Fair Coin

I've been shuttling in between two books this week. Neither one of them has really grabbed my attention. I finished this one first. Fair Coin by E.C. Meyers is about a boy named Ephraim who finds a coin that allows him to make wishes. His mother is an alcoholic and his life is not so great. He makes his first wish and off he goes. Of course, you know the saying- be careful what you wish for. Things don't always wind up like the thinks they will and he continues to make wishes to fix the ones before. After one of these wishes, his best friend Nathaniel turns up and informs him the coin does not grant wishes, it allows him to travel to alternate dimensions where his analogs are living their own reality. One of the Nate's is not so nice and takes Eph on a wild ride through the dimensions, while Eph tries to figure out a way to get the device out of Nate's hands. This is an interesting premise, but I was underwhelmed by the book. There were many universes to keep track of, with many problems. It may interest someone who is really into dimension travel and all it can entail. Eph is a likeable enough guy and one of the Zoe's is an interesting girl. I would have liked more of her backstory. All and all this was a flat liner for me. Off to finish the other book I was reading this week. Hopefully it gets better. Happy reading my friends.

Unnatural

Well, it isn't often I am puzzled as to what to do with a book. It goes on my shelf. I don't usually censor unless there is something graphic in the content, and then i just put it behind my desk, like some Ellen Hopkins books. But Unnatural by Michael Griffo has me a little stumped. It is called An Archangel Academy novel. It isn't about Angels. It is about two breeds of vampires who lurk about the halls of this school in England trying to destroy each other. Stuck in the middle of this feud is newcomer Michael, who hales from Nebraska. He has just lost his mother and his father comes to take him back to London to live. Michael is thrilled, as he just doesn't fit in in his small town where he is being bullied because he is gay. When he arrives at the academy, he locks gazes with Ronan and it is love at first bite for both of them. (pun intended) Ronan has been waiting for Michael for what seems like an eternity (again pun intended) and the two quickly embark on a passionate relationship. What Michael doesn't know is that he is surrounded by vampires. When he tells Ronan he wants to be with him forever, Ronan quickly makes that come true. Of course, Michael didn't know that Ronan meant For-ev-er literally. Michael feels betrayed and a little freaked out and Ronan has to find a way to convince him that this is the best thing to happen to both of them. So, the question becomes, do I put this on my bookshelf as there is lots of sex. I just don't know if the immature boys I usually have in my class would be able to handle it. But I also know it may be reaching an audience that there are not a lot of book choices for. I enjoyed the book, it is stylistically different that a lot of books, you know what is going on in  everyone's heads and really have to pay attention to the font etc. to see who is talking. This is a series and I will read the next ones as the story is interesting. I'm mad that I even have to think about where this book will go, but such is the nature of teenagers. I will ponder this a while longer but in the meantime- happy reading my friends.

The Book of Blood and Shadows

So. Where to begin? If you liked the Davinci Code you might enjoy Robin Wasserman's novel. It is complicated, at times confusing, and somewhat interesting. Four students are helping a professor translate a mysterious book. The story is told from Nora's point of view. She and her best friend Chris, his girlfriend Adriane and Chris's roommate Max each are working on their own piece of the puzzle. When Nora stumbles upon a letter and she sneaks it home, she sets off a chain of events that takes her on a journey to Prague. Chris has been murdered and Max has disappeared. She and Adriane sneak away from their school trip to Paris to find Max and solve Chris's murder. They are met by Eli- Chris's cousin, who has some pretty useful skills on this mission, What they discover is a secret society set to build a machine that will allow them to speak to God. Nothing good has ever come of this search and their is a secret society set to thwart this attempt. The only way for Nora to survive is to find the pieces to the machine and save her and her friend's lives. The end reminds me of the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. No one is as they seem and some meet quite melty ends. I don't know what student I would recommend this too, it is more for an advanced reader, or high school reader. It did make me want to visit Prague, but that will be a passing fancy I fear. So, if you are up for secret societies, lots of latin translations and a twisted love story, this may be the book for you. Happy reading my friends.

Silence

I thought this was the final book in the trilogy. I was wrong I think. The story of Patch and Nora will most likely continue. But unlike my feelings about book two, I welcome more of this tale. In this book, Nora awakes in a cemetery with no memory of the last five months of her life. This means no memory of Patch, the fallen angel she is in love with. He made a deal to keep her safe and that included removing her memory of him. True love never dies however, and Nora keeps running into Jev, a mysterious boy who reminds her of someone. Of course it's Patch and as she slowly regains some of her memories, he comes clean. They are up against the Black Hand who is is trying to start a war with the fallen angels. As Nora's true bloodline is discovered, she is forced to make a choice to protect those she loves. This choice may put her at odds with Patch but she has no choice. It was nice to have Patch and Nora working together in this book without all the "does he love me or not" nonsense. They seem to have finally decided that they can figure out a way to overcome the odds. So, I enjoyed this one and didn't want to kill Nora at the end. Much improved. Happy reading my friends.

City of Lost Souls

I put it off as long as I could. I couldn't stand the thought of another Mortal Instruments series ending with Jace and Clary torn apart by evil things. But I bit the bullet and low and behold, not disappointed in this one. The fifth book in this series by Cassandra Clare starts with the search for Jace. When last we left him, he had disappeared from the roof with Sebastian and he had been tied to him. The Clave is looking for him, but Clary isn't satisfied with the effort. She enlists the help of her boy Friday, Simon, Isabelle and Alec and Magnus Bane. Together they form many crazy schemes to get Jace back. Clary, as always, throws herself into the fire by running away with Jace and Sebastian in order to find out what they are up to. Jace isn't himself, he is at Sebastian's mercy and Clary tries to break through to him while fending off the every creepy advances of her brother Sebastian. When in the brief moments Jace returns to his usual sarcastic, loyal, fierce self, he is able to share Sebastian's plan even as he knows he will have to go along with it. Simon does many heroic things to help Clary while cultivating his romance with Isabelle. Magnus and Alec hit some snags in their relationship, (spoiler alert) but if you were paying attention at the end, you know it wasn't Magnus.... Luke almost dies, Maia and Jordan get back together and (surprise) Sebastian might get away again. My favorite parts of this book were the references to Will Herondale...Tale of Two Cities, the little box, the picture Magnus has etc. But I have to ask you my friends- Is Brother Zacariah who I think he is????? I liked the ending of this book and don'f feel let down. Jace and Clary are side by side where they belong, even if Jace is a little changed. He still rates a spot in the top ten. I am now determined to read Silence and finish Becca Fitzpatrick's series about Patch and Nora. It's off to an interesting start. Happy reading my friends.

The Pledge

Wow. What is it about a mysterious boy who will follow you around no matter how many times you tell him to go away? I guess in real life that would be considered stalking. In the world of YA literature, you get a handsome prince and not a crazy nut job. The Pledge by Kimberly Derting, introduces us to Charlie. Charlie is a vendor's daughter with a secret- she can understand all the languages of the kingdom. This can be punishable by death. You are only allowed to speak the language of you class. When Charlie accidently shows her gift in her parents restaurant, Max notices her. He decides she is intriguing and begins to turn up wherever she is. She is drawn to him as so many young heroines seem to be. As the Queen is deteriorating, she must find a new body to inhabit. But it must be of royal blood. The Queen is evil and a group of rebels are plotting to overthrow her. In the midst of this rebellion, Charlie gets the attention of both sides- and because her parents have kept the truth of her and her sister's powers a secret, she is confused as to why she is on everyone's list. There is a great cast of supporting characters, Aron, the faithful friend, Brooklyn, the boy crazy best friend, Xander the rebel leader and Angelina, the little sister with secrets of her own. There were lots of surprises in this short book and it is poised for more. I loved Charlie and her protective relationship with her little sister. I loved Max with his pledge to keep her safe. I loved Xander with his loyalty and strength and I loved Angelina and her intuition. This moved at a fast pace and kept my interest completely. So, what are the twists you ask- I pledge not to tell, but encourage you to pick up this little gem and enjoy! Happy reading my friends.

Starters

When we read the synopsis of this book in book club, my NoDid friends were not having it. I'll be happy to report back that they were wrong. This fast paced book kept my attention and then some. It is the story of Callie, who is taking care of her 7 year old brother Tyler. In their society all the people between 20 and 60 were killed in the Spore War. All the unclaimed kids are left to fend for themselves and if they get caught, terrible things seem to happen to them. Callie hears about a program called Prime Destination, where she can rent her body out to Elders and get a hefty payday. Callie sees no other choice but to try it in order to care for her sick brother. Her first two rentals go smoothly, but the last one hits a snag. She is suddenly phased back into her body in the middle of the rental and she can hear the woman who rented her talking in her head. Helena has a plan to assassinate a senator while in Callie's body. Callie finds out and tries to stop Helena. But the more Helena talks, the more Callie realizes how evil Prime Destination really is. Of course there are boys, Michael, who is in hiding with Callie and Blake, the rich boy she meets while pretending to be under the rental. And then there is the dastardly villain- the Old Man- who doesn't seem to have a face, only a computer screen that can project whatever image he wants on it. Callie is desperate to know who he really is. This was a great book and I can't wait to find out who Old Man is when Enders, the sequel by Lissa Price comes out in December. This was a ride that moved quickly and took some unexpected turns. So No Dids- give it a chance you might actually like it!  The Yankees are on tv now so I have to go. Happy reading my friends.

Fever

I read Wither, the first book in the Chemical Garden Trilogy and enjoyed it. I don't think I can say the same about this sequel. It finds Rhine and Gabriel on the run from her husband and his maniacal father. In this society, the youth are dying at young ages so men are encouraged to have many wives in order to have more children to keep society going. Rhine is married to Linden, a nice, if weak man. His father Vaughn is experimenting on the wives and their children to find a cure for the virus that is killing everyone. So, back to this story. As Gabriel and Rhine make a run for it, they wind up at a twisted carnival in the scarlet district where they are held captive and drugged by the nutso Madame. When they finally escape, they are with a small girl they saved from the carnival. They find the child's grandmother and live with her for  awhile as Rhine tries to find her twin brother Rowan. When Rhine gets increasingly sick, they don't know what to do. Vaughn finds her and she slips off into the night with him so he can cure her. Of course, he locks her in his basement and starts experimenting on her. When Linden finds out, he whisks her to the hospital and she tries to tell him how evil his father is. Most of this book is spent with either Gabriel sick from drugs or Rhine sick from whatever Vaughn has done to her. It was really exhausting to read. Gabriel is not exactly a go-getter and Rhine seems to wander with no plan other than to roam around looking for Rowan. I actually found myself hoping for Linden to get involved which is weird as he is a kidnapper. So... all in all... not at the top of my list. I will probably finish the series eventually but it's not going to be on my top ten of anything list. Don't know what is next- so many choices. Happy reading my friends.

Insurgent

So, I know I said Jace was next, but I decided to read Veronica Roth's sequel to last summer's Divergent.  If you read it, you remember- Tris and Tobias and the 5 factions of society. Tris has found out she is divergent and in this society that is considered to be a mark of evil. Tris and Tobias are trying to regroup after the deaths of Tris's parents and best friend. They have to decide who to trust- even whether to trust each other. Tris is traumatized by having to kill her best friend Will and she can't seem to tell Tobias what happened. When they are captured by a rival faction and put under a truth serum it all comes out. Tris can't forgive herself and Tobias can't seem to get her to stop putting her life in danger. This was a great sequel- a definite bridge novel, as the end leaves you with more questions than answers. Tobias continues to be a top ten boy by saving Tris and believing in her even when everyone else thinks she is a traitor. Tris is a strong, fiesty teenager, who is just trying to think her way out of death defying situations. Tobias's parents make an appearance and they most definitely can't be trusted. Many great characters meet their end and new alliances are formed. I hope you had the chance to read Divergent already, but if a lot of time has passed, it may take a while to remember all you need to keep up with the plot. Looking forward to finding out what the revelation at the end of the book will meet to our intrepid heroes. Happy reading my friends!

Immortal City

Patch, Daniel and now Jacks. What is it about Angel boys? Their glorious wings, charming personalities, or the ability to fly you over cities while batting their Angel eyelashes at you? Jackson Godspeed is the most famous Angel in the Immortal City- the City of Angels- Los Angeles. He is about to become a  Guardian Angel- an angel that sells his services to those who can afford it. Society is obsessed with Angels, twenty-four hour news feeds, networks dedicated to the Angels, blogs, tweets, etc. Maddy is a waitress. She couldn't care less about the Angels and their doings. When Jacks needs to hide in her diner, Maddy feels an electric connection to him. She is disgusted with herself as she really can't stand the commercialism of the Angels. But the heart wants what the heart wants and she finds herself drawn to situations involving Jacks. He maybe isn't as shallow as she thinks he may be. Of course, Maddy isn't what she thinks she is either. I loved this book. It had a great commentary on our society and who we choose to worship. It also posed the question- why are only those who can afford it saved? Isn't everyone worthy of having a Guardian Angel? I loved Maddy- strong, smart, and stubborn. When a Dark Angel starts killing the Immortals, Maddy must find a way to save Jacks. Love me a good Angel book and this one is at the top of the pile. Couldn't put it down and didn't want it to end. Looking forward to more in a sequel? What do you think Scott Speer? Could you get a move on with that? I think I need to hook up with Jace now, he's been gone awhile. Happy Reading my friends.

Grave Mercy

It's kind of funny, I've been reading a trilogy about the Borgia poisoner- historical fiction. Then I pick up this book by Robin LaFevers and find some striking similarities. Ismae is a handmaiden of death. She has been saved from her brutal father and hideous husband by the nuns at the Convent of Saint Mortain. There she is taught how to be death's assassin to those who bear the marque of a traitor to the Duchess. Ismae is grateful for the chance to get back at men and carry out the will of death. As she is sent into court to help protect the duchess, she is forced to work with Gavriel Duval, who happens to be the bastard brother of the duchess. Ismae comes to realize that things are not always black and white and maybe she needs to follow her own heart in her service to death. When it becomes clear her orders from the convent may not always be right, she has to figure out a way to save the duchess and Duval. What happens when you find yourself falling in love and it goes against everything you thought you believed? Ismae must battle the conflict she feels when Duval wins her heart against all odds. This was a great read, filled with intrigue, romance, and lots of royal dilemmas. I love how strong Ismae is, she is no damsel in distress- she even joins a sword fight or two. Duval is noble, kind and strong and doesn't try to keep Ismae in the shadows. This will be a series and the next will be about a character from this book. I look forward to more adventures of the handmaidens of death. On the the Immortal City and some hot angels. (at least that's what the cover says. Happy reading my friends.

The False Prince

When I read the review of this book, it was billed as a young adult version of The Game of Thrones. I don't know if I agree with that, but I LOVED it all the same. Sage is an orphan on the streets of Carthya. He is crafty, intelligent and a bit of a trouble maker. (so of course I love him) When the royal family is murdered, he is taken by Conner to perpetrate a great sham. Conner is looking for an imposter to play the role of the lost at sea Prince Jaron, who would be next in line to the throne. He takes four boys and makes them compete to become the prince, with the fate of the other three not left to the imagination. Sage wants nothing to do with the plan and sabotages it every step of the way. He hates Conner and the lies he is planning to tell. But if he runs, Conner will hunt him down and kill him. The boys are trained in all the royal arts- swords, horses, history and dancing. A mute servant girl, Imogen, catches Sage's eye as she nurses him back from his many wounds. Conner's man Mott, is also a help to Sage as he navigates the treacherous road he finds himself on. Will he go along with Conner's plan or does he have a plan of his own? Twist alert!!! Such a great ending to the beginning of this trilogy. I couldn't put this book down- started yesterday, finished this morning! Sage is a great character and I look forward to spending several more books with him. Yes, top ten boy list. (I do believe I am over ten though, but who is counting.) Better get going so I can get to my textbook training later- just want to get on to the next book. Happy reading my friends.

Underworld

Ah... love. Such a great way to start summer vacation. Pierce and John. Young love. Of course, John is a couple hundred years old and king of the Underworld, but does that really matter? In the sequel to Abandon, Pierce is coming to terms that she must live in the Underworld with John for eternity and she is torn. On the one hand, she gets to live for eternity with John. On the other hand, she must live in the Underworld and give up her family forever. Oh the problems of teenagers. John and Pierce struggle to make their difficult relationship work, especially because Pierce keeps convincing him to take her back home for various reasons, which of course give the Furies a chance to get at her. This novel introduces some fun new characters who live in the Underworld with John, former shipmates of his. There is a fair amount of peril, smoldering looks and mystery surrounding the mysterious past of John, his father and the Rector family. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially since a student bought it for me because she knew how much I loved the first one. I look forward to Awaken,  the final? book in the trilogy. As always, John, for all his faults and shady ways, remains in that top ten list. Tall, dark and handsome get me every time. What to read next... so many sequels, do I start with Jace and Clary or Tris...? I'll let you know when I'm finished. Happy reading my friends.