Review - Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) by Richelle Mead
Librarything / Goodreads

Genre: Paranormal Young Adult

Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 493

Summary: How far will Rose go to keep her promise?

The recent Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir’s Academy was the deadliest ever in the school’s history, claiming the lives of Moroi students, teachers, and guardians alike. Even worse, the Strigoi took some of their victims with them. . . including Dimitri.

He’d rather die than be one of them, and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa—the one she has sworn to protect no matter what—and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make long ago. But with everything at stake, how can she possibly destroy the person she loves most?

Thoughts: Richelle Mead is one of those authors that makes you desperate for a conclusion. So, I'll just come out and admit it... I read spoilers for Blood Promise before I'd even read Shadow Kissed (which, FYI, broke my heart into so many ickle pieces, I couldn't deal enough to write a review). I knew what was going to happen before I picked up both books - and I have a pretty clear idea about the last two books in the series as well. I just had to know. Emotionally, I just wouldn't have made it through this series without some warning of what was ahead.

So, despite having a pretty fair idea what would happen in this book, it still blew me away. I wondered how far Mead could take vigilante!Rose. I mean, the book is over 400 pages long and there's only so much angst a girl can handle. But as Rose makes her way through Russia, Mead takes the opportunity to introduce some fabulous new characters: including Sydney, who will be the star of the spin-off series.

Along with the painful Dimitri/Rose action - which kept a lump in my throat the whole time - there are about a dozen new plot lines that pop up in Blood Promise. For one thing, we got a look at a very different Moroi/Dhamphir society - the one Dimitri was raised in, and boy does that ever explain him. We also got a whole new insight into the twisted world of Strigolis, and introduced to a whole new branch of supernatural none of us had even known about. I adored all the new intrigue. When it really comes down to it, the Vampire Academy is all plot plot plot and it's fantastic.

On top of that, Rose went through some extraordinarily terrifying things in this book. Seriously, there's death and torture and blood and prostitutes. It's not stuff for weaklings, and even knowing how everything could turn out did not comfort me! Rose proved to be stronger than I think humanly possible. I couldn't help but be proud of this girl for keeping herself together, both physically and mentally.

On the less-positive side... I still don't see what Rose sees in Lissa. I find her rather bland and continue to only be interested in her because of her friendship with our leading lady. I also don't get the fuss over Adrian. He seems a perfectly all right guy, but that's it. I guess he's a great rebound... but I found his woe-is-me business is extremely unattractive.

Bottom line?  I loved this book for its angsty, plotty goodness.  In case you haven't heard, the Vampire Academy series is a Must. Read.

Review - Ghost Town (Morganville Vamps, Book 9) by Rachel Caine

Ghost Town (Morganville Series, Book 9) by Rachel Caine
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Genre: Paranormal Young Adult

Rating: 2.5 stars
Pages: 479

Summary: While developing a new system to maintain Morganville's defenses, student Claire Danvers discovers a way to amplify vampire mental powers. Through this, she's able to re-establish the field around this vampire-infested Texas college town that protects it from outsiders.

But the new upgrades have an unexpected consequence: people inside the town begin to slowly forget who they are-even the vampires. Soon, the town's little memory problem has turned into a full-on epidemic. Now Claire needs to figure out a way to pull the plug on her experiment- before she forgets how to save Morganville...

Thoughts: I really cannot believe I am writing a non-glowing-verging-on-negative review for a Morganville book. This series has consistently been one of my favourite reads - I thought that there could be no such thing as a bad Morganville book. But after reading Ghost Town, I remembered the problems I had with the first book in the series (Glass House). Namely, it just didn't make me care about the characters.

Claire and the gang are, as usual, in the midst of another action-packed drama - this time centred around Claire and Mrynin's experimental new machine. Now, that should make my knees turn to jelly, because a) I am head-over-heels in love with Myrnin, and b) I absolutely adore the Claire/Myrnin relationship. And yet their dynamic in this book is pretty much centred around Ada - which was just one of those characters I wish Caine would drop already. Seeing Myrnin - of all people - so love-crazy (instead of regular crazy) just annoyed me. There were a few scenes between them at the start of the book that I loved, but then it was all downhill.

Same goes for Amelie and Oliver - usually two kick-ass characters who seemed to spend this book going on and on about their unbelievable emotional angst. Not to mention the fact that they have been having the same argument about Morganville for nine books. Every time they brought it up, my eyes would start to glaze over. I get it already! Geez.

As for the Glass House residents, I have been growing less and less attached to them with each book. Shane/Claire used to make my heart pitter-patter, and now I feel like skipping through all their lovey-dovey business. I guess they've reached that point in their relationship where the camera would usually fade to black and display a "happily ever after" banner. It's great for them, but not so interesting for us readers. Not that I want angst, per say, but some kind of development would be nice.

Bottom line? Depressing instalment to a great series. I remain a fan, but have lost my faith in the series.

Review - Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine

Kiss of Death (Morganville Vampires, Book 8) by Rachel Caine
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Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 348
Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal)

Summary: Vampire musician Michael Glass has attracted the attention of a big- time producer who wants to cut a demo and play some gigs-which means Michael will have to enter the human world. For this, he's been assigned escorts that include both a dangerous immortal as well as Michael's all-too-human friends. And with that mix of personalities, this is going to be a road trip from hell..

Thoughts: I remember reading that Rachel Caine had had a 6-book plan set out for the Morganville series when she started out.  Kiss of Death is book 8 – and her lack-of-overarching-plan is kinda starting to show.

Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed Kiss of Death.  Caine’s verse is as addictive as ever.  I love these characters and their angst – so, really, how could I not enjoy another visit into their world?  But Kiss of Death was definitely a step down from some of the other Morganville books.  If I weren’t such a fan, I probably would have been less than impressed.

Kiss of Death takes place outside of Morganville.  This is a first for the series which had had the characters literally confined to the city in previous books.  Whilst a road trip might sound like a happy-go-lucky time for the gang, things never work out that way for Claire and co.  So, there are plenty of new vamps, some kidnapping and, oh, a car chase or two.

Pretty cool… but also pretty pointless.  Kiss of Death felt very episodic and monster-of-the-week.  A cool monster, sure, but I couldn’t help thinking “… so?”  It was a far cry from the epic cliff-hangers of the first 5 books that literally stopped your heart.

Not to mention the most important failure: the epic lack of Myrinn.  *cries softly whilst wearing vampire bunny slippers*

However, I do have hope for Morganville books of the future.  Fade Out was friggin’ fantastic (and with plenty of Myrinn goodness) and managed to remain self-contained to a single book.



Bottom line?  The Morganville Vampires series is fantastic - I highly recommend it.  That said, Kiss of Death was not it’s greatest instalment.

Note to the UK publishers: Did something break when publishing Kiss of Death?  My cover was in pieces after one light read – not to mention the book was littered with typos.  Not cool.

Review - Betrayals by Lili St. Crow

Betrayals (Strange Angels, Book 2) by Lili St. Crow
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Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 308

Summary: Poor Dru Anderson. Her parents are long gone, her best friend is a werewolf, and she’s just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn’t entirely human. (So what else is new?)

Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England School for other teens like her, and there’s a big problem— she’s the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn’t be so bad, but Dru’s killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide. . .

Can Dru survive long enough to find out who has betrayed her trust — and maybe even her heart?

Thoughts: I have such mixed feelings about the Strange Angels series.  Don't get me wrong, I love the books.  Dru is probably the most depressing teenager ever, but her stubborness and strength are really inspiring.  I love how she is still grieving her father's death from the first book - and her mother's death as a child.  I love the universe, filled with werewolves, dhampirs and vampires constantly at each other's throats.

St. Crow's universe is violent and gothic, and utterly immersive.  I read this book in a single day - I just couldn't put it down.  We learn so much more about the dangers Dru is facing - from enemies she didn't even know she had.  We also find out a lot more about her troubling new powers, how Graves is dealing with his new transformation and we get a bit of Christophe's fascinating background.

But I have some trouble with the love triangle.  When it comes to the whole Graves/Dru/Christophe thing, I have a feeling that I'm on the losing side of the love triangle.  A.k.a. the "I don't want to see Dru with either of them" side.

Okay, sure, if I had to choose: Team Christophe all the way.  But that's because I find him hot - seriously hot - and not because I think he is right for Dru.  As for Graves, I really have trouble seeing him as anything more than just a friend.  A totally awesome friend, but just a friend.

Unfortunately the non-epic romance and the shortage of Christophe meant Betrayals lost the edge that Strange Angels had.  Nevertheless, I can't wait to read Jealousy (which has an epically terrible cover) and hope to get some bloody answers in it!

Bottom line?  Filled with supernatural violence, a grieving teen, and a serious ammount of political intrigue - Betrayals is a great book.  And hopefully you'll find yourself choosing sides in the romance - I'm sure the book is more enjoyable when you aren't trying to fasten a chastity belt onto the heroine.

Review - Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Frostbite (Vampire Academy, Book 2) by Richelle Mead
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Librarything / Goodreads

Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 336

Summary: It's winter break at St. Vladimir's, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy's crawling with Guardians--including Rose's hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if handto- hand combat with her mom wasn't bad enough, Rose's tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason's got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks....This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price...

Thoughts: Frostbite is a fantastic follow-up to Vampire Academy.  The second book in a series is usually filled with flaws, but not in Mead's case.  Action-packed, and emotionally gut-wrenching, this series is a definite must for YA and Vampire fans.

Rose does not have the ideal life by a long shot.  Her gender and genetics give her limited options in the vampire world.  Rose can't be with the man she loves without sacrificing her best-friend, and even if she makes the "correct" choice she won't ever have anyone of her own to love.  It's all very depressing, but she does the very best to make the most of bad circumstances.

Rose really matures in Frostbite, but not by choice.  After the trauma she is put through in this book leaves her no choice but to make the "grown-up" decisions.  In a way, I miss the more naive Rose from the first book, the one who looked forward to being an adult and fighting the Strigoi.  Watching Rose lose that optimism was terribly tragic.

Wow, I have made this sound like the most miserable book in history.  READ IT ANYWAYS.  What I love about Mead is that she never introduces her characters fully formed - they always have plenty of room to develop.  And watching that process?  Heartbreakingly brilliant.

In retrospect, I am amazed how much Mead fit into such a small book. Compared to the rest of the Vampire Academy series, Frostbite is a sliver of a book. But so damn much happens in it!  Mead deals with the epic Dimitri/Rose tragedy, Rose's addiction to being bitten, Lissa's ever worsening condition, the introduction of Rose's mother, and a whole new (vaguely Chuck Bass-like) character.  It's actually quite impressive.

Bottom line?  The Vampire Academy series just keeps getting better.  Mead actually seems to have a plan for these characters, and I really can't wait to see how it ends!

Review - Tempted by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Tempted (House of Night, #6) by P.C. and Kristin Cast
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Rating: 2 stars
Pages: 336

Summary: Zoey needs a break after some serious excitement. Sadly, the House of Night school for vampyres doesn't feature breaks on its curriculum - even for a High Priestess in training and her gang. Plus juggling three guys is no stress reliever, especially when one is a sexy Warrior so into protecting Zoey that he's sensing her emotions. Wider stresses lurk too, and the dark force in Tulsa's tunnels is spreading. Could Stevie Rae be responsible for more than a group of misfit fledglings? And Aphrodite's visions warn Zoey to stay away from the immortal Kalona and his dark allure - but they also show that only Zoey can stop him. She's not exactly keen to meet up, but if Zoey doesn't go to Kalona he'll exact a fiery vengeance on those closest to her. She just has to find the courage to do what's necessary, or everything that's important to her will be destroyed.

Thoughts: Tempted was terrible.

Okay, so I don't usually expect all that much from the HoN series.  As a general rule, I find the writing pretty terrible, the characters kinda one-dimensional, and some of the plot ideas seemingly written by somebody high on E.  So why do I keep reading?  Well, I like the universe and - prior to this book - I used to like some of the characters.  Now I'm down to the universe.

Tempted was just all over the place.  We hear from 4 POVs, an unfortunate first for the series.  The Casts jump back and forth from character to character with no discernible pattern.  For example, we get a single chapter from Aphrodite (which was probably the best in the book) about half way through, and then... nothing.  That's it!  Just the one chapter.

Huh?

The Casts also successfully destroyed two of the characters I liked: Stark and Stevie Ray.  I hate it when characters lose their character because of some insane plot point.  If you have to make a character do a complete 180 to move the story along, try something else!  *shakes fist*

I'll be reading on the next book - which comes out tomorrow in the USA. But I'm definitely going to wait for the paperback.

Bottom line?  Do the world a favour, and don't let a teenager within a 100 feet of this book.  The last thing we need is for actual teens to be more like HoN!teens.

Review - Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Strange Angels (Strange Angels, Book 1) by Lili St. Crow
Bookdepository / Amazon UK / Amazon US
Librarything / Goodreads

Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 293

Summary: Dru knows that The Real World - peopled with ghosts, suckers and zombies - is a frightening place. She's ready to kill first and ask questions later, so it's going to take her a while to work out just who she can trust.

Dru Anderson has been 'strange' for as long as she can remember, travelling from town to town with her father to hunt down things that go bump in the night. It's a weird life, but a good one - until in an icy, broken-down town, a hungry zombie bursts through her kitchen door. Dru is going to have to use every inch of her wit and training. Can she stay alive long enough to fall for one - or both - of the guys hungry for her affections?

The above summary sucks. It is the least spoilery one I could find (most give away the first half of the book). But it paints Dru in completely the wrong light. I mean, sure, she is capable of kicking ass - but she is not kick-ass. They made Dru sound like Rose from Vampire Academy - and she is so NOT ROSE.

A better summary? You know the show Supernatural? Well, imagine a less-cocky, teenage, girl!Dean - without the baby brother - hunting evil around the US with his Dad. There you have (at least the start) of Strange Angels.

Thoughts: Strange Angels is a really great addition to the YA Paranormal scene. Lili St. Crow paints a much more realistic picture of a teen living in an unreal world. Although absent, Dru's parents play a big role in her life - and both they (and her safety) trump whatever guy she is supposed to mooning after. Strange Angels is violent, tragic, and really enjoyable - although it does go downhill towards the end.

I loved the first half of this book.  But in it, Dru is miserable - I mean, I'm-almost-an-alcoholic-teenager!miserable - and her world thoroughly sucks. Despite the temptation to just curl up and die, she is trying desperately to plough through the misery. It was amazing to read, even though it was utterly tragic. Really made me appreciate her strength. I also loved her inner Dad!voice. She would constantly think of what her Dad would say or do in a particular situation (which often involved killing things).  It made me love the guy without ever spending that much time with him.

Graves, the first boy she meets in this book - well, he's ok. I haven't quite worked out if I really like him, but I do appreciate how much he helps Dru. Graves has had a really hard-knock life - hell, the guy is practically homeless - but has amazingly managed to keep his head above water. I'd like to find out even more about his background in Betrayals.

Mid-way through the book, we are introduced to Christophe. He is tough, scary and not-so-human... and yeah, I really liked him! But as soon as Christophe came into the picture, Dru started to edge into the too-stupid-to-live category. There was one particular scene where Dru refused to do something for no apparent reason. I mean, it shouldn't even have been an issue, but Dru decides it is the perfect reason to pitch a fit - and it completely blows up in her face. It was really frustrating, and I wanted to just reach through the book and shake her! (Although Graves I wanted to smack, as he agreed with her insanity.)

The last half? - maybe 3 stars. But the first half was just so great (well, actually it was miserable, but a great read) that I had to keep the rating up. I am looking forward to Betrayals and have a feeling Dru will straighten her head out a bit in that book... I am also looking forward to more Christophe!

Bottom Line? A great addition to the YA Paranormal Scene.  If you are a fan of the Morganville series then this will be up your alley!

I read this for the Battle Royale New Author Mini-Challenge - Team Deadline Dames!

Review - Fade Out (Morganville Vampires, Book 7) by Rachel Caine

Fade Out (The Morganville Vampires, Book 7) by Rachel Caine
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Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 348

Summary: Without the evil vampire Bishop ruling over the town of Morganville, the resident vampires have made major concessions to the human population. With their newfound freedoms, Claire Danvers and her friends are almost starting to feel comfortable again…

Now Claire can actually concentrate on her studies, and her friend Eve joins the local theatre company. But when one of Eve’s castmates goes missing after starting work on a short documentary, Eve suspects the worst. Claire and Eve soon realize that this film project, whose subject is the vampires themselves, is a whole lot bigger—and way more dangerous—than anyone suspected.

Thoughts: I had been saving Fade Out because it was my last MV book until Kiss of Death comes out - I finally cracked and read it in a single go! Best 4 hours I've had in quite a while!

The book picks up a few months after the chaos of Carpe Corpus - and Morganville is living in relative peace. In fact, this book has less action than is typical for a Morganville book - which is still an awful lot! Caine's books always pack a punch, and Fade Out is no exception.

A new girl throws all the group dynamics off balance, and it was great to watch how the characters dealt with a less violent disruption to their status quo. Especially Shane and Claire (bless them - I love these two) who are both desperately trying to be grown ups for each other - and not always succeeding. We also got some amazing insight into Myrinn, his relationship with Ada, and the mostly!platonic love between him and Claire. The Myrinn/Claire dynamic is probably my favourite in the series, and Caine really pushes it to its limits. We get a much clearer picture about how Myrinn feels about Claire - and up to what point Claire will have his back. I'll stop there, because I don't want to give anything away. Let's just say that I love their interaction, and there is plenty of it in Fade Out!

Bottom line? Yet another amazing installation in the Morganville Series. A definite must!

Review - Carpe Corpus (Morganville Vampires, Book 6) by Rachel Caine

Carpe Corpus (Morganville Vampires, Book 6) by Rachel Caine
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Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 384

Summary: In the small college town of Morganville, vampires and humans lived in (relative) peace - until all the rules got rewritten when the evil vampire Bishop arrived, looking for the lost book of vampire secrets. He's kept a death grip on the town ever since. Now an underground resistance is brewing, and in order to contain it, Bishop must go to even greater lengths.

He vows to obliterate the town and all its inhabitants - the living and the undead. Claire Danvers and her friends are the only ones who stand in his way. But even if they defeat Bishop, will the vampires ever be content to go back to the old rules, after having such a taste of power?

Thoughts: Claire and co. are thrown through the wringer - again - in Carpe Corpus. This is Morganville as we have never seen it before - everything that was once only very dangerous becomes terrifyingly so. It seems even worse for poor Claire, as her parents decide that this book will be the perfect opportunity for them to visit their daughter! I loved seeing Claire deal with her parents on top of all the chaos - which makes me sound rather sadistic... hmm.

Carpe Corpus is probably the darkest of the Morganville books so far. There were a lot of game-changing events that will have long reaching consequences for both humans an vampires. It was also the first book where the group dynamics have not been solid. Because of the events in Lord of Misrule, Claire is all on her own at the start of the book - and this time it is not simply The Glass House vs. The World.

Bottom line? Yet again, you NEED to read this series. It is an action packed roller coaster ride of pure genius. Not to mention it is one of the few YA books out there totally dominated by the romance!

Review - Untamed (House of Night, Book 4) by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Untamed (House of Night, Book 4) by P.C. and Kristin Cast
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A word of WARNING: Although I do read the HoN books - I don't actually think I could recommend them. They are filled with immature characters who aren't all that bright and are my definition of the anti-role model. For some reason, I read them despite the fact I occasionally want to set them on fire.

Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 411

Summary: Life sucks when your friends are pissed at you. Just ask Zoey Redbird – she’s become an expert on suckiness. In one week she has gone from having three boyfriends to having none, and from having a close group of friends who trusted and supported her, to being an outcast. Speaking of friends, the only two Zoey has left are undead and unMarked. And Neferet has declared war on humans, which Zoey knows in her heart is wrong. But will anyone listen to her? Zoey's adventures at vampyre finishing school take a wild and dangerous turn as loyalties are tested, shocking true intentions come to light, and an ancient evil is awakened in PC and Kristin Cast's spellbinding fourth House of Night novel.

Review: Untamed is a huge improvement from the car-wreck that was Chosen. For once, Zoey starts out with zero boyfriends - and zero friends, for that matter. A lot of the book is spent with Zoey trying to make amends - not sure whether or not she succeeds, to be honest - and introducing the new Big Bad.

On that front, Big!Bad!Kalona gets an intresting introduction in Untamed - but he will unfortunately become a real pain in the later books. One thing I did like was the character Stark - who has definitely become my front runner on the future-boyfriends-of-Zoey front. He's an archer that can never miss, and he's the only character in the book with a dog. *hugs* Aphrodite is as enjoyable as always - uber-bitch with a secret good streak - and gosh, don't I wish the latter HoN books were in her POV...

Bottom line? Big improvement from Chosen, Untamed was really quite enjoyable. If you've made it this far, it's a must.

Review - Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1) by Patricia Briggs
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Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 352

Summary: Mercy Thompson's life is not exactly normal. Her next-door neighbor is a werewolf. Her former boss is a gremlin. And she's fixing a VW bus for a vampire. But then, Mercy isn't exactly normal herself.

Thoughts: Moon Called is a brilliant book!

Mercy is fierce yet knows her limits, independent but understanding of Alpha (literally) males, sweet but sexy, funny and, well, just plain wonderful.  It is so hard to find a heroine that you can love just for themselves - and Mercy is one of them.  Whatever she says or does, I trust her because she is Mercy.  Even if she did something I would never, ever do - instead of sitting there chastising her, I understand her.  It really is a wonderful feeling to have, especially in a book told in the first person.

Lots and lots of plot.   Romance comes very much in the background to this story, even though it is still there.  Brilliant universe construction that in no way dragged - I was sucked into the verse without being yanked.  Amazing, really.

A triangle is set up in the book - and while at first I was apprehensive - Briggs pulls it off.  Neither one of her heroes is perfect, and Mercy is not willing to bounce back and forth between them.  I know the triangle becomes more fleshed out in later books, but in Moon Called it was a rather minor role.

Bottom line?  Amazing start to what is going to be a great series.  I'd highly recommend this to everyone I know! If you are looking for a book to introduce you to Urban Fantasy - this would be a great one to start with!

Review - Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Book 1) by Richelle Mead

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Rating: 4.5 stars

Pages: 331

Summary: St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school--it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St. Vladimir's - the very place where they're most in danger... 

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi - the world's fiercest and most dangerous vampires - make Lissa one of them forever. 

Thoughts: This is - truly - a brilliant book.  I had thought all the hype around it was over-the-top... I was so wrong.  

Vampire Academy is not like most YA novels - hell, like any novel I've read.  Although there is plenty of teenage realism - mean girls, cliques, and inappropriate kissage - the characters are at the same time very, very different to us.  What we consider normal is not what they do - and where we place our priorities also differs from them.  It's odd, to not agree with a character but still understand them.

In fact, there was a lot of that in this book.  Our main character, Rose, is exactly what I wasn't in high school.  She flirts with everyone, goes out partying all the time, and makes out with guys she doesn't even care about - just for the thrill.  This reckless edge does settle itself a bit in Vampire Academy, but it is still there even when she is behaving.  You could say she is of the "punch first, ask questions later" variety.  And even though I don't personally understand this, I understand her.

It's weird.

Another really unique feature of Vampire Academy was the relationship between BFFs Lissa and Rose.  You get this right from the start as Mead opens with a scene of the two of them.  Although I literally swooned over both Dimitri and Christian, the Lissa/Rose bond was by far the strongest in the book.

The vampire universe also had a really nice twist to it.  Mead managed to incorporate all sorts of issues - politics, drug abuse, and social class - into the verse without it seeming too contrived.  She also managed to work in discussion about mental illness - which was an unexpected surprise.  It is something I am very sensitive about, and I really appreciate authors who make an effort to get things right when they include it.

Bottom line?  An amazing, addictive read.  Mead creates gives a unique twist on vampires, and creates kick-ass characters to boot.  Even if you are not a YA fan, go get yourself a copy!

This was the my (and final) read for the brilliant League of Reluctant Adults Mini-Challenge hosted over at Literary Escapism.  It's been really fun - and I plan to do a little a wrap-up post to celebrate. ♥

Review - Hearts at Stake (aka My Love Lies Bleeding) by Alyxandra Harvey

Hearts at Stake (aka My Love Lies Bleeding) (The Drake Chronicles, Book 1) by Alyxandra Harvey
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Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 256

Summary: On Solange’s sixteenth birthday, she is going to wake up dead. As if that’s not bad enough, she also has to outwit her seven overprotective older brothers, avoid the politics involved with being the only daughter born to an ancient vampire dynasty, and elude Kieran Black—agent of an anti-vampire league who is searching for his father’s killer and is intent on staking Solange and her entire family.

Luckily she has her own secret weapon—her human best friend Lucy—who is willing to defend Solange’s right to a normal life, whether she’s being smothered by her well-intentioned brothers or abducted by a power-hungry queen. Two unlikely alliances are formed in a race to save Solange’s eternal life—Lucy and Solange’s brother Nicholas, and Solange and Kieran Black—in a dual romance that is guaranteed to jump start any romance-lover’s heart.


Thoughts: Hearts at Stake is a really fun debut novel but don't set the bar too high when you pick it up. The action was entertaining, but not all that memorable. Plot turns and twist were all over the place, and kinda hard to follow. The world building consisted of tell-and-no-show. And as for the romance, well, both pairings fell flat.

But it was still an entertaining read! Harvey has a tongue-in-cheek style that I enjoyed - and we have to give her serious credit for creating the most violent vegetarian (Lucy) I have ever read! I also loved the relationship between the two narrators: best friends, Lucy and Solange. They are fiercely protective of each other, but extremely different. They work very well together, as whatever one of them lacks the other makes up for. It was a lovely dynamic!

It was released in the US with the cover/title you see before you... but in the UK they decided to rename it to My Love Lies Bleeding and gave it a Twilightesque cover. Usually I like the changes made by UK publishers, but not this time.

Hearts at Stake is a light-hearted, funny read. So although there is a lot of life-threatening violence... it is light-hearted violence! (If that makes any sense!) So, if you can, try to get a US copy (I got mine from Fobidden Planet in London) so that the content matches the cover!

Bottom line? This was a fun, light-hearted read - but I was not particularly in love. Pick it up if you are looking for a fast-and-fun read!  The next book in the series, Blood Feud, is out in July.

Review - Lord of Misrule (Morganville Vampires, Book 5) by Rachel Caine

Lord of Misrule (Morganville Vampires, Book 5) by Rachel Caine
Amazon US / Amazon UK / Bookdepository / LibraryThing / Goodreads

Rating: 4/5 stars
Pages: 256

SPOILERS for previous books!

Summary: In the college town of Morganville, vampires and humans coexist in (relatively) bloodless harmony. Then comes Bishop, the master vampire who threatens to abolish all order, revive the forces of the evil dead, and let chaos rule. But Bishop isn’t the only threat.

Violent black cyclone clouds hover, promising a storm of devastating proportions as student Claire Danvers and her friends prepare to defend Morganville against elements both natural and unnatural.

Thoughts:  Lord of Misrule turns the entire Morganville series on its head - if you ever have to skip a book, make sure it isn't this one! The relative comfort our characters used to live in has gone, and has been replaced with a war in the trenches. Any action that I might have felt was missing in Feast of Fools is made up for in Lord of Misrule - I gave up counting the life-or-death situations by page 30.

The action turns the entire town around, and the change brings out the hardness in all the characters - including Claire. I'd call some of her actions fierce, but I'd just be paraphrasing Eve (honestly, they are that fierce). I'd say Shane gets the biggest shake-up, character-wise. He had a lot of explaining to do in this book and, unsurprisingly, talking it out really helped with his new enlightenment.

Make sure you have a copy of Carpe Corpus on hand, because Lord of Misrule has the most jaw-dropping cliffhanger yet. And given Caine's usual modus operandi, that is saying something!

Bottom Line?  You NEED to read this series!

Review - Feast of Fools (Morganville Vampires, Book 4) by Rachel Caine

Feast of Fools (Morganville Vampires, Book 4) by Rachel Caine
Amazon US / Amazon UK / BookDepository / LibraryThing / Goodreads

Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Pages: 256

SPOILERS for previous books!

Summary:  In the town of Morganville, vampires and humans live in relative peace but Claire Danvers has never been convinced - especially with the arrival of Mr Bishop, an ancient, old-school vampire who cares nothing about harmony. What he wants from the town's living and its dead is unthinkably sinister.

Thoughts: I love the Morganville Vampire series, and while this book is no exception, it wasn't quite as extraordinary as Midnight Alley. After the shocking revelation in MA of the newest baddy in town - a Mr. Bishop - Claire is unfortunately back in the dark as to what on earth is going on in Morganville. Although it did wonders to build tension - I couldn't turn those pages fast enough - it also made a lot of the book feel like a placeholder. Although we do get a resolution to the mystery - well, as much a Caine can write a resolution to her Morganville series - I would still recommend having a copy of Lord of Misrule on hand.

Now that I think about it, this book is the Morganville equivalent of Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix. Claire, like Harry did, spends the majority of the book utterly confused, then bang - big event - and all becomes clear. Obviously, Caine hardly sat Claire down to explain the verse to her, the way Rowling did to Harry - but the similarity is still there.

On to the great things in this book. Myrinn is as awesome as ever - eccentric, violent, and utterly adorable. Shane and Claire have their relationship is put to the test by the pull of her parents, and the introduction of a new vamp who takes an unfortunate interest in Shane. We also got a teaser as to the strengths that Claire may or may not possess (I'm not being cagey, I honestly don't know). Lots of great emotional drama - although not quite as much plot as Caine usually manages to get into a Morganville book. Although if compared to other authors, it sure is action-packed!

Bottom line?  Not the best book in the series, but enjoyable none-the-less.  If you haven't yet, make sure you get your hands on the Morganville Vampires Series ASAP!

Review - Chosen by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Chosen (House of Night, Book 3) by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Bookdepository / Amazon UK / Amazon / Librarything / Goodreads

Rating: 1.5 stars
Pages: 352

SPOILERS for previous books!

Summary: Dark forces are at work at the House of Night and fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird’s adventures at the school take a mysterious turn. Those who appear to be friends are turning out to be enemies. And oddly enough, sworn enemies are also turning into friends. So begins the gripping third installment of this “highly addictive series” (Romantic Times), in which Zoey’s mettle will be tested like never before. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling to maintain a grip on her humanity. Zoey doesn’t have a clue how to help her, but she does know that anything she and Stevie Rae discover must be kept secret from everyone else at the House of Night, where trust has become a rare commodity.

Speaking of rare: Zoey finds herself in the very unexpected and rare position of having three boyfriends. Mix a little bloodlust into the equation and the situation has the potential to spell social disaster. Just when it seems things couldn’t get any tougher, vampyres start turning up dead. Really dead. It looks like the People of Faith, and Zoey’s horrid step-father in particular, are tired of living side-by-side with vampyres. But, as Zoey and her friends so often find out, how things appear rarely reflects the truth…

Thoughts: I have had such a roller-coaster ride with the HoN series. I was stunned (not in a good way) by Marked, blown away (definantly in a good way) by Betrayed - and then I wanted to burn Chosen.

Seriously.

This was by far my least favourite book. It put the series on hold for me, and I likely would not have continued had it not been for the fact that I had already bought the rest of the series after reading Betrayed. I have to say, the books do return to the mediocre-yet-addicting quality of Betrayed... but you have to get past this thing first.

What made this book so bad was the unimaginable stupidity of Zoey. Along with this stupidity came the extraordinary stupidity of her friends - all of whom failed to realise that they were equally as dumb. In fact, the only one with any sense at all was Aphrodite... but of course no one listened to her because she is such a "poo-head."

*sighs*

Bottom line? Read the a summary of the book on-line and then skip ahead to Untamed.

Review - Evernight by Claudia Gray

Evernight (Evernight Series, Book 1) by Claudia Gray
Amazon UK / Bookdepository / Librarything / Goodreads

Rating: 3/5 stars
Pages: 352 pages

Summary:  Bianca wants to escape. She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.

Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him. But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

Thoughts: Let me start off by saying there was a point, just about half way through the book, when I was ready to write a five star review.  I was in love with Bianca - and more importantly, her parents.  They were a real family who enjoyed listening to Jazz and watching 1930s films.  They were perfect, and even Bianca, with all her teenage worry and angst, was lovable.  Watching her pine over the mysterious Lucas was just OMG-squeeful.

But a few pages leter, I wanted to rip the book to pieces.  Without giving away too many spoilers, let's just say that there is a certain honesty one expects from a narrator.  And that Bianca had kept this particular secret for half a book... well, it just kinda made me angry.

After that, I just never really trusted any other characters.  I realised that I needed to be more forgiving - Gray had to write the story the way she did in order to succesfully develop the book.  But I still haven't gotten over it... and that kinda hindered my appreciation of the rest of Evernight.  To be honest, by the time we got to the climax of the story I was so bitter I was rooting for the baddies!  I feel kinda bad about that now, and perhaps I should have taken a break from Bianca before finishing.

Bottom line? While I do think YA fans should pick up Evernight - brace yourself for a shock.  I already have a copy of the sequel Stargazer and have hope that I will love the entire book this time!

Review - Dead Witch Walking (Rachel Morgan, Book 1) by Kim Harrison

Dead Witch Walking (Rachel Morgan, Book 1) by Kim Harrison
Amazon UK / Bookdepository / LibraryThing / Goodreads

Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 432

Summary:  The underground population of witches, vampires, werewolves—creatures of dreams and nightmares—has lived beside humans for centuries, hiding their powers. But after a genetically engineered virus wipes out a large part of humanity, many of the "Inderlanders" reveal themselves, changing everything.

Rachel Morgan, witch and bounty hunter with the Inderland Runner Services, is one of the best at apprehending supernatural lawbreakers throughout Cincinnati, but when it comes to following the rules, she falls desperately short. Determined to buck the system, she quits and takes off on the run with an I.S. contract on her head and is reluctantly forced to team up with Ivy, Inderland's best runner . . . and a living vampire. But this witch is way out of her league, and to clear her name, Rachel must evade shape-changing assassins, outwit a powerful businessman/crime lord, and survive a vicious underground fight-to-the-death . . . not to mention her own roommate.

Thoughts:  Dead Witch Walking is ludicrously well written - excellent pace, characterization, universe building, etc. etc. Harrison is a gifted writer and created one hell of a character in Rachel Morgan.  She had plot twist after plot twist - constantly revealing something new and exciting about this amazing universe.

So why haven't I given this book a five star rating?  Well, mostly because it took me so damn long to finish it.  I honestly blame this book for my book blogging slump, as it took me almost 2 months to finish!   That is never a good sign.

What it all boils down to are the characters.  And these characters I just could not care less about.  I have read some reviews that claimed Rachel was the most annoying narrator they had ever read.  This is an exaggeration.  Anyone who has read the Werecats series by Rachel Vincent knows that Faythe knocks all competition out of the water.  However, it is unlikely that you will grow to care about Rachel in this book.  I sure as hell didn't despite my very best intentions.  Had the book finished with her death, I likely would have shrugged and moved on.

Bottom line?  Read it for the universe - the Hallows is an amazing place.  Also, the series apparently gets a lot better by the third book. Oh, and get the UK cover!  The US ones are just disturbing.

Review - Midnight Alley (Morganville Vampires 3) by Rachel Caine

Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine
Buy at:  Amazon UK - Bookdepository

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Pages: 384

Rec for people who love: Buffy - aka action with a laugh and some love.

Summary: Morganville is such a nice place to live...and die. If you don't mind that sort of thing. When Claire Danvers learnt that her college town was run by vampires, she did what any intelligent, self-preserving student would do: she applied for a transfer and stocked up on garlic. The transfer is no longer an option, but that garlic may come in handy. Now Claire has pledged herself to Amelie, the most powerful vampire in town. The protection her contract secures does little to reassure her friends. All of a sudden, people are turning up dead, a stalker resurfaces from Claire's past, and an ancient bloodsucker extends a chilling invitation for private lessons in his secluded home.

Thoughts: This series just goes from awesome to awesome.

Yet again, Caine delivers.  This book is my favourite in the series (at least books 1-5).
In MA, she gets right down to business - dealing with Micheal's new vampireness, the implications of Claire's contract and adds even more new twists along the way.  Yet again, Claire is put through the ringer - and it changes her.  Don't get me wrong, she is still the Claire we all love to love, but she does a fair bit of growing up in this book.

As for her relationship with Shane, gosh.  It just gets better and better.  It is hard to find a pairing where rooting for both sides just comes naturally - where you look at both sides of the relationship - but with Shane and Claire, it comes easy.  It is quite a feat.

What makes this as my favourite in the series is the exploration of Claire's intellect.  Her education, and what she does with it, is pushed way past Hermione-like expectations.  And let's just say her interaction with her new teacher is... Mindblowing.

Another thing I loved was how Caine dealt with the ever rising number of secrets that Claire is forced to keep.  She hates keeping them, but knowing she has no choice, she does a really good job with giving vague answers.  A definite change from the girl in the first book.

Caine also delves into the mythology behind Morganville - something that had been lacking in the first two books.  Let's just say it is more interesting than she had let on!

This book kept me up all night - again.  So try to set aside a good chunk of time before you get started!

Review - Touch the Dark by Karen Chance

Touch the Dark by Karen Chance
Buy at: BookDepository.co.uk / Amazon.co.uk / BookDepository.com / Amazon.com

Rating: 4/5 stars

Pages: 307

Rec for people who love: old-school sexy vampires, and heroines you would actually enjoy spending time with.

First Line:  I knew I was in trouble as soon as I saw the obituary.

Summary: Cassandra Palmer can see the future and communicate with spirits;talents that make her attractive to the dead and the undead. The ghosts of the dead aren't usually dangerous; they just like to talk; a lot. The undead are another matter.

Like any sensible girl, Cassie tries to avoid vampires. But when the bloodsucking Mafioso she escaped three years ago finds Cassie again with vengeance on his mind, she's forced to turn to the vampire Senate for protection. The undead senators won't help her for nothing, and Cassie finds herself working with one of their most powerful members, a dangerously seductive master vampire—and the price he demands may be more than Cassie is willing to pay.

Thoughts: Once I got into Touch the Dark, I really enjoyed it. It has plenty of action, hot vampires and a solid plot. But it did take me a while. After an impressive showdown to start the book, we go through a lot of character introductions that, er, drag. It might not have been quite as noticeable if it hadn't been for the fact that Chance is introducing us to people I felt I already knew. Being introduced to Cleopatra and Jack the Ripper would likely be a bit more interesting if they weren't, you know, Cleopatra and Jack the Ripper.

Of course, Chance did make them into more than just caricatures. In fact, making Dracula's brother one of the main characters actually ended up setting the book apart from the vamp lit that we are currently being inundated with. Unlike some authors who seem determined to turn vampires into aliens/demi-gods/sparkley dildos, Chance is not afraid to incorporate the vamp stereotype.

Moreover, Chance has a really identifiable heroine in Cassie Palmer. I honestly haven't a single thing to complain about with her - and seeing how hard it is to write a leading-lady that reviewers don't want to shoot, it's a rather impressive feat. Cassie has had some seriously horrible stuff happen to her in her short life, but she is not so fixated on getting revenge/answers that she throws away all her sense of self-preservation. In fact, she is probably the least "too stupid to live" heroine I have read in a long time.

Overall, I really did enjoy Touch the Dark. It was another keep-you-up novel with lots of action and a well-crafted plot. The slight romantic element actually got rather explicit without turning Cassie into a slut, or even dominating the plot - keeping the book very firmly out of the Paranormal Romance Genre. I am definitely getting the next three books in the series.

Other Reviews:

• LoveVampires gave it five stars.
• Jo at Ink and Paper had trouble getting into the book, but liked it when she did.
• Literary Escapism recommends it for Anita Blake fans.