Short reviews: Hidden Wings + Broken Wings by Cameo Renae

Title: Hidden Wings (#1)
Author: Cameo Renae
Published: January 16, 2013
Pages: 204
Series: Hidden Wings
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary: Seventeen is a life changing age for Emma Wise. As her family's sole survivor in a car crash, she is left with a broken arm and a few scrapes and bruises. But these are only outward marks; inside, her heart is broken and the pieces scattered.

Whisked away to Alaska, to an aunt she’s never met, Emma starts over. Secrets unveil themselves and now…she doesn't even know who or what she is.

A centuries old prophecy places Emma in the heart of danger. Creatures of horrifying and evil proportions are after her, and it will take Emma, her aunt, and six, gorgeously captivating Guardians to keep her safe. But, if she can survive until her eighteenth birthday... things will change.

**REVIEW**

For those who are looking for a quick, young, and uncomplicated storyline. However, I found the writing to be incredibly unrefined and without structure or finesse. Everything felt very scattered. The protagonist was a little unbelievable and the characters lacked emotional depth, making them hard to connect with. This is a quick-paced read to pass the time.

(2.5/5)

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Title: Broken Wings (#1)
Author: Cameo Renae
Published: June 1, 2013
Pages: 296
Series: Hidden Wings
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary: Emma’s world is falling apart, and Kade, the only one who seems to hold her together, is missing. With death lingering right outside their door, decisions must be made before it’s too late.

The Midway has refused to send help, so they are left to seek out the only other who can stop Lucian.

A perilous quest sends Emma and a few Guardians into the Underworld, where the unimaginable abide, to beseech the Prince of Darkness himself. Lucifer.
Now, they must endure the deadly levels of Hell, which not one …mortal or immortal… has ever survived. Prepare for love, loss, and the unexpected.

**REVIEW**

Despite only feeling so-so about the first installment, I went ahead and picked up 'Broken Wings.'

I was intrigued by Kade and the promising plot, and ended up exceptionally underwhelmed by the unbelievable and convenient quest into Hell. It left me completely unfazed and I found myself skimming the book, either bored or just wanting to finish it.

The deal with Lucifer's son was a fun twist, though, as a character he was incredibly unrealistic. The ending was abrupt and I almost would've purchased the third book just to finish the half-hanging scene, if I hadn't known better. This will be it for me.

(2/5)

Review: Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

Title: Hunting Lila (Lila #1)
Author: Sarah Alderson
Published: August 4, 2011
Pages: 320
Series: Lila
Source: purchased

Amazon Summary: 17-year-old Lila has two secrets she's prepared to take to the grave. The first is that she can move things just by looking at them. The second is that she's been in love with her brother's best friend, Alex, since forever. After a mugging exposes her unique ability, Lila decides to run to the only people she can trust - her brother and Alex. They live in Southern California where they work for a secret organisation called The Unit, and Lila discovers that the two of them are hunting down the men who murdered her mother five years before. And that they've found them. In a world where nothing and no one is quite as they seem, Lila quickly realises that she is not alone - there are others out there just like her - people with special powers -and her mother's killer is one of them…


**REVIEW**
I liked the characters. I had fun reading about Jack, Alex, and Lila as a trio and was intrigued by The Unit. I really enjoyed Lila's relationship and interaction with her brother which made Jack's reaction when finding out about Lila's ability not very believable or consistent with his character or "loving brother" persona.

The whole Lila / Alex deal was entertaining, until all things Alex and all his details or words or how much she wanted him started to resemble a slight obsession. It was too distracting.

The funny thing is, why I liked Alex was also the reason why I didn't feel that him and Lila were a believable match. Alex was mature and cool-headed. And Lila felt too young and stubborn in comparison. I could definitely see why she'd be infatuated with him, but I couldn't see him having romantic feelings for her, at all. It just didn't match up.

The storyline was promising and the plot twist interesting, however, a little too convenient for my taste. Because [SPOILER ALERT: the bad guys turning out to bet he good guys just as the protagonist is captures, isn't too exciting.]

And I gradually just ended up losing interest in the story.

'Hunting Lila' is an entertaining read for those looking to read a girl-likes-boy kind of book with supernatural abilities and little action scenes.

I won't continue the 'Lila' series as of now but will check out more of Alderson's books.

(3/5)

Review: World After by Susan Ee

Title: World After (#2)
Author: Susan Ee
Published: November 19, 2013
Pages: 438
Series: Penryn & the End of Days
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary: In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world.

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

**REVIEW**

Since the sequel picked up right where 'Angelfall' left off you got to experience Penryn's off-the-bat feelings about everything.

It was painfully authentic how she struggled to cope with what her sister had been turned into. Despite Paige's horrifying transformation there's still an uncertainty about her and if the little girl could still be there. You're taken on a snaky path of revelations and learn what actually happened to Paige, the deal with the scorpion creatures, and the grand plan of it all.

I enjoyed 'World After' for the same reasons as 'Angelfall'; Ee's compelling way of telling a story and the evenly pounding pacing with bursts of action and unpredictable turns. The courageous, sensible, and likable heroine. We get to experience Penryn's fierce independence, because (besides the momentary company of her bizarre yet tremendously entertaining mother, or so) she's getting in and out of trouble on her own.

Then there's the sword. How I ended up really caring for a sword, is beyond me. I was intrigued by its way of communicating through Penryn's dreams and Raffe's memories - I think more of the latter would've been amazing and might have distracted from his absense, meanwhile opening him up to Penryn and the reader. Seeing the memories with Penryn through his point-of-view, was gold.

Raffe isn't present until late in the book, and boy, I missed him. Although I applaud Ee for a realistic, solid, and aching relationship build-up, I just craved his presence. And banter. That's why I fell in love with the first book. It's funny how I bonded more with the sword than Raffe now.

However, for those who haven't read the book yet, obviously you have to. Because Penryn and Raffe may or may not be in a beach house, in front of a fire, having heart-twisting and witty dialogue that made me want to jump around or squeal into a pillow. There may or may not be a little stripping involved, too.

The ending did leave me hanging a little and I can't imagine where it'll go from here.

(4/5)

Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee

Title: Angelfall (#1)
Author: Susan Ee
Published: May 21, 2011
Pages: 283
Series: Penryn & The End of Days
Source: purchased

Goodreads 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**

There are two kinds of amazing books: the ones you can't stop raving about, and the ones that leave you at a loss for words. 'Angelfall was the latter for me. I don't know what to say and I'm sure everything and more has already been said about this phenomenal book.

The post-apocalyptic world by Ee, where angels are the enemies of the people, was fantastically well-written. The world-building was mind-blowing. From the moment I started reading 'Angelfall' I could not tear away. Ee takes you on an insane journey, from start to finish. Perfect pacing, solid writing, crazy storyline. 

Penryn was plain kick-ass, instantly adding to the list of my favorite heroines of all time - fearless, yet vulnerable and relatable. I don't think I've ever read a book with such poignant and interesting characters. Besides strong, sharp, mesmerizing Raffe, I was immensely impressed with Ee's portrayal of Penryn's schizophrenic mother and their relationship.

Back to Raffe. I mean, seriously! Have mercy. He was intriguing, witty, real, and unpredictable. Romance is not a focus and I wouldn't have wanted it to be, because then I wouldn't have been so caught off guard and frantic when a kiss may or may not have occurred. And I wouldn't have been taken aback by what Raffe may or may not have said afterwards. And I wouldn't have realized how much I cared about these characters.

The first half of the book already had my full attention, the second half totally slammed me. There are some pretty graphic, nightmarish, did-I-just-read-that scenes. Utterly shocking twists and turns. If you won't read this book for its action or characters, you'll want to read it for the plot. Really, you'll want to read about these angels. You'll want to know if Penryn finds her little sister. Because it is that intense.

I'll start the sequel in about thirty seconds. 'Angelfall' is action-packed, well-written, and character driven - the recipe for "must read."

(5/5)

Review: Losing Logan by Sherry D. Ficklin

Title: Losing Logan
Author: Sherry D. Ficklin
Published: May 2, 2014
Pages: 230
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary: What if the one thing you never meant to hold on to, is the one thing you can’t let go of?

Normally finding a hot guy in her bedroom wouldn’t irritate Zoe so badly, but finding her childhood friend Logan there is a big problem. Mostly because he’s dead. 

As the only person he can make contact with, he talks Zoe into helping him put together the pieces surrounding his mysterious death so he can move on. 

Thrust into his world of ultra popular rich kids, Zoe is out of her element and caught in the cross-hairs of Logan’s suspicious ex-girlfriend and the friends he left behind, each of whom had a reason to want him dead. The deeper they dig to find the truth, the closer Zoe gets to a killer who would do anything to protect his secrets. And that’s just the start of her problems because Zoe is falling for a dead guy.

**REVIEW**

How crazy good it feels to give 'Losing Logan' its five stars.

First off, I want to say that the story isn't depressing, it's actually strangely heartwarming. I smiled a lot while reading it and chuckled at the impressively witty banter. Secondly, what you won't learn from the premise is that 'Losing Logan' has so much emotion. The plot is simple but the soul of the book is all intertwined.

Zoe was relatable, authentic, and independent. She was sassy and snarky in the most humorous ways. We learn that Zoe and Logan were childhood friends but drifted apart once Logan became popular and Zoe did not. This sounds like the typical case of "you turned popular, I turned geek" and I highly appreciate Ficklin for not making Zoe such a character - she was the total opposite, fearlessly awesome but closed-off.

Logan was like a rock in the story, which is ironic since he's dead and the one depending on Zoe. Though, somehow she ends up needing him just as much. His character radiated a sense of warmth and calmness. I definitely grew attached to him, to the point that I wanted to pause in the middle of the book and write Ficklin to beg her to re-write the plot and have Logan come to life again. I mean, it could happen.

The absolutely hilarious and frustrating banter between the two won me over from the start. I couldn't stress how much I loved it.

I read 'Losing Logan' in one sitting, not only caught up by the characters but by the plot line and mystery surrounding Logan's death. There were little surprises here and there, for sure. I did manage to predict the killer (not because of the clues, but my own logic just asking why this person was there in the story at all.)

What isn't mentioned in the premise is the reaper following Zoe or Logan around, which was quite creepy and suspenseful. I was a little disappointed how everything turned out and ended up having a few questions about it (mostly just: well, why?)
I guess I'd been hoping for a crazy sub-plot. The ending was a tad unsatisfying and rushed. I would've loved a few more pages with Zoe and Logan, just to round everything out. The epilogue, however, almost-maybe made up for it.

There is a love triangle and I think Ficklin's execution of it was utterly beautiful. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

'Losing Logan' was fun, mysterious, heartbreaking, and heartwarming. I laughed, I cried, I fell in love.

(5/5)

Review: The Light of the World by Tara Brown

Title: The Light of the World (#1)
Author: Tara Brown
Published: November 19, 2012
Pages: 360
Series: Light
Source: purchased
Good to know: explicit language

Amazon Summary: As if going off to college isn't hard enough, Rayne discovers she has other challenges beyond roommates or first-year workload. She discovers the fate of the world resting on her small shoulders, not to mention the creepy whispers that taunt her in her sleep each night. In the haze of her dreams she hears it, 'You're dead. You're dead and I just forgot to tell you.' The sentence is alarming in itself. Add to that, the voice whispering to her is her mother's, and you have a real nightmare. 

But what happens when the whispers in your sleep are warnings and the ghosts in the water are your friends? What happens when the guy you fall for freshman year is your family's oldest enemy? What happens when the only sleep you get is when you lie with the dead, and the only way to save yourself is to murder your parents? With the help of her new friends and old lovers, Rayne discovers her destiny has very little to do with midterms and more to do with the fate of humanity.


**REVIEW**
'The Light of the World' had a very interesting storyline.

I didn't like the first chunk of the story and still feel that if it'd been cut out of the book entirely (in other words, if the beginning had been done differently), it wouldn't have made a difference nor affected the storyline or the characters. We meet Rayne when she's just started college and meets her roommate, Mona, old friend, Michelle, and an annoying flirt, Wyatt.

This will be the key group of characters throughout the story and I have to say; some I were okay with and some I just never liked.

Rayne was okay. She wasn't a stupid girl, she had some backbone. But again, the beginning of the book just put everything in a distasteful light. There were so many, unnecessary sexual references and odd, unrealistic situations.
Rayne gets sick and stays and sleeps at a total stranger's dorm for two days which her "friends" find to be completely fine since he says he'll take care of her. What.

From one chapter to the other, very early on, two months has passed and Rayne has gone from okay to several degrees below that - carelessly sleeping around and partying, basically having hit her head.
Sure, she suffered from major heartbreak from a guy she barely knew but could not live or breathe without (oh how this bugged me; but all would later be explained). Though, I don't see why it was necessary for her to go through such a drastic change in personality. I just couldn't help but like her much, much less.

There was so little for you to hold onto in Rayne that made you relate to her and really like her as a character. I would've wished for more of Rayne's emotional thoughts, something that'd make you feel with her and understand her.

Mona was the good friend and support throughout the story, but hers and Rayne's friendship didn't grow on me, nor did Mona. She didn't have much substance and didn't bring anything to the story. The upside was that, without Mona, Rayne would've been running around for the majority of the book on her own, which would've been lonely (and, perhaps, boring.)

Rayne is supposed to have known Michelle since before, but there's literally nothing that makes you believe that they have been friends earlier.
Michelle having originally been Michael was interesting, cool, something new. But holy [insert choice of word] did I feel like this character had dropped from another planet to be in 'The Light of the World.' So out of place, irrelevant, and melodramatic.
Rayne's vision of their friendship was quite sappy, with little explanation as to why she loved Michelle so much.

[SPOILERS:] Even after Michelle had tortured her. With a sword. While she hung from the ceiling, arms dislocated. Yet again. Say what. And really, the whole thing about Michelle spontaneously deciding to stay at a church and become a nun (which we'll later learn did her absolutely no good. You'll see) was just, regretfully, comical. I was glad to get her out of the story for the moment. [SPOILERS ENDED.]

And Wyatt. This guy. Incredibly cocky and confident. I didn't like him and didn't want to like him, so it came as a shock that I ended up warming up to him (which I especially did when strange, uncanny Constantine came into the picture.)
What I didn't understand was the sudden "relationship" between Rayne and Wyatt. His kind was supposed to despise her but due to an unknown reason, he didn't. He just constantly wanted to make out, claiming he could never love something like her, but she knew he did. And she secretly loved him, too, when she wasn't hating on him. It was such a push-and-pull situation. Just... what is what, now?

She'd let Wyatt or Constantine be horrible to her and then call them up, laugh and joke, and claim to "need them."

This girl lacked some good sense.

[SPOILERS:] While in a dead-serious situation, having kidnapped a priest and tied him up to get answers, she STILL had the time and sense to recall her and Constantine's sexual past, and try to seduce him in the room. Really, just really.

She risked her life returning to Wyatt's home where his whole family wanted to kill her and had attempted so, after learning that he was planning on killing her as well, just to get a peek of him. I mean, come on! And it all ended up with her fleeing for her life, as expected. [SPOILERS ENDED.]

Also, there were multiple times that "he" and "him" were mentioned and you'd have no idea who Rayne was referring to until a page later. Sometimes it'd be Wyatt or Constantine or even her father or another random character; you had to guess back and forth. Is it Wyatt? I think so. No, wait. It could be Constantine. But I'm pretty sure it's Wyatt. Or Constantine. Oh, she's talking about her dad.

Throughout the entire story someone would be mentioned (Ellie this, Ellie that... who is that?) and things would happen without explanation until you, somewhere down the road, managed to connect the dots on your own.

And what was up with every single person cussing for no reason at all? "Shit" was said 57 times throughout the book, and "fuck" 32 times. I just had to look it up.

Yes. I had a lot of issues with the characters. I feel that they need a lot of work and love to be likable, strong characters.

The story was very fast-paced. Settings and situations would change abruptly. From one word to another, Rayne would be someplace else entirely and you wouldn't know if it was a dream or a new scene or if she'd plain out teleported. Sometimes it was hard to keep up and you'd find that the story was zooming in and out, flashing from left to right.

However, despite my rant (honestly, I had no idea how much I had to say about this book before I actually sat down and started writing this review). Believe it or not, I did enjoy 'The Light of the World.' It's an interesting, very intriguing storyline involving many supernatural elements - witches, vampires, faeries.

I didn't get invested or attached to the story, however, it kept my attention and had many unexpected turns. I really liked the idea of it (which my three points are for!) I think with adjustments and more work 'The Light of the World' could be really great.

(3/5)

Review: Angelfire, Wings of the Wicked, Shadows in the Silence (Angelfire series) by Courtney Allison Moulton

Title: Angelfire (#1), Wings of the Wicked (#2), Shadows in the Silence (#3)

Author: Courtney Allison Moulton
Published: February 15, 2011 / January 31, 2012 / January 29, 2013
Pages: 453 / 516 / 469
Series: Angelfire Trilogy
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary:
Angelfire (#1)

First there are nightmares.
Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.

Then come the memories.
When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.

Now she must hunt.

Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.

**REVIEW**

I just need a minute..

Holy crap.

I picked this book up, started reading it, and never put it down. I ended up reading all three books, back-to-back, in three days - engrossed in every page and every word.

Moulton's way of continuously and confidently raising the stakes and taking the story to the next level was exceptionally natural and believable. I will never know how she managed to execute the transition of Ellie, a pretty teenage girl with a regular life turning into the achingly fierce warrior that was always within her, so flawlessly.

There was something so impressively balanced about Ellie, how despite her power she remained vulnerable, and how despite determination there was an acceptance of doubt.

Ellie was so real, so solid, graceful, and had a great sense of humor. You trusted her, the path she chose and the choices she made. Possibly my favorite thing about her; she was never the damsel-in-distress, which doesn't mean she could take care of herself in every situation but she would always keep her head high, even when all odds were against her.

The Angelfire books were never short of action, and that is even an understatement. Demonic and angelic reapers and winged creatures, swarmed the story. The swords were always pulled and the anticipation of a fight hung in the air like mist. There's quite the bloodbath and I found myself countless of times sitting on edge.

Moulton found an interesting way to make 'Angelfire' an angel-story that hadn't been told before and it all came down to Ellie. Ellie is special in more ways than one; her backstory is intriguing and you'll be baffled, even shocked, by the secrets of her past.

There was a nice parallel to Ellie's teenage life (attending school, going to parties) and the life she was adapting to that puts the weight of human race on her shoulders. I liked that there wasn't ever a division between the two, it was all a part of the other and it kept the story stable - real. I loved that Ellie was capable of wielding her swords and fighting for her life, but that she held on to the other part of her as well.

There were so many well-developed characters. I loved Kate (the best friend), appreciated the realistic relationship Ellie had with her mother, and astonishingly, grew to care for characters that had less impact on Ellie but were a part of the story, like Nathaniel and Marcus.

And let's talk about Will. Stoic, fearless, flawed.

Despite being by Ellie, more or less, the entirety of over a thousand pages.. I couldn't get enough of him. My heart still leaped by the mention of him; his presence, his exterior, his words. I loved that he wasn't perfect, that he was complicated and unpredictable. He wasn't the knight in shining armor or the soul mate.

Oddly enough, I loved that despite their closeness, there was always a certain distance that needed to be closed. You got to fight with the love between Ellie and Will and I freaking loved it.

I don't know how many times Will turned my heart to glass, how many times my heart ached and warmed for them. In the end, I found that the 'Angelfire' books were an epic love story more than anything.

[Spoiler alert!] I had a soft spot for Cadan, he was great. Part of me so badly wanted the story to explore the possibility of Cadan and Ellie, just to storm the seas for a bit. Had the Angelfire series been four books, I think there would've been enough time for a little walk off course. However tempting a love triangle was, I found that Moulton was extremely wise in avoiding it. But I'm just saying! [Spoilers ended!]

Action, story, romance - you got it. Mythology fans should check these books out. Romance fans have to. 

(5/5)

Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Title: Unearthly (#1)

Author: Cynthia Hand

Published: January 4, 2011

Pages: 464

Series: Trilogy - 'Hallowed' (published January 17, 2012) and 'Boundless' follow

Source: purchased

Amazon Summary: When Clara Gardner learns she’s part angel, her entire life changes. She now has a purpose, a specific task she was put on this earth to accomplish, except she doesn’t know what it is. Her visions of a raging forest fire and a mysterious boy lead her to a new high school in a new town but provide no clear instruction. As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she’d have to make—between the boy in her vision and the boy in her life, between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. . . . When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

**REVIEW**

I ended up reading 'Unearthly' in one sitting - skipping right over dinner. At first I wasn't sure I was going to like it; the beginning moved quickly (one moment Carla has her vision and the next she and her family have moved to a new state to fulfill her purpose), and the angel front was a little too blunt and direct for my taste.

Even though I thought it was interesting that young angels got visions about their purpose on earth, a mission they were meant to complete, there wasn't particularly a new and refreshing take on them otherwise.

I think the mystery revolving the boy Carla sees in her vision (and appears to be meant to save) could've built up for much longer. Carla finds him almost immediately, and so simply, and the whole thing just feels less exciting. Although, the vision remains an enigma throughout the book and will still have you wondering what it is that's going to happen.

Readers will have different opinions on the high school parts of 'Unearthly.' Carla being an angel (well, half) and having this vision she's trying to figure out is never forgotten but there is a good chunk of just being a teenager and I actually found those parts very charming and enjoyable.

The classroom scenes were so funny and I loved Carla's friends, they were just really great and well-written, the kind of characters you'd like as your own friends because they were that awesome.

Carla was a likable, enjoyable protagonist and narrator. I have to say the whole deal with the orange hair was a little distracting (I know, it's silly. But really, all I thought about was this weird girl with dye-damaged orange hair.)

Hand did a good job of including Carla's mom and brother in the storyline, especially Jeffrey who wasn't a necessary character but who would've been missed if he'd been removed.

A love triangle was not expected, but wait.. it was sort of a non-love triangle love triangle, done with taste 

and reason.

I was totally caught off guard by Tucker. Hand really succeeded with a believable "hate turned love relationship." I made a total one-eighty - finding him rude and obnoxious to funny and charming. I did in fact like Christian and his subtle ways, as well, but he was held at a distance where you didn't really know where you had him. Tucker had such charisma, he had me smiling like an idiot.

I was intrigued by the concept of the Black Wings (totally adored the idea that Black Wings oozed this painful sorrow about them) but the one big encounter with a Black Wing left me unsatisfied, and frankly, a little weirded out. I'd hoped there'd be more exposure to them, something I'm sure will be presented more in the second installment.

As 'Unearthly' got to its climax and everything that'd been built up regarding Carla's purpose started to unfold I found myself in an awfully tense state. There's most definitely a pleasing, interesting twist and I'm curious to see how Hand takes it from here.

(4/5)

Review: A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

Title: A Beautiful Dark (#1)

Author: Jocelyn Davies

Published: September 27, 2011

Pages: 405

Series: yes (second installment 'A Fractured Light' published September 25, 2012)

Source: purchased

Amazon Summary: On the night of Skye’s seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites—like fire and ice—Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye’s life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move—only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events.
Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.

In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can’t help falling for, and Devin, who she can’t stay away from, the consequences of Skye’s choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

**REVIEW**

I went into 'A Beautiful Dark' with ease and fair interest. It was definitely fast-paced, things came about quickly in the beginning and characters were introduced right away.

My first thought was that Asher and Devin were everywhere. There they were from chapter one and then just.. everywhere. I found there was no time to really get to know them and have them grow on you before they were all in your face.

The boys, without a proper get-to-know-each-other conversation whatsoever, spoke to Skye and made constant comments to her as if they knew her after only one day at their new school. Although Asher and Devin were supposed to be complete strangers to Skye, she'd respond in the same manner. It just wasn't natural and felt manufactured.

Asher and Devin seemed to appear every nanosecond, wherever Skye turned, and I didn't understand why she immediately got so incredibly hung up on them.

At first I found that Asher and Devin's differing characteristics were very forced. We have the good guy and the bad boy and it was especially forced how they were clearly pushed to be total opposites with everything that they did.

Later on, you'll be enlightened why this was the case, but despite the gained understanding of it, it was just one of those things that were pretty typical.

Unfortunately both characters were just too obvious. They felt very head-on and decided. Rather than being charming it was as if they were told to be charming, if that makes sense.

I hate it when I don't have anything to say about the protagonist other than that they were all right. Though I think Skye needed to get her reactions checked. When Asher showed Skye his power (way before she knew anything about him or Devin) she hardly had any reaction to it, like what he could do wasn't strange at all. It was the same when she found out about her parents, she isn't bewildered or upset, instead she takes it all very smoothly.

The plot line in 'A Beautiful Dark' wasn't unheard of. Sadly, little made it original or fresh.

The big portion of the book when Skye's trying to find her powers didn't really go anywhere. I didn't get to the point of feeling it was boring but it was repetitive and refrained the story from moving forward.

I was pretty surprised to be closing in on the ending without having anything significant and conflicting occur. And then suddenly the storyline that had been somewhat uneventful until then, stirred up and there was excitement, action, and shock.

I was pleasantly shocked by the twist at the end, and I freaking loved it. Honestly, I didn't think 'A Beautiful Dark' had it in it. Up until then I didn't think I'd read the second installment (which is ironic since it was the description of the sequel that had me read the first book) but I might all because of the ending.

(3.5/5)

Review: Insight by Jamie Magee

Title: Insight (#1)

Author: Jamie Magee

Published: November 1, 2011

Pages: 314

Source: purchase

Good to know: first installment in the 'Insight' series (followed by 'Embody' and 'Image')

Amazon Summary: Some say that dreams are the doorway to the soul. Willow Haywood is no stranger to that doorway. Each night she shares a blissful, silent dream with a stunning blue-eyed boy. With each new moon she is haunted by a painful nightmare shared with a different boy, who’s always hidden by the shadows.

In her waking hours she must battle her sixth sense. The one that allows her to feel others emotions as if they were her own. This insight is exhausting and frustrating causing her to draw inward, only trusting her family and few close friends. Oddly, this sense also attracts ghostly images that seem to appear out of nowhere. With a touch, they take her to wherever they may be, allowing her to change their emotion. This alone would cause most to go insane, but Willow filters her aggression by painting, capturing the emotion she changed.

One August night a nightmare came days after the new moon. In this dream the shadowed boy marked her wrist with star, leaving her father no choice but to share a family secret that would tie all of the odd attributes of Willow’s life together. Now, she has no choice but to outrun the fate that is closing in around her.

In an attempt to lure her, the shadowed figure captures her closest friends. In order to save them, she must weave through broken myths, half truths, and the undeniable power of the Zodiac. With each step she takes Willow comes to realize that she has lived before, her path is one that she chose, and this trial is simply the beginning.

**REVIEW**

My first thoughts as I got into 'Insight' was that it was a bit familiar and I did make a few minor comparisons, though, excluding the obvious elements you may or may not have read somewhere before, I do recognize the effort Magee put into creating her own world.

A lot was going on and you had to always be at attention to follow the story which I eventually failed to do as my interest to it went uneven at times.

There were a few things I'd hoped to turn out differently than it did. We meet Dane -Willow's good friend - at the start of the book and Magee portrays a close friendship in which Dane is the only one who knows about Willow's ability.

I really liked Dane and got the feeling he would have a higher purpose further along in the story but instead he faded into the back and I just felt there were unfinished business with him.

And then we have the mysterious blue-eyed boy Willow has repeatedly dreamed of. Personally, when thinking of the "blue-eyed boy" and then "Landon" who he appeared to be, I think of two totally different people.

The blue-eyed boy was mysterious and so intriguing whilst Landon appeared to be the most accessible guy ever. Mystery all poof and gone.

That they were meant to be and instantly loved each other did not help matters, at all. There were a tad too many "I love yous" and love-doveyness between the soul mates and I had to restrain myself from rolling my eyes.

Whom I did love was Libby - cutest thing ever! Astonishingly enough I also loved her ability and thought it was a clever add to keep the story rolling in the right direction.

There were a whole lot of side characters in 'Insight' and I found that it was hard to keep track of them. Someone would appear to be important and I wouldn't be able to recall who they were.

A major thing I felt about 'Insight' was that conflicts would work itself out so perfectly, every obstacle would be won over really smoothly and you knew it would. Nothing took me off guard and suspense never got the chance to even knock me on my shoulder, because before you knew it the sort-of-but-not-really-dangerous situations the characters found themselves in they would get out of.

I'm someone who normally don't go seeking out a fantasy read. From my point of view 'Insight' was decent but if you're into soul mates and such you might just love it.

(3/5)

Review: Taste by Kate Evangelista

Title: Taste

Author: Kate Evangelista

Published: April 30, 2012

Pages: 251

Source: purchased

Amazon Summary: At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans.

When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

**REVIEW**

'Taste' was one of those books I had my own doubts about but that has gotten great reviews from fellow readers. I read the sample of it and just wasn't hooked, which rarely happens anyway. I guess I wasn't in the mood for a paranormal romance at the time so I ended up putting 'Taste' on hold and picking up a contemporary instead, which was 'The Duff' (previous review.)

But then I went back to 'Taste' and decided I wanted to find out more about Demitri and Luka.. and if they really have this allegedly irresistible pull and crush-worthiness; because it's the boys I'm thinking about and not the "flesh eaters" or "ancient civilization." I'm a YA romance reading junkie, give me a break.

And bo-hoy do these gorgeous flesh-eating guys spoil you with their protectiveness and sexiness. Is a girl ever this lucky?!

Firstly, I want to comment on the flawless pace of the novel - the beginning instantly lets you in on introductory action. In other words, not a slow-going beginning. Secondly, there aren't any awfully "educational" parts that I absolutely dread. 

Thirdly, if you're hesitant because of the "flesh eaters" and whether this book is about zombies - don't be! There is absolutely nothing stereotypical about the Zhamvy (as they call themselves) to what we know as zombies except for the flesh eating and, I don't know, pale skin.

I felt that, instead of the Zhamvy being an inhuman, supernatural race, they were an enhanced version of humans.

I found how Evangelista created the world of the Zhamvy to be original and natural, it definitely didn't feel forced. I loved the idea of having a civilization hide under a school with its Day Students and Night Students, and just other similar ideas in the storyline that I haven't read anywhere else. There's action and emotion and closeness. 

Everything was in a perfect medium - not going overboard nor being underwhelming.

We've already established I liked Demitri and Luka. And then I'm going to say, I really liked Luka and his less pretty-boy ways. I mean, holy hotness.

[Spoilers starting!] It's common for me to always look for the boy the heroine ends up not choosing - if there's been two worthy opponents, that is. I so wanted Phoenix to have had more mixed emotions about the two and have a stronger phase where Luka was a consideration.

+

Or maybe it's the insta-love that throws me off. 

Phoenix is kind of, temporarily turned into a Zhamvy and bites Demetri - therefore "marks" him which will automatically make the two insanely attracted to each other, and those kind of supernatural stunts always make me wrinkle my nose a little. You don't want two people be attracted to each other without question because they're marked or imprinted or whatever. That's playing with the fact that it may or may not be real feelings. [Spoilers ended!]

I really liked Phoenix's personality. She would be herself and her own person even through exceptionally odd circumstances. She was courageous and curious and had a witty banter.

However... she was vastly the damsel in distress (!) despite having good potential of taking care of herself. I mean , yes, it was fully comprehensible she needed a hand every once in a while when in a sticky situation but I found myself actually putting the book down to scoff at how many times this girl could be saved! This was my biggest pet peeve with 'Taste.'

It's gotten so rare finding a stand-alone paranormal novel and I loved that 'Taste' ended in one book (on a perfectly satisfactory last note) but I will say, if it'd been a series I definitely would've read the second installment. I really enjoyed this book and how the story unfolded and yet again am torn about how to rate it - between a four and four-point-five. God, I'm getting pickier with ratings.

 (4.3/5)

Review: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Title: Sweet Evil (Sweet #1)

Author: Wendy Higgins

Published: May 1, 2012

Pages: 464

Series: Trilogy (second installment called 'Sweet Hope')

Source: purchased

Amazon 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 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**

Oh my goodness. If possible, I would've put my life on a giant hold for 'Sweet Evil.'

Excellent, highly enjoyable read.

I was dead-on sold from page one. It was something about the easiness in Higgins writing - everything sailed on tremendously smooth and natural. I was seized by an instant reaction of interest and intrigue.

It was so smooth-sailing (can't stress it enough.) I had no reluctance towards the storyline, plot, or characters whatsoever. I was captivated and immersed in all of. All of it. This was actually the kind of book I wanted to read slowly, consciously saving chapters to "read later." The kind of book you're dreading the page number of; I didn't want it to end.

A round of applause for the freshness of this angel storyline - it was utterly ingenious, uncluttered, and well executed. No unnecessary fuss or historical background that will zone you out, but enough to fill you in and have you believe it. Everything came to place so smoothly. Here I go again with all the smoothness.

Every character - protagonist as well as secondary, were simply superb. I don't think I've ever cared for this many characters at once before. Anna, Jay, Patti, Kaiden, Belial..

Anna wasn't a challenge to connect with, she was kind, genuine, and determined. Very likable. Although she was in great success presented as Miss Goody-Goody, that is gradually and naturally interfered with.

Jay is the close guy friend you never had, seriously! And, well, Patti is the adoptive mother you never had - she had such a beautiful persona. I feel so much love and warmth for these two.

I found Patti's reactions and emotions towards Anna and her newfound knowledge of who she is to be realistic without being over- or underwhelming. It was clear how loving and protective she was of Anna, simultaneously having reasons for trusting Anna with her own independence and responsibility.

I was all giddy during unlikely phases of the book. It was Kaiden, it was all Kaiden. Though he was to portray bad, untrustworthy, offending - he was just so.. so.. basically he had this intense, alluring quality about him. He's the guy you should stay away from but have hopelessly fallen for.

Describing him as a bad boy doesn't sound right. He is what he was born into, he's not capable of anything else (er, yet). Behind the lustful lure of his persona, I saw that he was honest and protective of Anna. These two need tension, uncertainty, as much as the back-and-forth.

Something struck me about the ending, especially the scene of Anna and the postcard. My heart wept. It was such a tranquil, beautiful, moving ending. I loved it. 

'Sweet Evil' was awesomeness - easy to follow, so easy to enjoy. It set the perfect pace for what will hopefully be a trilogy and I'm ridiculously excited for it.

 (5/5)