Chosen (Slayer #2) by Kiersten White

Chosen by Kiersten White
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just as I loved and could not put down White's First Buffy Book, Slayer, so was this 2nd book, Chosen, a GOOD punch in the gut read. The characters like Nina and her friends defending the castle are real friends, supporting Nina while her sister, Artemis is just sinister, sneaky, and awful with her "plans" to dominate. I love Kiersten White's writing, her world building, a plot that just kept moving toward bad stuff but since Nina's powers were restored by Simon before he died, she is having such difficulty with her feelings of rage, anger, and her powers are stronger than ever! Also I enjoyed Nina's dreams and the appearance of Buffy too. This is a great duology; I highly recommend it if you want a thriller with lots of suspense, awesome plot twists, and surprises galore!

View all my reviews

Storm and Fury (The Harbinger #1) by JJennifer L. Armentrout

Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin TEEN (US & Canada) and Inkyard Press for the advance reader copy Storm and Fury by one of my favorite romance authors, Jennifer L. Armentrout, in exchange for an honest review. I plunged into this new series and did not want to stop reading!!! I loved Trinity; she was such a strong, positive female protagonist; she was a warrior to be reckoned with when her clan let her fight yet she was also struggling with lessening eyesight and being over-protected by her gargoyle warden family since it is imperative (she is the last of her kind) she be kept hidden from the world. When demons are turning up killed, a group from the DC clan comes and asks her clan for help. Trinity’s life is totally upended with the arrival of Zayne, Dez and Nikolai. Without going into too much more detail; Trinity and Zayne were steamy and swoon worthy; I can’t wait to see what happens to them in the next book of this series. This a paranormal fantasy romance you do not want to miss!!!

View all my reviews

The Brink of Darkness (Edge of Everything #2) by Jeff Giles

The Brink of Darkness by Jeff Giles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this kick-ass, totally awesome book as part of the #yearofYA twitter chat Empowered Female Heroines/Characters. Zoe continues to be such a great, strong female heroine---loving and fiercely protecting those she loves. First and foremost is X, who had been banished to the Lowlands forever, in order to save Zoe & her family from Dervish's evil machinations. Failing is not an option when it comes to Zoe's outlook, zeal and defending those she loves (her mom, Jonah, Rufus, friends Val & Dallas, & most of all from the Lowlands --Ripper, Maud, and Sylvie. I listened to The Edge of Darkness and was enraptured with Giles worldbuilding, his characterization of X, and the deep romantic bonds tying Zoe & X to each other. Once I realized Audible was not going to answer my question about an audio version of The Brink of Darkness, I consumed this book from the in 2 days!!! Giles once again did not disappoint--I was on a roller coaster about the fates of X and Zoe, the heinousness of the ever expanding Lowlands was widened with X's imprisonment and torture by The Countess and in the bowels of The Cave of Swords. I dared to hope for Zoe's and X's happiness; but they were both very serious and constant in their pursuit. I could not put this book down; a favorite series of mine- highly recommended.

View all my reviews

The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, #2) by Michelle Hodkin

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh boy did I love this 2nd book in the series!!! In the first book I was not a fan of Mara but she sure did grow and become strong character in this book! With Mara & Noah against the world, I am going to root for the two of them to succeed but there was some strange goings on in this book: definitely people working against Mara, but why? Very creepy characters like Dr. Kels, Phoebe, Adam all in the institution no less! There is still the Dr Legume from the first book in the background, some chapters taking place in Egypt (haven't figured that out yet, but very interested!) with Mara as a nameless little girl, given a handmade doll by the girl she calls sister, and Jude, oh do I hate him so much! As forces conspire to keep Mara from Noah, he figures out how to be with her (LOVE HIM), and as the mysteries and secrets intensify, with Mara still being bullied, scared, and watched (that is really extra creepy) this audiobook hurtled to a spine chilling end- definitely getting the 3rd and final audiobook & I will also be getting the new series about Noah Shaw too---so excited! This is definitely a thrilling trilogy!

View all my reviews

A Million Junes by Emily Henry

A Million Junes by Emily Henry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this enchanting romance/paranormal story for #yabookchat which we will discuss 12/3 at 9pm EST, come join us! This was such a great read; I loved Emily Henry's debut The Love That Split the World but I LOVED this even more- Henry's style of writing pulls me right in; the world of June & Saul with feuding families; the magic of her house with its ghosts (Nameless & Feathers ), Whites, coywolves who take shoes, and the all encompassing grief June still feels at losing her Dad. The characters were all fleshed out, whether they are alive (like June and Saul) or dead (like her Dad and all the O'Donnell partriarchs) strange, spellbinding and all too real. The different "loves" were powerful from friends like Hannah, to June's mom and Toddy, June & Saul and most magic- the memories of June with/and her Dad. I loved getting to know the million Junes and rooted for June and Saul to break the curse but just maybe reunite the O'Donnell and Angert families. Highly recommended.

View all my reviews

Berserker (Berserker #1) by Emmy Laybourne

Berserker by Emmy Laybourne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great, gripping, thrilling read!!! Emmy Laybourne really knows how to pull the reader in with the Norse/Viking mythology, the Nyette power that runs in certain families, and it ruins them too. When Hanne, who is a Berserker, feels her father in danger, her power comes in full and she kills 3 men, causing the family to flee from Norway to America. Her brother Knut (Nyette is strength) and Steig (Nyette is control heat/weather) are also Nytteson but not their youngest sister, Sissel. They all hope their uncle can help them understand/control their powers as they plod through the west in the 1800s. I loved this family, with their compassion for each other, the brother's aching concern for Hanne's self-loathing, and their quiet, kind acceptance of life in all the good and bad. Their meeting Owen Bennett really added to my love for this intriguing, hardscrabble tale. Owen (really nice cowboy) and his dog, Daisy (OMG, loved her!!!) has had a tough existence but he really messes up when he gets drunk and loses all his earnings. But this could also be the BEST thing for Owen because he meets this wonderful family, gets hired on as their guide (for lots of $$) and really begins to feel special when he is with them. I could not put this book down, so happy for the good advice from Rolf and Ketril's demise (what is the Baron advocating with his Nytteson???) I simply can't wait for the second book!!! Highly recommended!

View all my reviews

Haven by Mary Lindsey

Haven by Mary Lindsey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing and Entangled Teen for the ARC, Haven by Mary Lindsey in exchange for an honest review. I could not put this book down! I immediately loved Rain; he was a tough teen with a tenacious heart of gold for anyone he cared about. After living in shelters most of his life due to his mom’s drug addiction, Rain and best friend, Moth, use their fists to handle most problems. When his mother dies, an aunt he did not even know existed, brings him to the small town of New Wurzburg and his life is turned upside down. I was sucked into Rain’s intense feelings for Freddie, a strong girl who seems to be from the wrong side of the tracks. For fans of Maggie Stiefvater fantasy series, this book will hook you, drag you into a world of shape shifting, bullies, evil, lies, and secrets. As Rain learns more about Freddie, her father’s death, and her hidden world, he becomes such a hero in my book. He is all in when it comes to protecting those he loves- Rain is willing to die to help Freddie and she fights his offers to help (she is so afraid he will be killed). I loved both Rain and Freddie’s intensity, their romance was sizzling, and their combined skills made this a super thrilling paranormal read. Highly recommended!

View all my reviews

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC, Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray, second book in The Diviners Series and oh was it awesome and heart-pounding! I could not put it down. Once again the reader is ensconced in the 1920s world where Evie O’Neill has become a hit radio personality as a Diviner. But all is not well in New York as an unknown sleeping sickness is claiming more and more victims. Evie and her Diviner friends are pulled into an increasing storm involving underground railroad tunnels, ghosts, and dreams. What I loved about this book was the increasing suspense as more and more Diviners join to thwart the demons. Are the Diviners the only ones who can do something about the evil, hungry ghosts lurking in the tunnels? If you enjoy paranormal phenomena, this book is a thriller; suspenseful, and horror-filled with a spine-tingling plot and well-developed characters that do not disappoint!

View all my reviews