up the mystery surrounding Anna and the fact that she didn't kill Cas when we witnessed her rip the others to shreds made riping through the pages a breezy. My only niggle is that I felt like the writing tripped up at times. There were a few places where I had to re-read because something wasn't clear or it just didn't connect to the paragraph before it. It wasn't enough to detract from the mystery of this novel and the incredibly creeptastic story within the pages.
Anna Dressed In Blood will surprise you with its sincerity. I don't want to give away to much but I enjoyed that it switched themes in the second half of the novel and Cas's love interest was just too bittersweet for words. I enjoyed every last word from the guy that for me, embodied both of my favorite brothers on television (Supernatural). A strong debut by an author to look out for, Anna Dressed In Blood is a must read... or else she'll come for you. And you don't want to know what goes on behind Anna's walls unless Cas is there too!...more
Shattered Souls tells the story of two souls bound together throughout time and a chance to begin again. The true beauty of this novel is it's simplenShattered Souls tells the story of two souls bound together throughout time and a chance to begin again. The true beauty of this novel is it's simpleness. The plot isn't deluded in complex secrets, there cast of characters is small but intimate and the emotional connect between Alden and Lenzi is both sweet and undeniable. I immensely enjoyed this stellar debut by Ms. Lindsey.
Lenzi was an easy character to root for. She was intelligent, quick-witted and sympathetic. Still reeling with the idea that her father heard voices and had recently past, she is terrified when she too starts to hear things. What I really liked about Lenzi was that she was willing to take charge. I wish she'd been a little more proactive towards Alden's message since he offered her answers, but when she finally accepted what she could do, she was fully on board. I also thought she showed an appropriate amount of fear and enthusiasm and I like her struggle with her past self Rose.
Alden really made this novel shine. He was understanding and compassionate, brave and fearless, and through him Lenzi found strength. Truly a perfect fit, it was fun getting to know the old Lenzi through his visions. The dialog between Lenzi and Alden was some of my favorite. I liked that Lenzi was considered "the boss" and though she fought it, she was also willing to joke about it. I also really liked Race and Maddi as I felt like they rounded out the past and present feeling. Their presence also added some depth to the world Ms. Lindsey created and it was nice for Lenzi and Alden to have some people to rely on. Plus, Race was hilarious!.
What I found most appealing about this novel was that everything didn't feel too big to fast. Things were introduced as needed and the story grew at a steady comfortable pace. This really let the romance between Alden and Lenzi blossom and made their attraction to each other seem real. Yes, Alden was a good looking but but she saw him for who he used to be too. Likewise, it was clear Alden didn't just love Lindsey because she always was but rather because she grew and evolved. Their coming together really was the heartbeat of the story but didn't bury the other paranormal elements.
Ms. Lindsey offers a sweet romance that sweeps through time without weighing it down with too much to fast. It's easy to see why both character have a passion for what they do and it's absolutely endearing watching them fall for each other. I loved Shattered Souls. I for one, wouldn't think you were crazy for wanting Lenzi's voice to run through your head!...more
Dead Rules utilizes humor and a great imaginative setting to tell the story of Jana on her journey after life. While the world of Dead Rules is fascinDead Rules utilizes humor and a great imaginative setting to tell the story of Jana on her journey after life. While the world of Dead Rules is fascinating, the characters are selfish and sometimes hard to care for. This debut novel will have its reader cringing and laughing within sentences of each other.
As a lead, I wasn't too wild about Jana. Though she was funny, she was very naive and thus, she made a lot of silly mistakes. I liked her inquistive nature because it caused her to explore and her determination was definitely a good thing but I felt that ultimately, she was a little too selfish for me to really care about her plight. That made reading a little cumbersome and slow at some parts because I didn't feel as invested as I like to. It's funny because I was never crazy about the characters on the "good path" because they all seemed a little too stuffy. It was the slider characters, the ones who were on the edge of being booted that I really liked because they seemed to be the good guys. They all had stories and things to prove.
Jana's quest to have Michael join her was really funny and caused a lot of good tension. I also enjoyed her having to come to terms with her own death slowly. The world she was dropped into was definitely the highlight of the novel. The ghostly schoolbus and school, the always brand new uniform with the terrible grannie panties, and the person keeping the inflictions of their death were all interesting. I loved learning each character's story and figuring out how that broken arm or scratchy voice went with it. The other thing that really intrigued me was the no-guide thing that the kids were working with. They all knew the "rules" but there was nothing they could really read to be sure. It let the whole novel feel like anything can happen.
Overall, the environment of Dead Rules really did make the story with knowing. It was creative and funny and my curiousity for the inventive life after dead world kept me reading. I just wish I could have fallen in love with Jana and the others more to feel more connected to the story....more
Iris Wight's life is like a train wreck-- horrible, terribly depressing and so gripping the reader truly can't look away. Iris's strength is what makeIris Wight's life is like a train wreck-- horrible, terribly depressing and so gripping the reader truly can't look away. Iris's strength is what makes this novel amazing and emotional. There were too many times when I wished I could pluck her out of the story and make her feel better. The ending and her growth is stasifying and realistic.
The law in Iris's life is that anything bad that can happen will happen. For most of the novel, Iris is rejoicing in the very small things in life because that's all she has. Literally, she doesn't have much besides the clothes off her back and a half empty stomach. Her plight is heartbreaking. One of my biggest worries was a male writer taking on the emotional state of a teenage girl but Mr. Watkins does this effortlessly and with a brutual honesty to match some of the best female writers. He knows what he's doing.
Both Sue and Book Allen are well thought out for being the "bad guys" and play their parts with equally parts glee and sorrow. They felt real and weren't all bad which is something that takes a lot of rounding out. The thing is, you could see both points of view and though they took it too far, they stayed true to their characters. I did feel that Iris's friend Beatrice fell flat compared to the other well-rounded characters. Her dialog seemed a bit forced and she fell into a non-realistic stereotype too often for my tastes.
Mr. Watkins writing is beautiful and very honest. Iris's voice comes easily and she's in such a dire situation that it's hard not to love her. I did find that at some points the story dragged a little and by the middle I wanted more action and to see the story progress. I guess I was hoping to get to the really bad parts quicker so that I could see the good parts. I would have also liked to see a bit more of her friend Littleberry so I could feel more of a connection to him. Iris needed more good people in her life!
What Comes After is truly a tale of growing in the worst possible conditions and learning to adapt in order to survive. Through everything Iris remains true to herself, no matter how hard or what the consciences. What Comes After is definitely worth the read but it's not for the faint of heart. Gripping, emotional and beautiful, it tells the story of a modern day heroine that learns to survive on her own....more
Blending horror and humor, From Bad To Cursed is sure to be unforgettable. Taking all the amazing elements of the first installment and amping up the Blending horror and humor, From Bad To Cursed is sure to be unforgettable. Taking all the amazing elements of the first installment and amping up the stakes for this newest addition, it is the perfect novel to read just after dark, with every single light in the house on. From it's characters to it's break-neck plot, From Bad To Cursed is original and yet, somehow, completely familiar.
I mentioned before in my review of the first novel, Bad Girls Don't Die, that horror novels are tricky to pull off without strong leads. Alexis's got that covered and then some. She's never been the girl that runs blindly into something because the plot calls for it. She strives to know what she's dealing with and is brave enough to do something about her situation. As a newly reformed bad girl, making amends for her dark days, she is likable. She still tells it how it is but is trying hard to be nicer to people. Her voice in this next installment felt even more authentic than the first one. As she slowly changes after joining the Sunshine Club, you can feel the things you love about her starting to slip away. Suddenly, she is becoming unreliable which is complete change from her strong, stable self in the first book. Seeing her fade into something completely other really does make you realize how incredibly strong she was in the first and by the ending, you are clamoring for her to find that strength again. Her journey doesn't disappoint.
Ms. Alender is a master in the art of subtly. You'd think a character completely changing who she is would be a huge red flag and easy to detect but I can't pinpoint when Alexis went from bad to cursed. Even though this is a first person narrative, her priorities and tone changing is so subtle that before you know it, she is a completely different narrator with only hints of the girl we know and love. Still using sight, sound, and sense to play with emotions and amp up the fright level, this novel is scary in an entirely new way. Though there isn't a physical presence of an antagonist, the fact that it was coming from within was enough to make it really truly scary. And just when you feel like you can't take anymore tension, a line jumps out to make you laugh before layering a new threat on thicker.
One of the most interesting aspects of this novel once again was the dynamic between Kasey and Alexis. Freshly out of the mental institution and hopping right into high school, Kasey is not the same girl she was in the beginning of the series and Alexis really doesn't know how to deal with her. I loved watching Kasey mature through this novel and to see Alexis's learn to lean on Kasey a little bit more. With their relationship always being Lexi taking care of Kasey, it was nice to see Kasey stepping up to the plate to show Lexi that she can carry some of the burden. There is a scene where Kasey cleans up Alexis in a bathtub that is partly touching and partly horrifying. It brings an entirely new layer to their complex relationship as sisters.
Generally speaking, I'm not big on plot since I'm willing to go for most things if I like the characters enough. And I really like these characters who continue to break through from their stereotypes in order to come alive on the page. But this story had a complex plot that will have you flipping the pages faster just to figure it out. The clues are sprinkled in so well that you don't really know what's happening until it does and I didn't even have time to try and reason out what was going to happen because I was so addicted to the words on the page. I caught the twists and turns only when the character did and I felt compelled to read "just one more chapter" until the 400+ pages melted into nothing in my hands.
Alexis's voice is believable, her journey long and winding but it doesn't feel like it. The ending reaches out for one final scare and will have the reader clamoring for the next novel. Even better than the first, with an entirely new kind of enemy and the same cast of familiar characters, From Bad To Cursed is a masterpiece. From its first fright to the last, it's scary good!...more
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