Book Review: Blackhearts (ARC)

Blackhearts
by Nicole Castroman
Expected publication: February 9th 2016
Published by: Simon Pulse
Pre-order: Amazon

Synopsis:

Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors. But once he was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands. Nothing could stop him—until he met the one girl who would change everything.

Edward "Teach" Drummond, son of one of Bristol's richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean he’d begun to call home. There's just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back.

Following her parents' deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to Curaçao—where her mother was born—when she's stuck in England?

From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, they’re trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay.

Review

Blackhearts is a reimagination of Edward Teach, more popularly known as Blackbeard’s, life pre-piracy. He was one if not the most infamous pirate, and I daresay one of the most interesting ones, to have ever existed. The real Blackbeard’s origin and life prior to piracy are still unknown so here in Blackhearts, Nicole Castroman makes use of that unknown part of Teach’s life to imagine the factors that led Edward Teach to become the infamous pirate Blackbeard.

I originally added Blackhearts to my TBR because PIRATES! Pirates have had my interest since grade school days. Also because I don’t see any Pirate YA novels around that actually has real pirate personas as characters. Upon learning that this will be about his pre-piracy life though, my level of excitement still didn’t falter because like I said, I find Blackbeard to be one of the most interesting pirates along with Edward Low, Anne Bonny, and Mary Read. What I didn’t expect however, is for this book to be almost completely about romance between Teach and Anne.

Edward “Teach” Drummond is a son of a wealthy merchant who has a penchant for sailing the seas. He has just gotten back after years in the sea. Anne however, is an illegitimate daughter of another merchant who became a maid in the Drummond household. Their first meeting didn’t go well. It was hate at first sight. I found this quite amusing actually and I thought that it was the start of a really good read but my amusement stopped there.

Others may call Anne headstrong but to me she’s an arrogant girl who doesn’t know her place. She’s a maid but the way she talks to Teach, her young master, is full of pride and defiance. I’d have lauded her for it had Teach been a spoiled rich kid but he’s not. Everything she hated about Teach was only because of a misunderstanding but she wouldn’t hear of his explanations so she just assumed the worst in him.

Teach also is a difficult character. I have a love and hate relationship with him though. On one hand, he’s not the spoiled rich kid who uses his wealth to take advantage of those inferior to him like what Anne makes him out to be. But on the other, I just don’t like him around Anne. He is obsessed with her and acts as if he knows everything that’s best for Anne. He also has a temper and a tendency for violence but he never used it to harm Anne.

Their relationship wasn’t a spectacular one either, at least in the beginning. Teach was the first one to crack but all I felt was pity towards him because while Anne obviously feels something for him as well, she is a practical girl who has a goal and is set on seeing it come to life. It actually broke my heart a little when it was only Teach who was fighting for her while Anne was all about planning her escape. It was in these parts that I started feeling for the book again and the first time for me to feel sympathy for the characters. Of course Anne eventually opened herself up to Teach and boy did I love her then.

This last quarter of the book is where everything rearranged itself to fall into their rightful places and I found myself flipping the pages faster and faster until there was no more page to turn to. I thought there was no more hope for these characters, but I was wrong because their development is astounding. I can honestly say that this redeemed the whole book for me and I’m just glad that I stuck to it until the end. It’s still not a happy ending though and I’m really hoping for a sequel which is also a reimagination of Blackbeard’s life during piracy because we all know what became of the real Blackbeard and I’ll be damned if another sad ending befall these two.

A copy was received from publisher via Edelweiss for free in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Book Review: Alienated

Alienated (Alienated #1)
by Melissa landers
ARC, 352 pages
Expected publication: February 4th 2014 by Disney Hyperion
Source: Publisher
Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Interplanetary relations have never been more exciting! The first in a funny, romantic YA sci-fi series.

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.

Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.
But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

Review:

This is such a fun book to read. I was never into books with a protagonist for an alien. I always seem to end up not liking them/not finishing them but, Alienated sure is a game changer! Though I did not fell head over heels in love with this, I enjoyed reading the vast majority of it despite the frustrations I felt for some scenes - it's still the good kind of frustration, if you know what I mean.

Despite being a romance freak, this is one of the rare moments where I enjoyed the story but felt detached toward the romance, which at first didn't seem so good because I couldn't bring myself to appreciate the absence of insta-romance. However, that doesn't mean to say that I don't want Cara and Aelyx to be together because after that ending? Ohwords, I am SO definitely rooting for them. I just think that they both stand out more as individual characters and it is just as delightful as the prospect of them being a couple.

I also think that one of the most stunning aspects in the book is Aelyx's development as a character. Cara is an enjoyable character too and I love that she has a very strong mentality, but the A-licker gets the trophy! Cara has always been hospitable to Aelyx and genuinely wants to become a friend to him even though doing so is going against not only her bestfriend but as well as the whole community. Aelyx started off as cold toward Cara's family but over the time, he gradually softens up to them. I think this stemmed because even though majority of mankind wants nothing to do with the L'eihrs and doesn't deem them as trustworthy, Cara remains ever so loyal to him even though she doesn't know a single thing about him. Her faith in him is absolute and it is what made Aelyx's cold demeanor to crumble. I know putting your faith in someone you know nothing about is all kinds of stupid but for Aelyx whose life on earth is made impossible by mankind, this simple gesture given to him by Cara is considered huge. My favorite part of all though, is when Aelyx started off showing more human emotions. It's one of the most heartbreaking and satisfying moments in the book! I truly enjoyed Alienated in spite its shortcomings and I cannot wait to read more of Aelyx and Cara.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Disclosure: This e-galley was received from the publisher (Disney-Hyperion via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. 

[Blog Tour] Review: London Falling + Giveaway

London Falling 
by T.A. Foster
Paperback
Published January 2014
Source: InkSlinger PR
Purchase here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo

Synopsis:

It’s London’s senior year and she only needs one class to graduate. She just didn’t expect her final assignment: fall in love.

Communication 224 has a reputation for giving out the most unique projects of the semester. When London James and Beau Anderson signed up for the class they had no idea they would be paired up together, much less spend an entire semester working on their final grade.

Professor Garcia tasks them to produce a study on the hit reality show, Love Match, a show about strangers falling in love on over the top dates. London and Beau decide to debunk the popular show’s fantasy portrayal of romance. Determined they can date the entire semester and not fall for each other, the classmates share blogs about their dates and start a website where everyone can follow their dating experiment.

Is staying out of love as easy as it seems? Headstrong and success-driven London discovers there might be more important things in life than an A.

Review:

Much as I’m not a fan of reality TV, I found the concept of it for London Falling really charming and even more so because it’s coupled with the equally charming characters of our two protagonists. The dynamic between Beau and London is the most fun to watch from the moment the two met for the first time. The witty dialogues and jokes also make this for a much lighter novel than most NA's these days. I love that I can just sit back, smile and relax while reading this instead of stressing myself out because of the drama. It doesn't mean to say that London Falling has no depth though for it just doesn't dwell much in dark pasts and other life aspects that are commonly seen in heavy realistic fiction.

I found myself breezing through London Falling not only because the story is exciting for me but also because it's so easy to read. The dialogues are light and they all feel so natural that they just flow through and before I know it, I'm almost done reading the book. The characters, major and secondary alike, are fun to read about most of the time but they are not ones without flaws and sometimes their decisions are hard to justify. It wouldn't also hurt to have more prominent growth in the characters. I loved the friendships in this book though and I especially liked Nina among the secondary characters. Professor Garcia seems cool as well and I would love to have even more of the professor in the book.

Another thing I enjoyed about London Falling is the *ahem* sexy scenes, lol. Beau is already sexy in his own right but when with London, the sexiness seems to intensify. Talk about tension! Really, T.A. knows how to tease. *wink* I also like that London and Beau’s characters are opposites – this kind of pairing never ceases to make me happy and T.A. knows how to work it!

London Falling is a story about friendship, life, love and decision-making. It's a short, fun and easy read with a fast paced plot, great setting and an interesting set of characters that you won’t be able to help but root for.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Disclosure: An advance reading copy was received for free for the London Falling blog tour. No compensation of any kind was received in exchange for this honest review.

Giveaway

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About the Author

T.A. Foster is a Southern girl whose heart and spirit are connected to the beach. She grew up catching rays and chasing waves along the North Carolina Outer Banks and now resides in the state with her adventurous pilot husband, two children and two canine kiddos.

Her long love affair with books started at an early age, and as soon as she was able, she transformed imaginative stories into words on paper.

T.A. has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. When she’s not chasing her two-legged and four-legged children or trying to escape for date night, you can find her reading, writing or planning her next beach trip.

Goodreads | Website | Twitter

Book Review: Finding Cinderella

Finding Cinderella (Hopeless #2.5)
by Colleen Hoover
ebook, 105 pages
Published October 14th 2013 by Atria Books
Source: Amazon (freebie)

This novella is a companion novel to the Hopeless series, but can be read as a standalone.

A chance encounter in the dark leads eighteen-year-old Daniel and the girl who stumbles across him to profess their love for each other. But this love comes with conditions: they agree it will only last one hour and it will only be make-believe.

When their hour is up and the girl rushes off like Cinderella, Daniel tries to convince himself that what happened between them only seemed perfect because they were pretending it was perfect. Moments like that with girls like her don’t happen outside of fairytales.

One year and one bad relationship later, his disbelief in insta-love is stripped away the day he meets Six: a girl with a strange name and an even stranger personality. Daniel soon realizes the way he pretended to feel about Cinderella and the way he really feels about Six may not be so different after all. Especially when the two loves of his life end up being one in the same.

Unfortunately for Daniel, finding Cinderella doesn’t guarantee their happily ever after…it only further threatens it.

Finding Cinderella is a companion novella to the Hopeless duology that focuses on the story of Holder's and Sky's bestfriends, Daniel and Six. I haven't read the books yet so I have no knowledge about these characters' backgrounds. But what encouraged me to read this, apart from it being free, is that it comes so highly recommended by peers and even has an average rating of 4.6 with over 7,000 ratings in Goodreads. It's probably one of the most highly-rated books I've seen in GR, which means that I was also all the more wary about it since me and popular, well-loved books don't always go well together.

I didn't fall head over heels in love with Finding Cinderella but I had lots of fun reading it. Daniel and Six are both funny characters. They are so much alike in their personalities and I loved that they are also bestfriends as much as they are a couple. They are like the opposite gender of the other. Both are overly flirty, smooth talkers and they're so solid together that Six doesn't get mad when Daniel calls her a slut. She calls him douchebag or asshole in return. This was enough to scandalize me at first really, but that's how their playful banters are always like.

Daniel also has a very supportive family that likes to humiliate him. I almost laughed out loud when they made masturbation jokes in front of Six when he first brought her to his house. They are also infamous for playing reverse psychology on him. Additionally, I enjoyed reading about Daniel and Holder's relationship as best friends. I love it when boys display pretty bromance so I'm glad that Colleen incorporated one in the book. I just wish there were more (platonic) "I love you's" between them in the story.

However, much as I had fun reading Finding Cinderella, there were quite a few issues about this that I found difficult to get over with - the main one being, wait for it... insta-romance! *Cue deflated groans* When Daniel was first introduced to Six, he already wanted to put her spoon in his mouth - that's literal, by the way - and he couldn't stop narrating how spectacular she is. Six's name was also a bit distracting for me, like a phantom itch I can't scratch. I have nothing against all the Six in the world and this is the first time a fictional character's name bothered me so much. I don't know why, but it does, so please spare me. Another issue of mine is that moment when Six first stumbled into Daniel in the room and she was crying. I really don't know what she was crying about and Colleen didn't explain it any further. I thought I was going to get a proper one as the story progressed because I was really intrigued, but sadly, I didn't get any.

With only a little over a hundred pages, Colleen did a fantastic job interweaving Six and Daniel's story together. The romance might have developed a little too fast for my taste but compared to other full-length novels with speedy romantic progress, I say that Colleen did it better. This is focused more on the romance, but I'm glad that Colleen didn't forget to incorporate a plot, covering almost all the aspects a normal-length book has. It is well-paced as far as novellas go with a jaw-dropping shocker near the end.

I enjoyed Colleen's Slammed and Finding Cinderella reminded me so much of it. The tone used in this novella is reminiscent of Slammed's. And while it's probably one of the reasons why I enjoyed this, I'm afraid that this also made Finding Cinderella a forgettable read for me.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Book Review: The Indigo Spell (Re-read)

The Indigo Spell(Bloodlines #3)

by Richelle Mead
Hardcover, 401 pages
Published February 12th 2013 by Razorbill
Source: Purchased

Summary:

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

I first read The Indigo Spell a day after its release but I re-read it in preparation for the upcoming release of The Fiery Heart.

Review:

You have no idea just how much I’m in love with this series. I have always been little biased with its little imperfections. It was always so easy to overlook the flaws in the books because I was doe-eyed for the Sydney and Adrian tandem. Sydrian is like my ultimate couple crush. They are the total opposite of one another but they are so cute and so perfect and their banters are always to die for!

Since the first book, I had always been Sydrian-centered and didn’t care too much about the plot. In The Indigo Spell, it was really hard for me to keep a blind eye on the flaws no matter how much I tried not to dwell on them. I tried to focus on my favorite couple like I always do. However, I found it difficult to do just that because the problem does not only lie on the plot, but Sydrian itself. It pains me to admit that I am disappointed with how things went in The Indigo Spell. Maybe I daydreamed too much about TIS. Since after reading The Golden Lily, I would daydream about what might happen on TIS that I’ve developed a fantasy plot that, well, suited my fantasy more than TIS did. Maybe it’s also because I read too much fanfictions and gushed too much with other Bloodlines-obsessed fans, but nevertheless, The Indigo Spell didn’t quite reach my level of expectation.

My primary issue about The Indigo Spell is how fast Sydney and Adrian’s relationship developed. I know it’s ironic that my most anticipated event in Bloodlines is now my biggest issue. Moreover, it has taken two books before “it” happened so it shouldn’t be considered a speedy development at all. However the events leading up to it in this book could have been executed much better. I was also a little disappointed with Marcus. I expected him to have a huge role but he came and went too fast. Plot-wise though, The Indigo Spell is very well-paced for the most part. I think the last few chapters were a little abrupt but I’m okay with what happened there, especially the ending! Oh, I am more than okay with the ending. I think the plot is also an improvement from the previous books though some parts are still messy. It was predictable and unpredictable both at the same time. Richelle will lead you to think of the answer to the mystery which you’re probably going to be right about at first because the answer will be staring right at your face, but then she’d pull some tricks that are so unpredictable it will ultimately make you speechless.

As far as sequels go, TIS is still a delightful read with lots of kisses and if anything, rereading this only made me more obsessed about the series. I’m as excited as ever to read The Fiery Heart and see what Richelle has in store for her readers.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

FOR REAL Release Day Blitz + Review + Teasers + Giveaway

Hey all! Today is the release day of For Real! It's available for 0.99c for a LIMITED TIME ONLY so go download your copy while it's hot! ;)

For Real

by Chelsea Cameron

Published November 14th 2013

Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Two people. One fake relationship. What could go wrong?

When virgin Shannon Travers gets fed up with her friends demanding that she find a boyfriend, she enlists the help of tattooed, mohawk-rocking graphic design student Jett. He’s more than happy to play along with their Fake Relationship, including the Ten Rules of Fake Dating that control-freak Shannon comes up with. Even if he likes to violate them. Repeatedly.

But what happens when Fake Dating starts to feel… not fake anymore? Will Shannon be willing to let go and embrace the first thing in her life that’s ever felt REAL?

Review:

Shannon is the type of character who's not just uncomfortable being intimate with guys, she is disgusted by them. Remember when we were kids and we were dead scared of cooties? Shannon is twenty-one and she's still acts like that. But then she meets Jett. Jett who looks like your classic bad boy with tattoo-covered body. Jett who's not really a bad boy but an all-too nice guy and a very respectful one at that.

I don't think I have met a character like Shannon, ever. She has nothing against the male species and she has flirted with guys before. It's just that when she becomes intimate with guys, the "disgusting" stuff about being with them becomes magnified. Like having another tongue exploring your mouth? Imagine the germs! Yuck. Hairy man-legs? Double yuck. I found her odd at first but she gradually grew on me as the story progressed and I can see now how this really happens in real life. She is a fun character who's a control freak and one that is relatable at times. I enjoyed her relationship with Jett very much. He is very supportive of her and he can "sexify" everything Shannon thought disgusting about being intimate with guys. 

Even though For Real is under the New Adult category and the themes are more mature than I'm used to, I'm glad that this doesn't have steamy scenes in every page. It has just the right amount of sexual tension and I love that Jett's hotness is not always the topic of Shannon's POV. For Real is not without flaws, though. It contains a few plot devices that the book can do without and I found some scenes theatrical. I also think the characters had it way too easy, but still, I truly had fun reading this.

If you're looking for heavy drama, this is not the book for you. Cameron's For Real is a very light read that you can breeze through in just one seat. The concept of a virgin girl hiring a tattoo-covered hot guy to pretend to be her boyfriend is not something we're all unfamiliar about. But in For Real, I really enjoyed Cameron's alterations to the classic concept. I don't know how many pages this has as my copy has no pages and it's not indicated in the goodreads page, but if I were to estimate it, I say it's around 200 pages. I don't normally end up liking books as short as that but this book really worked out for me. 

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Disclosure: This ARC was received from InkSlinger PR as part of blog tour for free in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was  received for this review.

Teasers

About the Author

Chelsea M. Cameron is a YA/NA New York Times/USA Today Best Selling author from Maine. Lover of things random and ridiculous, Jane Austen/Charlotte and Emily Bronte Fangirl, red velvet cake enthusiast, obsessive tea drinker, vegetarian, former cheerleader and world's worst video gamer. When not writing, she enjoys watching infomercials, singing in the car and tweeting (this one time, she was t

weeted by Neil Gaiman). She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head. More often than not, these people turn out to be just as weird as she is.

Her New Adult Contemporary Romance titles include My Favorite Mistake, which has been bought by Harlequin along with a sequel, My Sweetest Escape (January 28, 2014), Deeper We Fall and Faster We Burn and For Real (November 14, 2013) and the novella, Christmas Catch (November 1, 2014).

Her Young Adult books include Nocturnal, Nightmare, Neither, and Neverend, the first three books in The Noctalis Chronicles and Whisper, the first in The Whisper Trilogy. The second and third books in the series, Silence and Listen, will be out in 2014.

Her Adult Contemporary Romance titles include Sweet Surrendering, and coming soon, Dark Surrendering.

Goodreads | Website | Twitter

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Book Review: The Naturals

The Naturals
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published November 5th 2013 by Disney-Hyperion
Source: ARC from Disney-Hyperion via NetGalley

Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.

What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides— especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own.

Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.

Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.

The Naturals is one of the rare cases where I felt detached from the protagonist but still ended up enjoying the story as a whole. Cassie isn’t the most impressive character out there. She didn’t leave much impression on me, and it doesn’t help that her voice tends to lean more on the monotonous side for the most part of the story. Even when she’s reliving the murder of her mother and in all the other scenes where she’s supposed to appear sympathetic, I still couldn’t feel her. I didn’t see anything remarkable about her character either, except that she is a character profiler. If there is one thing I enjoyed greatly about her, it is her ability to read people’s emotions based on the simplest of gestures and to be able to put herself in the shoes of a serial killer, follow their train of thoughts and guess what their next action will be.

Unlike the main character, the side characters in The Naturals are distinctive and it was entertaining to see how each personality handles the same situation. Lia and Sloane are fun characters and it sucks that I felt more for them than I did with Cassie. Lia is the bitchy type with the knack for lying and identifying if a person is lying. Sloane is the mild-mannered one who knows way too much about statistics. She often sprouts random statistical facts when she’s nervous and gets hyper when she ingests caffeine. Sloane appears to be the most innocent one of the bunch, but enough time with her will tell you otherwise. She has several tricks up her sleeve that she continues to pull all throughout the story. Dean and Michael are quite entertaining too in their distracting way that’s always full of manly-tension. They are the opposite of the other. Michael is the flirty type who is exceedingly confident while Dean is the quiet type who tends to isolate himself.

One of the things that caught me off guard about The Naturals is the love triangle. The summary already suggests it, but I don’t remember. I probably didn’t read it as thoroughly as I thought. I have a great dislike for love triangles and despite my unfeeling toward Cassie, I can’t help but be distracted by it. It also makes my brain ache thinking who Cassie might end up with because I'm a romance junkie regardless of my feelings for a character and I stress myself over things like that. It doesn't help that the boys are neither ahead of the other when it comes to Cassie's affection. Needless to say, this is my least favorite part of the book.

But despite the shortcomings, what ultimately redeemed this story for me is the gifts the characters have. I have not read a book with the likes of it, so I was pleased with Barnes’s The Naturals. Knowing how a serial killer’s mind works is both horrifying and spellbinding. The mystery of the killer is something I can’t comment on though, because I peeked at the last few pages before actually reading this and accidentally saw who the killer is however, in spite of that, Barnes still managed to surprise me.

The Naturals is a promising start to a (supernatural?) series and I would love to read more about character profiling as well as the other gifts the characters have, but hopefully we can get rid of the love triangle in the next book.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Disclosure: This e-galley was received from the publisher (Disney-Hyperion via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest opinion. No compensation was received for making this review.

[Blog Tour] Book Review: Beg for Mercy

Beg for Mercy (Cambion #1)
by Shannon Dermott
Kindle Edition
Published August 7th 2011 by Wicked Truth Pubishing
Source: Author
Buy the book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Description:

Everyone dreams of that first kiss. Of that magic moment when your lips finally meet those of that special person you’ve waited your whole life for. A little awkward, a little scary, a little hot and every bit amazing. We speculate that the whole world will shake and time will just stop. No one, however, ever imagines that kiss to bring Death himself knocking.

Sixteen year old Mercy Moore's life just got more complicated. The kiss that originally could have meant she would finally have a boyfriend now was the kiss that could have very nearly ended his life. A small detail her mother conveniently never told her will take her life for an abrupt u-turn. Dating, no love, was now completely and utterly impossible. And the boy well, that boy would never be the same.

But life, however cruel, goes on. Far too soon for her taste, Mercy finds herself at a senior party with the elite students of her school and her best friend. And of all things, playing a stupid game that could very well mean the death of someone in that small room. If it were not for her best friend, the hottest guys in school, and a small need to fit in, she may have been able to escape the disaster that was to come. Her worst nightmare, her personal curse, her very life, only gets dangerously worse.

This is a young adult paranormal romance novel.

Review:

Mercy Moore is not your average sixteen year old highschool student. She is a part human, part succubus. A fact she accidentally discovered when she almost killed the first guy she ever kissed, Paul, who then later became her best friend. Due to this, Mercy has restricted herself from getting close to boys, much less having intimate relationship with them for fear that she might really kill one of them.

There were moments in the first dew chapters where we see Mercy getting really hung up over this; being envious of other girls who can freely kiss guys whenever they want especially when Paul, who she still had feelings with, was then going out with another girl. In other circumstance, I might have rolled my eyes on this, but it was quite difficult not to sympathize with her. I guess it became hard for her to resist the temptation because when a cute guy started paying attention to her, she couldn't help but succumb to it.

Though it wasn't hard to feel sympathy for Mercy over trivial things, I still had mixed feelings for her. On one hand, I think her usage of SAT words in each chapter was cute and hilarious. But on the other hand, given that she was incredibly smart, I disliked her tendency to be assuming and judgmental (especially toward Flynn) without good reason. Also, for not being curious enough when it was apparent that her friends were hiding something from her.

Another thing I had mixed feelings with was the romance. I like a good romance and no matter how many times I say that I hate love triangles, I wouldn't be able to help it if the romance is really well done. So, umm... "love hexagon"? I don't know how I feel about that ESPECIALLY when I'm on Team Flynn and the other guys are as irresistible. Luke, Flynn, Paul, Sebastian... These are the boys who play a vital role in Mercy's life. They are all really lovable with distinct characteristics so it's hard to compare them with one another.

Overall, Beg for Mercy is good start to a young adult paranormal series. It's new and exciting and will put you on the edge of your seat several times. And that ending? To die for! It was frustrating in the best way possible. Will definitely be reading the second book soon. :)

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Disclosure: This book was received from the author as part of the Beg for Mercy blog tour (hosted by SupaGurl Tours), for free in exchange for an honest review. 

About the Author

Shannon first love was reading, diving into other realities to explore and brave new worlds. To share her writing is the best experience of all. Her first series explores the life and trials of being Mercy Moore, a teenage cambion. When Shannon isn't writing she loves to shop and watch horror movies that make turning out the lights seem like a stupid idea
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Book Review: Birthright [Blog Tour]

Birthright (The DarkGifts #1)
by Willow Cross
ebook, 535 pages
Published March 2nd 2011 by Willow Cross, via Smashwords
Source: Author for blog tour
Buy the book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Book Description:

For one-thousand years, Druid prophecies foretold of a young witch destined to alter the fate of both human and immortal alike. This witch-turned-vampire would be capable of harnessing the supernatural abilities of both and, in a bloody rise to power, would rule with unwavering control. Unwillingly thrust into a world she never dreamed existed, Liz Markum is catapulted into an ancient war between rival vampire factions. She must choose between those she loves and the ever-present darkness attempting to devour her very soul. Only one question remains: Will Liz claim her birthright or surrender to the dark gift? One choice. One chance. Two destinies.

Review:

The moment I saw the word "Druid" in the book's description, I knew I had to read Willow Cross's Birthright. (Iron Druid Chronicles, anyone?) But though there was less about druidry and more about vampires, witches, ghosts and mythology, Birthright did not disappoint and still provided for a truly enjoyable read.

Birthright begins interestingly as the readers are immediately thrust into Liz's life while she is faced, helpless, with the enemies. It was thrilling but also confusing because it felt like I was reading from the climax/middle part, but the flashbacks that followed provided for the enlightenment as to how and why Liz got where she was - all because of a single kiss from a stranger - and soon, I was sucked into her story while she struggled to get used to her new life when already, it is being threatened by a brewing war between two different races.

I admit that Liz is not an easy character to like. At first, she comes off as whiny and I didn't like how weak she presented herself. Although this only testifies how realistic her character is, I can't help but be annoyed when she just stands behind Michael's back and be afraid. However, as the story progressed, we get to see some development in her character and she grew to be the heroine I wanted her to be. Michael, on the other hand, is the easier character to love. He is the vampire who accidentally turned Liz into one of them. He's fiercely protective, loyal, brave and... swoon-worthy. Yes, swoon-worthy, he definitely is.

There's an insta-attraction between Michael and Liz but worry not, because Birthright doesn't revolve around romance. In fact, there's very little romance involved here. Birthright focused more on action and world-building which ultimately made this for a refreshing read. There were some parts that dragged for a bit but all in all, the story is gripping and the barely-there romance will make you root all the more for the characters. The addition of side characters with quirky personalities will make you laugh, and the mystery that surrounds the story will push you to the edge of your seats. I guess it's safe to say that Willow Cross's Birthright is one of the better vampire books out there with a unique story line and characters you will learn to love toward the end.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Disclosure: This book was received from the author as part of Birthright Blog Tour, for free in exchange for an honest review.

About the Author

Willow Cross resides in Arkansas with her husband, two children still young enough to live at home, an enormous cat named Bitsy, and a neurotic dog named Tank. Her home has been known to host the occasional ghost and several of her friends profess to be witches. Although she dearly loves Vampires and Werewolves, they are never invited for dinner.

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Book Review: Half-Blood

Half-Blood (Covenant #1)
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Paperback, 281 pages
Published October 18th 2011 by Spencer Hill Press
Source: Bought

Summary:

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi—pure-bloods—have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals—well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.

Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:

Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.

Unfortunately, she’s crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn’t her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

Review:

This is another book in which I have a serious love-hate relationship with. I love it because it was just soooo good! The main protagonist, Alex, is so badass and snarky and very loveable. Aiden? Hotness personified. Seth? Hotness personified too. The plot is exciting and had me on the edge of my seat countless of times. So, the problem? It bears a striking similarity to Vampire Academy.

Yes, THE Vampire Academy. The book I've read so many times and which I hold very dear to my heart. And it is really disappointing because it's not just the concept that's similar, like how Battle Royale and The Hunger Games are similar. The characters, events... it's sort of like VA with different character names. But of course, Half-Blood is good on it's own too. However, if you've read VA, then you could probably guess what's gonna happen in the book. Those are just minor events, BUT STILL. I don't know the story behind this so I'm not going to comment any further.

Anyway, like I said, this book had me on the edge of my seat several times. It's intense in all the right places. Also, the sexual tension between Aiden and Alex is too palpable, it was hard not to swoon. And the addition of Seth who's probably as hot as Aiden is just overwhelming! I don't usually gush about boys in this blog. My mother would probably spank me if she reads this, but hey! It's true. It's another disappointment, actually. I don't like love triangles especially when both boys are too likable. Another thing I disliked is the amount of foreshadowing! It seems as if Jennifer Armentrout is giving away the plot. But I hope I'm mistaken.

I would have given this a higher rating, but the issue with Vampire Academy keeps me from doing so. I'm not sure if fans of VA will like this or hate this but for the sake of the boys, I still recommend you all to read Half-Blood.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Book Review: Fallen in Love

Fallen in Love (Fallen #3.5)
by Lauren Kate
Hardcover, 201 pages
Published January 24th 2012 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Source: NetGalley

Summary: 

Unexpected. Unrequited. Forbidden. Eternal. Everyone has their own love story.


And in a twist of fate, four extraordinary love stories combine over the course of a romantic Valentine's Day in Medieval England. Miles and Shelby find love where they least expect it. Roland learns a painful lesson about finding-and losing love. Arianne pays the price for a love so fierce it burns. And for the first -and last- time, Daniel and Luce will spend a night together like none other.


Lauren Kate's FALLEN IN LOVE is filled with love stories . . . the ones everyone has been waiting for.


True love never says goodbye . . .

Review:

Fallen in Love is a collection of stories that happened on a Valentine’s Day. It includes the Valentine of Shelby and Miles, Roland, Arianne, and Luce and Daniel. To be honest, I had little hopes for this book. I was never that into Luce and Daniel and the other characters. I just liked to read the books because of the story itself. Fallen in Love didn’t exactly start after Passion. Miles and Shelby’s did. For Arianne, it happened during the medieval time. And for the others, it transpired during the travel.

The first short story was of Miles and Shelby’s. It started out quite dull, as expected, since they are my least liked characters in the books. After they separated from Daniel in Passion, Miles and Shelby stepped into an Announcer that was supposed to lead them back home, but instead, it led them to another place in the medieval era. I never pegged them as a couple so it surprised me how things between them developed. I thought it was a little too fast, but it also surprised me how I actually ended up liking their story.

The second story is Roland’s. At first, I thought all the stories would be fluffy, but his is bittersweet. But still, among the four short stories, his is my favorite. The third story is Arianne’s. I don’t read romance between two female, but strange enough, I also ended up liking her story. Like Roland’s, her story is sad and more tragic. She fell in love with a demon who wanted her to join Hell so they wouldn’t have to hide their relationship. But Arianne remained loyal to Heaven, and finally chose to follow Daniel.

The last is Luce and Daniel’s. Although each character has their own Valentine story, all of them happened on a single Valentine’s Day. This is the only Valentine’s that Daniel and Luce shared and it happened because Shelby, Miles, Roland and Arianne helped to make it happen. All in all, Fallen in Love, despite my initial impression of it, turned out to be a quite a good read.

Rating: 3.5 stars!

Disclosure: This e-galley was received from the publisher (Random House Children's Book via NetGalley) for free in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Shatter Me

Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1)
by Tahereh Mafi
Hardcover, 338 pages
Published November 15th 2011 by Harper/HarperCollins
ISBN 0062085484 (ISBN13: 9780062085481)
Challenge: Dystopia Reading Challenge
Source: Bought

Summary:

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

Review:

I have a serious love-hate relationship with Shatter Me. This has been gaining a lot of followers even before the official release. And after reading, I finally understood why. But I also understand why some people would find this, for the lack of word, irritating.

Tahereh Mafi's writing is unique. It has a gripping feel to it. That, coupled with an unpredictable plot and intriguing characters make this for a compelling read. I felt awkward at first though, what with all the strike-throughs. But after some time, I grew to liking them, but there were still times that I find them tiring.

Juliette was locked up in a cell for a murder she did not intend to commit. It had been almost a year since she last saw or talked to another person. During her time in the cell, she had bouts of doubt whether she had become insane. She was very scared, especially when all of a sudden, a new prisoner was thrown in the same cell. She was careful of what she said to Adam, for fear that she might scare him and think of her as crazy. It explains all the strike-throughs in the book; the things she wants to say, but did not dare utter. Also, the repetitive words/phrases. I think it's to remind herself that she was alive and she was okay and that she hasn't lost her mind yet.

I think the characters are okay. They intrigue me, but they're the least of my favorites in the book. I like Juliette, but I couldn't connect to her. Warner especially intrigues me the most. I'd like to know more about his obsession for Juliette. He's also very villain-ish, which is strange for a human teenager. But the most awkward part of the book, for me, was the ending. I really have nothing against X-Men, but I'd rather watch them than read about them.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Book Review: Anna Dressed in Blood

Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna #1)
by Kendra Blake
Hardcover, 316 pages
Published August 30th 2011 by Tor Teen
ISBN: 0765328658 (ISBN13: 9780765328656)
Source: Bought

Summary:

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

Review:

Don't you just love books that already ooze with excitement the moment you read the first line? Anna Dressed in Blood started out in a way that will catch the readers' interest pronto. At the beginning of the book, Cas meets the killer ghost that he's set out to kill. Cas seemed like a likable and a super cool guy too even at the start, so it wan't hard to tell that I was so going to enjoy the book.

The first half was everything I hoped for and more. I loved how the readers are introduced to Anna. She is expected to be a very terrifying ghost, and so that was how Blake introduced her to the readers. I can still picture her as the malevolent ghost that suddenly materialized at the top of the stairs and effortlessly ripped a person in half. Not something you'd expect a ghost would do, or could do for that matter, but somehow, Blake managed to make it natural and realistically creepy.

Unfortunately though, about 3/4 through, the plot suddenly became inconsistent. I'm also not satisfied with how Anna's case was solved. It was abrupt and very wth-ish. Cas's relationship with Anna wasn't totally believable. It wasn't spontaneous, and not to mention really awkward. I guess it's something that you're supposed to expect in a young adult book, but still, I didn't see it coming.

Overall though, Anna Dressed in Blood still provided for a very good quick read. And in spite of the wth-ish moments, I still can't wait to read the sequel.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Book Review: The Near Witch

The Near Witch
by Victoria Schwab
288 pages - Hardcover
Published August 2nd 2011 by Hyperion Books CH
Source: NetGalley

Summary:

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

Review:

This book reminded me of Ally Condie's Matched. Not in terms of characters and plot because they have zero in common. But in terms of writing, both books have SUPERB writing style. (Major, majot emphasis on superb.) But as far as the content goes, Matched and The Near Witch kind of bored me.

The plot was quite slow, and the story has a gloomy atmosphere. Not really my kind of YA. But the dark, mystifying world that Schwab created fit perfectly to the gloomy feel of the book. It was also rather hard to connect with the characters. The plot was a little predictable too. I was hoping that Schwab would use some twist toward the ending, but alas, the book finished with how exactly I thought it was going to be. The only thing that was keeping me from ditching this was Schwab's gorgeous writing style.

If you're into books with fluid, eloquent and superb writing style, I seriously recommend The Near Witch. You will not be disappointed!

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Disclosure: This was received from the publisher (Hyperion Books via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Love Story (ARC)

Love Story
by Jennifer Echols
243 Pages - Paperback
Expected publication: July 19th 2011 by MTV Books
Source: ARC from S&S Galley Grab

Summary:

SHE'S WRITING ABOUT HIM. HE'S WRITING ABOUT HER. AND EVERYBODY IS READING BETWEEN THE LINES.

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions--it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true.

Review:

As an heiress to a wealthy millionaire, Erin Blackwell’s grandmother wants her to pursue business course. But Erin has other plans for herself. She wants to be a writer. As a result, she is stripped off of all her inheritance. Worse, her grandmother had to give it to Hunter; the stable boy from her childhood. Now, Erin has to balance life from work and college. It’s already hard enough that she has to study and work her butt off. The only place she could relax is in the creative writing class. So when Hunter enrolled in the same class, all hell break loose. It doesn’t help that Hunter has to read the story she prepared on his first day, inspired by the same stable boy she met from childhood.

The story opens with a short story written by Erin about a forbidden tryst between a stable boy and his lady. I pretty much enjoyed this short story as well as the others. Though between Erin and Hunter, I enjoyed the latter’s works much better.

The plot is quite predictable, but what I love about Echols’s works is that no matter how predictable the plot is, you just can’t help anticipating the next events. However, no matter how much I liked how the events were unfolding, I gotta say that I was seriously disappointed with the last quarter of the book. Erin and Hunter had an argument. And although both parties were responsible, I was disappointed by how fast the fight ended. Without a single apology from either of them. It was a WTF moment for me. That said, I think the ending is rushed. I felt like it could still go on for 20 more pages, but unfortunately, it was cut short.

Erin also talked about the final story she wrote for the creative writing class before she and Hunter went back to the horse farm. The story is not featured in the book though, unlike her other stories. I thought that it was going to be an epic epilogue to the novel since it’s her and Hunter’s story. But all in all, I enjoyed reading Echols’s Love Story. Just not as much as her Going Too Far and Forget You.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Disclosure: This e-ARC was provided by Simon & Schuster (via S&S Galley Grab) for free in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Divergent

Divergent (Divergent #1)
by Veronica Roth
495 Pages - Hardcover
Published May 3rd 2011 by Katherine Tegen Books
Challenge: Dystopia Reading Challenge
Source: Bought

Summary:

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Review:

Divergent has got to be one of the most anticipated dystopian novels of the year. After The Hunger Games, this had been the only dystopian that was said to follow the success of the trilogy (that I heard of). And as a ginormous fan of THG, naturally, I was compelled to read this.

So, do I think that Divergent is the next Hunger Games? No.

Don't get me wrong. It's not that I didn't like Divergent. I actually liked it. I just had super high hopes for this one and so I was slightly disappointed that it did not live up to my expectations.

First off, despite this book's lengthy page, it was surprisingly a very quick read. The pace was a bit slow but with the many interesting events that happened all throughout the story, one wouldn't complain about the pace - you might not even notice it! I feel neutral about Tris and Four. They are both tough and intriguing characters but their characters didn't leave a strong impact to me. Divergent also has one epic premise, I give Roth that. I liked reading about the five factions. It was hard to choose a favorite among them. Each serves a purpose to the society but they are not without flaws. It wouldn't take a genius to predict that sooner or later, problems among each will arise.

I think this also lacked suspense. The plot had little complexity and was quite predictable, especially on the falling action part. I thought it was very cliched. But despite that, Roth did a really good job with this book. Even though I had a hunch on what was going to happen next, it didn't stop me from holding my breath and turning the pages one after the other.

I did enjoy reading Divergent but I think one of the reasons I didn't like this that much is because I kept comparing it to THG - and that was where I went wrong. Enjoy it as it is. Divergent is really good without it being compared to any book!

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Book Review: Vesper

Vesper (Deviants #1)
by Jeff Sampson
304 pages - Hardcover
Published January 25th 2011 by Balzer + Bray / HarperCollins
ISBN:  0061992763 (ISBN13: 9780061992766)
Source: Bought

Summary:

Emily Webb is a geek. And she’s happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old horror flicks, she’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for midnight parties. And she’s definitely not the kind of girl who starts fights or flirts with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that . . . the same night one of her classmates—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered.

The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing any of this. By day, she’s the same old boring Emily, but by night, she turns into a thrill seeker. With every nightfall, Emily gets wilder until it’s no longer just her personality that changes. Her body can do things it never could before: Emily is now strong, fast, and utterly fearless. And soon Emily realizes that she’s not just coming out of her shell . . . there’s something much bigger going on. Is she bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely— something not human?

As Emily hunts for answers, she finds out that she’s not the only one this is happening to—some of her classmates are changing as well. Who is turning these teens into monsters—and how many people will they kill to get what they want?

Review:

The story starts with Emily Webb about to sneak out from her bedroom window wearing clothes that her geeky self would never have the guts to wear; exposed cleavage, short shorts and way too much make-up. The weird thing is, she doesn’t remember why and how she got dressed like that. If her best friend, Megan, hadn’t called when she was halfway out the window, she doesn’t have an idea what she would have done next.

What bugs Emily more though, is that the night she started acting the total opposite of her geeky self is also the night that Emily Cooke – the other Emily who liked to party – was shot dead. Emily thinks that Emily Cooke’s spirit possesses her every night and makes her do things that Emily Cooke does.

I initially thought that Vesper was a crime/suspense/mystery book about a kickass teenager with split personality and awesome detective skills. That was the impression I got from the description. Turns out, it was hardly any of those. Not really. So you can only imagine my surprise when I finally discovered the real deal with Emily Webb. I can’t say whether this is a bad thing or good thing though. The deal with effective shock factors in books is that, the readers will be awed by the unpredictability of the story. But on the other hand, the cause of that shock factor must be something the readers would approve of because this would either disappoint or please the readers. In Vesper’s case, I wasn’t at all thrilled to find out what Emily really is.

The plot's pace is really slow. I wouldn't recommend this much to impatient readers. It took me a huge amount of will power not to look at the last pages. But anyway, Vesper has that really intriguing quality to it that wouldn't let me close the book and chuck it somewhere. No, I stayed where I was seated from start to finish and inhaled the book in 6 hours. The transcripts are also enough to make the reader guessing and be more intrigue with the story.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars