Review: The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa
Published: April 15, 2014
Publisher: Harelquin Teen
Pages: 416 (Hardcover)
Series: Blood of Eden #3
Source: Bought
My Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

VENGEANCE WILL BE HERS

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster?

With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer.

MONSTER

Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the trail is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions—her creator, Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal. The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost—the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie.

In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, triumph is short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

Review: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke
Published: August 15, 2013
Publisher: Dial
Pages: 360 (Hardcover)
Series: Between #1
Source: Bought
My Rating: 1.5 of 5 stars

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town… until River West comes along. River rents the guest house behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard.

Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more?

Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery... who makes you want to kiss back.
Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch.

*A few spoilers ahead

First off have you seen that cover? Gorgeous. No wonder why I picked this book up in the first place. It also got quite a lot of love when it first came out so I had to read it. Did I read the same book as everyone else because I feel like I'm in the minority here when I say that this book and I didn't get along.

It all started when I realized that there was nothing mildly redeemable about the characters. There was no substance to any of the side characters, especially Luke and Sunshine. The main character is weird and not in the good way and to top it all off the love interest is a creep. The book was packed to the brim with instances of Violet blurting out the most random things and it almost never made sense, but none of the characters except for Luke seemed to notice that she didn't know how to hold a conversation and that she brought up irrelevant topics.

There was also absolutely no reason for Luke to be that nasty to his sister. I get it, siblings fight, but there wasn't a reason for Luke to hate on Violet. I kept waiting for some sort of childhood flashback to explain his hatred but there wasn't any. It was just there for the author's convenience and to show that the characters developed by the end. The same issue was present with Sunshine. She was written as a self-absorbed, bitchy girl but it's not like this added to the story, in fact it detracted from it because most of the time I just wanted to her go away.

The romance made me cringe. Their relationship developed unnaturally fast and I felt like I had no reason to root for them. The way River talked to Violet was very strange. If a guy started talking to me like that I would avoid that relationship at all costs. Occasionally Violet would start thinking logically about how dangerous River was, but then she would decide she didn't care because she felt in her heart that she should keep giving him chances and that he doesn't mean to kill people, even though he tells her that he does not think killing is morally wrong and that some people deserve to die. He also can't seem to stop lying and Violet is aware that everything that comes out of his mouth is a lie, yet she still chooses to believe what he says. If that's not alarming then I don't know what is.

The entire book felt like a jumble of literary and movie references that did very little to advance the plot. It also seemed like the author tried to mash too many gothic or horror story ideas into one book. The whole thing with Jack and the kids in the cemetery was very strange and it felt out of place. The villain of the story didn't even make much of an appearance until the end of the book. I saw a few people talking about how great the twist was at the end of the book, but I knew what the twist was since the mention of siblings and Texas.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea was a major disappointment because it had so much potential, but it was executed poorly.

Review: AfterLife by S.P. Cloward

AfterLife by S.P. Cloward
Published:  September 11, 2012
Publisher: Self published
Pages: 179
Series: AfterLife #1
My Rating: 2 of 5 stars

Prior to recorded history, a small genetic mutation occurred that created a race of humans now found among every civilization in every corner of the globe. Unrecognizable to the rest of mankind but living among us and dependent upon humans for survival, this race is known as Mortui; those whose spirits do not sever from their bodies when they die. They are the source of all living dead legends.

At the time of his premature death, Wesley Lohmann discovers he belongs to this select group. Wes' transition plunges him into the center of a struggle between those who seek to coexist peacefully with humans and those who wish to use and rule them, a struggle that carries over into the treacherous world of dreams. The delicate balance human and post-human societies have maintained for millennial is threatened by a recent scientific discovery that offers Mortui the hope of returning to human life, and human sensation, but at a terrible cost. As he struggles with new and past relationships and tries to find meaning for his continued existence, Wes discovers within himself the true meaning of being alive.

AfterLife transcends the typical zombie or vampire genre and audience to present a plausible explanation of where such stories come from in an unsettling but believable way. Even those who usually shy away from this type of science fiction are falling prey to the “what if” question that makes this book so unique and is attracting readers who typically enjoy other types of fiction.

My Review: This was such a disappointment. The concept of Mortui living in the world without anyone knowing is something that I find fascinating for some reason. I'm not a fan of zombies but I'm always up for a unique twist on vampires. Sadly this book was just not for me.

The only part that I really enjoyed about the book was the unique take on vampires and zombies. The rest of the book was kind of boring. The very beginning of the book was interesting but once Wes became a Mortui the book slowed down. It felt like nothing was happening even though time passed very quickly. A good portion of the book was just info dumping and Wes being told that he was a good guy. I shouldn't have to be told repeatedly that Wes is a good guy his actions should show that.

Wes is a very average character. He is special but he is way too perfect for him to be likeable. Even when he did something wrong someone would tell him that he's a good guy and then he would move on. He would think about what he did for a little bit and then it was never brought up again. Obviously he wasn't too upset about it. Wes also didn't do very much for most the book. He went through training but the training parts were boring. Most of them consisted of everyone being impressed with Wes. The end was a little better but not by much.

I also don't understand why Wes likes Emily. Honestly I don't think I could ever see them together. To me their relationship was purely friendship. I don't remember when Wes fell in love with Emily but it felt way too sudden. Especially since he claimed that he was in love with Jez before he met Emily.

Some parts of AfterLife were also told by Seth. He was supposed to be the villain and normally I like villains but I hated him. I don't understand his reasons for doing what he did. I believe he wanted to gain power but why? Doesn't he already have power? Don't the Mortui have everything they could possibly ever want since they are immortal and powerful?

So obviously this book wasn't my cup of tea mostly because I was bored for most of it. There were many parts that I think were supposed to be meaningful but I found it annoying when Wes would point out that he was having a philosophical conversation. It was an interesting idea but if more had happened throughout the book I probably would have enjoyed it much more.

*I received this in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake
Published: August 7, 2012
Publisher:  Tor Teen
Pages: 336
Series: Anna #2
My Rating:  3 of 5 stars


Synopsis: It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on. 

His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live—not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.

Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor.

My Review: I think there might be something wrong with me. These books just don't scare me. That was my major problem with both of these books. Even the Suicide Forest didn't scare me but I did think it was pretty cool. Hell didn't scare me. But someone sneaking up behind me makes me jump a foot in the air.

Not too long ago I finished Anna Dressed in Blood and I was eagerly anticipating this book because I really liked the first one. Well one day I just happened to be at my local Barnes and Noble and I saw Girl of Nightmares but it wasn't supposed to be out yet (ok it was coming out in two days but still two days is a long time)! I almost started screaming in the bookstore.

Apparently my expectations were way too high. After reading many glowing reviews I cracked open this book and I thought it was good but it wasn't as good as the first book.

In the beginning of the book Cas is just complaining about how life isn't fair and how Anna doesn't deserve to be in Hell. Ok Cas I'll let that slide you did loose your dead girlfriend. But it wasn't as interesting as the first book. There wasn't as much of a thrill in the beginning. I didn't get sucked into the story like I had in Anna Dressed in Blood. After Cas actually started to do something about Anna being in Hell he became awesome Cas again. I just wish there was more ghost "killing" in the book.

Then Carmel has to go all I love Thomas but I can't be with him. Why? Just why? I liked you Carmel but after that I couldn't stand you. At least you redeemed yourself by getting back together with Thomas and breaking some plates.

Anna just wasn't there enough for me either. I mean I read this books so I could read about her and she's barely in this one. She was there at the end but I was kind of looking forward to reading more about her. I still don't think I know why Anna decided to spare Cas. If someone knows can you please tell me? I'd really like to know.

The part about the Suicide Forest was pretty cool and I knew that it was freaky and creepy but I just didn't feel freaked out by it. I kind of wish I did. I wanted to be curled up in the corner of my room unable to sleep because I was so scared but sadly I wasn't.

At least there were some parts I really liked. I think my favorite part was probably when Cas and Thomas went to see Aunt Riika and she turns out to be dead. The ending has got to be one of the most sad happy endings I've ever read. I almost cried. I just have so many mixed feelings about this book. I loved it and thought it didn't meet my expectations at the same time.

Review: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Published: August 30, 2011
Publisher:  Tor Teen
Pages: 320
Series: Anna #1
My Rating:  4 of 5 stars

Synopsis: Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story...

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

My Review: I believe in ghosts. I admit it. They freak me out almost as much as zombies do and I'm terrified of zombies. So when I finally decided to read this I thought I'd be up all night. But I actually wasn't that scared. I was more afraid of what I thought would happen but when the part of the book that I thought would be really scary and freaky happened I wasn't scared. It was disappointing. I wanted be scared.

I'm not that hard to scare. I will jump at practically anything but for some reason this book just wasn't scary to me. I mean for a few pages I could feel myself starting to feel just the slightest bit scared but then nothing scary would happen. I would say that books don't scare me but that wouldn't be true.

I did love Cas and Anna's relationship even if I didn't really like it at first. At first I wanted Anna to just rip Cas in half (or try to) even though I really liked Cas because that would freak me out but that would also mean the end of the book so I settled for her tossing him around a little. Besides that Anna was a great character. She was a murderous ghost but she was also just a girl when she was alone with Cas. Anna was just wonderful.

What really made this book for me was the ghosts and Anna's story. From the moment the book started talking about how she died I needed to know. It kept me reading. I wanted to meet this Anna Dressed in Blood. The beginning also did a good job of dragging me into story. A kid who kills ghosts? Sign me up!

Another bonus! Anna Dressed in Blood is narrated by a male. Yes! Kendare Blake you blew me away with Cas. He seemed real to me. He sounded like guys I know. It was perfect.

I loved almost everything about this book. The characters, the plot, and the writing were great. My only problem was that I don't think it ever explained why Anna spared Cas and it wasn't that scary. I hope that we get to find out why Anna spared him in the next book. I can't wait for Girl of Nightmares!