Hold Me Closer, Necromancer

Some books just EXCITE you and for me, Hold Me Closer, Necromancer is one of those books. I decided to re-read it because the sequel, Necromancing the Stone recently came out and it had been over two years since I had read the first one.

I'm happy to say that the magic wasn't lost the second time around. This book was just as entertaining, witty, and awesomesauce as it was the first time I read it. To read my original gushing review, please click here.

Now I'm off to start reading the sequel, woot woot! Here's hoping I enjoy it as much as the first one. Will keep you all posted! And as always, HAPPY HAPPY READING! *XOXO*

*REVIEW* The Archived

Synopsis:

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn't just dangerous-it's a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da's death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.

The Archived is a fabulous and AMAZING read. 5/5 STARS!! I was engaged and entertained from the very beginning to the end and I CANNOT wait to see where Schwab takes this story next. I literally squeed out loud when I saw on Goodreads that a sequel is planned. Just one book in this series would never be enough!

The Archived introduces us to Mac, a teenage girl with one hell of a secret-- she's a Keeper, following in her dead grandfather's footsteps, performing an essential job for The Archive. Keepers are tasked with finding and returning awakened Histories, a job that can be extremely dangerous because Histories begin to slip into madness not long after awakening, a madness that leads them to extreme confusion and violence. While Mac has been excelling at her job, recent events have made her job almost impossible...

Something is amiss at The Archive and Histories are waking up at an alarming rate. Mac's list of Histories to catch seems to be multiplying each day and she's beginning to have a hard time wiping the list clean. In addition to this, Mac stumbles across an old murder in her family's new apartment and when she investigates further, a disturbing fact comes to light--someone has been tampering with the memories of Histories, removing entire months and moments. It's clear someone is hiding something and as Mac becomes more entangled in the investigation, things become more and more dangerous.

Will Mac solve the mystery in time to save herself, and possibly The Archive itself? And will she trust the right person when it matters? The fate of The Archive rests on her shoulders. Just another day in the office when your job involves the dead.

*SQUEEEEEEEEE* This book is so, so, so good! Schwab invents such a unique and interesting world and the pacing and story-telling is RIGHT ON. I didn't want to put this one down and that truly marks a fabulous book in my opinion. And the twists... THE TWISTS!!! This book caught me completely off guard a couple times and that is rare and simply wonderful when it happens.

As if the story isn't engaging enough, there are boys in this one... interesting and intriguing boys. Mac has her hands full for sure! Seriously, this book has it ALL. I can't overstate my excitement about it and the fact that I recommend it for EVERYONE. It's just that good. Put it on your TBR pile now and be sure to grab it ASAP when it releases in January. You WILL enjoy every minute of it. Happy Reading! *XOXO*

Expected publication date: January 22, 2013 by Hyperion

*REVIEW* Spell Bound

Synopsis:

Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted.

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

Yayyyy! I am such a fan of the Hex Hall series. Spell Bound is the third and final book of the series and we finally get to see what happens to Sophie and Co. as they battle the evil Casnoffs. Family, loyalty, and right and wrong collide in this epic conclusion.

Spell Bound picks up after the torturous cliffhanger in Demonglass and Sophie finds herself in an unlikely place—the Brannick compound. Turns out, Sophie has a connection to the Brannicks that she never EVER would have expected. The Brannicks believe that Sophie is the only person who can take down the Casnoff sisters and a plan is hatched to help Sophie regain her powers.

Before Sophie and the gang can act on their plan, Sophie and the other students of Hex Hall are magically transported back to the school against their will. Hex Hall has seen better days and the students are prisoners with no way to escape Lara Casnoff’s evil plan to turn all of them into demons. Will Sophie get her powers back in time to stop Lara’s plan? Or will getting her powers back turn her into a force of evil, under the control of the Casnoffs? Never a dull moment in the lives of Sophie Mercer and her friends! Get ready for a wild ride and a wonderful conclusion to this much-loved series.

*SQUEEEEEEE* I really, really love these books. I’d give Spell Bound a solid 4 of 5 stars, which is admittedly the lowest I’ve rated any of the three books. While I really enjoyed it, and thought it was a fitting conclusion, some parts felt a little fast for me, especially the big scenes towards the end. It was like, wham! Bam! Done. I guess because I enjoyed the story so much, I would have preferred a little more if that makes sense.

I just adore these characters and am really bummed that this is the third and final book in the series! Though I did see on Goodreads that there’s talk of a spin-off series so maybe we haven’t seen the last of Sophie, Archer, Jenna, and all them just yet. Here’s hoping! If you haven’t read any of the Hex Hall books yet, you should really get on that. They’re highly entertaining quick reads that will leave you wanting more. Write more, Rachel Hawkins! I beg of you! Seriously, they’re fantastic. Enjoy! *XOXO*

*REVIEW* The Innocents

Synopsis:

Nothing ever came between sisters Alice and Charlie.

Friends didn't.

Boys couldn't.

Their family falling apart never would.

Until they got to Serenity Point.

The Innocents is the first in a new series of young adult novels that weave a saga of nail-biting drama, breathless romance, and gothic mystery.

The synopsis of this book REALLY doesn't explain what it's about at all. Rather than focusing on the relationship between Alice and Charlie, this book is about serious secrets--secrets that threaten to unravel everything...

Alice and her sister, Charlie, have just moved to Serenity Point, a highly affluent neighborhood full of the rich and overprivileged. They were forced to make the move when their recently divorced mother married Richard, a recently widowed man who also had to bury his teenage daughter, Camilla. Camilla has left her mark not only on Richard, but on the whole of Serenity Point...

While Charlie seems to instantly fit in, becoming frenemies with Cybill, the Queen Bee in town, Alice remains more on the sidelines, minus the secret relationship she's been developing in the moonlight. As the sisters drift further and further apart, Alice realizes how much she and Charlie have been keeping from one another.

One of Alice's biggest secrets is the major sleuthing she's been doing into the past, a past that just doesn't quite add up. As shocking revelations come to light, will Alice have the nerve to reveal the truth to Charlie? And will she be able to come to terms with what the truth means for her? Serenity Point... where under the surface, things are anything but serene.

The Innocents was a surprise for me mainly because I REALLY didn't like it halfway through. I've discovered that I really do not enjoy books about spoiled rich kids, probably because I cannot relate to that at all. So the book really turned me off in the beginning. The drugs, the drinking, the complete lack of parenting... *shudder*. But halfway through, I got more invested in the story and it helped me put aside my reservations about the kids of Serenity Point.

While I didn't think that the revelations were SUPER shocking, if you read it carefully you'll be able to see them coming, I am curious to see where the author plans to take things next. And don't worry, not everything gets wrapped up so there's plenty left for the characters to unravel in the sequel. If this book sounds like something you'd enjoy, be sure to scoop it up when it releases October 16th. Enjoy! *XOXO*

Expected publication date: October 16, 2012 by Razorbill

Manic Monday (23)

Welcome to Manic Monday! Manic Monday is all about finding things to look forward to on Tuesday, because who loves Monday? And we all know Tuesday means NEW RELEASES!! So each Monday, I'll highlight a book or two that are coming out the next day. Just a little something to help you find that silver lining!

The book I'm highlighting this week is Necromancing the Stone by Lish McBride:

Synopsis:

With the defeat of the evil Douglas behind him, Sam LaCroix is getting used to his new life. Okay, so he hadn’t exactly planned on being a powerful necromancer with a seat on the local magical council and a capricious werewolf sort-of-girlfriend, but things are going fine, right?

Well... not really. He’s pretty tired of getting beat up by everyone and their mother, for one thing, and he can’t help but feel that his new house hates him. His best friend is a werebear, someone is threatening his sister, and while Sam realizes that he himself has a lot of power at his fingertips, he’s not exactly sure how to use it. Which, he has to admit, is a bit disconcerting.

But when everything starts falling apart, he decides it’s time to step up and take control. His attempts to do so just bring up more questions, though, the most important of which is more than a little alarming: Is Douglas really dead?

Necromancing the Stone is the sequel to Hold Me Closer, Necromancer which is one of my FAVORITE books that not that many people I know have read. It's HILARIOUS and I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend that anyone who hasn't read it correct that right this instant!! It's really that good. For proof of how much I love it, check out my review here.

Anywho... hope everyone has a fabulous Monday! And as always, HAPPY READING! *XOXO*

*REVIEW* Burning Blue

Synopsis:

How far would you go for love, beauty, and jealousy?

When Nicole Castro, the most beautiful girl in her wealthy New Jersey high school, is splashed with acid on the left side of her perfect face, the whole world takes notice. But quiet loner Jay Nazarro does more than that—he decides to find out who did it. Jay understands how it feels to be treated like a freak, and he also has a secret: He's a brilliant hacker. But the deeper he digs, the more danger he's in—and the more he falls for Nicole. Too bad everyone is turning into a suspect, including Nicole herself.

Award-winning author Paul Griffin has written a high-stakes, soulful mystery about the meaning—and dangers—of love and beauty.

Burning Blue was good, not great. I definitely didn't fall in love with it and while it was enough to maintain my interest, and keep me flipping the pages, it didn't pack the punch I was hoping for.

Burning Blue is the story of a horrible act--an act that leaves one teenage girl scarred forever. Nicole Castro finds herself the victim of a terrible crime when she is assaulted by someone who throws acid in her face. The left side of her face is ruined and she is forced to undergo numerous surgeries to try to help repair the damage. Unfortunately for Nicole, her encounter becomes serious news in her town as she was extremely beautiful, popular, well-known and liked by MOST of her peers...

Nicole becomes friends with Jay Nazarro, a fellow student who knows a little something about being the object of unwanted attention. See, Jay has seizures--seizures severe enough that he had one at a pep rally in front of the ENTIRE school, resulting in an embarrassing pants-wetting situation. Jay and Nicole find it easy to bond with one another and through his POV, readers get to see the development of a true relationship between them.

Jay has a secret though... the boy has some SERIOUS hacking skills. He uses these skills to try to track down Nicole's attacker. As he gets further and further into the mystery, disturbing details are found out, and as the danger rises, no one seems to be safe. Will Jay discover who attacked Nicole before the attacker strikes again? Is it possible Nicole did this to herself? And will Jay and Nicole's newfound friendship, and potential relationship, be able to survive shocking revelations? You've got to read it to find out!

Like I said above, I liked (not loved) this book. It was interesting and I found myself invested in it, but it didn't grip me the way that I thought it would. I really enjoyed Jay's character and thought it was super neat how he could hack into almost anywhere. I have zero computer skills so I always like reading about that kind of stuff.

I found the ending to be disturbing and disappointing just cause I hate the result! The result of Jay's investigating is just so sad. I know it's a book and I shouldn't get bent out of shape about it but just UGH! It saddens me to know that there ARE people like that out in the world, people who are so damaged that they don't think or care about the pain they inflict on others.

All that being said, I still think this is a solid book to recommend to others. I gave it 3 of 5 stars and while I don't think I would read it again, it's got some powerful topics in it that many readers will enjoy. If you think you could be one of them, be on the lookout when Burning Blue releases in October. Enjoy! *XOXO*

Expected publication date: October 25, 2012 by Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated

*REVIEW* Let the Sky Fall

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who’s swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is.

Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She’s also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life.

When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra’s forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim—the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them—but the forbidden romance that’s grown between them.

This book was a total surprise for me! I had signed up to read an ARC through Around the World Tours and while I was excited to read it, it wasn't one of the ones I was dying to get my hands on. What a pleasant surprise to find that I couldn't put this book down. It totally blew me away... pun intended! :)

Let the Sky Fall introduces us to Vane, a teenage boy who survived a scary tornado that killed his parents. He can't remember anything about his past and childhood except one person--a beautiful, dark-haired girl who has shown up in his dreams since that fateful storm. And the strangest part? She grows up with him in these dreams, changing from a young girl to a stunning teenage beauty. Vane has never been sure if she's real or not until an encounter with her in person removes all doubt...

Turns out the girl is Audra, a Guardian sent to protect Vane from the Stormers who killed both of their families. Vane is the last Westerly and he is shocked to learn that the fate of his world rests on his shoulders. As him and Audra begin a massive race against time, training and hoping that Vane reconnects with his heritage, Vane begins to remember the past, and the thing that Audra hoped he would never remember.

Will Vane and Audra be able to face the Stormers, or will Audra be forced to make the ultimate sacrifice? Will the two be able to ignore their undeniable attraction for each other or will they form a bond that can never be broken? Let the Sky Fall is one wild ride that will leave readers begging for more.

I loved this book!! It's got something for EVERYONE... it's got romance, passion, action, heartbreak, pain, betrayal, and super cool supernatural powers. Windwalkers? Awesome! I've never read a book about sylphs before so this was all new for me. I also really enjoyed the writing in this book. Shannon Messenger is a really great storyteller and I enjoyed the switch of POV between Vane and Audra throughout the book.

I think the other thing I REALLY liked about this book was that it's different than a lot of the YA books that have been out there the past few years. Seemed for awhile, a pattern had been going on where you could take a supernatural being, most likely a vampire or a werewolf, add in a love triangle and some danger and VOILA! YA Gold. I've been so pleased recently by the shift in the books I've been reading. While many still have a supernatural element, they've been fresh and unique and how fabulous that Let the Sky Fall didn't have a love triangle!! I'm sure the potential exists for some complications in future books but this one thankfully stayed away from that overused element.

I give this one 5 of 5 stars. It's exciting, engaging, fresh, romantic, and I love the characters. And the concept of sylphs is just so cool. How awesome would it be to control the wind?! I highly, highly, highly recommend this book to EVERYONE. Make sure to add it to your TBR pile. It's set to release in March 2013 which is way too far away in my opinion! But this book is WELL worth the wait. Enjoy! *XOXO*

Expected publication date: March 5, 2013 by Simon Pulse

TBR PILE Reading Challenge: August Update!

Well, after a disasterous July, I finally got things back on track. I read 6 books in August, 2 of which counted for the TBR PILE Reading Challenge. Check them out because they were AWESOME:

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

I'm still loving this challenge and I'm well on my way to meeting my goal. If you need some motivation to get through your TBR pile, check out the link on my right sidebar. It's not too late to join the challenge! And as always, HAPPY READING! *XOXO*