Book Review: Sweet Evil

Sweet Evil (The Sweet Trilogy #1)
by Wendy Higgins
Paperback, 454 pages
Published May 1st 2012 by HarperTeen
Source: Bought
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

Review:

When I first met Anna Whitt, I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like her that much. She didn’t seem like an exciting character to me. She was an extreme Ms. Goody Two Shoes, she always told the truth, she cried so easily, she didn’t have vices and she wasn’t even funny. In short, she was boring. In most cases, if a character already bores me not more than 30 pages into the book, I would think twice before continuing to read it. However, in Sweet Evil’s case, my extreme excitement for the book overshadowed my indifference for Anna. Besides, I thought Kaidan Rowe was especially hot.

There’s no argument that Kaidan is a certified YA hottie. Brown hair, blue eyes, cocky attitude, an awesome drummer and oh, British accent, anyone? *Swoon* Too bad that as the story progressed, he became less and less enticing to me. Not that I don't love him as a character anymore (the guy is too sexy to ignore!) but my dislike for Anna dragged him down too.

I was never a fan of insta-romance so I was disappointed to find one in Sweet Evil. This insta-romance also involves a forbidden love, which is something I generally like in my YA books but weirdly enough, something I didn't appreciate in this book. Especially when the relationship of Anna and Kaidan confused me so much. One moment they're so into each other and the next, the other is all we can't be together blah blah. I also didn't like how Anna acted when Kaidan told her off. And though her reaction was quite understandable given that it was her first love, I couldn't help but be irked by it. My respect for her as a girl went couple of notches down then and there. I most especially didn't like how much emphasis was given to Anna's virginity. At first it was funny but then I just got tired of it. Practically every character in this book knows about her virginity. Even the evil bosses are calling her out for it. How weird is that?

Speaking of weird, Sweet Evil has a rather unique but weird concept. Nephs here are taught not to do good things contrary to others where kids are taught not to do bad things. However, I think Higgins's concept for this book is questionable. Wouldn't it be more pleasing to the evil bosses if the Nephs are not following the rules? Because violating the rules is evil, right? (That or maybe Philosoraptor is rubbing off on me.)

But by all means, I genuinely liked reading this book. In terms of plot, Sweet Evil is well-paced. The side characters are likable especially Jay and the other Nephs. Despite Anna's tendency to be annoying and confusing, I couldn't help turning the pages one after the other. I guess in spite of its flaws, Sweet Evil still has that grasping quality to it that makes it hard to put down. And did I mention that Kaidan Rowe is hot? It's just sad that I don't share the same hype that majority of the YA blogging community has for this book.

Rating: 3/5 stars

Book Review: Angelfall

Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days #1)
by Susan Ee
Kindle Edition, 255 pages
Published May 21st 2011 by Feral Dream

Summary:

It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

Review:

Angelfall is not your typical post-apocalyptic angel YA fantasy book. Heck, I'm not even sure if there are other post-apocalyptic books that features angels as the cause of the devastation. Sure, there are some angel books where the angels want to annihilate the existence of humanity, but in no book does these angels succeed.

In Angelfall, the readers are transported into a post-apocalyptic world defaced by angels. Penryn, along with her wheelchair-bound younger sister and mentally unstable mother (mentally unstable as in someone-who-talks-to-the-devil-and-puts-lipstick-and-draws-six-pointed-stars-to-corpses-just-because type of mentally unstable) strive to survive the dismantled world. However, an encounter with a fight between an angel and five others separated their family. Her younger sister was abducted by the angels while her mother escaped. One of the angels lay unconscious in the aftermath, stripped off of wings. And in the hopes of finding her sister, Penryn decided to save him.

It's been so long since I read a book that has rendered me absolutely speechless. Angelfall's awesomeness was entirely unexpected, something that made it all the more surprising. Angelfall also has no boring page. The good scenes just keep coming and coming. It is action-packed, and the heroine is a badass. Both Penryn and Raffe are very likable characters. Penryn's mom is a serious case of nut, but I find her amusingly creepy. Other than her, there are also some more gruesome vivid scenes that may not be appropriate for the weak-hearted.

Also, original plot. And no insta-love! I like that Raffe and Peryn's relationship developed gradually. Although there's no clear signs of romance, the hints are everywhere. Overall, Angelfall is a captivating read that is capable of transporting you right into its world and keep you there long after you finish reading it.

Rating: 5/5 stars!!!!!

READ THE FIRST 5 CHAPTERS HERE

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: Bloodlines

Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1)
by Richelle Mead
Hardcover, 421 pages
Published August 23rd 2011 by Razorbill
Source: Bought

Summary:

The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy.

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines 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.

Review:

I am obsessed with Sydney x Adrian. I loved Sydney and Adrian in Vampire Academy, but after reading Bloodlines, I was a goner. I've been shipping them so hard ever since! I spend hours reading Sydney and Adrian fanfics but they're not enough. (I really wish more people would write Sydrian fanfics.) I seriously, seriously need the second book now or I'm going to explode!

I love Sydney! Her character is a far cry from Rose but I like her all the same. I especially like it when Adrian's in the picture. He makes every scene interesting. The fact that Sydney thinks that vampires are creatures of the night, and is scared of them and their magic makes scenes with Adrian all the more amusing. Also, Sydney has a knack in knocking sense into him. It was awesome to see some improvement on Adrian. I gotta say though, the ending was a real killer! I'm just excited to see how things between Sydney and Adrian are going to unfold. I'd love to finally see him free from Rose.

I also like the fact that RM is taking time on building Sydney and Adrian's relationship. I am ashamed to admit that I'm the type of person who values romance in YA so much. I rarely read YA books with no romance. Bloodlines doesn't have romance but I still love it like crazy! If you loved Adrian and want to see him finally get his happy ending, start with Bloodlines now!!!

Rating: 5/5 stars!

Book Review: Queen of the Dead (ARC)

Queen of the Dead (The Ghost and the Goth #2)
by Stacey Kade
288 pages - Hardcover
Expected publication: May 31st 2011 by Hyperion Book CH
Source: NetGalley/Hyperion Books

Summary:

After being sent back from the light, Alona Dare - former homecoming queen, current Queen of the Dead - finds herself doing something she never expected: working. Instead of spending days perfecting her tan by the pool (her typical summer routine when she was, you know, alive), Alona must now cater to the needs of other lost spirits. By her side for all of this - ugh - “helping of others” is Will Killian: social outcast, seer of the dead, and someone Alona cares about more than she’d like.

Before Alona can make a final ruling on Will’s “friend” or “more” status, though, she discovers trouble at home. Her mom is tossing out Alona’s most valuable possessions, and her dad is expecting a new daughter with his wicked wife. Is it possible her family is already moving on? Hello! She’s only been dead for two months! Thankfully, Alona knows just the guy who can put a stop to this mess.

Unfortunately for Alona, Will has other stuff on his mind, and Mina, a young (and beautiful) seer, is at the top of the list. She’s the first ghost-talker Will’s ever met—aside from his father—and she may hold answers to Will’s troubled past. But can she be trusted? Alona immediately puts a check mark in the “clearly not” column. But Will is - ahem - willing to find out, even if it means leaving a hurt and angry Alona to her own devices, which is never a good idea.

Packed with romance, lovable characters, and a killer cliffhanger, Queen of the Dead is the out-of-this-world sequel to The Ghost and the Goth.

Review:

I had so much fun reading Queen of the Dead. Every page screamed hilarity and excitement. Talk about page-turner! I was so absorbed into the world of Alona and Will I can’t even remember anything that happened outside the book while I was reading it. I commend Kade for being able to write such a fantastic novel that combines humor, drama and romance into a light and easy to read masterpiece.

I loved Alona in the first book, but I loved her even more in this book! She’s still the same old fashion-obsessed cheerleader who makes sarcastic comments. She doesn’t back down against anyone. Be it a battle against bitchy ghosts/ghost talkers or a well-built ghost that cold-cocks dead cheerleaders. And I just love how well-developed her character is in this second installment. She was rather flat in the first book. No development whatsoever, but just hidden goodness finally rising up to the surface. Which eventually hid again. But in Queen of the Dead, I can’t help but feel proud of her. She’s still self-absorbed most of the time, but it’s hard to get mad at her especially when she’s as hurt as much as she’s being impossible. It’s so good to finally see her soften up a bit and show vulnerability.

Will, on the other hand, is finally getting a better grasp with what happened to his father. With the indirect help of Mina, the new ghost talker, he finds another way of ‘helping’ spirits, but in a way that will make him choose a side, between the spirits and the living. As much as I like Alona, I enjoy reading Will’s narrative  more. I’ve read quite a few books that are told from a boy’s perspective, but none of them has the same funny yet soothing voice that Will has.

I am also very happy with the turn of events. I’m surprised and unsurprised at the same time. I kind of have predicted the events before it happened so I shouldn’t have been surprised, but why it happened and what happened after are way beyond my prediction. This also has more depth than the first book. I was expecting the humor before I even started reading this, but the drama? I actually cried! I empathized with Alona despite her tendency to be so selfish. But she made a huge sacrifice that was way too un-Alona and it made me like her even more!

Queen of the Dead has twice the hilarity, drama, romance and depth of its predecessor, The Ghost and the Goth. So many lessons can be learned from here. It just goes to show that this has much more to it that what some people may call a fun but unrealistic romance between a spirit and a living person. Queen of the Dead is about family, love, sacrifice and ultimately, acceptance. I laughed, I cried, I empathized with the characters, and most of all, I freaking want the third book NOW!

Rating: 5/5 stars! 

Disclosure: I received this e-ARC from the publisher (Hyperion Books via NetGalley) for free in exchange for an honest review.

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

Book Review: Timeless by Alexandra Monir

Timeless (Timeless, book 1)
by Alexandra Monir
304 pages - Hardcover
Published Jan 11th 2011 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 0385738382 (ISBN13: 9780385738385)

Summary:

When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor’s world, she is forced to uproot her life and move across the country to New York City, to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she’s never met. In their old Fifth Avenue mansion filled with a century’s worth of family secrets, Michele discovers a diary that hurtles her back in time to the year 1910. There, in the midst of the glamorous Gilded Age, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life – a man she always wished was real, but never imagined could actually exist. And she finds herself falling for him, into an otherworldly, time-crossed romance.

Michele is soon leading a double life, struggling to balance her contemporary high school world with her escapes into the past. But when she stumbles upon a terrible discovery, she is propelled on a race through history to save the boy she loves – a quest that will determine the fate of both of their lives.

Review:

Ah, this book was a breath of fresh air! – Not in the sense of being light and hilarious, but in the sense of being utterly good that even if it made me cry, it still managed to put a smile on my face. Timeless was my first ever time travel romance novel and I loved it! I am so, so happy that I gave this a try.

After Michele Windsor’s mother died, she was forced to live under the custody of her grandparents in a very huge mansion in New York. Surrounded by wealthy kids and family secrets, her life was bound to get more than complex when she discovered the diary of an ancestor who lived a hundred years ago. And by some unexplainable event, Michele suddenly had the ability to travel back through time. There, she met the handsome young pianist from the Windsors’s rival family, Philip Walker. But how will their romance work out if they live 100 years apart?

It was easy enough to connect with the characters; Michele and Philip. Their romance was extremely sad that it was almost palpable. I felt sympathy for them at the unfairness of their fate. Michele’s time travels did not revolve around Philip, however. The travels seemed random at first, but later, it became apparent that who or whatever triggered them wanted Michele to learn something from or about her ancestors. She wasn’t visible to all people in the past. Whoever she was visible to were chosen and these were the people who have an important part to play in her life.

The ending was quite predictable. But though I was somehow expecting it, it still surprised the heck out of me. But I'm also bummed by it because cliffhanger? I almost died!

If you haven’t picked up Timeless yet, go to your nearest bookstores now and grab a copy! And pay for it, of course. You will not be disappointed!

Rating: 5/5 stars

Book Review: Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

Desires of the Dead (Body Finder, book 2)
by Kimberly Derting
368 pages (Hardcover)
Published Feb 15th 2011 by HarperCollins
ISBN: 0061779849 (ISBN13: 9780061779848)

Summary:

The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

Review:

Desires of the Dead! Finally! If you haven't read The Body Finder yet, then you wouldn't understand how much I suffered waiting for this book. But if you have, I hope we share the same sentiment.

The Body Finder was one of the most gripping and breathtaking books I've read in 2010 so my expectations for Desires of the Dead were rather high. So, did DotD live up to my expectations? Sadly, no. I am afraid that the intensity of TBF was barely present in DotD. Were there more Jay and Violet romantic scenes? Fortunately, yes! I'm a very big fan of this couple, and there were more than a handful romantic scenes between them in DotD. Was Violet being annoying like in TBF? Oh yes, she was. The same reasons why she annoyed me in TBF were also the same reasons why she annoyed me in DotD. I also didn't like how she kept doing things on her own. She kept doing the same mistakes over and over until it got tiring and very old. So, were there new characters? Yep. 5, actually. All play a significant role. 2 of them we'll see in the next books.

All in all, is DotD worth reading even after it didn't live up to your expectations? Oh, yes. Even though TBF was undoubtly superior to DotD, it still has some level of intensity to it. Besides, the new characters are worth getting to know. Really, you just can't miss it.

Rating: 4/5

Book Review: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Demonglass (Hex Hall, book 2)
by Rachel Hawkins
359 pages (Hardcover)
Published March 1st 2011 by Hyperion Books

Summary:

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

Review:

Demonglass was awesome! I thought Hex Hall was an okay book, so I didn’t expect Demonglass to be that good. But oh, boy did it proved me wrong!

After causing so much mayhem in Hecate Hall, Sophie’s father aka the Head of the Council, sent her to a safer place in London for a vacation to learn more about the Council as her father’s successor. Along with Jenna, Cal – throw in two demons, a bitchy ghost and a sort-of ex-boyfriend, Sophie’s vacation isn’t as lovely as she would have dreamed of. And as she discovers that the person who has been raising demons in the grounds in Hex Hall is in London, maybe London is not a safer place for her after all.

With new characters, new setting, bigger revelations and more complicated problems, Demonglass couldn’t be even more interesting. Sophie was as snarky and hilarious as ever, and Archer as hot. The pace was a little slow at first, but gradually picked up speed as the story moved forward. I really, really liked that about Demonglass. Once the story picked up its pace, it continued to move faster and faster until you’d find yourself out of breath. If you have read and liked Hex Hall, you will not be disappointed with Demonglass. It was intense, gripping, and hilarious! It was sooo good.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Book Review: Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach (ARC)

Wake Unto Me
by Lisa Cach
208 pages (Paperback)
Published March 31st 2011 by Speak
ISBN: 0142414360 (ISBN13: 9780142414361)


Summary:

A haunted castle, a handsome young man dead for four hundred years, one heck of a scary portrait of a witch, and a treasure hunt -- not to mention a princess for a roommate! -- all await 15 year old American girl Caitlyn Monahan when she earns a scholarship to a French boarding school.

There are secrets behind the stone walls of Chateau de la Fortune, buried for centuries along with the mystery of who killed Raphael, the charming ghost who visits Caitlyn at night. But as Caitlyn unearths the history of the castle, nothing scares her as badly as the secret she learns about herself, and the reason she was chosen to come to the Fortune School.

And nothing breaks her heart as badly as falling in love with a dead guy.

Source: Borrowed

Review:

If it wasn't for the good reviews, I wouldn't have read Wake Unto Me. I've been seeing this a lot in other book blogs, but never had it never caught my interest. I didn't even know it was about witches and ghosts and french boarding schools until I read it. You know when you have no idea what a book is about, and yet, out of nowhere, the urge to start reading it attacks you? And then when you read it, bam! You're blown away. That was exactly how I met this book.

I enjoyed this book a lot especially the protagonist, Caitlyn Monahan. Even though I could not fully comprehend what type of personality she really has.  Her character was a bit inconsistent. Sometimes, she would act shy. Sometimes, a bit crazy. Sometimes, bold. Nonetheless, she was very funny and interesting. Though, I'd really love to see her personality have some more consistency in the sequel because I didn't feel like I got to know her that much in the book.

One thing I did not think this book would be about were ghosts. I know the cover has a ghostly apparition of a guy, but I didn't think that there was actually a ghost. Let me share you a secret. I have never, ever, ever been scared by a book about ghosts and other dead things. Never. Until I read Wake Unto Me. The description of that ghost Caitlyn encountered in the school. Scared. The. Hell. Out. Of. Me. I was so absorbed with the story that I didn't notice how I was trying to push the book away from me while still trying to sneak a peak of it. Unbelievable, I know.

I can't wait for this book to be released. I hope a lot more people would be able to see the awesomness of this book. I absolutely recommend Wake Unto Me to everyone!

Rating: 5/5 stars

Book Review: Afterlife by Claudia Gray

Afterlife (Evernight #4)
by Claudia Gray
386 pages (Hardcover)
Published March 8th by HarperTeen
ISBN: 0061284424 (ISBN13: 9780061284427)

Summary:

The fourth book in this electrifying vampire series has all the romance, suspense, and page-turning drama that have made Claudia Gray’s Evernight books runaway successes.

Having become what they feared most, Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. They must return to Evernight Academy, Lucas as a vampire and Bianca as a wraith. But Lucas is haunted by demons, both personal and supernatural. Bianca must help him fight the evil inside him, combat the forces determined to drive them apart—and find the power to claim her destiny at last.

Readers have fallen in love with Bianca and Lucas, and they will be thrilled to read this exciting conclusion to their romantic adventure.


Review:

I'm still trying to figure out what I feel about Afterlife. I think it's really odd that I didn't feel any disappointment over how it did not live up to my expectations. The Evernight series is possibly one of my most favorite series but after reading Afterlife, I don't know if it's still on that list. There were parts in the book that pushed me to the edge of my seat, and there were times that I found myself getting bored over some parts. But anyway, all in all, the book was ok. It managed to stimulate the part of my brain which tells me to forget the time and your surroundings and live inside the book. Which is exactly what I like about my books.

The ending was okay. Unpredictable? Yes. Satisfying? Not really. Would I like a better ending? Definitely. But then, it's going to be one of those novels written to please the fans. Besides, I like the idea that Lucas and Bianca's story did not just end there. It implied that there was more to their story than just that. I'm a sucker for those types of ending and so I will happily settle with it.

Rating: 3/5 stars