Nocturne by Christine Johnson: Review Posted by Tiffany at 2:57 PM

Title: Nocturne

Author: Christine Johnson (site)

Published: August 23rd, 2011 by Simon Pulse

Pages: 368

Buy: Amazon / Book Depository 

Rating: 2/5

Source: GalleyGrab
Synopsis:Some secrets are too dangerous... 

After the tragic events of the summer, Claire is looking forward to a new school year. All she wants to worry about is finding the most gorgeous dress to wear to the Autumn Ball with her perfect boyfriend.

But as Claire knows all too well, the life of a werewolf is never that simple, or that sweet.

When Claire’s human and wolf lives start to collide, her worst nightmares come true. She is hurting her best friend. She has been caught lying. And then the unthinkable happens: Someone discovers Claire’s secret.

If Claire’s werewolf identity is exposed, everyone she knows will be put at risk. And the pack’s response comes at a cost higher than Claire can imagine. Claire will be forced to determine just how far she is willing to(Goodreads)

Review: I liked Nocturne quite a bit more than I liked Claire de Lune. For some reason, the first book just fell flat for me. Nocturne had a much faster pace. Claire annoyed me fairly frequently. She seemed to miss some very obvious plot twists, instead assuming the worst and causing huge problems. I don't think she's a very intelligent character, which makes her a bit of a pain to read. For instance, there are tons of good reasons to give your friends for not being able to hang out. Why not just say that she's grounded until the ceremony? Her mother would have backed her up. She should have come up with one big reason that covered the entire time that she was going to be busy with pack stuff instead of coming up with flimsy last-minute excuses every day. The major climax of the novel was very excited and I found myself completely sucked in. I stayed up all night to finish it, in fact. However, it was more because I had to know how long it was going to take her to realize that she was being a complete idiot than because I wanted to see if she'd be able to follow through with it. Seriously; you don't even confirm it? I knew pretty early on what Amy was assuming and I couldn't believe Claire's reaction when Amy finally confronted her. I really wanted to throttle her. Things got pretty rocky with Matthew, which added some drama to the story. He started being a complete jerk and I was looking forward to her moving on to someone with a bit more personality. Alas, she decided to just forgive and forget everything after a half-a** apology from him that was really more of him shifting the blame to her. This made me pretty angry. He's obviously not okay with what she is, so he needs to go! There had better be a new love interest in the next book. A boy who somehow managed to survive his mother's transformations? A boy who is the product of secret government testing on werewolves? This series could really use a character who is a bit less goody-goody. Looking over my review, I'm thinking that I didn't really like this one all that much. It became impossible to put down for a while there, but it still left me feeling frustrated. I still liked it much better than the first, though. I would suggest that older readers (older than 12) give this series a miss, the characters lacked depth and felt Middle Grade.

The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group by Catherine Jinks: Review Posted by Tiffany at 8:07 PM

Title: The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group
Author: Catherine Jinks (site)
Published: April 4th, 2011 by Harcourt Children's Books 
Pages: 416
Price: $11.46 Amazon $12.74 Book Depository (PRE-ORDER)
Series: sequel to The Reformed Vampire Support Group
Rating: 5/5
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis: I still hadn't fully absorbed the terrible possibility that I might actually be a werewolf. A werewolf. I kept stumbling over that word; it made no sense to me. How could I be a werewolf? Werewolves didn't exist.

When Tobias Richard Vandevelde wakes up in hospital with no memory of the night before, his horrified mother tells him that he was found by the police. At Featherdale Park. In a dingo pen. 

As if that isn't weird enough, suddenly a very menacing looking guy and a priest show up at his door. 

As the mystery unfolds, Toby finds himself keeping company with some very strange and sickly looking people - members of a suburban vampire support group. And when he's abducted in broad daylight, he will need all their help to break free ... and to come to terms with his own incredibly rare condition.

Initial Thoughts: I was drawn to this one initally because of the amazing cover. It's dark, dangerous, and a bit comic-book like. It seemed like it would be a different take on the whole werewolf story.


Review: The characters in this book were great. I loved the main character. He wasn't a soulful, broodingly romantic hero. He just seemed like any other guy at that age, idiotic and thrill-seeking. He and his friends did stupid things to pass the time (home-made bombs, over-the-door buckets of slime). It was so refreshing to read about a character that was completely realistic. I remember what guys were like when I was 13 and they were idiots, not brooding young Byrons. I'll admit that I like to read about those kinds of characters as much as the next girl, but sometimes it's nice to read about types of guys that you actually encounter in the wild. Toby wasn't just some idiot, though. He did quite a bit of growing up in the book and, even before then, he had doubts about his friends' schemes. The friends were pretty typical guys as well; the Pushy Leader type and the Wussy Follower type. Some of the other supporting characters felt a bit half-sketched, but this was probably just because I hadn't read the first book (in which they play a much larger role.)

This book was full of action right from the start. As I was reading, I kept thinking to myself this would be great for [Anonymous 12-year-old brother]. The characters are very relatable (especially to young boys), there is plenty of action and no romance, and there aren't any lengthy philosophical discussions. Perfect for your typical guy. I loved it as well, it was nice to take a break from the sometimes emotionally draining YA books that are full of drama and romance. This one was a nice, fast, entertaining ride. I don't know if there's a follow-up book in the works, but it tied things up well enough that I'm happy to wait- or even to leave the series after this installment.


Quick Review: This book was a very fun, fast-paced, action-filled werewolf adventure. I would recommend it to anyone who likes supernatural or just YA books, especially boys. I'll be getting a copy for my younger brother. You don't need to have read the first book in the series to enjoy this one.

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: Review Posted by Tiffany at 8:01 PM

Title: Raised by Wolves
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes (site)
Published: June 8th, 2010 by EgmontUSA 
Pages: 418
Price:  $11.99 Book Depository $12.23 Amazon
Series: Raised by Wolves #1
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two. 

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs. 

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped? (Goodreads)



Initial Thoughts: I was a bit worried that this book would be the same old werewolf story, but it's far from it. I liked that she wasn't a werewolf herself.


Review: I really enjoyed this book. The main character (Bryn) was a lot of fun to read. Instead of the usual protective wolf/submissive, delicate girl combo, there was a pack of Overprotective Wolves and one Headstrong Girl. She didn't just bow down and follow the pack rules, which made the book much more fun. This was a fast, easy read. It was easy to jump right in and become lost in the story. This isn't to say that the story itself was fluff- there was quite a bit going on. Barnes' writing is just very absorbing and her characters were engaging, although I wish we'd gotten into the heads of some of the other characters. The werewolf mythology was a bit different. There aren't many female werewolves, so the males usually marry human women- which makes for an interesting relationship with the local human population. Bryn misses some pretty obvious hints about what's going on in the story, but I'm willing to look past her cluelessness. Otherwise, she's a great character. The mystery was a bit predictable, but the ending was a showstopper. I'm still not sure if it was really cool or too much, but I can't wait to see where it goes in the next book.


Quick Review: An absorbing, fast read with a headstrong female lead and a crazy twist at the end. The romantic interest was pretty fantastic, as well.

Intertwined by Gena Showalter: Review Posted by Tiffany at 5:42 PM

Title: Intertwined
Author: Gena Showalter (site)
Published: September 1st, 2009 by Harlequin
Pages: 304 (Paperback)
Price: $8.55 Book Depository $9.99 Amazon
Series: Intertwined #1
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: There’s something about the new guy at Crossroads High . . . 

Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him: 

One can time-travel. 
One can raise the dead. 
One can tell the future. 
And one can possess another human. 

With no other family and a life spent in and out of institutions, Aden and the souls have become friends. But now, they’re causing him all kinds of trouble. 

Like, he’ll blink and suddenly he’s a younger Aden, reliving the past. One wrong move, and he’ll change the future. Or, he’ll walk past a total stranger and know how and when she’s going to die. 

He’s so over it. All he wants is peace. 

And then he meets a girl who quiets the voices. Well, for as long as he’s with her. Why? Mary Ann Gray is his total opposite. He’s a loner; she has friends. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks; she tries to make everyone happy. And while he attracts the paranormal, she repels it. For her sake, he should stay away. But it’s too late. . . 

Somehow, they share an inexplicable bond of friendship. A bond about to be tested by a werewolf shape-shifter who wants Mary Ann for his own and a vampire princess Aden can’t resist. Two romances, both forbidden. . . doomed. Still, the four will enter a dark underworld of intrigue and danger. . . but not everyone will come out alive. . . (Goodreads)



Initial Thoughts: I was initially attracted to this one because of it's cover, then because of the positive reviews I kept seeing. At first skim, I thought this was just about a boy with schizophrenia. however, once I realized that there really were people trapped inside of him, I was hooked. Why did it take me so long to read it? For one thing, the synopsis does not do it justice. For another, I'm usually a bit leery about reading YA debuts written by romance authors. (Although I'm really starting to rethink that bias.)


Review: First off, whoever thought of this title was a genius. It was absolutely perfect for the story. My only qualm is that the cover didn't really feel very Aden. Showalter did a fantastic job of making her main character feel authentic. I figured that a romance author trying to write from a teenage boy's POV would probably be awkward (especially after reading Infinity-but we'll get to that in the next review.), but she really did a great job. As far as I know, of course, since I'm not a boy. But I was never stopped by an awkward bit of slang or overly touchy-feely thought. That's not to say that he wasn't a bit more sincere and romantic than I tend to picture the teenage boys of today, but it felt realistic. I also loved the main female character. There was definitely a Say Anything vibe there. Slightly nerdy, very pretty, extremely motivated girl falls for a boy she shouldn't. I loved it. The story is split into two for a while in the middle, with smaller storylines for each main character branching, but everything comes together about 2/3 of the way through. I LOVED that there were two love stories here, it almost felt like two novels in one. It would have been even better if the vampire hadn't been such a horrible character. She just felt so one-dimensional. Starts off cold, but really she's just a sweet girl in need of rescue. It felt very....done. However, the other romantic interest more than made up for it. In order to preserve the element of surprise, I won't give many details about who-ends-up-with-who. However, I will say that I LOVED the story about the werewolf bodyguard's brothers. I would love love love to see a spin-off series about their curse. There was so much going on outside of the book, the world felt so much fuller than what we were seeing. I wonder if this story is set in the world that she places her romances in or if she just built all of this up for this series. For instance, we barely scratch the surface of the vampire world and all of its politics.

Why This Book Didn't Get Five Stars: About 2/3 of the way through the book, there is a major revelation that feels like a perfect ending for the book.... and then it goes on for another 50-100 pages. The pace of the story was great, up until this point. Then there's a major climax, followed by a dull period, followed by a completely different Big Event. I don't mind lots of ups and downs in a book, but it felt like this one should have ended after the first big climax. The aftermath just felt really awkward. Also, the second Big Event felt very rushed and surreal. It was a very unexpected twist, which I like, but it also felt a bit cheesy. Afterwards, I just kept thinking, "Really?" I mean, where are they going to go from here? It felt very Anita Blake-and not in a good way. It's really a testament to how amazing the rest of the book was that this one didn't get thrown across the room after this bit.


Quick Review: A very well-written story with plenty of plot twists, very likeable characters, and lots of room to grow. There were a few weak characters and the pace was a bit unsteady towards the end, but otherwise a very strong first (YA) novel.  I would definitely recommend.

Sequel: Unraveled (Came out August 31, 2010)

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow: Review Posted by Tiffany at 5:48 PM

Title: Strange Angels
Author: Lili St. Crow (site)
Published: May 14, 2009 by Razorbill
Pages: 304 (Paperback)
Price: $4.00 Amazon $8.99 Book Depository
Rating: 4/5
Series: Strange Angels #1 (site)
Synopsis: Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called “the touch.” (Comes in handy when you’re traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)

Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she’s next. Even worse, she’s got two guys hungry for her affections, and they’re not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her? (Goodreads)

Initial Thoughts: I loved this cover. There's something about this girl that says, "Listen, I may not be a vampire or a werewolf, but I do intend to kick your ass if you mess with me." I didn't (and I still don't) know what the title really has to do with the book, but I liked that as well. Another draw for me; Lili St. Crow (or Lilith Saintcrow) is an established author who has just decided to try out YA. This usually means that you're not going to get a lot of condescending crap, just edgy dialog and realistic characters.


Review: This is a good example of a blurb done right. They don't tell you anything that you don't find out in the very first part of the book. I love that they didn't give away anything about what was really going on. I had my suspicions once I'd gotten into the book a bit, but that's a heck of a lot better than having it spelled out for you before you even open it. I LOVED the characters in this book. Dru was such a realistic heroine. She was a bit of a badass, but in a very believable way. She wasn't always right, sometimes she was shocked into inaction, and she wasn't always sure that she was doing the right thing. I felt a connection to this character from the first chapter. Some of the lingo felt a bit off, but it could be a regional thing. Or maybe St. Crow is just finding her YA voice? In a genre flooded with characters who go from clueless to hardcore suddenly or start out as stone cold badasses, it was refreshing to meet one who felt real. There is also a lot of room for her to grow as a character, especially with what she learns towards the end. The 'two guys hungry for her affections' are not so much hungry as 'nonchalant, but probably interested'. This was so refreshing! There is no instant romance, two-day True Love, or Broodingly Obsessed but staying away For Your Own Good. Instead, there was a nice boy that she was getting to know (who probably had a thing for her) and a badass who could just barely tolerate her. I'm excited to see where these relationships go in the rest of the series. This book focused more on what was happening to her than who she had a crush on, which also felt more realistic than a few series I can think of. Other than Dru, none of the characters were really given much of a chance to develop. However, it felt like this was done by design and not oversight. Dru barely gets to know the characters, so why should we? I liked that the reader didn't get to know anymore than the main character did, it gave it a more immediate feel and kept the story from unfolding too quickly. The other books in the series are definitely going on my TBR list.

Quick Review: An interesting book with refreshingly flawed and realistic characters and an easy, fast pace. Plenty of room for character and plot development.

Other Books In This Series: