Illusive

Back of the Book: When the MK virus swept across the planet, a vaccine was created to stop the epidemic, but it came with some unexpected side effects. A small percentage of the population developed superhero-like powers. Seventeen-year-old Ciere Giba has the handy ability to change her appearance at will. She's what's known as an illusionist...She's also a thief.

After a robbery goes awry, Ciere must team up with a group of fellow super-powered criminals on another job that most would consider too reckless. The formula for the vaccine that gave them their abilities was supposedly destroyed years ago. But what if it wasn't?

The lines between good and bad, us and them, and freedom and entrapment are blurred as Ciere and the rest of her crew become embroiled in a deadly race against the government that could cost them their lives.

Described as “X-Men meets Ocean’s Eleven”, I couldn’t resist this book. And while the summary promises high hopes, I wasn’t disappointed. Lately, teen novels have developed into a niche of dystopian action- romances (The Hunger Games, Divergent, etc.). And while I adore those books, this young adult sci-fi thriller was a welcome change.

Illusive is a fresh book with a captivating plot, witty dialogue, and plenty of action and humor. And, hello, did I mention that it has superheroes?! No, this isn’t a life-changing novel, but it’s pretty incredible. The world Illusive takes place in is very well developed. It’s plain to see how these superheroes became criminals in a society such as the one Emily Lloyd-Jones developed. I’m impressed at the unique plot line. This book constantly takes twists and turns, and I had no idea what would happen next.

The only complaint is character development. While all of the characters are interesting, unique, and defy stereotypical roles, I wish Cierce, our protagonist, had grown more as a character. She’s a bit of a static character, which is never good in young adult stories. However, she is still a likeable character and I do not think that this really detracts from the rest of the book. Hopefully, we’ll get a sequel and be able to see Ciere grow more.

Illusive is a book that demands to be read. This book defies the stereotypes of modern teen fiction with its clever plot, compelling action, and superheroes—any book about a superhero is a good one! Illusive is a must-read!

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Midnight City

Back of the Book: Earth has been conquered by an alien race known as the Assembly. The human adult population is gone, having succumbed to the Tone—a powerful, telepathic super-signal broadcast across the planet that reduces them to a state of complete subservience. But the Tone has one critical flaw. It only affects the population once they reach their early twenties, which means that there is one group left to resist: Children.

Holt Hawkins is a bounty hunter, and his current target is Mira Toombs, an infamous treasure seeker with a price on her head. It’s not long before Holt bags his prey, but their instant connection isn’t something he bargained for. Neither is the Assembly ship that crash-lands near them shortly after. Venturing inside, Holt finds a young girl who remembers nothing except her name: Zoey.

As the three make their way to the cavernous metropolis of Midnight City, they encounter young freedom fighters, mutants, otherworldly artifacts, pirates, feuding alien armies, and the amazing powers that Zoey is beginning to exhibit. Powers that suggest she, as impossible as it seems, may just be the key to stopping the Assembly once and for all. 

Midnight City follows the perspectives of two young teens yet to be taken over by the Tone—the mysterious force that conquers adults and hijacks their bodies. Holt Hawkins struck out on his own to survive in the wild. He works as a bounty hunter, with his current fixation being a running treasure hunter, Mira Toombs.  With his dog, Max, as his only companion, Holt evokes a Han Solo-esque persona as he struggles to survive against those taken by the Tone. What he doesn’t count on are his conflicting feelings for Mira as she captivates him while he attempts to capture her.

Mira Toombs has been on the run after being banished from the Midnight City. With a mysterious talent for handling artifacts, she finds a way to survive while struggling to fight the Tone. However, Mira reluctantly joins forces with Holt in order to achieve her real goal. But she doesn't know how much longer she will last as the Tone threatens to take her over.

When the two find a clairvoyant little girl, they travel across the country to help Mira find her goal. From start to finish, this book excels in captivating its reader. Midnight City is a stand-out, fresh, and original novel that packs in action, suspense, romance, and the undead!

Divergent

Back of the Book: In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

With all of the hype from the upcoming movie, this book is being dubbed the next Hunger Games. While I agree that it is another fantastic dystopian teen novel, this story is vastly different while still being entertaining and enthralling.

Beatrice “Tris” Prior grew up in the faction of the selfless, Abnegation. While Tris doesn’t see herself belonging anywhere else, she learns a shocking secret—she is Divergent, meaning she belongs to more than one faction. While Tris decides to harbor the secret and choose the faction of the brave, Dauntless, she doesn’t realize she must undertake a mental, physical, and emotion trail in order to keep her place in the new faction. Tris struggles to keep her secret and fit in with those who shun her. However, the more she learns about the other factions, the more twisted they seem to become.

While Divergent appears to be another cookie-cutter dystopian teen novel, the relatable characters, unique worlds, and driving action keeps the reader engaged. The concept of the factions truly intrigued me. The setting is entirely new to young adult fiction, and it is really fascinating. Like the Hunger Games, Divergent focuses on a female narrator who doesn’t need a guy to save her. Tris is resourceful, intelligent, brave, and a character to look up to. Although I’m still curious as to how these pages are going to come across on the screen, I’m confident that this book will be a favorite for years to come.

Falling Kingdoms

Back of the Book: In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power—brutally transforming their subjects' lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:
Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.
Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished—and finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.
Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.
Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword. . . .

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

Falling Kingdoms is a truly one-of-a-kind book, from the plot, to the action, to the characters. Morgan Rhodes chose to use the perspectives of multiple characters, which usually leaves the reader confused about what happened last for each character. However, in Falling Kingdoms, each character displays such a unique personality and storyline that it is easy to distinguish one from the other.

Cleo is the passionate, headstrong princess of Auranos. When her sister falls ill to a mysterious illness, she sets off to find a rare magic that might heal her. However, what she didn’t count on are the rebel tracking her every move and an unspoken attraction to her bodyguard.

After tragedy strikes his family, Jonas longs for vengeance against the one who caused it all: Princess Cleo and her betrothed, Lord Aron. His hatred threatens to destroy him as he sacrifices everything for revenge.

Magnus, son and heir of the infamous King of Blood, must remain cold and indifferent to mask his vulnerability—love. Magnus hopes to ensure his rightful place on the throne by hardening his heart. However, will the unmasking of his weakness be his undoing?

Lucia, Magnus’s sister and princess of Limeros, begins to uncover truths about herself as a previously unknown power rises within her. But how can she control her power when she does not know what it is?

Falling Kingdoms combines the elements of a fantasy and an action novel to create a unique, unforgettable story. Manipulative royals vying for control of Mytica, hooking battle scenes, and blossoming romance all take center stage in this book. With the alternating perspectives, readers are never left bored. Each of the characters were fleshed out perfectly, and they all were believable and interesting. Magnus’s perspective was my favorite to read. His calculated, logical plotting in despite of his oppressive father made me turn the pages faster to get back to his perspective. Falling Kingdoms, with its action, adventure, and suspense, left me longing for the next book.

Sidekicked

Back of the book: Drew Bean might be a part of a secret organization for the training of superhero sidekicks, but that doesn’t mean that life is all leaping tall buildings in single bounds.

Drew is possessed of super senses—his hearing, sight, taste, touch, and smell are the most powerful on the planet—making him literally the most sensitive kid in school. And then there’s his best friend, Jenna—their friendship would be complicated enough if she weren’t able to throw an eighteen-wheeler the length of a city block. Add in trying to keep his sidekick life a secret from everyone, including his parents, and the truth is clear: middle school is pretty much a drag regardless of whether you have superpowers.
  But this is all before a supervillain long thought dead returns to the city of Justica and Drew’s two identities threaten to crash head-on into each other. Drew has always found it pretty easy to separate right from wrong, good from evil. It’s what a superhero does. But what happens when that line starts to disappear?

Drew Bean appears to be an average middle-schooler. His biggest worries are acne, grotesque school lunches, and whether or not his best friend Jenna like likes him. However, when he puts on his mask, Drew morphs into his alter ego, the Sensationalist. Drew can easily hear a conversation five blocks away or sense the heartbeats of those around him. He’s apart of a training program for sidekicks (H.E.R.O) operating out of his middle school. He studies with other sidekicks, shadows supers, and hopes to eventually become one himself. However, when a forgotten villain resurrects, Drew struggles to keep his two lives from colliding while beginning to realize that the line dividing good and evil sometimes blurs.

Two things instantly drew me to this book: its captivating cover art and the promise of superheroes. It did not disappoint me. The story is witty, and the plot offers a few twists and turns I did not expect. Drew’s voice is sarcastic, honest, and witty. He often mocks superhero stereotypes, which made me laugh. Drew is definitely someone I would like to friend, with or without his super senses. John David Anderson did a fantastic job of making sure the reader is constantly aware of Drew’s surroundings. The detail in his descriptions made me feel as though I too possess super senses. Readers who enjoyed Pixar’s “The Incredibles,” classic comics, or an epic battle between the forces of good and evil will enjoy Sidekicked.

Shadow and Bone

Back of the book:Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

Shadow and Bone is a magical tale laced with action. The Grisha are a group of citizens with special powers. Alina Starkov longs to be one more than anything. When she and her best friend are caught in a dangerous situation, she shows off her new power. One that could save her kingdom. But her life takes several twists and turns as she learns the ways of the Grisha. Does Alina have what it takes to be a Grisha? Or was it all just one big mistake? Action dominates this book, with flares of romance. The plot is uniquely unlike any before, taking unexpected turns with each chapter. Get swept up in Shadow and Bone, a great read unlike any before.

Thirteen Days To Midnight

Back of the Book:

You are indestructible. Three whispered words transfer an astonishing power to Jacob Fielding that changes everything. At first, Jacob is hesitant to use the power, unsure of its implications. But there's something addictive about testing the limits of fear. Then Ophelia James, the beautiful and daring new girl in town, suggests that they use the power to do good, to save others. But with every heroic act, the power grows into the specter of a curse. How to decide who lives and who dies? In this nail-biting novel of mystery and dark intrigue, Jacob must walk the razor thin line between right and wrong, good and evil, and life and death. And time is running out. Because the Grim Reaper doesn't disappear. . . He catches up.

You are indestructible. Those words save Jacob Fielding’s life, but they also create a real-life horror story for Jacob and his friends. Jacob Fielding is indestructible, and so is anyone he passes the power to. With encouragement from his friends, the quirky but lovable Milo and the beautiful Ophelia, Jacob uses the power to save others. But as the group becomes more and more obsessed with the power, the more it becomes a curse instead of a gift. Jacob slowly learns that the more they cheat death, the tighter grip it has on them. Author Patrick Carman’s story is beautiful but deadly as he writes their spiral from do-gooders into the horror that death brings. Carman experiments with immortality and death, a concept addicting to humans. But as Jacob and his friends learn, which is really the curse?

Thirteen Days To Midnight is a beautifully written book that appeals to the darker side of human nature. Action and suspense propel the plot forward. I laughed with the characters as they experimented with their new gift, and ached as they learned the downfalls of the curse. This book has a unique plot, one that will deliver a fantastic story while challenging you of your own thoughts along the way.

Buy this book here: http://www.amazon.com/Thirteen-Days-Midnight-Patrick-Carman/dp/B005CDUROE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341504295&sr=8-1&keywords=thirteen+days+to+midnight

Scarlet

Back of the Book:

Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance. Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in. It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.

Author A. C. Gaughen digs deep into medieval ballads to bring broody Will Scarlet to life, with one shocking twist: “Will Scarlet” is really a girl. And she’s running from a past she fights to keep hidden. But as Lord Gisbourne and the sheriff’s men creep closer to Sherwood Forest, it becomes harder and harder to conceal her secrets. Especially as a love triangle forms between Scarlet and two of her best friends: John Little and Robin Hood himself. As she struggles with her feelings between the cocky, womanizing John and ever-the-hero Robin, her backstory unspirals as the band of outlaws fight for their people. Rich with plot twists, thick romantic tension, and a huge helping of action, Scarlet modernizes the story we all know and love.

I can honestly say that I love Scarlet. Ever since I was little, I poured over any Robin Hood book I could get my hands on. Unfortunately, all of them older and difficult for me to comprehend. A lot of them are awfully repetitive as well. But not Scarlet. It still preserves all the colorful characters, action, and romance that drew me to the legend in the first place, along with a new twist. This story is truly a breath of fresh air, one that you will remember long past the last page.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Back of the Book: As a kid, Jacob formed a special bond with his grandfather over his bizarre tales and photos of levitating girls and invisible boys. Now at 16, he is reeling from the old man's unexpected death. Then Jacob is given a mysterious letter that propels him on a journey to the remote Welsh island where his grandfather grew up. There, he finds the children from the photographs⎯alive and well⎯despite the islanders’ assertion that all were killed decades ago. As Jacob begins to unravel more about his grandfather’s childhood, he suspects he is being trailed by a monster only he can see. A haunting and out-of-the-ordinary read, debut author Ransom Rigg’s first-person narration is convincing and absorbing, and every detail he draws our eye to is deftly woven into an unforgettable whole. Interspersed with photos throughout, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a truly atmospheric novel with plot twists, turns, and surprises that will delight readers of any age.

Jacob’s grandfather weaves him story after story of the orphanage he lived in as a boy. He even has photographs to prove it. As a child, Jacob pours over the pictures of levitating girls and other peculiar shots, but as he grows, the stories become just that⎯stories. But after his grandfather dies under mysterious circumstances, Jacob takes it upon himself to solve the enigma of his grandfather’s childhood, and nothing about that task is easy. Each twist and turn adds a fresh layer to the genius plot of Ransom Riggs. This book is filled with surprises, suspense, and no-satisfaction until you close the back cover.

I decided to give this book a try only because it was on the New York Times Bestseller List. Not the best reason to read a book, but I was bored enough to give it a try. It turned out to be incredible. This may be Ransom Riggs’s first book, but it better not be his last. He certainly writes like no rookie. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children locks you in its suspense and does not let you out until the last page. I couldn’t turn the pages or figure out the plot fast enough. Be prepared to get paper cuts, because this novel will have your fingers fumbling to flip the page.

Goliath

Back of the Book:
Alek and Deryn are on the last leg of their round-the-world quest to end World War I, reclaim Alek’s throne as prince of Austria, and finally fall in love. The first two objectives are complicated by the fact that their ship, the Leviathan, continues to detour farther away from the heart of the war (and crown). And the love thing would be a lot easier if Alek knew Deryn was a girl. (She has to pose as a boy in order to serve in the British Air Service.) And if they weren’t technically enemies.


Goliath is the final book in the Leviathan Trilogy. In the newest installment, Alek and Deryn continue to sail across Europe in hopes to end the war. What they find instead is a real-life mad scientist hoping to recruit Alek. A mad scientist who possesses a weapon, the Goliath, that could possibly end the war. But could the weapon be as good as it sounds? And what about Deryn, whose feelings for Alek can't help but surface, despite the fact he thinks she is a boy?  This book offers more action, energy, and (finally!) romance than the other two books. Bestselling author Scott Westerfeld weaves an alternative World War I full of action and adventure in his trilogy, and the final chapter does not disappoint.


The minute I finished the second book in the series, Behemoth, I hunted down the third one, only to learn that it wouldn't be released until another month. Well, it's a month later, and man, I could not wait for this book to come. Even though it's 500+ pages, I finished this book in under four hours. I couldn't put it down. It's addicting. Scott Westerfeld is one of my favorite authors, mostly because of the Leviathan series. The plot moves quickly without rushing, and keeps the reader constantly engaged. Unlike most girl-disguised-as-a-guy books, Deryn doesn't spend the whole novel yakking about how someone might find out her secret. That issue only begins to bubble as she discovers her feelings for Alek, and how her secret comes between them. And let me just say, I absolutely adore Deryn and Alek together. This is easily one of my favorite books. For any Leviathan lovers, book lovers, or just anyone in general, this book is perfect for you.

Lily of the Nile

Back of the Book:

With her parents dead, the daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony is left at the mercy of her Roman captors. Heir to one empire and prisoner of another, Princess Selene must save her brothers and reclaim what is rightfully hers...

In the aftermath of Alexandria's tragic fall, Princess Selene is taken from Egypt, the only home she's ever known. Along with her two surviving brothers, she's put on display as a war trophy in Rome. Selene's captors mock her royalty and drag her through the streets in chains, but on the brink of death, the children are spared as a favor to the emperor's sister, who takes them to live as hostages in the so-called lamentable embassy of royal orphans...

Trapped in a Roman court of intrigue that reviles her heritage and suspects her faith, Selene can't hide the hieroglyphics that carve themselves into her flesh. Nor can she stop the emperor from using her for his own political ends. Faced with a new and ruthless Caesar who is obsessed with having a Cleopatra of his very own, Selene is determined to honor her mother's lost legacy. The magic of Egypt and Isis remain within her. Can she succeed where her mother failed? And what will it cost her in a political game where the only rule is win or die?

Selene is the new Queen of Egypt while living as a prisoner in Rome. After her parents died, the Romans invaded Egypt and captured Selene, her twin Helios, and their younger brother Philadelphus are taken to Rome. Dragged through the streets in chains, Roman emperor Octavian shows them off as spoils of his latest war. Selene desperately wants to go home, but she’ll have to polish her manipulation skills to work her way back to Egypt. Unfortunately, the strange hieroglyphics appearing on her arms aren’t helping.

With the help of her brothers, Selene struggles to figure out the magic at work. But growing up in a Roman house isn’t helping. The more Selene tries to bury Egypt and her mother, the more her true self shines through. Selene has magic. And she knows it. But will she embrace it, so far away from home and surrounded by Romans who believe she should change?

Stephanie Dray paints Selene beautifully. Egypt and Rome spring off the pages and come to life. Dray has obviously researched this novel down to the last article of clothing, and that is apparent through Lily of the Nile. But unlike some historical fiction, this book isn’t weighed down by details. Instead it springs into action, enticing the reader from the beginning. Selene is a smart, headstrong character. But she is human in so many ways. She fears and worries and frets along with the rest of us. She pours over her future and struggles with whether to embrace it.

Lily of the Nile is a fantastic book, one of my favorites. It is astonishing that this is Dray’s first novel. I expect great things from this author! I am already anticipating Lily of the Nile’s sequel, Song of the Nile.

Leviathan

Back Cover: 

     Alek was a prince without a throne. On the run from his own people, he has only a fighting machine and a small band of men.

     Deryn is a girl disguised as a guy in the British Air Service. She must fight for her cause—and her secret—at all costs.

     Alek and Deryn are thrown together aboard the mighty airship Leviathan. Though fighting side by side, their worlds are far apart. British fabricated beasts versus German steam-powered war machines. They are enemies with everything to lose, yet somehow destined to be together.

Leviathan tells the story of two unlikely friends thrown together in an alternative World War I.  Alek is a young prince who, upon hearing of his parents’ death, must abandon all duties to hide, knowing his is the only hope for his country. He has only a machine and his trusted men for survival.

     Deryn—disguised as a boy to sneak aboard a ship—uses her brains and skills to keep the ship running. When a doctor of fabricated beasts boards the Leviathan, Deryn is desperate to know the doctor’s secret. But can Deryn keep her own?

     One simple act of kindness on Alek’s part throws the two young enemies together. They form a rocky friendship, but too many secrets stand between them. Alek and Deryn both struggle to conceal their identities—Alek as a prince, Deryn as a girl. But the constant threat of the looming war hangs heavily over their heads. Can the two manage to survive while risking their lives?

The Leviathan is one of those books that captivate you from the start. The two stories are narrated perfectly and blend beautifully. Scott Westerfeld is a veteran author who knows who to tell a story. Alek and Deryn are perfect heroes, with thoughts and feelings and fears as real as my own. Unlike most girl-disguised-as-a-guy novels, that isn’t really the main issue. Deryn is a smart, strong character who doesn’t think “woe is me, someone might discover my secret!” all the time. The action is in-depth and real. And the whole time, I rooted for Alek and Deryn to fall in love, despite their differences and the fact that Alek thought Deryn was a boy. Leviathan has you constantly engaged, whether over the constant action, suspense, or promise of romance.

Exile

(Warning: this book is a sequel to Aurelia and may contain some spoilers on the first book.)

The murderous plot is over. The villain is exposed. In most cases, the words “Happily Ever After” are expected to come. But not for Aurelia.

While she is no longer in immediate danger, the feeling of fear is still there. She is living in constant danger, on the run from her family with the only man she can trust, Robert. Nightmares and visions of what happened a few months ago still haunt her. Her family tried to kill her. She is no longer the crown princess. Everything she loved and cared for is gone, leaving a numb feeling. The only thing she has is Robert.

But soon a new issue arises. The land she travels is wild and unruly, much like Robert’s stallion, Horizon. Soon Aurelia gets a glimpse of life outside the palace, and it hits her hard and fast. You can be sure to expect plenty of action in this book.

And even though Aurelia may not be living at the palace, her duty rests of her heart, keeping her from unlocking her true feelings for Robert.

For Robert, the trip isn’t a picnic, either. Plagued with the memory of killing his cousin in order to protect Aurelia, he can’t shake the guilty feeling. Aurelia is numb to the world, and scaring him. He has to protect her, not only as his duty to her but as his duty to his heart.

Together they travel through uncharted territory, struggling to survive the natives and the threats of assassins. Assassins who will finish the job this time.

Exile is a fast-paced, thrilling novel that is just as demanding and addicting as the first. Aurelia and Robert spring off the page with life. Their emotions are so fresh and raw, truly electrifying to read. Literally. There were multiple times where I literally got chills. This book is a great read for anyone and everyone, from romance lovers to the greatest action adorers.

Honestly, I hadn’t planned on reading this book. After I finished Aurelia, I thought it was finished, just with a very bittersweet ending. I actually put the book on my shelf and forgot all about the possibility of a sequel.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I was in a bookstore (naturally), looking for a new book to read. My eyes scanned the bookshelves before they stumbled upon a beautiful cover. I was actually drawn to it because the girl on the cover looked familiar. Too familiar. I turned to the back, and of course, it was the sequel to Aurelia. Of course I got it, and devoured the novel in a few hours. I couldn’t put it down until I finished the last page. This book is addicting. It’s food for the soul. As much as I loved the first book, this one has to be my favorite.

In most stories, the author never talks about the aftermath. How does the hero feel after killing the villain? What about the penetrating numbness of remembering that last fight? In this novel, Anne Osterlund focuses on Aurelia’s emotional sense. She brings back the action and the romance, but what captures my attention the most is the heart and emotion. It’s very messy and blunt. It amazes me how real these characters and their feelings are.

I would recommend this book to anyone, though I would suggest reading the Aurelia first, another great novel. You don’t have to read it before Exile, but things might make more sense.

Just try reading this book. I dare you to try to put it down while reading. I doubt anyone could.

Chasing Lincoln's Killer

            April 14. The year is 1865. Thanks to President Lincoln, slaves are free, the civil war is over, and the country is once again whole. Who could blame the man for wanting to celebrate? Who would know that while the president convinced his wife to accompany him to a play, a killer lurked at the theater, waiting for the president of the United States to fall into his carefully plotted trap?

            The time is 10:00 p.m. The place is Ford’s Theater. The play is Our American Cousin, currently the most famous play in the nation. But soon it would be famous for a completely different reason. It would become famous for the play being preformed while the nation most beloved hero was killed.

            At exactly 10:15 p.m., a gunshot went off. No one heard. Thanks to knowledge of the play, the man who pulled the trigger knew that at 10:15, the crowd would be laughing too uproariously to hear anything. Even a gunshot.

            We all know what happens next. Lincoln’s murderer, renowned actor John Wilkes Booth, leapt from the balcony, catching his leg on the banner, but he managed to land on the stage and shout, “Sic semper tyrannis,” Latin for “Thus always to tyrants.” He dashed out the door and jumped on horseback in time to safely escape.

            But does anyone truly know what happened next? In Chasing Lincoln’s Killer, a distilled version of the bestseller Manhunt, author James L. Sawnson goes into riveting detail of the twelve-day manhunt following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Not only is this book action-packed and exciting, but I think the best part is that it’s a true story. From every line to every detail of a uniform, the facts are straight and perfect. I usually don’t like nonfiction, but this book is absolutely perfect. After reading this book, one can not only truly say what happened at 10:15 on April 14, 1865. A reader can also relish in the adventure of the following twelve days the world seems to forget.

The Bad Beginning

            You will notice that this book is not entitled The Littlest Elf.

            There is a very good reason for that. First of all, nothing in this book even closely resembles an elf, or anything elf-like. Secondly, The Littlest Elf is a happy story filled with singing and dancing helpers of Santa who happen to be vertically-challenged, while The Bad Beginning is a terrible novel filled with terrible people who do terrible things to three smart and resourceful children.

            You will also notice that this book begins with a warning, which you’d better heed if you value anything in this life we are given. This book should not be called The Bad Beginning. The words “the” “bad” and “beginning” placed in that order infer that there is only a bad beginning. But no. There is a bad beginning, a bad middle, and a bad end.

It all began on a bad morning on Briny Beach, where three children receive word that their parents had died in a terrible fire, and their mansion melted into a pile of rubble. Newly orphaned Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are shipped off to their relative at the request of their deceased parents, only to find a series of unfortunate events waiting to attack the orphans. Their sly and sneaky guardian, Count Olaf, plots to get his grubby, dirt-under-the-nails hands on the famous Baudelaire fortune Violet is to inherit when she is of age. The children are forced to perform ridiculous chores for their guardian and his terrifying theater troop, receive abuse at the hands of the villainous count, and try to remain optimistic while their life slowly dwindles down the drain.           

 But when things can’t get possibly any worse, they do. The children know Count Olaf is plotting something, but they can’t find out what it is. They must rely on their inventing, reading, and biting skills to uncover their vile guardian’s plot to seize their stack of cash in the bank. But heed my warning: the dreadful, addicting lives of the Baudelaire orphans will compel you to read for days without stop until you have completed every miserable volume.

(Readers looking for happy books...don't look here.)

Flipped

Back of the Book:

Bryce: My mom didn’t understand why it was so awful that “that cute little girl” had held my hand. She thought I should be friends with her. “You like soccer. Why don’t you go out there and kick the ball around?” Because I didn’t want to be kicked around, that’s why. And although I couldn’t say it like that at the time, I still had enough sense at age seven and a half to know that Julianna Baker was dangerous.

            Julianna: What did a kiss feel like anyway? Somehow I knew it wouldn’t be like the one I got from Mom or Dad at bedtime. The same species, maybe, but a radically different beast. Like a wolf and a whippet. Only science would put them on the same tree. Looking back, I like to think it was at least partly scientific curiosity that made me chase after that kiss, but it was probably more those blue eyes.

Bryce Loski’s impossible dream is for the girl next door to simply leave him alone. From the day he moved in, she’s been a thorn in his side. And he cannot shake her, no matter how hard he tries. He’s done every play in the book to try and shake her off his trail, but nothing seems to work. From pitching out her chicken’s eggs every day for a year (wouldn’t want to get salmonella) to dating the popular girl Juli hates, he frantically tries to escape her. But what happens when he realizes that maybe, just maybe, he likes her too?

The second Juli Baker saw Bryce Loski, she flipped. Ever since then, she’s desperate for his attention. But no matter how hard she tries, Bryce just can’t seem to notice. He shoots down every one of her attempts to reach out to him. But as the years pass, her eyes slowly begin to open until she realizes what a jerk he is. Bryce finally seems to take an interest in her, but could she only have flipped for those big blue eyes, not the person within?

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen is a must-read for teens. This book is packed with laugh-out-loud humor, and the reader will sympathize with Juli’s desperate crush on Bryce, and his desperate need to escape her. Told from the perspective of both next-door-neighbors, the truth of life and love are conveyed through each chapter. The novel Flipped is the perfect fast, funny, romantic, comedic summer read.

The Lightning Thief

        Back of the Book:
        Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school...again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.
        Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.
        With cover art from the major motion picture, this first installment of Rick Riordan's best-selling series is a non-stop thrill-ride and a classic of mythic proportions.

            Percy Jackson knows he’s not normal. Not only does he have ADHD, but he’s also a dyslexic with a bad rep of getting kicked out of every school since Pre-K. He doesn’t feel like he’s good for anything, but everything changes one night when he discovers who his father is: a god. More specifically, Poseidon, god of the sea.

            Oh, the gods are real alright. And they’re angry at him. They think he is the lightening thief, the boy who stole Zeus’s legendary lightening bolt. Soon he finds himself leading a dangerous quest with his friends Grover and Annabeth (satyr and daughter of Athena) to recover the bolt and save his mother, who is the prisoner of Hades. If he succeeds, he will finally mean something to the gods and his father. But if he fails…his mother spends eternity with the lord of the underworld, he will be hunted down by every divine being, and the world will be at a war with itself as Zeus and Poseidon destroy everything fighting over his innocence.

            Fans across the world have been raving over this fantastic series by author Rick Riordan. The Lightning Thief is a perfectly paced, action-packed, mind-blowing series for anyone and everyone. High adventure, excitement, and suspense entice you in Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Each chapter is an action-packed suspenseful glimpse of Greek mythology in the modern world. Just one sentence of the book reveals its true identity as a perfect passage into the life of a very special teenage boy.

To Catch a Pirate

            Ever since her ship was attacked a year ago, Annalise Townsend has been on the hunt. To catch a pirate. Her pirate, to be precise. The pirate who stole a kiss from her when the bloodthirsty villains were attacking her ship and seizing her father’s treasure. Now, after a year of fencing, a forged marque, and constant determination to catch the loathsome James Sterling, Anna is ready to take back her father’s stolen treasure. But now Anna’s is danger of something much worse: Sterling stealing her heart.

This is a fluff book. It has a basic plot—which is predicable at some parts—with basic characters and a basic ending. It isn’t life changing, or even close to Shakespeare, but it is a good book. The writing makes it good.

            The nerd that I am, I researched this book for weeks. I read review after review, trying to find out if this book was worth reading. Finally, I just bought the thing and read it, cover to cover, in a few hours.

            The writing was beautiful. Each sentence is golden. Most writers can’t jam-pack beautiful sentences on every page, but this one sounds natural and flows perfectly. As I said before, it isn’t that complex of a plot, or characters, but it is worth reading. It’s my fluff book, the book I read a few chapters out of when I’m bored or skim through the ending when I’m in the mood for a happy ending. If you’re looking for a complicated, action-packed adventure novel, this is not for you. But it is worth reading, worth keeping, if even as a fluff book. The writing is worth reading. Personally, I think every woman should read this, just for the charmingly cocky James Sterling.

Cloaked

Johnny is a modern cobbler in South Beach. But his dreams of princesses and adventure are permanently put on hold thanks to his duties to his family shoe business and his poor mother. When a gorgeous European princess offers to foot the bill for an adventure in Key West, Johnny doesn’t hesitate to agree. But there’s a catch—he’s looking for the princess’s very own frog prince…her brother.

            Johnny agrees to go, but the last thing he expects is real magic at work. Alex Finn’s latest novel cobbles together many different fairy tales, from the Elves and the Shoemaker and the Frog Prince to lesser known the Salad. It’s fast pace and action scenes keep it a quick read. Cloaked engages the reader from beginning to end. This is a delightful happily-ever-after fairly tale that will have you rooting for the average hero the whole way.

Back of the Book:

I'm not your average hero. I actually wasn't your average anything. Just a poor guy working an after-school job at a South Beach shoe repair shop to help his mom make ends meet. But a little magic changed it all.

     It all started with a curse. And a frognapping. And one hot-looking princess, who asked me to lead a rescue mission.

     There wasn't a fairy godmother or any of that. And even though I fell in love along the way, what happened to me is unlike any fairy tale I've ever heard. Before I knew it, I was spying with a flock of enchanted swans, talking (yes, talking!) to a fox named Todd, and nearly trampled by giants in the Everglades.

     Don't believe me? I didn't believe it either. But you'll see. Because I knew it all was true, the second I got cloaked.

Enna Burning

As happy as Enna is for her best friend's Isi's happily ever after, she can't help feeling a pang of sorrow when she thinks about her ending. While her friend married her true love and became the ruler of Bayern, Enna was stuck caring for her older brother after their mother's death. Isi was blessed with the power to understand the language of the winds. Enna can't help wishing she had a power like that. She can't help feeling she does have a power like that.
     Her problems begin when her brother, Leifer, finds a dangerous vellum containing secrets too terrible for a human being to carry. Suddenly, Enna's adventure becomes a frightening reality. When the secret threatens to destroy Leifer, Enna must save her brother—and herself—while trying to find her happily ever after.



Enna Burning is the companion book to Goose Girl, an earlier novel also by famed author Shannon Hale. It takes place after Isi's extraordinary adventure and wedding to Prince Geric and covers Isi's best friend's story. Enna is a character who—like us all—is just trying to find herself and an adventure of her own. Loved characters in Goose Girl return, namely Razo and Finn. I was very excited to see them return, since I loved them so much in the earlier novel.
     Goose Girl was a wonderful book, but it was a bit slow on getting the story rolling. Enna Burning immediately introduces the plot and begins the story at a much faster and exciting pace. However, Shannon Hale's beautiful writing stays consistent throughout her novels. This book is an exciting read that will leave you begging for more.