The Shadow Prince by Bree Despain

Pages: 512

Genre: Fantasy/Mythology

Series: Into the Dark #1

Publisher: Egmont

Release Date: March 11, 2014

Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High—a haven for children of the rich and famous—Haden must single out the one girl rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race.Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realizes she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong.Haden and Daphne—destined for each other—know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails. As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realizes something he never intended—he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds.

I'll admit, going into it, I didn't really know what to expect. From the synopsis it seemed like a typical, cliche paranormal story, but it's so much more than that! The Shadow Prince was actually quite the enchanting read and I actually kept reading until lo and behold, it was 7 AM.

The worldbuilding is the first thing that I noticed. Bree Despain takes Hades and Persephones' myth and twists it into her own creation, somehow making this retelling so much more fascinating. The Underworld had it's own hierarchy system with it's own backstory that set this book apart from all the other retellings. The world was dark and haunting and was quite fascinating. We got to see all the workings of the Underworlder court and how it came to be that way and it was all original and, by the way, a breath of fresh air when we learn that Orpheus plays a rather large role compared to Helen of Troy or Achilles.

As for our characters, I felt like Daphne was a bit flat at times, but she was definitely one of those stubborn and spitfire heroines! She doesn't really dive headfirst into impulsive decisions, but she makes rational choices and decisions, and that's what really won me over.
Haden was quite an interesting character, especially since he was in the mortal world. He was so adorably clueless, but you knew he had an arrogant and dangerous side--after all he was raised in the Underworld. But being in "our world" left him a bit helpless and it was so cute seeing him try to understand how the world worked. Or, more specifically girls.
EX: "My online research into "how to get a girl to like me" had suggested, time and time again, that to win a human girl over, I had to be mean to her. I'd spent the bulk of classes either ignoring her, contradicting her, or acting like a "bad boy", which I gather meant showing off my muscles and leaning back in my chair after saying something sexually derogatory." 
Yep, that sort of summed it up! It was hilarious seeing him navigate the minds of females--or rather, one female. Daphne.

Of course, that leads us to romance. The romance was a bit rushed and I honestly had no idea where it came from. I honestly think that without the romance, Shadow Prince may have been a lot better, but the sudden burst of "I love you" sort of ruined it. Though Haden and Daphne did have a rather interesting relationship that made me laugh out loud one too many times!

The Shadow Prince is told in alternating POVs and I really love how Bree Despain writes. She managed to capture two completely different voices into this story and it was unbelievably easy to see how different Haden's way of thinking was. His POV especially was brilliantly written, especially with the fact that we could actually see him slowly getting more human, bit by bit. That takes talent y'all!

The plot was filled with twists, though I do admit most of them were pretty predictable, but that didn't take away the thrill of figuring out you were right! There were so many little mysteries that weaved themselves into a bigger, more sinister plot, and it was enthralling, trying to untangle all the threads!

While the synopsis seems a bit overdone, the book is far from it and wonderfully executed too! The Shadow Prince was a mesmerizing read that had me on my toes for hours as I flipped through the pages anxiously.The Shadow Prince is  a book I'd recommend to any paranormal/fantasy fans and is definitely one to pick up!

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Steadfast by Claudia Gray

Pages: 384

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Spellcaster #2

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: Mar 4, 2014

Nadia, Mateo, and Verlaine have saved Captive's Sound from the dark Sorceress Elizabeth...or so they thought. Despite their best efforts, a crack opened and a new, greater evil seeped through. With Mateo as her Steadfast, Nadia's magic is magnified and she is more powerful than ever. But there is still so much she doesn't know about the craft, leaving her open and vulnerable to a darker magic...which has begun to call Nadia's name.

I got this unsolicited, and I was a bit anxious going into it. I wasn't the biggest fan of Spellcaster, but I hadn't hated it, so I honestly didn't know how I'd feel about Steadfast (even if the cover was pretty!) Thankfully, I actually loved this one, though maybe not as much as I could've or wanted to.

The biggest problem I had with this story was the POV issue. We saw the story through the point of view of almost every single character that had some kind of role in the story. Sometimes they'd have a whole chapter, sometimes only five paragraphs, and it got really annoying really quickly. Not only was it confusing, but it took away part of the mystery and allure Steadfast could've had and I'm pretty sure I had the same problem with Spellcaster.

I'm not saying there weren't any twists--because God knows there were a ton, but there just weren't any sudden moments of doubt for our characters, any hesitation in trusting the characters. For example, Asa, a character who's quickly introduced and quickly revealed to be more than human, was always not-evil. Yeah, he worked for the "One Beneath" but it was evident that he would fall in love with a certain character, and predictable that he would sacrifice something for her. And we were told that he hated Elizabeth too, so we never doubted his motives.

But the read was still pretty awesome because even though the mystery was taken away, Elizabeth's point of view bits were absolutely sinister and made it pretty clear she was psycho and completely devoted to the devil. She was crazy and a perfect antagonist who sent shivers down my spine and was so deluded but so powerful--a pretty scary combination if I do say so myself.

Verlaine's situation was emphasized and it was absolutely heartbreaking to see how terrible and horrible it would be to be unloved, when, by all accounts, she should be. It made me love her and she started turning into a more major character than just the sidekick, something I definitely enjoyed seeing!

Steadfast was a pretty fantastic sequel, and better than the first one in my opinion, though I definitely had a few issues with it. It was a decent read though, and if you loved Spellcaster, you're guaranteed to love this one!

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Burn Bright by Bethany Frenette

Pages: 304
Genre: Supernatural
Series: Dark Star #2
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: Feb 25, 2014

Audrey Whitticomb saved her entire city.Well, kind of. The superhero Morning Star (who just happens to be Audrey's mom) might have played a small part, and her sidekick, Leon—Audrey's sort-of boyfriend, who is gorgeous... and frustrating—maybe helped, too.But after two peaceful months, there is a vicious new threat in Minneapolis. Her name is Susannah, and she's a Harrower, a demon hell-bent on destroying people like Morning Star, Leon, and Audrey—the Kin. Like others before her, she seeks the Remnant, a Kin girl who has the power to unleash the inhabitants of the Beneath. But to what end?Audrey already has a ton on her plate: dealing with her best friend Tink's boy drama, helping her other best friend Gideon figure out his nightmares, and exploring the highs and lows of "dating" Leon. But when she develops a powerful new ability, Audrey seizes on the chance to fight, despite her mother's protests and Leon's pleas.As Audrey gets closer to figuring out Susannah's motives and tracking down the Remnant, she'll uncover more than she bargained for. The terrible truth is staring Audrey in the face. But knowing the truth and accepting it are very different things.

So, if you follow me on Twitter, you know that I've been dying for a book where the main character isn't the prophetic savior or bringer of doom. I mean, they're fun, but so typical nowadays. But this series definitely doesn't follow that road! While Dark Star was a fun read, it didn't really make an impression, but Burn Bright? It definitely did. I adored it and just loved reading it!

I was a bit fuzzy on what happened in Dark Star, but Burn Bright craftily weaves in the storyline from book one into this sequel. Soon enough I was traveling with Audrey on her wild adventures (and getting almost killed too. Well, that's not good) and getting into the Harrower-version of a catfight.

Yeah. It was fun!

The plot is unbelievably action-packed, filled with so many fights, new powers, new problems, and twists that just made me gape at the pages. I mean, seriously? It twisted my head around, and the twists were just so...wow. 

And there was Audrey. Oh Audrey...Audrey, Audrey, Audrey. She was one stubborn character and I loved her all the more for it! While she did irritate me sometimes for keeping some very important things secret, she won me over with her obvious loyalty for her friends and anyone she loved. She was so headstrong and I just loved her determination and her snark! I also loved her best friend type of relationship with her mom--it was so sweet.

Leon was just an adorable character who I loved! Sure, he was uptight sometimes, but Audrey loosened him up when he need to stop being so stiff, and they were just such a cute couple. I loved their steady romance and their relationship was so fun! At first I didn't like him, but he grew on me. Sort of like moss. (I'm pretty sure it was that way in Dark Star too! It just says more that Leon was able to get into my good graces--again. *wink*)

This is pretty much the best sequel you could ask for! It doesn't disappoint and I just loved it! It was so amazing and I was pretty much gushing about it the days that followed after I finished! Also, you guys. Have you seen the gorgeous covers?

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BOOKCEPTION

BOOKCEPTION. THE NOVEL. 

This is not a review because I did not read the entire thing. I read about 35%. I didn't DNF it because it was horrible. You'll see. I just wanted to share my reaction to this book. Also, this was before the official synopsis came out. So.

(CLICK TO EMBIGGEN ALL GRAPHICS)

Guys. I have no words. White Space was confusing in a way that you could still sort of understand, but just confused you when you read it and still confuses you. That makes no sense does it. Or does it? 

^That's basically what the book was like. 

Did I like it? Did I not? I have no idea. It was just...it was just. I have no clue how Ilsa J. Bick managed to write such a complicated thing, but guys, it must've taken her ages to plot. And worldbuild. And everything else. 

If there was one word to describe this book, it would be BOOKCEPTION. Because. It really was bookception. I even made a schmancy graphic of the first 35% of the book for you. Yes. Only the first 35%. 

(Click to enlarge)

Yeah. Basically. At least, that's how I read it. Maybe I read something wrong...? Maybe I didn't. But that. That is basically the general idea of the entire story. It was definitely interesting. And confusing. So...what?

I have no idea whether I would recommend this or not. Because I just can't even. I mean, it was definitely interesting, but my brain hurt a bit, but at the same time I wanted to know what the hell was going on. 

I never did find out because like I said. I lost the ability to think. So I decided to not finish it. 

HOWEVER. White Space was pretty creepy. So horror fans, you guys will love this. I think a few hardcore sci-fi may too. People who are easily confused and lose their will quickly? I'd skip this one. 

But dear God it was fascinating. 

Pages: 560

Genre: I don't even know

Series: Dark Passages #1

Publisher: Egmont USA

Release Date: Feb 11, 2013

Rating: EVERYTHING

I'm so disgruntled, I'm using my old format.

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Evertrue by Brodi Ashton

Pages: 336

Genre: Paranormal

Series: Everneath #3

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Release Date: Jan 21, 2014

Now that Nikki has rescued Jack, all she wants is to be with him and graduate high school. But Cole tricked Nikki into feeding off him, and she’s begun the process of turning into an Everliving herself... which means she must feed on a Forfeit soon — or die.Terrified for her survival, Nikki and Jack begin a desperate attempt to reverse the process using any means possible. Even Cole, who they expected to fight them at every turn, has become an unlikely ally — but how long can it last? Nikki needs to feed on Cole to survive, Cole needs Nikki to gain the throne in the Everneath, Jack needs Nikki because she is everything to him — and together, they must travel back to the Underworld to undo Nikki’s fate and make her mortal once more. But Cole isn’t the only one with plans for Nikki: the Queen has not forgotten Nikki’s treachery, and she wants her destroyed for good. Will Nikki be forced to spend eternity in the Underworld, or does she have what it takes to bring down the Everneath once and for all?

My thoughts are sort of incoherent right now so please excuse my jumble of a review.

So honestly I'd forgotten just how much I loved this series until now. Oh sure, Everneath was brilliant, and Everbound was pretty good, but after a year you sort of forget the emotional crippling pain. Brodi Ashton brought it all back.
I will hazard to say that Evertrue is probably the best book in the entire trilogy, and I don't say that lightly. Because OH GOD THE END.

Here comes the explosion:
Because guys, I just can't deal with this. I actually spent an hour in English clutching my head and repeating "I can't deal" over and over. The end of Evertrue is traumatizing and oh God someone help me survive. The ending was a shock to my little fangirl heart. Or maybe it wasn't and I was just really hoping it wouldn't happen. Either way, I teared up, had a book hangover, and was pretty much dead after the read. It is truly and utterly heartbreaking. (Literally.)

Let's just all, for the moment, talk about how much I just adore Cole. No matter what terrible thing he does, I'll always love him more than Jack because he does love her, in his own way, and he never stops loving her even though he knows she hates him. I always did have a weakness for literary bad boys!
So on that note, I should tell you that something...happens to Cole a quarter into the book, something that sort of...changes him. And I just missed the old Cole who was unbelievably flawed, but completely cocky and sweet, though admittedly arrogant and a bit douchey. And that was really the only thing I didn't absolutely love about it.

Plot wise, this book is damn near perfect. Fast paced and action packed, I couldn't help but get caught up in the events. While there weren't that many twists, the ones there were were absolutely shocking. Go big or go home right?
There was a point, when there was only 45 pages left, where I wondered how Ashton would wrap up the plot and romance, and everything else, so quickly, but she manages it without making it seemed to rush, which definitely impressed me.

So many things happen, so many sacrifices made, and I just found my heart being ripped open reportedly until I could've been stuck in the Everneath and wouldn't have noticed. Evertrue beautifully wraps up the trilogy in a perfect, but desperate way that made me want to cry.

Correction: it did make me cry.

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Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Pages: 352

Genre: Fantasy/Retelling

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Release Date: Jan 28, 2014

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.
With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.
But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.
As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

Oh God, the love I have for this book! As I'm writing this, I literally just finished reading it in one sitting at midnight, so excuse me as I collect my thoroughly gasted flabber off the floor and turn it back into a brain. I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting when I dove into Cruel Beauty, but I know it wasn't this. And for once, that's a good thing!

So I'm a giant fan of retellings. And when I say giant, I mean giant. Add in Beauty and the Beast? It just got better and better! The tale as old as time is one of my favorites and one of the more commonly retold stories--but it's so, so, so hard to get right. But I can say with absolute certainty that Rosamund Hodge is a genius author whose brilliance can not go unheeded.

Hodge is a wonder with words, something that you can easily see through her debut. I fell in love with the first chapter and couldn't let go after until I'd read everything and was clinging to my plush rabbit in agony. The most amazing part, I think, is the worldbuilding, which has it's feet set in the plot, the characters, and pretty much everything.
The world is a mix of high fantasy, paranormal, and Greek mythology, something I found extremely unusual, but undeniably enthralling. It was amazing seeing the world come to life in the pages and being told the world's history and background through snatches of folklore and tale and  absolutely fascinating, how the author pieces together bits of her fantasy world with that of Greece. Who knew demons and gods went together?

The plot, I realize, is actually rather slow, but you don't get bored at all. The tension between Nyx and Ignifex kept me laughing and giggling forever and you can't help but get sucked into the story once they meet. It's more than just the romance, of course. It's Nyx trying to defeat Ignifex, to avenger he mother's sacrifice, and to keep her promise. It's amazing how this goes about and there are still so many plot twists I can't accept. I refuse to accept.

Romance! There are hints of a love triangle, but I can't really say anything beyond the fact that, well, it's not really a love triangle and that I loved Ignifex from the moment we met him, with his snark and wit and charm about him!

Nyx is truly a badass character. She's not quite the assassin I was expecting, but she's tough, she's fierce, she's curious, but beyond all that, she's absolutely and brilliantly flawed. It's even stated in the book that her heart was threaded with darkness, and you can't help but relate to her sometimes. Not to her situations, of course (I don't know about you, but I don't know anyone engaged to a demon prince), but her feelings and her regrets. She's a broken character and it's just something you love about her.

The ending, I have to say, was absolutely perfect. And that's all I have to say about that.

So yes. Cruel Beauty is one of those books you can't help but fall in love with, and one of those books that'll automatically jump to your favorites list. It's gorgeously written with brilliant characters, a cutthroat plot, and a romance that'll set you on fire. It's like reading a fairy tale--there's honestly no choice but to get enthralled. I honestly can't recommend this book enough! So seven out of five stars it is! 

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Death and the Girl He Loves by Darynda Jones

Pages: 272

Genre: Paranormal

Series: Darklight #3

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: Oct 8, 2013

The fate of the world is not something a girl wants on her shoulders, and that is especially true for Lorelei McAlister. Unfortunately for her, that is exactly where the world’s fate has decided to take up residence. Lorelei has seen firsthand the horrors that lie beneath our everyday world. And those horrors are getting her friends killed. Because of this, she agrees to leave the sanctity of her hometown and is sent to a different world entirely. A boarding school. But even here she is being watched. Someone knows what she is. What she carries inside her soul. And on top of that she’s seeing visions. This is nothing new for Lorelei. But these visions are something more: death, destruction, and the end of the world. Lorelei must face the fact that there are people who want her dead, and no matter where she goes, no matter how far she runs, the lives of her friends and family are in mortal peril. Lucky for her, her friends and family include the handsome Angel of Death, a fiercely protective half-angel, and a ragtag group of loyal supporters who aren’t afraid to get a little dirty in the name of fighting pure evil.

First of all I want to say...guess who's quoted in this book? THAT'S RIGHT. MOI. But of course that doesn't affect my opinions on this book! (But I will say that this series is definitely one to read if you're looking for a paranormal romance that's not so typical.)

The beginning is actually a bit slow, since we get a full recap of everything that happened in the last two books--which was great since I actually needed a recap! I did feel like, to anyone who remembered all the happenings in the prequels, would find it completely redundant--even I felt like it was a bit over explained. 

After our initial info-dump though, things definitely started to speed up--and rather quickly! Already there's a threat on Lorelei's life, spicing things up, but that's not even the main conflict. Soon Lorelei is back in New Mexico and ready (or not so ready). I wasn't the biggest fan of Lorelei in this book, though the other elements did make up for most of it. Lore seemed to shrink back from her fate, something that, while understandable, just doesn't work in YA books. She just kept saying she couldn't do it, she didn't believe in herself, no matter that everyone else did. 
But the other characters? Oh, it was wonderful seeing our old gang with all their gorgeous personalities. And they haven't changed a bit. It was fun seeing these characters I haven't read about in what seems like forever and I can't believe I forgot how much I loved them! They're all so quirky and you really can't help but fall in love with them again. 

The plot is rather brilliant, especially for the closing of a trilogy. Somehow, I feel like barely anything happened, when so much did--it just passed by in a blur! Darynda Jones really has a unique type of writing that just leaves you immersed in the story. While a lot of important events occur throughout the plot, Jones still manages to keep her signature snark in all her characters, making me laugh out loud (at the most inappropriate times too!)
And the ending! At first I wasn't the biggest fan of it, but as I reread it...it really is perfect for the book, and a beautiful conclusion to the story! 

I can't really say much on romance sinc ethat wasn't really the main issue this time around, either! But yes, Jared shows up. And yes, he's as adorable as ever. And yes. Their ending is just as amazing as the story's. (Also? I totally ship Cameron and Brooke)

An honest to God gorgeous conclusion to the trilogy, Death and the Girl He Loves blew me away. I definitely recommend this series to anyone who wants to take a break from all the contemporary and dystopian and read a bit of paranormal romance again! 

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Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn

Goodreads Blurb

On a cool autumn night, Annaliese Rose Gordon stumbled out of the woods and into a high school party. She was screaming. Drenched in blood. Then she vanished.
A year later, Annaliese is found wandering down a road hundreds of miles away. She doesn't know who she is. She doesn't know how she got there. She only knows one thing: She is not the real Annaliese Rose Gordon.
Now Annaliese is haunted by strange visions and broken memories. Memories of a reckless, desperate wish . . . a bloody razor . . . and the faces of other girls who disappeared. Piece by piece, Annaliese's fractured memories come together to reveal a violent, endless cycle that she will never escape—unless she can unlock the twisted secrets of her past.

Oh my gosh. Was this creepy or was it creepy? (Spoiler: IT WAS CREEPY.)

I am, obviously, not a very smart person. So when did I read this? Well, I started at 11 PM all the way until 3 AM. And then little ole me just couldn't get to sleep.
So yes, yes it was very creepy. Creepy, but very original and absolutely intriguing. I found myself becoming increasingly and increasingly stunned by both the haunting writing and the brilliant story line. Because this story line was absolutely brilliant. And creepy. We can't forget that.

The worldbuilding/paranormal aspect of this was absolutely chilling too. And very, very disturbing. Fascinatingly so. I could not stop reading despite everything that happened. I love the twist on "Selling your soul to the devil" bit and...well I can't really say more than that or else I spoil everything, don't I?

What the best thing about this was, though, was how there wasn't really a giant twist. It was more like an accumulation of little things that starting clicking together in your brain, until finally you got the full picture. And it's an absolutely twisted picture too. It's amazing what Kate Karyus Quinn has done, giving us little pieces that seem insignificant until we realize just what they mean. It's a bit confusing at first, but once you get used to it, you just have to scramble through every detail, wondering which were important and which were just plain creepy.

My only complaint, though, was that the romance was rushed, but after that initial thought, I learned to love Dex. He...okay, damn, can't say much about that either.
Besides the romance, I did feel as if the plot was a bit slow at times, but intriguing all the same. But when it wasn't slow...oh God, it was definitely quickly paced and had me reeling back in shock when I finally figured something out. And...it was sort of heartbreaking too, near the end. But, you know, can't say anything about that either or it just ruins the entire read.

Dark, twisted, and disturbing, Another Little Piece is one of the best horror/thriller books I've read in a long time and I absolutely have to recommend it to everyone. Chilling to the core, this is definitely a book to pick up and one of the best to read on a stormy night (if you want to pee your pants.) It just sucks you straight in and you can't help but flip through the pages, eager to finally get the whole (creepy) story.

Pages: 419

Genre: Horror/Paranormal

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: June 11

Rating: 4 stars

The Beautiful and Cursed by Page Morgan

Goodreads Blurb

After a bizarre accident, Ingrid Waverly is forced to leave London with her mother and younger sister, Gabby, trading a world full of fancy dresses and society events for the unfamiliar city of Paris.
In Paris there are no grand balls or glittering parties, and, disturbingly, the house Ingrid’s twin brother, Grayson, found for them isn’t a house at all. It’s an abandoned abbey, its roof lined with stone gargoyles that could almost be mistaken for living, breathing creatures.
And Grayson has gone missing.
No one seems to know of his whereabouts but Luc, a devastatingly handsome servant at their new home.
Ingrid is sure her twin isn’t dead—she can feel it deep in her soul—but she knows he’s in grave danger. It will be up to her and Gabby to navigate the twisted path to Grayson, a path that will lead Ingrid on a discovery of dark secrets and otherworldly truths. And she’ll learn that once they are uncovered, they can never again be buried.

The Beautiful and Cursed was definitely a book I was looking forward to--Gargoyles? In Paris? With that gorgeous cover? How could I not be intrigued?

Oh the atmosphere! It was haunting and chilling and had an absolutely dark tone to it that I had to fall in love with. It had such a gritty feel to it and was absolutely wonderful. This was so much darker that I thought it'd be! It's mysterious and a bit gory, but completely enticing. The mystery is definitely one of the best parts about the story--and the gargoyles? They added a sense of grim allure that just drew me in. Especially in Paris!

Speaking of gargoyles--hello? Who's written about that before! Learning the lore behind gargoyles was absolutely fascinating and I loved Morgan's twist on these old tales! It did seem a bit typical at first, but that's quickly overlooked by, well, the gargoyles. 

With YA you can make pretty much any creature sexy and enticing, huh?

The plot was definitely one of the better parts of the book! It was shocking and twisted, surprising me until the very end. It's a complicated mess--and we all know those are the best when it comes to the plot! The Beautiful and Cursed was definitely at it's strongest in the second half though! Because that's pretty much where a chain of events unfold and where everything just explodes.

The POVs are something of a nuisance for me. I hate multiple POVs, but I loved Grayson's. It added even more of an air of mystery to our already thickening plot and made everything so much more...interesting. But at the same time, I'm no fan of multiple POVs, and this wasn't really an exception.

Now, I should've stopped and thought about the romance when it said "a devastatingly handsome servant". There were almost 2 love triangles (two and a half? Two halves? Does Chelle count? Vander? Ermm...), one for each sister. And the love interests (besides Luc) weren't my favorite. They seemed a bit bland to me in all honesty, and a bit too typical for a YA love interest. (And there were so many guys, I can't remember all their names!) And the insta love between Luc and Ingrid--that just ruined it completely. There was no support for their romance, no building up of chemistry really. It was just...there.

And I didn't even really understand how these two girls could attract so many guys! Ingrid was definitely my favorite of the sisters, but she seemed to...proper for my taste, though Morgan did a wonderful job of creating the perfect attitude for both of these girls! But I usually like my characters more wild--though Ingrid was still, most definitely kickass. But something about her struck me as annoying.
Gabby definitely struck a nerve. She was so naive and irritating--so impulsive too! I'm not sure if she ever really thought before she acted, but it didn't really seem like it. But I did admire her will to fight and to rescue her brother even in the face of doubt!

Just like the title suggests, this novel is truly beautiful and thrilling to its core. While I didn't completely enjoy it, The Beautiful and Cursed definitely had it's good moments and I'll be sitting here waiting for a sequel!

Pages: 352
Genre: Fantasy/Historical
Series: The Dispossessed #1
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Rating: 3.5-->3 stars

Death, Doom, and Detention by Darynda Jones

Goodreads Blurb

The normal part of Lorelei MacAlister’s life didn’t just slip away quietly the day Jared Kovach came to town. Nope. The normal part of her life shattered. It exploded. It burst into a gazillion shards of fleeting light.

It went out with a bang.

Goodbye normal.

Hello dark and eerie.

While her best friend, Brooklyn, is focusing all of her energy on helping Lorelei hone her abilities, Lorelei is dealing with the reality that Satan’s second in command has taken up residence inside her body. Oh, and the fact that she has a crush on the Angel of Death. But what a beautiful death it is. If those weren’t bad enough, something sinister has come to town and it wants nothing more than to hear Lorelei’s dying breath as it strangles it out of her. Thank goodness the gang has a supernatural champion. But what happens when the only being who can save them switches sides midstream? How can a group of misfits capture one of the most powerful beings ever created? And will they find out how to bring Jared back to them before it’s too late?

I honestly think I've fallen in love with this series. Seriously! This is one of my favorite angel/demon stories! And that's a hard list to top.

Death, Doom, and Detention was a perfect sequel for me and I loved it (almost) as much as Death and the Girl Next Door! My only complaint was that there were a few crucial things to the plot at Lorelei didn't mention until, oh my, it came back to bit her in the butt. I reall wanted to strangle Lorelei for "forgetting" a few very important details.

Now the absolute best thing was Lorelei and her snark. She made me laugh out loud so many times, I think a few of my classmates may think I'm schizophrenic. (I may be exaggerating. Maybe) She was a hilarious character that definitely didn't seem like our typical (sometimes whiny) heroines. She was a lot more reluctant and a lot more wary than what you usually seein books and I definitely appreciated that!

The relationships between the characters were definitely a thing of fascination! There was definitely a ton of tension present and the way they all reacted to each other was fun to read about. You could just feel the animosity in the book's atmosphere and I definitely had to hand it to Darynda--she managed to write unique characters who both made you sit up straighter in shock and make you laugh out loud!

The plot was predictable in some parts, but was, for the most part, completely unexpected! Jones always manages to throw something right in your face once you think everything's fine and settled--I'm still deciding if I love it or hate it! 

Taking a usually overused paranormal element, Darynda Jones manages to write a completely unique story about a girl who's lost in her own way, an angel who's darker than he seems, and a prophecy that's scaring everyone and anyone. It seems like your typical story, but it's far from it!

Pages: 320

Genre: Paranormal

Series: Darklight #2

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Release Date: March 5, 2013

Rating: 4 stars

Infatuate by Aimee Agresti

Goodreads Blurb

Haven Terra is still recovering from an internship that brought her literally to the brink of hell when a trip to New Orleans leads to more trouble. Graduating early from high school leaves the spring semester free, so Haven and her friends Dante and Lance head to the Big Easy to volunteer with community service projects. But their true mission becomes clear when they run across an enclave of devils known as the Krewe. New Orleans is a free-for-all for these shape-shifting devils, who are more reckless and vicious than any Haven, Lance, and Dante have encountered. And they soon discover their French Quarter housemates are also angels-in-training, and together they must face off with the Krewe in their quest for wings. But Haven’s resolve is tested when Lucian, the repentant devil with whom she was infatuated, resurfaces and asks her for help escaping the underworld. Can he be trusted? Or will aiding him cost Haven her angel wings—and her life? Thrilling, romantic, and full of surprises, this gripping sequel to Illuminate takes the battle of good and evil to the next level.

*MAY HAVE SPOILERS FOR ILLUMINATE* 

This was so, so, so MUCH BETTER than Illuminate! Where Illuminate was incredibly monotonous and boring the first 2/3, Infatuate was action packed all the way! So much better than it's first installment! (But...this cover doesn't match the beauty of the first one!)

What I didn't like, though, was Lance and the predictability of some of the twists. Not spoiling, but what happens with Sabine was definitely something I was expecting. A character so thoroughly written was of course going to...well. I could see some things coming from a mile away, so I guess I was disappointed on that aspect, but anticipating it was incredibly frustrating...in a good way. IS there a good kind of frustration? No? Let's call it anticipation then!

As for Lance, I absolutely hated how he treated Haven and their entire romance. He wasn't the best boyfriend--in fact he didn't act the part of the boyfriend at all, except for one scene of jealousy and a few chaste kisses here and there. Not to mention him slobbering over another girl...it was just disappointing...well, not really!

As Team Lucian I was definitely pleased with what was happening! Lucian is back and as swoony as ever! He's a bit hard to trust, that's for sure, but after his sacrifice in Illuminate, I was ready to risk it. 

As for the plot, it alters between fast and slow, but it's enjoyable anyhow (even with the lags!) and definitely an exciting read! It's an original angel story, definitely different from all those other paranormal books, so I loved reading every page and discovering what happens and why it happened, etc. The voodoo shop and haunted mansion and cemetery (so many creepy places thrown at you!) were definitely some of my favorite places and the most...well, ominous scenes happen there! Any surprise? 

But I am going to say that for an angel book, it didn't have much lore, like where the angels came from, the way the angel world worked, etc. so I was a bit disappointed in that aspect...but the rest definitely made up for it!

Umm...hmm. Short review...

Pages: 416

Genre: Paranormal

Series: Gilded Wings #2

Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books

Release Date: March 5, 2013

Rating: 3.5--->4 stars

Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black

Goodreads Blurb

Dancing with someone is an act of trust. Elegant and intimate; you're close enough to kiss, close enough to feel your partner's heartbeat. But for Vanessa, dance is deadly – and she must be very careful who she trusts . . .
Vanessa Adler attends an elite ballet school – the same one her older sister, Margaret, attended before she disappeared. Vanessa feels she can never live up to her sister's shining reputation. But Vanessa, with her glorious red hair and fair skin, has a kind of power when she dances – she loses herself in the music, breathes different air, and the world around her turns to flames . . . 
Soon she attracts the attention of three men: gorgeous Zep, mysterious Josh, and the great, enigmatic choreographer Josef Zhalkovsky. When Josef asks Vanessa to dance the lead in the Firebird, she has little idea of the danger that lies ahead – and the burning forces about to be unleashed . . .

I had incredibly, incredibly high expectations for this, which may have something to do with the absolutely gorgeous cover, so I wasn't very surprised when it just fell flat of them, but I was a bit disappointed.

What disappointed me was how completely...shallow Vanessa was. And not in that personality sense. We never got to learn much about Vanessa really, and what we did learn irritated me. From what we see, she misses her sister, she thinks she knows it all, she's naive, and she's stubborn, and not a good sense. But apart from that I didn't really get much from Vanessa and her character seemed to be there only to move the plot forward. In other words, her character just seemed...well, fake and the same honestly goes for the other characters as well. Their personalities only pushed on the plot and honestly, were very stereotypical.

The romance was also a bit annoying. Vanessa seemed to fall for Zep right when she saw him and (SPOILER) seemed to fall for Justin (a.k.a. Josh, but in the eARC it was Justin, so I'll call him that for now) only when Zep was gone, even after bitching at Justin for so long. It was annoying and I really just wanted to say "Really?" She was so desperate and pining for Zep and I just wanted to smack her for being so weak.

The only redeeming things were the plot and world-building, in all honesty. 

The plot was a perfect pacing where it didn't go too fast for this type of supernatural, but it wasn't exceedingly slow. There were many twists I was shocked by, though I admit there were also a lot I had predicted beforehand, but it was still intriguing to see how things played out with this demonic dancing. 
I think that the premise of this is completely original. Since when have you heard of a dance that can destroy you? Never. At least, not that I've heard of! I loved the idea of it, I loved the sinister feeling the school gave off, and I loved each abnormal thing mentioned in the book! 

Dance of Shadows, while it does have it's weak points, was dark and stunning and will steal your breath just as ballet would. The sinister atmosphere, mysterious disappearings, and more will keep rapture you and you'll find this book hard to put down! 

Pages: 447
Series: Dance of Shadows #1
Genre: Supernatural/Romance
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Release Date: February 12, 2013
Rating: 3.5--->4 stars

Exiled by M.R. Merrick

Goodreads Blurb

Chase Williams is a demon hunter in the Circle, or at least he was supposed to be. On his fifteenth birthday, Chase stepped up to the altar to claim his elemental power, but it never came. Elemental magic is passed down to a hunter through the bloodline, but on Chase's birthday, the bloodline stopped. 
Exiled without the Circle's protection, Chase has spent two years trying to survive a world riddled with half-demons and magic. When he has a run in with a frightened and seemingly innocent demon, he learns the Circle's agenda has changed: the Circle plans to unlock a portal and unleash pure-blood demons into the world. Vowing to stop them, and knowing he can't do it alone, Chase forms a reluctant alliance with Rayna — a sexy witch with an attitude and a secret. 
In their attempt to stop them, Chase and Rayna find themselves in the middle of the Circle's plan, leaving one of them to decide what their friendship is worth, and the other's life depending on it.

So, here I am, giving another indie book another try. Why? Because this time, almost everyone I knew read and loved this! And thank goodness, I liked it too! While it wasn't the best I've ever read, Exiled was definitely a good read that was riveting and exciting!

It's been a while since I've read something that was truly paranormal and I'm glad to finally ease back into it once and for all! Exiled holds vampires, shifters, witches, trolls, goblins, other dimensions, goddesses...basically the whole thing! I'd usually say that that was pretty stupid and I usually dislike most books like that, but Exiled mixed all the species into one giant storyline that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

The plot was completely action packed since you'd find Chase either attacking/being attacked by demons, on some crazy mission, or something along the lines of impossible. And because of it, Exiled was a thrilling read that kept you reading until the end. It was an action packed read that was fast paced throughout the entire book without stop. If there's one thing that stood out about Exiled, it was that this book was all action, no breaks or slow pacing anywhere! Sadly, though, the plot was predictable and I wasn't surprised by any of the twists.

But I was insanely irritated by Chase himself, always thinking he was all that. Whenever he thought he could help or when he thought he knew everything, he just messed every-freaking-thing up and I wanted to punch him SO BAD. Whenever he went to be the hero, he always put someone in danger. He was just idiotic, impulsive, immature, and I hope to never encounter a character this annoying again.

As for romance, no I don't think there was any. Rayna and Chase actually almost killed each other at first, but I got annoyed at Chase SO much. He was feeling all these compulsive emotions towards Rayna and I don't think he even considered the fact that he liked her. Ugh. 

Pages: 264

Series: The Protectors #1

Genre: Paranormal

Publisher: Self published

Release Date: April 12, 2012

Rating: 3 stars