A gripping alternate history of World War I, filled with magic and swordfighting, steamy romance, and general badassery—a daring adventure you don't want to miss!
Plain Kate
Plain Kate was honestly one of the best books I've ever read, and certainly one of the best I've read in years. It was beautiful and sad and hopeful. It was like The Last Unicorn on crack. This book gave me a heart and then broke it and then sewed it back together just enough to call it a heart again. It's one of those books that leaves you hollowed out after you read it, and changed, even though I keep thinking, "Well, how am I really different since yesterday when I started reading it? *Nothing* has happened to me." But you know how books are.Plain Kate was amazing, and had such a great fairy tale voice. I don't reread a lot of books these days, but I can see myself rereading this one over and over, like when I was a kid. I want to tell everyone how much I love it, despite it breaking my heart. But maybe it's "because" it broke my heart that I feel so attached to it. After all, isn't that what makes us love books the most?
The description of this book doesn't do it justice, though to be fair, it's hard to describe. At times surreal, it's a big whirlwind of horror and fantasy and contemporary YA and magical realism and crazy and unique--all of it beautifully done and flawlessly woven together. The characters are strong enough to hold their own and stand out amidst all that chaos, and I really loved them. I think this is going to be one of those stories that sticks with me for a long time, with little pieces of it coming back to me every once in a while.
Gentlemen Prefer Succubi (Succubus Diaries)
Jackie Brighton's adventures as a newly-turned succubus are hilarious, sexy, and just plain fun! Jackie's a smart and funny heroine, and the supporting cast was just as great. And did I mention this book includes two completely swoon-worthy guys? I totally can't wait to read the next installment.
The Dark Divine (Dark Divine Series #1)
This book was amazing--plenty of twists and turns throughout that kept me guessing, even when I thought I knew what was going on, and an incredibly satisfying ending.
Dirty Little Secrets
I LOVE this book! I immediately related to Lucy, and in some ways her struggles are like any teen's--worrying about popularity and best friends and wanting to get the guy she likes--but in other ways this book was like nothing I'd ever read before. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down until it was all over and I knew how it ended. Lucy's attempts to keep her mother's hoarding compulsion a secret drew me in and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. This book was very intense and at times disturbingly real, and I enjoyed every single moment of it!
Shadow Hills
Shadow Hills has everything: suspense, fun-but-believable romance, truly scary moments balanced with lighthearted ones, and a satisfying ending that left me pumped up with adrenaline! The suspense starts on page one and doesn't stop until the end, and I find myself thinking about the characters like they're real people. I can't wait for more from Anastasia!
I sat down to *glance* at this book, fully intending to read it tomorrow, since it was already kind of late. That was at about 11:30, and now it's 3:00 in the morning, and I just finished it. I couldn't put it down!
This is one of the best faery books I've ever read! It not only had traditional faery myths and rules, but a new twist that added a lot of depth to the world and story. The characters were all great--Puck was one of my favorites--and there was danger at every turn. I can't wait for the next one!
I couldn't put this book down! I even missed Glee because I couldn't stop reading about Goth Girl! I NEVER miss Glee. That's probably the highest compliment I can give a book right now. :PThis book has an amazing voice, and after loving The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, it was great to see the world from Goth Girl's perspective. Barry Lyga is one of those writers where I can open one of his books and feel like my own thoughts are somehow on the page. How does he do that? I also loved reading about Goth Girl's take on the Sandman series and how reading it influenced her--it really captured what it's like to read a book that speaks to you right when you need it. I've said before sometimes the person who understands you best is the book you're reading, and it was so cool to read a book where that was happening to someone.
This book has an amazing voice. Thirteen-year-old Dani is funny and charming and always makes you feel like you're right there with her. Right away from the first line--"A slow fade-in on my life:"--her voice totally sucked me in, instantly feeling familiar and fun, like reading a letter from your best friend. I love how she compares her life to noir films while trying to cope with her parents' messy divorce. This book really captured what it feels like to be thirteen--every change that happens, especially where friends and family are concerned, feels huge. Dani does her best to be larger than life like her idol, Rita Hayworth, and you can't help but root for her the entire time. I devoured this book in one day and look forward to rereading it whenever I need a pick-me-up.