The Spellcaster Series by Claudia Gray just gets better with each book addition. A supernatural story of the struggle between good and evil ensues and builds a team of loyal and brave characters for the fight against all things wicked.
Verlaine and Asa are my favorite characters because they feel the most realistic and I enjoyed their love story. I would definitely read this series again!
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, an adult read, brings a strange and wonderful circus to life. The drawback – the circus performers are trapped! A suspenseful and imaginative story that is colorfully written and entirely creative.
Servants of the Storm by Delilah S. Dawson, a young adult supernatural read, adds a bit of the psychological thriller mode into a city devastated by Hurricane Josephine. An enjoyable read for anyone who likes the supernatural with a twist!
The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender is another young adult supernatural story with an evil darkness that adds to the creepiness factor! An old, decrepit building, a history of asylum patients and mysterious deaths all lead to a suspenseful story!
I recommend these books to all readers of the weird and spooky!
The Extraction Series by Stephanie Diaz has reminded me of Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Shadow Series. Clementine has extreme intelligence and small stature, just as Bean does. The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth also comes to mind because of the competitive nature of the societies.
In the first book, Extraction, a depressing world is brought to life where civilians are treated like slaves and livestock! In Rebellion, the second book, Clementine worries that she might be unstable, but she is still intent on stopping Charlie and his senseless treatment of their people. In the third and final book, Evolution, the world of Kiel comes full circle and I enjoyed this one most of all. The writing is more complex than the first two books in this series and Clementine gets to meet the Mardenites’ God!
The Extraction series blends a dystopian society with science fiction and creates an unusual world full of brave and interesting characters!
I absolutely love NetGalley because I have access to many publishers and am able to read wonderful books before they are published! I like reviewing books early, so I can plan purchases ahead of time and also let students and other readers know about books they might be interested in reading.
This revised edition is proof that NetGalley works and helps authors, publishers and readers! I appreciate receiving both editions and seeing the change involved in improving this book.
My goodreads review: Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Moon for the arc of Nirvana by J.R. Stewart! I received a revised edition of this book and enjoyed it the more I read. Kenders is the main character looking for evidence that her boyfriend Andrew is really alive, even though he has been pronounced dead. The storyline is based on a conspiracy theory of technology involving virtual reality and the profit that can be made. Four stars because I would have liked more explanation on how the simulations are created and more world building. Great concept, just over too quickly. I am anticipating the sequel because of the cliff hanger ending!
Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for the advanced reading copy of Passenger by Alexandra Bracken! This time-travel fantasy is an interesting story about who owns the right to control the future, as well as the past. I was confused at first because one bit of the story was told, then a bit of another. These bits are blended seamlessly soon after and become one story full of several dynamic characters. Some romance, action and a touch of history make this an enjoyable read for every fantasy reader. The ending leaves the story on edge, so I am anticipating the sequel!
I have to say that the high school students, at the library I purchase books for, received the Fear Street Relaunch books with tremendous enthusiasm! Suspenseful and creepy, just as horror books for young adults should be, these books still let me sleep at night:) I hope the Fear Street Relaunch continues!
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas jumps right into the story with action and emotion. Sarah J. Maas continues writing with her clever sense of humor! Several characters and their stories keep building and growing throughout this book. The comments about a peaceful day (page 290) and eating fish (page 291) made me laugh out loud. On page 295, the magnificent writing brings Aelin’s piano playing to life! Intrigue, suspense and complicated relationships kept me on the edge of my seat. A wonderful ending to a new and promising, hopeful beginning!
Sweet Madness by Trisha Leaver is a historical fiction account of Lizzie Borden, her day to day life and the murders of her stepmother and father. Being told in Bridget Sullivan’s point of view helps the reader see a more complex Lizzie, instead of just a one-sided personality. Bridget Sullivan was the Borden’s housemaid during the time of the murders. I read this story after reading the non-fiction account by Sarah Miller, “The Borden Murders” and I feel that gave me more insight into the household and lifestyle of the Borden family then if I would have only read Sweet Madness by Trisha Leaver. A very interesting read!
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced reading copy of The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century by Sarah Miller! This non-fiction account covers the evidence, witness statements and testimonies of the Borden murders. Lizzie Borden’s life is also detailed and Sarah Miller keeps an unbiased view throughout her investigative research. The author spent much time and effort in developing this account and I ended up wishing that DNA could be used to discover the true culprit, but in the 1890’s no such science existed.
