Review: Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

From Goodreads: When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.

Review: Angelfire was one of those books that I just couldn’t put down. I fell in love with the characters right away. Ellie is a wonderfully crafted, strong YA female character. It was so refreshing to read about a girl who actually knows how to apply eyeliner (likes it) and is not ashamed to admit she likes to party with her friends and dance with guys. But in the next moment she’s dropping monsters and slashing her swords through the air, taking on her role as protector with humility, strength, and grace (no whining). I am impressed with the relationship she has with her best friend, Kate. They portrayed a true friendship and cared for one another, even though Ellie couldn’t divulge her secret, she still kept her close and made time for her and her other friends. Will is fast becoming one of my favorite male leads in YA fiction. Not only is he drop dead gorgeous (I Love tats) but he is fierce and protective without being possessive or cocky (not too cocky). He accepts that Ellie still needs to keep a semblance of her life as a teenage girl, while guiding her into becoming the warrior she needs to be. The way he loves her so selflessly, tugs at my heart strings and causes a little ache deep inside my chest. The writing is near flawless. Written in first person, it’s paced perfectly and with clarity. The voice of the novel is really what impressed me the most. At no time did I feel that I was reading from a younger or older perspective, it was spot on for a seven-teen-year-old girl. Nor did I question the mythology Ms. Moulton created. I felt as if I was right beside Ellie, experiencing everything first hand, and desperately not wanting it to end. It’s been a long time since I found a character that I loved as much as Buffy Summers and I’m ecstatic that I get to read more of Ellie’s story! With its heart-stopping action, breath-taking romance, and beautifully descriptive scenes, I give Angelfire 5 flames!  

Hardcover, 464 pages

Expected publication: February 15th 2011 by HarperCollins / Katherine Tegen Books

 

Review: Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky

From Goodreads: Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking.

In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space.

Review: Dystopian novels are going to be big in the upcoming year. With The Hunger Games paving the way, they are lining up to get some notice, and I’ve already read at least five in the past couple weeks. That being said, each novel has to bring something new to the table that the others don’t. Big Government is at the center of most dystopian novels, and what I enjoyed about Awaken was the author chose to use Digital School in the place of government for the corrupt power; the idea is fresh and interesting. Maddie has a difficult position, her father happens to be the creator, ruler of Digital School, it’s a difficult position for her to be in and maintain individual and unbiased opinions on the world around her. Maddie used to have a strong belief against Digital school until her father slowly drained the fire from her, and we see through the novel how that fire is rekindled, making her a strong character for YA. Ms. Kacvinsky did a wonderful job shaping the digital world of tomorrow. I can see us slowly progressing to being dependent on computers to addicted in the near future. Mattie lives online, her friends, school, life; everything is done online, until she meets Justin in a chat room where he convinces her to meet him in the ‘real world’. Justin’s character is smooth and easy going, though later we see just how strong and important he is. Maddie and Justin balance each other well, and bring out the best in each other, developing a quick, heated, passionate relationship. The book starts off slow, but soon we are taken through car chases, air rides, and action packed scenes that speed up the pace and intensity or their relationship. There were a few inconsistencies in the book, but overall I found it an enjoyable read. 

I give Awaken 3 flames!

Hardcover, 352 pages

Expected publication: May 23rd 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

From Goodreads: It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him.

When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

Review: I am a huge fan of the Victorian era. To the way the women dress, to the chivalry and etiquette, and most of all, the beautiful prose that authors wove into immortal tales. That being said, it’s hard for me to find a current historical novel that touches me as much as the classics. The Vespertine did just that, and it moved me. I fell in love with the relationship that Amelia developed with Zora, the kinship they shared, their companionship. I enjoy reading the banter of that time, two young girls gossiping innocently about their friends and trying to figure out their place in the world. The paranormal element was an exciting twist, too. Wuthering Heights is my favorite classic for this reason. I love the mix of the old world and the paranormal, it almost seems that the two belong together, both are so fantastic. The relationship between Amelia and Nathaniel is amazing and intense. Nathaniel’s pursuit of Amelia made my heart speed, I held my breath with their every encounter, it was beautiful and magical. But don’t let that deter you; this is a truly haunting tale. I found myself staring off into space after I finished the book trying to place just how it made me feel. I was left with an eerie contentment and fascination. Though the only thing I wished the book expounded more on was the actual supernatural element. Although I enjoyed the mystery of it. Overall the story was bewitching and utterly romantic. A wonderful addition to the YA market!

300 pages

Expected publication: March 7th 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's

Review & GIVEAWY! Jump by Jennifer Wylie - Short Story

To enter the GIVEAWAY, sign up for a FREE account with Omnilit and then enter the email address you signed up with into the comment box below. It's easy! That's all you have to do to earn a chance to WIN your very own copy of Jump!

Description: If you were told to jump off of a bridge would you?

Perhaps it would depend on who was doing the asking. Our heroine has spunk and a sense of humor, however suffers from an extreme case of inappropriate clothing. When things take a turn from dangerous to worse what will she do when fantasy becomes reality? Warning: May include hot leather clad men, singing and demons.

Review: Take heed of that warning above! This is a fast and hot short by an awesome writer who knows how to keep us enthralled. From the very first sentence I was holding my breath, trying to figure out how this girl got herself in this particular situation. This is a review, so I won’t give away any details, but I think my favorite part (other than the hot guys) was how Ms. Wylie brought the whole scene together; wrapping up the end to match the beginning, bringing the story full circle with non-stop action. I felt close to the MC. If I were in her position I wouldn’t handle it as well as she did though, but I loved how she not only handled it, but did so with humor, keeping me entertained. This is a wonderful short story by a promising writer. Jennifer has a book coming out soon, Sweet Light, you can see my interview with here, so you should ‘jump’ on the opportunity to read her first published piece! Jump also reached #3 on the publishers best sellers list within the first week!

I give Jump 5 flames!

Get Jump here!

Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

From Goodreads: Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -the deliria- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Review: From the first paragraph of this book I was hooked. Ms. Oliver has an exceptional style, a grace, with words. She writes captivating prose, pulling the reader into the world and I even found myself questioning if this is where we are headed as a society. I love that Maine was the setting. I’ve never been but have always dreamed of going. And I felt, through Oliver’s intense description, I was surrounded by Maine’s beauty, and at other times, surrounded by its future wretchedness. I connected with Lena on a deep level. Her views of love and pain and life are shared with many who have loved and lost, and at no time did the author talk down to her readers through her MC. Lena made me feel everything she felt, describing everything in such clarity and unique metaphor. The love story between Lena and Alex is enthralling, passionate, it is everything I feel a love story should be. Alex is a wonderful male lead; confident but not cocky, protective but not overpowering, and enraptured with Lena but not creepy stalker. The fact that the whole story was centered on love, but not just the idea of what love is, but love, true love, made me yearn to experience those first moments of falling in love all over again. I devoured this book in less than a day, I couldn’t stop, and I can’t wait to read the next.

With its original plot, beautiful prose, and breathless romance, I give Delirium 5 flames!

Hardcover, 440 pages

Expected publication: February 1st 2011 by HarperTeen

The Darling Budds by Johnny Dale

From the website: The Darling Budds is a serialized Young Adult novel that follows seven teenagers during the long summer between junior and senior year. The glamorous Alexander and Lillian Budd have been sent away for the summer, and possibly longer. Will their friends risk everything to bring them back?

From Prologue: If a small and dedicated group of teenagers became passionate about how they looked, how they dressed, and how they acted, then they would begin to change their school and, eventually, the world. This was the only rebellion left in this ruined age, and—if done right—it would be revolutionary.

Style is substance.

Their names were Alexander and Lillian Budd, but no one ever called them by their names. To everyone at Beaumonde Academy, they were better known—out of admiration, out of jealousy, out of fondness, out of envy—as simply The Darling Budds.

This is not their story.

I happened across this story by chance, for it is not widely known in the YA blogosphere. I couldn’t believe that a writer was writing a whole book on the Internet, well, I could believe it; writers post their books online all the time. But Mr. Dale is actually writing a serial, posting chapters week by week, going until he feels the book is complete. ??? I had to check it out.

Review: As of today, there are 46 chapters posted on the website, with the promise of more to come after the holidays. Johnny Dale is a wonderfully descriptive writer; painting the setting of New Orleans with vivid clarity and beauty. The story is centered around 7 teenagers who attend New Orleans most elite private school, Beaumonde Academy, and what takes place during their summer vacation. I’ve read all the chapters so far and am seriously in awe. I’ve read many books that introduce a gang of characters where we follow them around and experience their life, their journey, what have you. But I’m amazed at the depth, the personality, the imperfections these characters have. And how real “the gang” in The Darling Budds has become to me. There is a central plot the story arc focuses on, but I don’t find myself reading to discover the ‘who did it’. I devoured these chapters because I was taken with the characters’ lives. Their struggles are so real, and yet, they are unlike any teenagers I know today. Each one of them has an amazing backstory, love interest, and well developed issues, and they are all thrown together because of The Twins. We don’t actually get to meet “the twins” from what I’ve read so far, but we come to know them through the eyes of The Gang. They truly have an original take on how they believe proper should be, and how teenagers can change the world. Right now, I’m sucked into the romantic development between two of the characters and am biting my nails to find out what happens between them; how it will impact the rest of The Gang and the overall story. 

Emily Bellecastle, Elizabeth “Litta’ Bit” Hunyh, Robert Johnson, Andre Meyer, Josephine Brooks, Michael Karlinoff, and David Sabastian all have secrets. I can’t wait to discover them all! Because the book hasn’t ended yet, I’m not going to give it a rating at this time, but I can safely say that I see some major heat coming for the final review of The Darling Budds! 

You can start reading the serial from the beginning at Johnny Dale's site here! http://www.thedarlingbudds.com/

Review: Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

From Goodreads: Rose Hathaway has always played by her own rules.

She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir’s Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir Princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardian to come.

Now the law has finally caught up with Rose- for a crime she didn’t even commit. She’s in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She’ll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir.

But the clock on Rose’s life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back… and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your life is about saving others, who will save you?

Review: I first became a fan of this series two years ago. I read the first Vampire Academy and fell in love with Rose’s story and her quest to define herself, and of course, Dimitri. I love and hate the last book in a series. There’s so many ways that it can leave you hanging or unsatisfied. However, that is not the case with Last Sacrifice! And thank god. I feared and desired this book to the point of insanity. Throughout the series Rose has had one battle after the next, always putting others’ lives ahead of hers. In this book, we see her still willing to give everything for those she loves. There are no spoilers in this review, so I won’t go into specifics about how it ends, I’ll just state that Rose’s transformation from the first book is the definition of what a YA book should be. She is stronger, smarter, more self-aware, though Mead still gives us the Rose attitude we fell in love with. I <3 Rose! Rose and Dimitri, Dimitri and Rose, what can I say? Their love will forever be one of the dearest love stories to my heart. They have been through so much, and still their passion for one another burns hotter each time I flip the page, ahhh, I’m beyond sad to see it end. Mead wrapped the series up in a perfect way, action, love, friendship, betrayal, suspense, anything and everything you can imagine, this book has it!

**Kind of a Spoiler* But the good news? Mead is working on a new series, Bloodlines, that involves a love interest from the VA series….. I bet you can probably guess who it is =) which I’m so glad to hear, my heart bleeds for this character.*

The perfect end to the perfect epic series, I give Last Sacrifice five flames!

Hardcover, 594 pages

Published December 7th 2010 by Penguin Group (USA)

Author Miniview: Julie Kagawa on The Iron Fey Series

Thank you, Julie, for stopping by YA Bound to give us this Miniview! You can find my review on The Iron Queen here.

1.  What inspired you to write The Iron Fey Series?

    

 Faeries, the old, ancient fey, not the glittery winged sprites, have always fascinated me.  But I wanted to write a book that was different than other faery books.  So I began thinking: what are the fey afraid of?  The answer, in most ancient mythos, is iron.  Faeries can’t stand the touch of iron and steel.  So, what if there was a new type of fey that had evolved with progress over the years?  What if they weren’t only immune to iron, their existence was slowly poisoning and corrupting the lands of the traditional fey?  And I realized we already have “monsters” in machines: gremlins, bugs, viruses, ect.  And from that thought, the Iron fey were born.

2.  What is the hardest part of writing for you? Are there ever days where writers block, or daily life overwhelms you and interferes with your writing process?

Oh, there are always days where it feels like pulling teeth would be a more pleasant experience then writing another word on this wretched story.  But I've learned to let    myself write crap, or to skip over the difficult parts entirely, because I can always come back later and fix it.  For the most part, though, I love writing.  Keeping up a social life, and having things that I really enjoy, is also a huge help to keep from getting overwhelmed.  

3.  The Iron Queen was supposed to be the last book. What prompted you to write another book in the Iron Fey series, and why from Ash’s POV?

To tell the truth, The Iron Queen WAS intended to be the very last book.  Meghan's journey was done, and I was perfectly happy leaving the ending as it was.  But my amazing, wonderful editor convinced me we needed a book from Ash's POV, so I started working on The Iron Knight.  I'm very glad I did, too, because Knight is going to be awesome.  :D 

I'm so glad that she convinced you too! I can't wait to read The Iron Knight, the sneak peek at the end of The Iron Queen was just enough to make me crave more =)

Imago- Book One, A Warrior's Tale by Lorna Suzuki

From Goodreads: "Imago Chronicles: Book One, A Warrior's Tale" begins at the height of the turmoil that shall determine if indeed there will be a Third Age of Peace. Besieged by the enemy from the east and now immersed in war with soldiers of the Dark Army from the west, Nayla Treeborn and her people are about to engage in the next great war that will decide the fate of all mankind and Elves in Imago. In a desperate attempt to deliver word to the Elf king of Wyndwood and those of the alliance for a call to arms, she is the last surviving messenger sent forth by her people. Now, trapped in a storm at the top of the world, she fights to survive the deadly elements in a strange land. Despised by Elves and shunned by mortals, she must now find the courage to make a place in this world, and the compassion to save those who keep her at arm's length. This adventure recounts the defining moments in Nayla's life that had forged her into a deadly warrior, a great captain and a legend amongst the people of Imago.

Review: There are some books that you simply can’t put down. They grab you emotionally right from the start, and grip your heart so tightly, you find yourself immersed in the story, the characters, the world, you lose all sense around you. This is how it was for me reading A Warriors Tale. Nayla’s journey begins by taking us back to a time in her childhood. At 12, she had to escape the clutches of her abusive Elf father. It’s very hard for me to read abuse in stories, I tend to skim scenes like this, but Nayla is a true fighter. She never backed down even as her father came close to ending her life. I couldn’t pull myself away, I held my breath until she was free, and praised her hero, Joval, for rescuing her. Starting out with so much emotion, I knew I was in for a heartfelt story from the start. The book is the story of how it all began for Nayla, how she became a warrior, and the love, loss, and war she wages along the way. Ms. Suzuki is truly one the most passionate writers I have ever had the privilege of reading. I felt as if I was right beside Nayla as she fell in love for the first time. So many scenes were humorous, and heartfelt, and I wanted Nayla to be happy. I fell in love with her character, and I wanted so badly for her to run off into the sunset, but I understood that the path for Nayla, because of who she is, cannot end as a fairy tale. She is half human, half elf, and receives prejudice from both races. Love is an elusive thing for her. When Joval comes back into her life, she is no longer a 12 year old girl, she has grown to be of the human age closer to 19, and she definitely looks like a woman. They develop a close friendship, partnership, where they depend on each other and take care of one another. I don’t believe I’ve ever read a book that comes so close to a real life relationship as theirs did. And as they fall in love, my heart ached for them to express it to one another. Ahhhh, I can’t reveal too many things, I want to divulge so much, but what I can say is this: I couldn’t go 40 pages without shedding a tear. Naylas journey into becoming a warrior is heart wrenching. I cried tears of joy, tears of loss, and tears and more tears. Ms. Suzuki has a talent like none other, she truly brings her characters to life and the description is beautifully written. Nayla is by far one of the strongest female characters I’ve ever read. Her strength is awe-inspiring, and I will forever have a place in my heart for her.

One of the most passionate stories I’ve ever read, I easily give A Warriors Tale 5 flames!

Paperback, 482 pages

Published August 29th 2010 by L.T. Suzuki

 

Blkosiner's Book Blog: Signed Light of Asteria by Elizabeth Isaacs Giveaway!!!

Go Here to enter Brandi's Giveaway! Follow the steps on her site to enter the contest! Good luck!

From Brandi's blog: Elizabeth has graciously offered to giveaway a signed copy of her first (amazing) book to one of my lucky readers in celebration of Christmas and in the spirit of the holidays! There is a new cover coming in the new year and more exciting news, so keep your eyes peeled on Elizabeth's blog!

Details:

-Ends Dec 21st 11:59pm EST
-Must be a follower
-US only please

Make sure you check out the link at the top and go to her website to enter! This is an amazing book, great read for the holiday season, and an even better gift for someone special in you life. Enjoy! And good luck!