Review: "Touch of Frost" Jennifer Estep

Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy #1)

Jennifer Estep

Publication Date: July 26, 2011

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.

Paperback 350 pgs

Goodreads

Summary: 

     Touch of Frost is the first book in the Mythos Academy series. Gwen Frost is a student at Mythos Academy a place where myths have literally come to life. Along side Gwen are Spartans, Valkyries, Amazons, Romans, and many more. Each student is deadly in their own way and Gwen is forced to go to school among all these warrior students. Things are not what they seem at the Academy, a student gets murdered and a priceless artifact is stolen from the expansive library. Gwen sets out to figure out who killed the murdered student, Jasmine Aston

Review:
    I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read that had me captivated. I felt bad for the main character Gwen because she is so isolated from those around her. She doesn't feel as though she belongs since she is so different from the other students. All of the students are warriors and Gwen doesn't even like gym on top of that she isn't remotely good at handling weapons. Along with not being a warrior Gwen has a strange gift that keeps her from getting too close to other people. Her gift comes in handy but it also has a major downside.

     The other characters that were introduced were Logan Quinn a deadly Spartan who could kill with any weapon or whatever happens to be lying around. He is known as a total bad boy with dark hair and icey blue eyes and he plays the part really well. Gwen's gift is first discussed when she corners Daphne a Valkyrie, who shoots pink sparks out of her fingers. Daphne is your typical snotty rich girl who ends up getting more involved in Gwen's life than she ever planned. Lastly, there is Carson who may be a nerd but like everyone else is an amazing warrior.

     The mythology aspects of this book are original and kept me reading as quickly as possible so I could see what happens next. We are introduced to Loki a god who turned evil and tried to take control over the other gods. Then there are the Reapers of Chaos who are the bad guys that follow Loki and are out to kill everyone on the side of The Pantheon the good guys. The students at the Academy are learning to fight the Reapers and never know when a Reaper might appear. Even though the students are protected there are ways to get around that protection.

     My only issue with Touch of Frost was the repeated use of a character's first and last name. Half way through the book i didn't need to be reminded that Quinn was Logan's last name. It got a tiny bit annoying.

All in all I really really liked Touch of Frost. I thought the characters and the story were quite original. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Cover:

     I  think the cover is nice but it just doesn't scream get me, to me. 

Falling Behind!

Lately I realize that I have been posting less and less. I think because of the holidays I have been lethargic and unwilling to sit down and get my posts done. I know! I know! How embarrassing. It's not that I'm not reading I am but I just haven't been as update with my reviews as I would like to be.

 I have always been a horrible procrastinator. For example try writing a 20 page paper on the day before it's due. Yeah I've done that a few times. The bad part about that is not only did I have all the research material I needed for weeks, I probably could have done a better job at writing the paper. But when you do things at the last minute you get what you get. Luckily for me these were only first drafts. So, I had time to fix my mistakes. Apparently I have time management issues then throw in my need to wait to last second and there you have me, in a nutshell.

I will try to go better about getting my reviews done closer to when I actually read the book. Because it just causes memory issues and I'm left wondering why  I even liked the book in the first place. Was it the characters, the plot, the writing style, or a combination?  I tend to end up more frustrated then I need to be. What I am trying to say is that hopefully in the future I will be able to work on my time issues and get my reviews done in a more timely manner.

Please tell me I am not the only one with this issue. If I am I will suffer my fate in silence(after this post) but if you have similar issues and wish to share that would be awesome. Not that you have an issue but that you want to share.

Why? (2)

Last week I touched on books that left me feeling less than satisfied. Even though it was cathartic to get that topic off my back this week I would like to focus on a more positive topic. Books that  have left me wanting more. Have you ever read a book and when you got to the end you just wished the next book in the series was already out. And you were asking yourself WHY? That has happened quite a few times to me.

Blood Promise
The first book where this happened was Blood Promise by Richelle Mead. I picked up the first book in this series not knowing what to expect. But once I started it, I didn't want to put it down. I read the first book in one sitting then promptly went out and got the other three books that were out at the time. After I finished Blood Promise I nearly died realizing I would have to wait nearly a year for the next book to come out.

I loved the characters, the plot and especially the world that Richelle Mead created in this series. Rose was an exciting female lead who was not only strong but also vulnerable. Then there was Dimitri and the endlessly charming Adrian. After finishing Blood Promise I was speechless I needed to know what was going to happen next. Here's where the waiting came in. So I was left to wonder what Richelle Mead would do next to these beloved characters. I pondered, I re-read, and finally finally the book was released and I was able to read what came next. But then I had the same issue waiting. It could drive a girl crazy. Luckily there are so many amazing series' out there that I was able to stave off the agony. Okay maybe that's a tad dramatic.

City of Ashes
My next Why book, was City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. All I can say about the first two books is Oh My Goodness! I can't seriously be expected to wait to find out what happens next with Jace and Clary. But I had to and I did. Eventually I was rewarded for my patience with City of Glass.

Again the world was amazing as were the characters and the plot. Clary was an interesting character that developed throughout the series.She was timid but underneath she had a strength that was just waiting to come out. What can I say about Jace? Is he seriously fictional? I have to give major props to Cassandra Clare for creating such a wonderfully broken, heroic character. And again I find myself waiting but this time I am looking forward to City of Lost Souls. But as I stated before I have found more great novels out there in need of reading.

Are there any books that have made you say: Why must I wait so long for the next book to come out?

Swoon Thursdays

First I would like to say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. And if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving well then Happy Thursday!

The ladies at YA Bound have created a hot new meme called SWOON #YABound IF you want to join in here's what you need to do.

All you need to do is pick up the book you are currently reading or just finished reading . Find what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding and your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. Then shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag  #YABound, post in the comments, or grab the awesome button from YA Bound (above) and share it on your blog!

My SWOON moment comes from Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Burst

Lifting her head, she stared at him, There was nothing right about this, absolutely nothing right in the way that she didn't want to bite him, absolutely nothing right in the way she wanted to lean against him and let him comfort her as if she were human. SWOON #YABound

Review: "Reckoning" Lili St. Crow

Reckoning (Strange Angels #5)

Lili St. Crow

Publication Date: November 1, 2011

Publisher: Razorbill

Paperback 307 pgs

Goodreads 

Summary:

     Reckoning is the last book in the Strange Angels series. After breaking out of Sergej's compound and nearly losing her life Dru is on the run once more, this time with Graves and Ash. Now that Dru has bloomed she is finally able to defend herself from all the vampires that are out to get her. As she goes to the one place that feels like home Dru realizes that no place is safe. Dru along with her companions will have to fight an epic battle in order to survive.

Review:

     As you can see from the stars I was not a big fan of Reckoning. I really liked the previous books in this series but I had several issues with this last installment. First off I thought that Dru's language was a little too forced. It seemed as if she used more of her country terms than in previous books and they just didn't fit to me. Also I didn't feel as though Dru's character developed all that much. In Reckoning she was still looking for someone to follow and I had hoped that by the end of this series she would realize that she was a strong svetocha and didn't need to depend on anyone. Also, I had issues with the love triangle that existed throughout the entire series. There was no real resolution of the triangle and I felt slightly cheated that I didn't get to jump up and down at Dru's choice or sit back and sigh. Finally, there were many questions left unanswered. The ending felt incomplete and this novel brought up more questions than it answered.

     Of course I didn't hate this book I just wished that it had ended differently than it did. Some of the things that I did like were Christophe as always, he is one of my favorite characters. I love that he is so protective to the point that is a little crazy. This book was full of action which is always a plus. All and all it was just okay.

Cover:

     I liked the first cover in this series but the rest have not among my favorites. This cover looks a little too forced as if they are trying to project that Dru is a tough girl. Plus the highlights look weird.

Why?

     Recently I finished The Strange Angels Series by Lili St Crow. Which got me thinking about some of the great series that I've read that have concluded. The Iron Knight (Julie Kagawa), Afterlife (Claudia Gray), Darkest Mercy (Melissa Marr), Last Sacrifice (Richelle Mead), and Forever (Maggie Stiefvater) I could go on and on, mostly I have been satisfied by the last book in a series but then there are those concluding books that left me completely dissatisfied.

     One such book is Reckoning. Though I had enjoyed the previous books in this series I was left a little baffled about the ending of this series. Maybe there is going to be a spin-off maybe not. I don't know but I just felt as though there was something missing in this novel. There were a lot of unanswered questions and no real resolution to the love triangle that existed throughout the series.

     Another series that left me feeling frustrated is Blue is for Nightmares by Laurie Faria Stolarz. I really liked the first four books in this series but then I found out that the last book would be a graphic novel. Which would have been fine if the whole series had been that way instead of just the last book. I have yet to read Black is for Beginnings, I'm not sure if I will.

     I would really like to rant more about how much these series have let me down but I don't want to get all vicious, that's not the point of this tirade. I just needed to get my feelings out about this book and others that left me feeling sad that such great series had not ended as well as I thought they would.

Are there any concluding books that you were dissatisfied with? If so let me know.

Swoon Thursdays (9)

The ladies at YA Bound have created a hot new meme called SWOON #YABound IF you want to join in here's what you need to do.

All you need to do is pick up the book you are currently reading or just finished reading . Find what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding and your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. Then shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag  #YABound, post in the comments, or grab the awesome button from YA Bound (above) and share it on your blog! 

This week my swoon moment comes from Tempest (ARC) by Julie Cross

She touched her mouth to mine and I closed my eyes and sighed. Her body pressed against mine, then she whispered "I don't mind hearing your secrets, even if they're sad." SWOON #YABound

Review: "The Iron Knight" Julie Kagawa

The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4)

Julie Kagawa

Publication Date: October 25, 2011

Publisher Harlequin Teen

Paperback 361 pgs

Goodreads

Summary:

     The Iron Knight is about Ash's journey to find a way to reunite with the girl he loves.This novel differs from the previous books in this series since it is told form Ash's POV. The previous books in this series are told from Meghan's POV. His journey is a difficult one but he is not alone his is joined by his arch rival Puck and the always calm Grimalkin. Along the way they pick up a few unexpected companions. As Ash struggles to fulfill his promise he realizes just how difficult the road is going to be. He refuses to give up even when his past turns up to haunt him. What will Ash do when he is confronted with a past that he thought he left behind? 

Review:

     I was a little apprehensive when I heard this book would be told from Ash's POV. I was so used to being inside Meghan's head that I didn't know what to think about being inside Ash's. But once I started reading I was not disappointed. Though this book lacked the romance that the other books had I still felt Ash's desire to be with Meghan again. One of the things I loved about this story was being able to get into Ash's icey head.  On the outside he seems hard and uncaring. Once you are inside of his head the reader is able to get a clear understanding of who Ash really is. He had reasons from cutting himself off from his emotions as we learned in previous books but we get more of how Ash dealt with being a Prince of the Unseelie Court. 

     Another aspect of this book that kept me hooked was the interactions between Ash and Puck. They fight like crazy throughout the entire journey but when they have to fight they work together really well. Puck seems to do his best to get on Ash's nerves but he makes it clear that he will see this adventure through to its conclusion. Puck as always uses his humor to get him through tough situations and it is that humor that makes me love reading about him.

    All in all I really enjoyed the conclusion of this series. There were some sad sections that had me hoping things would not end horribly. You never know how an author will choose to end a series. Will the go for the Happily Ever After or will they leave readers scratching their heads wondering what the heck just happened? There were also some really great parts that had me grinning and smiling like a total fool. I was sad to see this series end. But I am looking forward to reading Julie Kagawa's Blood of Eden series as well as the next installment of the Iron Fey from Ethan's POV.

Cover:

     I really like the cover of The Iron Knight it fits well with the rest of the series yet it stands out on its own. Not only does it have Ash on the cover but Puck is on the back. One of the reasons I like The Iron Fey covers is because they are so colorful yet simplistic at the same time. Outstanding! 

Review: "Power of Six" Pittacus Lore

The Power of Six (Lorian Legacies #2)

Pittacus Lore(James Frey, Jobie Hughes)

Publication Date: August 23, 2011

Publisher: HarperCollins

Hardcover 406 pgs

Goodreads

Summary:

     The Power of Six is the second book in the Lorian Legacies. In this novel we learn more about the aliens from Lorian along with the enemies that are hunting them. Instead of just John's POV we also hear from Marina, number Seven, a girl living in a convent in Spain. The story starts with John who is on the run hiding from authorities after the events that took place in I Am Number Four. John, Six, and Sam have to try to stay one step a head of the authorities plus the Mogadorians who seem to be able to find them no matter where they go. In the midst of all the running the John and Six must keep training and learning how to use their powers.  To make matters worse John is having feelings that he can't seem to control. In Spain, Marina is learning more about who she is and what she is willing to do to find her fellow Lorians. Will they meet up or will the Mogadorians catch them before they can reunite?

Review:
    I found the story in The Power of Six to be a good continuation of what happened in the first book in this series. A lot more information about John and Six's past is revealed. John finds anwers to some his questions when he reads the letter Henri left for him. Some of what they found out was unexpected and I am looking forward to learning more about how they plan to use this information. I also liked that John's POV and Marina's POV were distinguished by different fonts. It was easier to tell who I was reading about because the font changed with each character. The characters continue to grow as they struggle through trying to survive. All in all The Power of Six is a good read and I am ready to learn more about these aliens from Lorian.

Cover:

     I am not a giant fan of this cover if I hadn't already started this series I'm not sure this cover would have caught my eye. It doesn't do much to show what the book is about and it's kind of boring. With all the great covers that I have seen this one just doesn't stack up.

Giveaway from IceyBooks

Icey Books is having a random giveaway of The Demon Trapper's Daughter and Soul Thief by Jana Oliver. To enter head over to her site for the details.

Review "I Am Number Four" by Pittacus Lore

I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1)

Pittacus Lore

Publication Date: August 3, 2010

Publisher: HarperCollins

Hardcover 440 pgs

Goodreads

Summary:

     I Am Number Four is the first book in the Lorien Legacies. The story starts with the capture and subsequent death of Number 3. In this novel we learn about the Garde, aliens from the planet Lorien who have special powers that allowed them to protect and defend their home planet. After a massive invasion by the Mogadorians, nine Garde escaped and came to Earth along with their Cepan protectors. Their goals were to learn about their abilities and grow strong enough to fight back against the Mogadorians and hopefully one day return to Lorien. As Number 4, John starts to develop his powers he has more to deal with then just figuring out his powers he has to hide who he really is from those around him and he has to keep himself hidden from those out to destroy him.

Review:

     I enjoyed reading I Am Number Four. It was a good book with a strong male lead. I usually don't read a lot of books that are from a male's perspective so this was an interesting read. John is a fifteen year old alien from the planet Lorien. Most of what her learns about Lorien is from Henri, his guardian, since he has very few memories about where he came from. As he and his Cepan Henri settle in Paradise, Ohio John starts to develop his powers which allowed readers to get to know what types of powers those on Lorien had. Other characters include Sam, John's first real friend. Sam is completely obsessed with NASA and aliens which makes him kind of a loner. We also meet Sarah who John finds himself drawn to.

     One of my favorite aspects of this book was learning about the different powers that the Garde had such as invisibility, heat resistance, flying, telekinesis. I also liked the alternate history of Earth where many of the most famous humans were part Lorien. I Am Number Four is action packed with a very interesting plot. All in all I found the book to be pretty good and was interested to learn more about the Loriens.

Cover:

     I like this cover. It seems to sum up what the book is about. A boy fighting to survive. I like this version better than the original. The original just didn't peak my interest all that much.

Swoon Thursdays (8)

The ladies at YA Bound have created a hot new meme called SWOON #YABound IF you want to join in here's what you need to do.

All you need to do is pick up the book you are currently reading or just finished reading . Find what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding and your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. Then shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag  #YABound, post in the comments, or grab the awesome button from YA Bound (above) and share it on your blog! 

Mine this week is from an ARC of Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi (quotes subject to change with finished copy) Last week was also Shatter Me but it's such a great book with a ton of swoon-worthy moments.

And he's breathing harder than I am and suddenly his lips are on my neck and I'm gasping and dying clutching at his arms and he's touching me touching me touching me and I'm thunder and lightning and wondering when the hell I'll be waking up. -- SHATTER ME SWOON #YABound

Giveaway from LC's Adventures in Libraryland!

Lea at LC's Adventures in Libraryland is celebrating having reached 1000 followers with an awesome giveaway! There are several prize packs to choose from, giveaway ends December 1st at 11:59 and it's international , to learn all the details head over to LC's Adventures in Libraryland.  Happy entering.

Review "After Obsession" Carrie Jones & Steven Wedel

After Obsession

Carrie Jones & Steven Wedel

Publication Date: September 13, 2011

Publisher: Bloomsbury

ARC 307 pgs

Goodreads

Summary:

     The story takes place in a small town in Maine. A town that seems to have more than its far share of problems. Lately people have been acting weird, different more aggressive than normal.The two main characters are Aimee and Alan. Aimee has lived in Maine all her life while Alan is a newcomer who comes to town to live with his cousin Courtney after her father goes missing, and is presumed dead. As Alan comes to terms with life in Maine he meets Aimee and the two are instantly drawn to each other. Aimee and Alan soon find out that there is something strange going on in their small town. As the delve into what is going on in their town they learn about strange things that have happened in the town's past. It is up to them to figure out what is going on and how to stop it before everything is destroyed, including the people they care about.

Review:

     After Obsession was a really entertaining book it deals with Demon Possession and Native American Rituals. The reader learns a lot about both as the characters delve into what is going on in their small town. The story is told alternatively from Aimee and Alan's POV. We were able to see what both Aimee and Alan think about the happenings in their town, as well as what they think of each other. The two main characters Aimee and Alan have different ablities that we learn about as the story unfolds. Aimee has interesting abilities that she doesn't quite understand. She has dreams that sometimes seem to come true. Alan is part Native American, Navajo to be specific, and he connects strongly with his heritage. Most of what he has learned has been on his own and though he is proud of his heritage, he doesn't fluent it especially in front of his mother. Even though he has no one to guide him he feels strongly about his heritage and continues to learn all that he can about it. 

The concept of After Obsession was new and original with its elements of Native American rituals and Demon Possession. I liked reading about the different stages of possession that the characters witnessed such as Invitation, Infestation, Obsession, and Possession. And then add in Alan's Navajo heritage with his vision quest and you have fresh concepts that have not been seen too often in the YA genre. 

Cover:

     The cover of After Obsession is extremely eye-catching. The girl floating in her black dress that seems to symbolize the Demon Possession. Very Nice!