Branded - Keary Taylor

Summary:   Jessica's had the nightmares for as long as she can remember. Nightmares of being judged for people who have died, of being branded by the angels. Her friends and family think she's a crazy because of it all. Yet she carries the mark of the condemned, seared into the back of her neck, and hides it and herself away from the world.

But when two men she can't ignore enter her life everything changes, including the nightmares. The two of them couldn't be more different. She will do anything to be with one of them. Even tell him the truth about angels, why she never sleeps, and the scar on the back of her neck. But one of the two has set events into motion what will pull her toward her own judgment and turn her into the object of her greatest fear.   (Summary and image from www.kearytaylor.com - Book given free for an honest review)

My Review:  Branded is a fairly clean YA paranormal romance with interesting premise surrounding a young woman who, for as long as she can remember, is condemned to torturous nightmares every time she falls asleep. I liked that the author deviated from the stereotypical harp-strumming, halo-wearing angels and threw in some seriously evil ones. However, while the plot showed creativity and had good “bones” (my term for liking the core aspects of a story), I had a hard time with the rest of it.

Branded did not feel like a fully fleshed out novel and my impression was that it was written by a relatively inexperienced writer. In addition to the handful of typos missed by an editor, parts of the plot felt melodramatic or contrived while others felt either undeveloped or laden with detail. The characters lacked dimension beyond their assigned roles as sexy bad guy, troubled best friend, and super hot perfect boyfriend. Yes, Alex was perfect, with his delightfully chiseled abs, mad guitar skills, and unshakable love for Jessica, but since I’ve decided to be completely honest I’m going to let you in on a little secret…come close so I can whisper it to you… I am so over perfect. Give me a few flaws, just so I can pretend a guy like that could actually exist.  Alex was very much a case of too good to be true.

While a younger reader might not notice some of this book’s less than subtle foreshadowing, I could not ignore the story’s predictability. It didn’t take more than a chapter to figure out Cole’s big secret, and this transparency extended to the rest of the book. I always knew what was going to happen next…with the exception of the last two chapters. I will say that the conclusion was probably my favorite part of the book. I’m not saying that to be mean, so don’t start sending me hate mail. I’m serious. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I liked how she wrapped things up, leaving certain loose ends untied.

I guess the most that I can say about this book was that the creative storyline shows the author has potential as a writer. While this one didn’t end up being my cup of tea, I think that her upcoming dystopian novel, Eden, looks both gorgeous and promising. Don’t believe me? Click here to visit Keary Taylor’s website.

SIDENOTE:  Since receiving this book for review, Keary has released a new and improved second edition of Branded.  While I didn't want to scrap this review entirely, I did want mention some of the changes that were made in the new edition.  According to the author, all of the typos have been fixed, weaker points in the writing have been shored up, and we learn more about Jessica's past than in the first edition, like why she is the way she is and reacts to things the way she does.  I hope that gives a clearer picture of the Branded that is currently available. 

My Rating: 2.75 Stars

For the sensitive reader: Like I said, this book is mostly clean. While there are a few close calls (those crazy kids) things stay pretty PG on a fairly regular basis.

Sum it up: An interesting story, but not likely to be her best work.

I Am Number Four - Pittacus Lore

Summary:  Nine of us came here.  We look like you.  We talk like you.  We live among you.  But we are not  you.  We can do things you dream of doing.  We have powers you dream of having.  We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen.  We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books - but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them.  But they found us and started hunting us first.  Now all of us are running.  Spending our lives in the shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in.  We have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.

I am Number Four.

I am next.

(Summary from book - Image from barnesandnoble.com )

My Review:  I am Number Four is a romantic young adult sci-fi novel and an extremely easy read. It had an immediate hook, with a prologue that caught my attention and a premise that held it for most of the book. It took me about 295 pages before I even thought to write down more than a few sentences of notes (and the book is only 440 pages long).

My favorite part of this book was the emergence of John Smith/Number Four’s supernatural powers and his attempts to navigate a new school without revealing his identity. John’s efforts to control his powers, hone them, and hide them, provided quite a few situations that were interesting and, at times, humorous or surprising. I also liked the moments of initial attraction between John and Sarah and the problems that their relationship created both within the school and for John in general. This book will delight the less discerning YA reader and entertain older fans who don’t mind a little predictability, a few knight-in-shining-armor moments, and some occasionally cheesy dialog.

I am Number Four started out strong, but lost momentum towards the end. I could handle the moments of predictability, but once the Mogadorians emerged as an immediate threat my interest began to wane. They felt cartoonish with their pale skin, pointy teeth, trench coats, and low brimmed hats, and I had a hard time taking them seriously. Also, once John and Sarah’s romance progressed past the initial stages of attraction, I lost the connection between them. It just fizzled out. Oh, there was love professed, but it felt wooden and unrealistic. I think the final battle was my least favorite part of the book. While I loved the addition of another character, the rest was sloppy and rushed with some all out absurdity for good measure.  The ending does, however, provide closure with enough room for the sequel, The Power of Six, releasing August 23, 2011.

Despite its flaws, I can see why this book was chosen for the big screen. It was quite cinematic and held numerous possibilities for action, romance, and impressive special effects. If the Mogadorian’s manage to get their scare on and John and Sarah are well-cast, the movie has the potential to be better than the book. 

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

For the sensitive reader: Some scattered profanity and ever so slightly gory violence.

Sum it up: An exciting premise with less than satisfactory execution.

Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick

Summary:   A sacred oath.
A fallen angle.
A forbidden love.

Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan.  She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her.  Not until Patch comes along.  With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust.  Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends.  She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide.  And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those who have fallen--and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life. (Summary from jacket cover and image from http://1.bp.blogspot.com/)

My Review: If I were to compare this book to something you'd eat, it would be the perfect midnight snack.  I read it that quickly and enjoyed every bite, which surprised me because I typically can't sink my teeth into suspense or scary of any nature.  Hush, Hush might have changed my mind.  I can't profess that it's all that literary, or that the overall message is a perfectly clean one for young adult readers, but it sucks you in and takes you for a wild ride.

Nora is so easy to relate to, which makes her predicament shockingly believable--and it shouldn't be.  Despite the warning flags that went off in my mind, you couldn't quite guess which warning flag was the right one.  All the way until the end of the book you're wondering who is the really bad guy, or if they all are and Nora's trapped in an inescapable trap.  I even began wondering if her best friend Vee was in on Nora's demise.

I think what also makes this book fun is how it vicariously allows the reader to indulge in going for the bad guy, something I'd never do in real life because who knows what kind of trouble it could bring.  The book is probably the safest way to enjoy that little experience without getting too close.  My only concern would be for young adult females who, I worry, would think that the bad boys in real life could be as benign as the ending of this book makes him out to be.

I can't help but want my friends to read this book, whether it has any significant literary value or not.  I'd just want to see how they enjoyed the crazy trip.

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Sum it up: Thrilling, often heart-pounding, suspenseful -- a fantastic and indulgent YA read.

Also reviewed by Mindy.

Fallen - Lauren Kate

Summary:  There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at Sword & Cross boarding school in Savannah.  He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Except Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--he goes out of his way to make that very clear.  But she can't let it go.  Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, Luce has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret...even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, FALLEN is a page-turning thriller and the ultimate love story.  (Summary from book cover and image from http://www.shockya.com/news/)

My Review: There are many aspects to Fallen that intrigued me--a girl haunted by her bizarre past, one not brought on by anything she can fathom, and parents who have tried everything under the sun to help their troubled daughter.  Luce's confusion as to why she sees these strange shadows created a fantastic element of suspense for me as a reader.  It's the perfect crazy-girl set up--how does she explain the dark shadows that show up and hover around her evoking feelings of illness and dread?  How could she even begin to explain to her parents about how the shadows affect her daily life without sounding like she was already on drugs?  Fallen also touches on some religious pre-earth-life stories that I found interesting--to be more specific would ruin the story.  I wish it had delved deeper, and I am hoping the next book will address them more in depth.

All the positives aside, I'm afraid the summary leads the reader to believe there's a bit more to the book than what is delivered.  I wouldn't quite describe Fallen as a "page-turning thriller".  Admittedly, I did read Fallen rather quickly and was interested in the storyline.  It just isn't a thriller in my mind.  It had a slow and steady build up to the climax--it's 400+ pages--and then a rushed resolution that did not, in my mind, fit with the pace of the story.  Too many aspects at the end of the story seemed forced--characters that fit into this strange mold that, again, felt forced in order to resolve the conflict and yet still leave Fallen unfinished for a sequel.  I don't want to ruin the story for a potential reader, so I won't go into any more detail.  Suffice it to say, I'm curious to see how the religious elements play out in a second book, but I doubt I'll be highly recommending it to my students.

Rating: 3 Stars--for the sensitive reader: there is occasional swearing, a few brief exposures to teens and alcohol, and a handful of violent scenes.

Sum it up:  A 'emo-esque' Young Adult book with religious twists.

Also reviewed by Mindy.

The Last Jewish Virgin : A Novel of Fate - Janice Eidus

Summary: Lilith Zeremba, a young woman rebelling against her intellectually complex, feminist Jewish mother, is The Last Jewish Virgin. In this playful and provocative, sensual and suspenseful novel, Janice Eidus merges the timeless, romantic myth of the vampire with contemporary life in volatile New York City–and beyond. Determined to make her own way–on her own terms–as a successful Jewish woman in the world of fashion, Lilith finds herself in a place where mythology and sexuality collide. She’s drawn to two men in ways that feel dangerous and yet inevitable: the much older wildly mercurial and mesmerizing Baron Rock, and Colin Abel, a young, radiant artist determined to make the world a better place, one socially progressive painting at a time. The Last Jewish Virgin, an innovative and universal tale of longing and redemption, refreshes and reinvents the classic vampire myth for a contemporary world in which love, compassion, faith, and politics are forever evolving and intersecting in surprising and original ways. (Summary from book - Image from goodreads.com - Book given free for review)

My Review: Let me be perfectly clear. My experience with vampire lore is limited to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Twilight, and Brahm Stoker’s Dracula. In college, the latter gave me a horrific nightmare wherein my father ate a baby (yes, you read that correctly) and I’ve eschewed the gothic vampire ever since. What attracted me to this story was an NPR reviewer’s description of this novel as “Twilight...with a sense of humor, a brain, and a feminist subtext”. I enjoyed Twilight but recognize that it would have been better with all three of those things and willingly picked up this book.

The Last Jewish Virgin is the story of Lilith, a young Jewish art student who is determined to make it in the world of fashion and maintain her virginity until she has reached her academic and career goals. As this novel explores her relationship with her mother and her attraction to two enigmatic male characters, it comes closer to resembling a gothic Dracula novel than any of the sparkly vampire novels that are crowding bookstore shelves.

Lilith’s desire to keep her distance from an intimate relationship until she had achieved her academic and career goals was admirable, but it seems (and here is a similarity to Twilight) that she was ultimately willing to give it ALL up because of her irresistible attraction to a vampire. I suppose that I should have been moved by Lilith’s eventual sacrifice for her mother, but I felt that her decision was made more out of jealousy and obsession than genuine concern for her mother’s well-being.

While this book was infinitely brainier than most modern vampire novels, it didn’t feel in the least bit romantic. A feminist undercurrent is evident in the Lilith’s mother’s views on deity and feminism as it relates to Judaism, but it didn’t mesh well with the overall story. In fact, this book felt more like a random collection of the author’s interests (vampires, Judaism, fashion, art, feminism, and philosophy) twisted into a story.

The Last Jewish Virgin has an edgy, metropolitan feel that lends well to the darker subject matter, but I was turned off by the overtly sexual nature of the plot and its ultimate resolution. The frequently sexual subject matter was uncomfortable, but I kept reading because I was still interested in how everything would play out. A small portion of the story touched on the previous life of one of the characters. It was very interesting, and I wish that the author had expanded that aspect of the story, creating a past life for more of the characters. Ultimately, while this novel had its moments, it did not endear me to the genre and was a step into a world I don’t intend to visit again.

My Rating: 2.5 Stars.

For the sensitive reader: Although this book describes the act of sex only once, it is wildly sexual throughout with descriptions of erotic art, sexual dialogue, and sexual situations. The story also contains a few brief moments of language and discussions of God as gender-fluid, which might offend a more sensitive reader.

Sum it up: This disturbing and darkly erotic novel is written for a different kind of vampire lover – and may interest fans of modern, yet non-sparkly, vampire literature. I thought it was bizarre.

The Dark Divine - Bree Despain

Summary:  Grace Divine -- daughter of the local pastor -- always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared and her brother Jude came home covered in his own blood.

Now that Daniel's returned, Grace must choose between her growing attraction to him and her loyalty to her brother.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, she learned the truth about that mysterious night and how to save the ones she loves, but it might cost her the one thing she cherishes most: her soul.

My Review:  Bree Despain’s The Dark Divine is a clean and entertaining paranormal romance, with an ending that was better than I expected. Despite this semi-success, the basic plot—a young girl, torn between her love for two very different boys—is exceedingly overdone. I mean, how many teen vamp/wolf/witch/ fairy/dragon/wraith romances does a bookstore really need?  I can usually handle a cliché plot as long as something in the book surprises me enough to read into the wee hours of the morning. There were moments where a character channeled one of the Twilight Trinity, but towards the end, I caught an inkling of something interesting that grabbed my attention.  I did finish the book in record time and, for that reason, I’ll probably read the next one (The Lost Saint, releasing 12/28) if it ever falls into my lap.

Grace Divine is a faithful pastor’s daughter and, consequently, the story touches on topics of charity, forgiveness, selflessness, and grace. Over all, I thought Despain put forth a good effort, but has a long way to go to counter the increasingly affected world of modern YA fiction. Clean YA paranormal romances are no longer a dime a dozen, so if you aren’t terribly picky about plot originality or character depth, The Dark Divine would be a good one time read.  And try to ignore the last line.  It's an eye-roller.  I know.

My Rating: 3.5 Stars   For the sensitive reader: I was surprised by some swearing (mostly biblical, but not entirely) and an attempted, but ultimately unsuccessful, sexual assault.

Sum it up: An entertaining, but mostly ordinary YA paranormal romance. I’m not entirely opposed to reading the sequel, but I won’t be hunting it down.

Shiver - Maggie Stiefvater

Also reviewed by Mindy

Summary: The cold.  Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house.  One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--watches back.  He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why.

The heat.  Same has lived two lives.  As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves.  And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace...until now.

The shiver.  For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance.  But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied.  Sam must fight to stay human--and Grace must fight to keep him--even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future.  (Summary from back of the book and image from http://darkfaerietales.com/.)

My Review:  Shiver was not my favorite book by far. According to the author, she'd written her draft of Shiver long before the Twilight Series was published, and I feel for her if that is the case.  It is so similar to Twilight that it was hard to enjoy and I am sure anyone reading it will have to make the comparison between the two series -- high school girl, living with oblivious parents, in love with a paranormal boy/wolf, and the whole story gives off a feeling of cold (whereas Twilight gave off the ever present rain). Twilight has a feeling that grabs you and sucks you in. Shiver has all the same plot elements except that pull. 

The writing was a bit better than Twilight, but it definitely didn't captivate me, therefore I don't think I can say it's a better novel. I forced myself to get through the first half. The second half was better and had more depth of plot, but it still didn't have the draw that Twilight did. Shiver, as I'm sure it's been compared before, is the Jacob-fan version of Twilight. 

There were several aspects I didn't like about Shiver:  I didn't care for how the author painted Grace's parents.   Despite their obvious lacking parenting skills, they loved their daughter and believed their hands-off approach was a positive way to parent.  Not that I agree with it, but you would think that Grace could see their point of view even a little. Too much of the book made adults seem vapid--a word that is specifically used for both Grace's and Sam's parents.  I also didn't like the swearing and constant taking the name of God in vain.  The losing-her-virginity scene was also disturbing to me.  Girls drawn to this book, in my eyes, would be vulnerable to the perspective that hiding something so big from her parents is okay.  I'm also afraid many girls would think losing their virginity when the passion was 'so right' and the circumstance too dire (he might never come back, oh my!), and then fall prey to the insecurities that this book doesn't even begin to scratch the surface.  Sexual decisions are too important to paint with such a broad stroke for a young adult reader--especially a middle school one.  Overall, I think I could have skipped reading this book. I might pass on Linger because if it's anything like Shiver, it was too much of the same thing.

My Rating: 2.5 stars  (For the sensitive reader: occasional swearing, and a scene where she loses her virginity although it's mostly implied.)


Sum it up:  Bubble gum for the Twilight-loving-themed reader.  It could easily envelope a young mind prone to extreme relationships.

The Hourglass Door - Lisa Mangum

Summary:  Abby's senior year of high school is going according to plan:  good friends, cute boyfriend, and college applications in the mail.  But when Dante Alexander, foreign-exchange student from Italy, steps into her life, he turns it upside down.  He's mysterious, and interesting and unlike anyone she's ever met before.  Abby can't deny the growing attraction she feels for him.  Nor can she deny the unusual things that seem to happen when Dante is around.  Soon Abby finds herself drawn into a mystery whose roots reach into sixteenth-century Florence, and she uncovers a dangerous truth that threatens not only her future but the lives of those she loves.  (Summary from book - Image from amazon.com)

My Review:  Lately, I’ve needed to read something brainlessly romantic. It’s a sanity thing. I do hope you understand. I loved Lisa Mangum’s first book, The Secret Journal of Brett Colton, and had heard a lot about her newest novel, The Hourglass Door, in a move-over-Edward, kind of way, and figured it would fit the bill nicely.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of The Hourglass Door. I was so engaged that I wanted to physically yank Abby away from oh-so-boring Jason and throw her bodily at Dante, an exchange student who, among other things, made me add Italian accents to my list of thing I find irresistible (alongside chocolate and Elizabeth Berg novels). Unfortunately, this book follows the same path as Fallen or Evermore; I was interested until I was bored. My transition from one emotion to the other linked directly to finding out Dante’s Big Fat Secret. (SPOILER HERE) He travels through time. Frankly, it was all a bit weird and the whole river/bank setting felt a whole lot like a whitewashed Summerland. (SPOILER ENDS). I don’t know what I was expecting, but I wasn’t expecting that and I didn’t particularly care for it.

While the story starts strong, its conclusion felt entirely set up. The location of a certain key object was obvious from the second it became an issue and a variety of other plot twists were easily predictable. I appreciate that Lisa Mangum was able to create romantic tension between her characters without tossing them headlong into the bedroom, but there were times when I actually rolled my eyes at their syrupy, overly dramatic dialogue. When it comes down to it, I can turn my back on both this book and its characters, and not feel even remotely distressed. I think that it might find more of a following with younger readers who are so blinded by Dante-lust they can’t see straight through the book.

My Rating: 3 Stars. (4 stars for a YA, 2 for an Adult) For the sensitive reader: As far as I can remember, you’re in the clear.

Sum it up: A promising paranormal romance that fails to make its mark.

Fallen - Lauren Kate

Summary:  There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.  Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at Sword & Cross boarding school in Savannah.  He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are screwups, and security cameras watch every move. 

Except Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--he goes out of his way to make that very clear.  But she can't let it go.  Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, Luce has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret...even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic,  Fallen is a page-turning thriller and the ultimate love story.  

(Summary from book - Image from laurenkatebooks.net - Book from library)

My Review:  Okay, first things first.  I think I just need to up and admit that what made me pick up this book was its gorgeous cover art.  Angela Carlino did a wonderful job at evoking the dark and twisty nature of the book.  I wish I could say as much for Lauren Kate.  I had a very hard time settling in to this book.  It was very easy for me to put it down and walk away and took me about a week to read (that's a really long time). 

Fallen exudes an element of mystery and, at first, it’s the good kind – the kind that keeps you reading because you really want to know who the good/bad guys are, and where the story is headed. Since Ms. Kate seemed doomed to repeat the whole “new girl at school” plot (that is currently being bludgeoned to death by so many others), at least she had the grace to set it in a reform school with some slightly psycho characters.  Unfortunately, Fallen morphed into a boring-I-want-to-go-read-something-else kind of book because the author dragged out the unknown without serving up enough tasty plot morsels that open up more of the story. Grr.  Still, I kept reading because I hate to not finish a book.

I will never forgive Ms. Kate for making me wade through nearly 300 pages of a 464-page book before the story started moving. Even then, under the guise of the protagonist not being able to “handle it”, the author only revealed vague partial-truths so that at the end of the book I was left disengaged, confused and completely frustrated. Don’t get me wrong, I can appreciate the art of a well-timed twist, waiting to divulge key plot elements until the perfect moment, or the cliffhanger ending, but not at the expense of the overall story or the reader’s interest. Kate dragged the beginning out so much that by the time I got to the meat of the story I had already resorted to skimming because I wanted to be done.

All of this aside, I still think the teenage masses will like this one. Mostly because it has the oh-so-essential new girl at school and the two mysterious guys that want her. I kept waiting for werewolves to pop out of the furniture or something. I think I just need to stop reading books like this hoping that they will be good. They are rarely more than average.

I could be wrong, but I’m fairly certain that one of the many objectives of the first book in a series is to induce you to want to read the second. Fallen tried to walk the fine line between saying too much and not saying enough and failed miserably, leaving me unwilling to invest any more of my precious time in the series.  I have no intention of picking up the next book (Torment, Sept. 2010) no matter how good the cover art (and it is good).

My Rating: 2.75 Stars. For the sensitive reader: This book did stay fairly YA but there was some swearing and one instance of graphic violence.

Sum it up: Neither the page-turning thriller nor the ultimate love story that its' cover quotes claim. An overall disappointment.

Also reviewed by Kari.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner : An Eclipse Novella - Stephenie Meyer

Summary: Bree Tanner can barely remember life before she had uncannily powerful sense, superhuman reflexes, and unstoppable physical strength. Life before she had a relentless thirst for blood.

All Bree knows is that living with her fellow newborns has few certainties and even fewer rules: watch your back, don't draw attention to yourself, and above all, make it home by sunrise or die. What she doesn't know: her time as an immortal is quickly running out.

Then Bree finds an unexpected friend in Diego, a newborn just as curious as Bree about their mysterious creator, whom they know only as her. As they come to realize that the newborns are pawns in a game larger than anything they could have imagined, Bree and Diego must choose sides and decide whom to trust. But when everything you know about vampires is based on a lie, how do you find the truth? (Summary from book - Image from stepheniemeyer.com)

Mindy's Review: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner provides Twilight fans with some interesting, though not essential background reading and offers a way back into a series they adore . The story centers around Bree, a newborn vampire, as she attempts to “survive” in a nest of other newborns, afraid of the sun and slave to an unquenchable thirst. At a young 3 months, Bree inadvertently learns the truth about her vampire superiors and is drawn into a confrontation for which she is utterly unprepared.

If you have never read the series, I wouldn’t recommend this book as a starting point. It’s the kind of book that wouldn’t make a great deal of sense without having the other books under your belt. For fans of the series, I’d recommend reading Eclipse first (or at least having read it recently). I haven’t read it since Breaking Dawn came out and had this nagging feeling throughout that I was missing the little connections between the two stories that are made when books collide. I might read it again if I decide to revisit the series but I don’t feel that it was essential to the story. The good news is that, true to its' title, this novella is short (only 178 pages) and can be read in less than an afternoon.

One of the things about the Twilight series that was a little irritating (and perhaps I didn’t realize this right away) was that, barring a few wolfish interludes, the books are entirely written from Bella’s perspective. If it didn’t happen in front of her, then it didn’t happen. In reading Bree’s story, as well as Meyer’s as-yet-unfinished Midnight Sun (a version of Twilight told from Edward’s POV), I enjoyed the opportunity to view the same story from different perspectives and learn a little something extra about Bree’s interaction with the Cullens.

If you would like to read The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, you can read it here FOR FREE until midnight July 5th, 2010. However, one dollar from each book sold is donated to the American Red Cross, so I would recommend spending the money and buying your own copy. If you're a fan, it would look nice on your shelf with the rest of the series.

Her Rating: 3.75 Stars. It was nothing terribly special, just some light background reading. For the sensitive reader: When dealing with newborn vampires, expect carnage.

Sum it up: If I can’t have Midnight Sun, I suppose this will have to do...for now.
_______________________________________

Kari's Review: This did not read like the Twilight series for me. I raced through those hardly able to put it down. This was insightful, but definitely not as engaging. I was curious about Bree, her perspective and how it all meshed with the Cullens, but it took until about page 100 before I really became entrenched in her story. I agree with Stephenie Meyer: by the time the book is ending and you already know how it goes down for Bree, you're sad to see her character die. I'd recommend this only to Twilight junkies. It is not for someone who hasn't read the series. (And, there is a lot more dark, blood-thirsty images. So, if you're sensitive to that, steer clear.)

Her Rating: 3.5 stars. Ok, but definitely not fantastic.

Sum it up: A deeper look into the world of Twilight, although not critical if missed.
_______________________________________

Average Rating: 3.625 Stars
_______________________________________

Blue Moon - Alyson Noel

Summary: Just as Ever is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an immortal, initiated into the dark, seductive world by her beloved Damen, something terrible is happening to him. As Ever's powers are increasing, Damen's are fading—stricken by a mysterious illness that threatens his memory, his identity, his life. Desperate to save him, Ever travels to the mystical dimension of Summerland, uncovering not only the secrets of Damen's past—the brutal, tortured history he hoped to keep hidden—but also an ancient text revealing the workings of time. With the approaching blue moon heralding her only window for travel, Ever is forced to decide between turning back the clock and saving her family from the accident that claimed them—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows weaker each day... (Summary and Image from alysonnoel.com)

My Review: I know what you are thinking. As if the gentle criticism on the similarities wasn't enough, she had to go and give it a title that conjured up all the New Moon hype we have been seeing. To top it all off, they are both the second in their series.

After surviving her seventeen year old boyfriend's 600 year old ex-wife (yes, you read that right), Ever is beginning to get used to her new abilities and her new relationship with Damen. She makes peace with her demons and finds her place in her school and in Damen's arms. When Damen starts acting....well...normal, Ever has to figure out what has happened to her invincible soul-mate and more importantly who is responsible. As their relationship unravels, Ever will explore new dimensions of our world , and new dimensions of her heart as she faces the knowledge that to save him she may have to have him forever.

I read the this novel, the second in Noel's Immortals series, in less than 24 hours. It was so hard to watch these character fall apart after I had come to love their little teenage love affair so much in the first book. I liked the direction she took this book, casting doubts on everything she had revealed in Evermore and leaving you wondering if Damen and Ever will ever find happiness after 400 years of tragedy and heartbreak.

My Rating: 4 Stars. Again, these books would be appropriate for 14 plus years of age.

Sum it up: Looking forward to the third book in the series -- Shadowland.

Read Kim's review or Mindy's review of Evermore, the first book in Noel's The Immortals Series.

Evermore - Alyson Noel

Summary: The first book in Alyson Noel's extraordinary new Immortals series. Enter an enchanting new world, where true love never dies...After a horrible accident claims the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever Bloom can see people's auras, hear their thoughts, and know someones entire life story by touching them. Going out of her way to avoid human contact and suppress her abilities, she has been branded a freak at her new high school--but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste.

Damen is gorgeous, exotic, and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her head--wielding a magic so intense, it's as though he can peer straight into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she's left with more questions than answers. And she has no idea just who he really is--or what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is that she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with him. (Photo from www.alysonnoel.com - Summary from back cover)

My Review: Before I begin my review I would like to apologize for my extended absence. I had what can only be described as severe reviewers block. It's the truth, seriously. I truly harrowing experience.

Back to Evermore..

Ever Bloom is cursed, or so she thinks. When a tragic accident claims the lives of not only her parents, but her younger sister and golden retriever, Ever wakes up to discover she can hear peoples thoughts. In a high school full of preppy cheerleaders and jocks who have branded her a "freak", she chooses to bed down with a hoodie and a blaring ipod to survive her days. On her return to her Aunt's house, with whom she was placed after the accident, she spends afternoons talking to her dead sister and immersing herself in blame for her family's death.

Isolating herself with her only two friends (a Gothic wanna be and a homosexual thespian), Ever's world is turned upside down when Damen walks into her art class and for the first time the thoughts swirling around in her head are quieted.

The story is typical, especially in the wake of the Twilight rage, but Evermore stands on it's own. Noel dares to take us where Meyer did not. Exploring the world of teenage sexuality and the pressure that these "freaks" are put under each day at the hands of fellow classmates. Not to mention a bout of severe alcohol abuse, and teenage tattooing.

As Ever and Damen continue on their journey they encounter obstacles that are (quite literally) not of this world. I found myself slightly enchanted by the world the the author created. I sympathized with Ever and her situation at school. But mostly (I am only slightly embarrassed to say), Evermore gave me that zing. That first kiss, butterflies in your stomach feeling that you get when your are indulging yourself in a teenage romance novel. Come on, you and I both know there was a time before kids and husbands where just a look from a cute boy set our hearts to pounding. It is a fun feeling and I believe that is why these books are such a popular genre.

Sidenote: Although these novels received some criticism for there similarities to the Twilight series, I am going to go ahead and say what I have been thinking which is that yes the similar plot line is there, but in my opinion Noel showcases more writing talent with her first two novels in her Immortal series. It is strictly my OPINION, please don't bombard me with hate mail......)

My Rating: 4 Stars. I would say this novel is appropriate for 14 plus years of age.

Sum it up: A good guilty pleasure.

Also reviewed by Mindy.