I finished reading The Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz a couple of months ago. I read it because I really wanted to read it, knowing full well that it probably wasn’t going to be something that was really for the blog. However, since the purpose of the site is to allow readers to see content of what they themselves, or their children, will be reading I decided to include it. Normally, Melissa is a young adult fantasy novel author and so those who read the other books may transition easily over to any of her other works. By no means am I saying this novel is graphic, but it’s not your typical book for the average 14 year old girl. I’ll get to the rankings at the end… first let me tell you about it!

I WANT TO BUY WITCHES OF EAST END

A couple of months ago, I received a request from Vered Ehsani, the author of the new young adult fantasy series Ghost and Shadows. We tend to get quite a few requests, and although Bethia and I would love to read all of the books-we have been pressed to find the opportunity. However, this month I read Diary of a Part-Time Ghost. It was entertaining and great for young readers. It appeals to the part of me that likes historical fiction and blends that in with the fantasy pieces of the book.

I WANT TO BUY DIARY OF A PART-TIME GHOST

Ever since I started reading almost exclusively on my e-reader, Amazon has been suggesting books for me. Of course they are all among the same class: young adult fantasy and scifi. Well, this is one of those books, and I found it extremely funny. I actually picked the first book in this series up at the bookstore almost 2 years ago. At the time, I didn’t find it super compelling, and left without buying it. So when I saw Amazon recommended it to me, I decided it might be a sign.

The whole series is out now, and I’ve read all three, so this review is actually on the entire series, not just the first book. The three books are called The Summoning, The Awakening, and The Reckoning.

The last couple weeks I have read more books then I have in the last couple months due to the NBA finals. This gives me the time to go to the bookstore and browse, as always, to the young adult fantasy section. During my last trip I picked up Abandon by Meg Cabot. I read the back, and was intrigued by the fact that this story is a retelling of the greek myth about Persephone. I didn’t buy it on that trip, but the next time I was on my computer, I pulled the book up and read the first couple pages. I was hooked. So, I bought it a few days later, and read it in one night.

Recently I have been reading all of my books on an electronic device. When I log on to buy a bew book, Amazon tells me they have recommendations for me. This was one of the first ones. So, I bought the book for $.99, and enjoyed every moment of it.

This story is one we have all enjoyed before; in movies like X-Men, and books like I Am Number 4. There are people around us that have special powers, or in this story Talents. This is worriesome to the government because of how the Talented could use their powers against what they view as good. Students at the local high school go ‘missing’, taken from their families by the government because it has been found out they have a Talent.

I read the first few books of the Blue Bloods vampire series over the summer. While I really enjoyed them, I couldn’t just pick up this book and read it cover to cover in one day. I had forgotten the storyline, plot, and characters. I found that I needed to reread the all of the previous books in the series before I could finish this Misguided Angel.

BUY MISGUIDED ANGEL FROM AMAZON HERE

I have a suspicion that most people who have read these novels will have, or have had, the same issue. It is a great series, and I really enjoyed this novel, but I think this series has been overshadowed by some of the other vampire books that have come out. I think that is unfortunate because of how much I enjoyed this book.

Last Sacrifice was my most highly anticipated book if the year. I desperately wanted to know what happened to Rose after she was accused of murdering the queen. I wanted to know who the murderer was, and why. I felt like the queen was liked by most, tough, but she tried to be somewhat fair. I wanted Demetri to come to terms with his past. I mostly wanted to know what would happen between Adrian, Rose, and Demetri.

Well, all of my questions were answered, and the answers were more than I could ever expect. There is action from the first chapter. Then my favorite part of Richelle Mead’s writing style is that she carries the plot to the very last page. There are important things revealed all the way to the end.

While I love this story, there are things about it I didn’t love. There is a resolution to the love triangle between Rose and Adrian/Demetri. I wont tell you what that resolution was, just that I felt like there were avoidable mistakes made.

I WANT TO BUY LAST SACRIFICE

So, I am going to review this whole series, not each book. I liked this series enough to read them, but not enough to dissect each one.

This is another young adult vampire series. The mythology behind this one is extremely similar to most. The biggest difference is that you share feelings with the vampire who changed you, and even the one who changed that vampire.

The main character is Alice. She meets and starts to fall in love with a vampire, Jack. This is all good and fine until she meets his maker, Paul, whose blood calls out to her. This is where the drama begins.

I WANT TO BUY MY BLOOD APPROVES

This is M.K. Browns very first book. He found me through this website, and asked if I would review his book. I agreed, as I love finding new authors. I have had a chance to read the book, and I was surprised at how much I liked this book.

Fantasy books are the genre we focus on the most with this site. Although, I don’t know if the books we review are pure fantasy. Fantasy novels usually take place in an alternate world where magic exists, a perfect example is Lord of the Rings series. While series like Twilight, Blue Bloods, and Shiver series all take place in this world and have fantastical characters.

I WANT TO BUY THE HEART OF THE GRAYSTONE

This book review is for a series not just one individual book. The Protector of the Small is four books. The first two are smaller and build up to the last two books. This is one of my less favorites of Tamora Pierce’s books, although that doesnt mean much. I love this author and I enjoy almost all of her books.

I enjoy the world that Tamora has created in her Tortall legends. It is filled with all types of magic and fantastical creatures. The characters take the magical talents they have and go on some amazing adventures.

I WANT TO BUY THE PROTECTOR OF THE SMALL BOOKS

More than your average fantasy book! Let’s pretend that werewolves no longer frighten you, no longer surprise you, and you are craving a new twist. This book gives that to you. My favorite is that the main male character is Russian, further feeding my obsession with Dimitri from the Vampire Academy Series.

I picked up this book on just a whim, I had no idea what it was about or what it would contain, mostly because the description of the book’s plot is extremely limited on the back cover. However, the more I read, the more I wanted to read. It was easy to read and I was entertained through the book, but it has some interesting character development.

I WANT TO BUY 13 TO LIFE

There’s not a lot of character depth yet, as this is the first book in a series. This was also problematic because most of the book was building up the background and the stage for the problem that the later books I am sure will solve. And the problem? A good one! Not the vampire loves the girl but they can’t be together, and not just your average book where vampires and pixies and all the folklore characters are normal either. If you are a conspiracy theorist, you should definitely read this book. A perfect addition to the young adult addition we all have.

RATINGS

B

Limited Sexual Content, Including reference to teenagers having sex, but they don’t have sex and no descriptions are used

Limited Language

Limited Violence, Including the Russian Mafia, the Police and Guns as weapons

No Drinking, Drugs, or Alcohol

Age Recommendation 12+

I was worried about reading and doing the book review for Hush, Hush due to the fact that I have this preconceived notion that all angel books are the same. I know that this isn’t true, but I was still afraid to purchase the book. A good friend of mine asked if I had read this book yet, I told her the reason why I hadn’t read it. She assured me it wasn’t the same, and told me I needed to read it. I took her advice and purchased the book.

I WANT TO BUY HUSH, HUSH

During the last couple weeks I haven’t been following books like I usually do. I really enjoyed Shiver, read my review here, and was extremely excited for Linger to be released. Except, I forgot it was coming out as soon as it did. It came out a few weeks ago, and I apparently missed the whole thing!

So I saw it was released, and I had to run out and buy it immediately. I read most of it the first night. In the first book Grace and Sam finally make it in the end and I am so happy for them,

I WANT TO BUY LINGER

This is the forth book in the Blue Bloods series, and I believe there will only be one more. Being the book that leads up to the last is a big responsibility, and I felt this book held it weight. There was love and heartbreak,  death and rebirth, everything that it needs to be to keep me captivated.

In this book I really start to enjoy Mimi. I think she is self centered, and I kind of hate her. The thing is, she knows who she is and doesn’t apologize for it. She also has a hard time with her destiny, and I just love her all the more for it.

I WANT TO BUY THE VAN ALEN LEGACY

I really enjoyed the first two books of the Blue Bloods Series, but this book really drives the series for me. The first books of this series were a little slow, but since they weren’t super long, I was OK with it. I think if this book was as slow as the first two, I wouldn’t have continued. Everything really starts to come together for the final books. The bad guys reveal themselves, and the love story starts to get the attention it deserves.

So, in this book you again get to see the story from different points of view, but Skuyler is still the main character.

I WANT TO BUY REVELATIONS