Vespertine (Vespertine, #1) by Margaret Rogerson

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by Caitlin Davies; I loved this enthralling fantasy with Artemesia of Naimes, a socially crippled nun in training who would rather keep to herself than interact with others. When she unwittingly unleashes a revenant (yes Artemesia can hear and talk to spirits) her life as she knew is thrown into chaos. I loved the history, the too powerful Church's involvement, both good and evil, the spirits, and the characters---too many to name, but the Revenant was my favorite and the voice Caitlin Davies used was perfect and I loved the comedy it lent to this fast-paced thriller. I also loved Artemesia's roommate, and the gargantuan possessed soldier (his friends and captain shield him from the people's fear and hysteria) and the characters that seemed good but were evil or vice versa. Rogerson adeptly used magic, saints, evil, secrets, mysteries, and Artemesia's bravery to craft a rich historical fantasy I could not put down & can't wait for the next book in the series. I will be listening to the next book as well- Caitlin Davies was awesome with her compelling voices. YA readers will LOVE this book, highly recommended!

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Catywampus by Ash Van Otterloo

Cattywampus by Ash Van Otterloo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book with a title having a word 3 syllables or longer for #BitAboutBooks Spring Reading Challenge and oh did I enjoy it! With magic, witches, feuds, and a community that hates witches, Delpha McGill and Katybird Hearn have been warned and forbidden to use magic in Howler's Hollow. But magic is calling to both girls in feuding witch families--- Delpha finding her family's top secret book of hexes unleashes zombies from both families; Delpha and Katybird must quickly STOP the chaos. But what if the girls magic can't/won't work? I loved Van Otterloo's debut book for so many reasons--the writing is exciting, the characters are well drawn, but the magic, their friend Tyler, and Delpha's shed, better known as Puppet, steal the show! For a suspenseful spirited read, middle grade students will be sharing this thriller of magic, hexes, and zombies with their friends. Highly recommended!

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Scooby Apocalypse (Vol. 1) by Keith Giffen

Scooby Apocalypse, Volume 1 by Keith Giffen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this graphic novel the beginning of a series I enjoyed as part of the 2018 HUB Reading Challenge and can't wait to continue the series of this award winner. The gangs adventures continue as the world's chaos continues with ScoobyDoo!

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Dread Nation (Dread Nation #1) by Justina Ireland

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, this audiobook was amazing!!! My fave narrator, Bahni Turpin (she was also awesome with Underground Railroad and The Sun Is Also a Star) was spectacular as Jane McKeene, a totally kick-ass heroine, who lies a lot, is fearsome, will take a dare anytime, anywhere and is thoroughly at ease wielding scythes to put down the "shamblers" the dead who are now infected, have risen up and are roaming the country, swelling in numbers and becoming an overwhelming threat. Negro Jane attends a school in the post Civil War era that trains/arms (and educates) negroes and Native Americans in fending off the shamblers. As Jane prepares to graduate, her old boyfriend, Jackson appears asking for Jane's help to find his little sister and the white family she is living with who have disappeared. This book is an adventure, a horror story, history re-imagined with zombies, with Jane fighting for truth, freedom, becoming friends, being a leader, and always a target by the survivalists who subscribe to hate, lies, violence, and torture. Using her daring do, her very capable mind that is keen on weaponry and the art of battle, Jane strives to escape Summerland with her friends and stop the shamblers. I could not stop listening to this rip-roaring tale which made me laugh, made me cringe, and made me sick with the evil and horrors that lurked (but also lived in plain sight) and I rooted for Jane and her loyal band to succeed; I can't wait for the 2nd in this duology! A must read.

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Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First I read and loved this book, read it again for a Twitter Book Chat and just finished listening to the audiobook which won an award for top 10 Amazing Audiobooks from YALSA! I listened to this audiobook as part of the 2016 Hub Reading Challenge. I was a little unsure about how this book would convert to audio BUT it was fantastic! All of the narrators were unbelievably awesome in delivering this thriller! The sounds of AIDAN, pilots, battles, hackers, and of course, Kady & Ezra make this one of my favorite books and I am most definitely looking forward to the 2nd book! There will be a great Twitter chat with #2jennsbookclub at 8pm Thursday 6/9- join in the discussion!

Here is my review from reading the book:) https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit...
What a fantastic rip roaring good read! As Kady & Ezra break up (this is a big thing) little do they know by afternoon their planet, Kerenza, has been attacked and the ex-lovers (barely speaking & angry with each other) are fleeing for their lives. What I loved about this sci-fi action drama was the high octane super charged way the authors accomplished this first in a series- using Memos, hacked documents (IMs, texts, emails), interviews, pictures, graphics all pull this story into a hold your breath drama where 1 girl (great with technology, doesn't work well with others & super bad ass) and 1 guy (team player, fighter pilot and still in love with Kady) fight together & separately to save those on The Alexander, Lincoln & Hypatia from a mutating disease, AIDAN's insanity, and still stay alive. I could not stop following the Kady & Ezra communications (OMG!!!) I am so looking forward to the 2nd book in the series! Kaufman and Kristoff create a thriller where everything is crazy and Kady & Ezra are very strong protagonists the reader just keeps rooting for! Highly recommended!

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Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Enclave by Ann Aguirre
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I know it took me long enough to get to this awesome read!!! Deuce has always lived underneath and been raised by the enclaves rules. As a Huntress she was very successful and it is when she is paired with Fade and banished to Above that she sees a whole new world and life. I loved the characters, the world of the enclave, and hated the freaks (zombies), Silk, and Stalker. I can't wait for the 2nd book, Outpost! A great dystopian read, I still love these dystopian series.

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Zom-B Underground by Darren Shan

Zom-B Underground by Darren Shan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

B has really redeemed herself in Zom B Underground. When she wakes up and realizes she is a zombie; B accepts it and really criticizes and berates herself about throwing Tylor to the zombies when he father commanded her. B makes a pact with herself to be a much better person; someone she herself would like since she has such self loathing for killing Tylor. There is a doctor and a guard who interact with B and answer very few of her questions. At some point she is “fed” and given drops for her very dry eyes. She has a hole where her heart was and she becomes a part of the “revitalizeds” or zom-heads who are different from zombies. B is introduced to other teens like her and they hang out, get to know each other, and at some point are placed in a room where they are given their choice of weapons and are then let loose to torture other zombies. When B refuses; her “food” is withheld and the doctor and guards likewise withhold food from her friends. B watches them become more hungry, anxiety-ridden, and undependable. When there is an attack from outside; a weird frightening clown leads and terrorizes with spiders, bugs and torture. B and her friends flee and when cornered in a room realize that one of them is human. B struggles mightily to defend him but the zom-heads smell blood and let loose killing him; all the while B pleads with them that he is their friend.
I enjoyed this second book was so much better than the first; there was internal growth on B’s part; and very little racism and slurs. B becomes a leader who can think for herself and is willing to make and stick with decisions that no one else will. Will this save her? I am looking forward to the third book and more of B!


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Zom B by Darren Shan

Zom-B by Darren Shan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

B is a teen living in England with a racist, abusive father who drinks too much and beats B and her mother on a daily basis. Weird thing is, B loves her father and hates him at the same time for his despicable bias. She has molded her personality to be able to deal with her father, love him and hate him while also becoming a teen who is a trouble-maker, fighter, and racist herself. When zombies attack, B and her friends are racing to get out of the school and stay alive and B quickly becomes a leader. With spare black and white illustrations, Shen’s first zombie book will have your heart racing til the next book arrives.

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This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really love author Courtney Summers but I just don't love zombie books. Sloane Price is one of 6 students who is barricaded in her high school when the world has ended and the zombies are trying to get into the school. Everyone in the high school wants to live but they do not know that Sloane has a pact to die and she is just biding her time until she can take her own life. Why? Her sister, Lily ran away 6 months ago and she promised she would take Sloane. Why? Their misreable father maliciously beats them on a daily basis and Lily was going to run with Sloane to a better life and then Lily ran away and the apocalypse struck! What happens inside the school is totally creepy and scary, I couldn't put the book down. I liked watching characters who gradually stepped up and changed during their time in the school while others deteriorated, turned on others and were just palin human during a truly terrifying time. I so enjoyed watching Rhys become someone Sloane grew to care about; Rhys knew how to handle Sloane (even when he found out she wanted to kill herself)and it was totally maniacal when they decide to run "outside" and make it to a center for aid. Summers does not allow the reader any time to think in this book because there is constant paranoia, dread, and fear. Intense and utterly scary, what will happen to Sloane?

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