Review: Night Beach by Kirsty Eagar

Title: Night Beach 

Author: Kirsty Eagar 

Rating: 2.5 Stars 

I read this book with Jasprit from The Reader's Den for a read-along and honestly, if it hadn't been for the fact that I had to read three chapters every day, I would have given up on this one a looooong time ago. Night Beach is, in many ways, the perfect October read. It opens up with an interesting premise and there are more than a few hair-raising events within the first couple of chapters to keep your attention and leave you hanging on the edge of your seat but unfortunately, that's all Night Beach does. You see, there's such a thing in a book called a plot and a purpose and while Night Beach built up to what seemed to be an intriguing pinnacle, it was ultimately the most anti-climatic peak I've come across and from there on out, Night Beach just lost me. 

Night Beach opens up by introducing us to Abby, our protagonist, who is hopelessly in love with her cousin, Kane. When Kane returns from a trip to an island, he is more different than usual. Not only does he exhibit strange, aggressive forms of behavior, but there seems to be a shadow following him. Abby, who is obsessed with Kane herself, cannot help but be worried about him. Yet, as time wears on, Abby will come to realize that there's more to stake here than Kane himself and moreover, that the "shadow" she sees near Kane is more than just a shadow...

Eagar's novel is written beautifully and if you're a fan of gothic literature, you'll definitely find something to love here. If, however, you prefer gothic literature similar to Jane Eyre where we have a mystery, plenty of red herrings, clues, and scary events, but eventually are told little tidbits to keep us going, then this isn't for you. Night Beach gives you a mystery. It gives you scary event after scary event. What it doesn't offer you, until the last quarter of this book really, is any type of clue, or hint, or tidbit to keep you going. I can essentially equate it to walking in a dark tunnel, not knowing where the tunnel ends or even if there's a light at the end of it; all you know is that you're lost, confused, and have no idea what's going on.

In addition to the lack of a plot - because I don't know how else to describe this! - the characters were unfortunately extremely flat too. Our main character, Abbie, only finally gains some depth and connection with the reader over half-way through the book and I am still no closer to understanding Kane than I was when I first picked up this book. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that people such as Abbie's friends, surfers, and even neighbors were more fleshed-out and easy to connect with than the main characters themselves, so that felt more than a little disjointed for sure. 

Night Beach was a book I really wanted to like, but ultimately I couldn't summon up much feeling for it. It started out well enough, but leaving me confused for dozens of chapters is not the way to make me appreciate a novel. If anything, I wish the majority of the middle of this book had simply been condensed into a few chapters, allowing me to experience more of the mystery and less of the build-up. Furthermore, the ending was just...I don't even know. It left me confused just when I thought I had everything figured out and while I'm sure it serves as a deeper meaning for something I'm missing - because in many ways this entire novels feels like one giant metaphor - I don't feel as if I'm losing out on much by not understanding it. I've read other books that have tackled on the eventual subject in this book better, and as such, Night Beach was just not the book for me. 

Quick Note: I sincerely hope this review doesn't put anyone off of reading Kirsty Eagar's novels. I adore her writing and Raw Blue is one of my favorite books ever, so I really can't recommend it enough. Read. It. Now. Seriously. You won't regret it. :)

Review: In the Woods by Tana French

Title: In the Woods (Dublin Murder Squad, #1) 

Author: Tana French 

Rating: 3.75 (?) Stars 

In the Woods is one of those books that you finish feeling bereft – bereft of answers, bereft of joy, bereft of happiness. Suddenly, grief and sorrow and despair are your companions as this is a novel that leaves you feeling so, so sad and heartbroken. It’s a story that will shock you to your very core, rattle your nerves, and make you re-think everything you ever thought was true. It is, in every sense of the term, a psychological thriller like no other.

When Katy Devlin, a twelve-year-old ballet dancer, is murdered and found on an archaeological excavation site, Detectives Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox suddenly find themselves taking on the case. Not only is Katy’s case extremely mysterious, with red herrings and suspects popping out from every nook and cranny, but her death happened in Knocknaree. Years ago, three children disappeared into the woods of Knocknaree and only one came back alive. Adam, the lone survivor, was unable to remember anything of the events he was witness to and the bodies of the other two children were never found. Adam, however, has grown up now and changed his name to Rob Ryan, who is now back in Knocknaree after avoiding the area for years. Thus, Rob cannot help but wonder if there is a connection between the two cases. What he and Cassie do uncover though is a trail of secrets, mysteries, and horror so sick it will thoroughly mess with your mind.

In the Woods is one of those novels that all of my GoodReads friend’s seem to love and very few other people in the world seem to know about. Thus, while I knew it would be a mind-blowing mystery and psychological thriller going into it, I don’t think I quite expected what I got. You see, In the Woods starts out much the same way as any other mystery novel. We have our detectives, Cassie and Ryan, who conduct their investigations, rule out their suspects, add more suspects, conduct more investigations, etc. In fact, the true psychological mind-warp of this story doesn’t even emerge until the last 30% or so of this tale. Yet, what makes it such a brilliant story isn’t merely those last few chapters which suck all the breath out of your lungs – it’s the steady build-up throughout the entire tale.

I suppose I should make myself clearer, so I will explain. In the Woods felt, at many times, very redundant to me. It was as if Cassie and Ryan were interrogating the same person or asking the same questions and the investigation seemed to go around in circles at times. This, as I soon came to learn, was purposeful and served to broaden the bigger picture by the end of the story. So, I guess what I’m really saying here is that you should stick with this one because it is so rewarding in the end. You won’t feel like putting this one down while you read it, simply because it’s a mystery and like all mysteries, you can’t leave it unfinished, but that doesn’t mean that while it’s down you’ll feel like picking it back up again, because sometimes you won’t. In fact, at times the writing can even become too cluttered with prose and details, but much like how Stormdancer is worth the wait and slow build-up, In the Woods is too.

What makes In the Woods such a phenomenal – and original – thriller is not only the psychological aspects of it, but the characters themselves. Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox make themselves slowly a part of your heart with their endearing habits, sarcasm, and quick wit. I feel as if I know them so well now; as if they’re real and sitting in front of me this very moment. I feel as if I can see into their very souls – that’s how well-rounded and deeply they are written into this story. If it were not for my intense feelings towards these two – feelings that the author developed and made me feel before it even registered I was feeling them – this novel would not have been as strong as it was.

Rob really is our main character in this tale as it is his narration which guides this story, so while we get a deeper look into his mind and the psychological effects of the trauma he suffered through as a child, Cassie is also an equally important character. You see, the friendship between Rob and Cassie was hands-down my favorite aspect of this story. It was beautiful, filled with understanding, and is the type of friendship you can only dream about. I do have to warn you though that the hint of romance in this novel is simply heart-breaking. I could hear my heart shatter…that’s how real it felt.

In all honesty, there isn’t much more I can say about this book. It’s a mystery and as such, not much can be described without revealing the big plot twists. Ultimately though, In the Woods is a truly phenomenally-written novel by an author who not only knows how to write a chilling mystery, but also knows how to get into your mind and twist your very emotions along with those of her characters. In the Woods doesn’t provide too much closure at the end either, but all this just contributes to its eerie mood. I did feel extremely depressed the moment I closed this book, but I am impressed with French’s ability to make me feel so strongly for something I first thought was a mere murder mystery. Will I be picking up the sequel? Absolutely, although not without a few happier reads in-between. In the Woods is a must-read novel for any mystery/psychological thriller fans. If, however, you don’t appreciate having your mind bended and warped in every direction possible, you may just want to pass up on this one because no matter how good you are at predicting mysteries, you will not see this plot twist coming. ;)

Review: The Diviners by Libba Bray

Title: The Diviners (The Diviners, #1) 

Author: Libba Bray 

Rating: 5 Stars 

The Diviners is, without a doubt, my favorite Libba Bray novel - and I've read all of them except for The Beauty Queens which I didn't get time to finish but which I fully intend to as I loved the few chapters I read of it. I am, truly, a self-proclaimed Libba Bray fan. I know her Gemma Doyle Trilogy had its flaws, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and I remember it changed my perspective of literature at that time quite drastically. The Diviners on the other hand, contains no flaws. Well, to be honest I think this 578 Page book should have been longer, but I'm glad there's a sequel. I don't want to say good-bye to these characters anytime soon. 

Evie O’Neill is not like other girls living during the booming industrial age of the Roaring 20s. For one, she’s loud, outspoken, and hilariously full of life, but Evie also contains a gift that few other possess – by merely touching an object, Evie can glean information about its owner while that object was on them. Thus, after a “scandalous” incident forces her to stay with her Uncle Will in New York City, Evie finds herself in the midst of a mystery - a murder mystery no less. While random victims seem to be murdered in a bizarre – and frankly speaking creepy – fashion in New York, we are also introduced to a slew of other characters and story lines beyond just than of Evie’s. Jericho, the soft-spoken and handsome young man who works at Uncle Will’s Museum of Creepy Crawlies American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult; Theta, a beautiful show-star who dreams of making it big; Henry, a piano player with his own slew of secrets; Memphis, a handsome black poet who used to be able to cure with a touch; and many, many more. Nevertheless, even with an enormous cast, Libba Bray’s The Diviners manages to transport you back into America’s Roaring 20s and despite the freaky murders that occur left and right, you won’t want to leave.

I’ll be perfectly honest – I didn’t expect to not love this book. I went into The Diviners with high expectations and I came out of it with my mind blown, itching for the sequel despite the concrete ending and wanting to immediately flip to the beginning and experience this novel all over again. Yes, experience, for what Libba Bray creates is a portal into the realm of the past, full with the blitz, glamour, and utter joy of living in the Roaring 20s. Nevertheless, into this happy-go-lucky setting, she manages to throw in and create one of the most chilling mysteries I’ve ever read. It takes a lot to scare me while I read a book, but The Diviners sent my spine tingling with chills and had me constantly jumping in the middle of the street whenever I heard a whistle. It’s one of those books that assimilate itself into your life because you simply cannot let go of its pure awesomeness.

While the setting and fanatic murders of The Diviners itself make this novel stand out, what truly makes it a remarkable story is its characters. Evie is a gal that I just love. Not only is she fiercely headstrong, independent, and full of spunk, but she has her own share of flaws and can even be hard to like at times, but all this only serves to make her more real, more three-dimensional, and more understanding in my eyes. If I had to pick a book best friend, I’d pick Evie because believe me, this is a girl you want by your side. While Evie startles us with her outgoing nature though, it is Naughty John, the ghost killer in this novel, who truly takes our breath away – not with his dashing good looks, but with his tantalizing murder song, tell-tale whistle, and utter creep factor.

The Diviners is probably one of the few books I’ve read where the reader knows the killer from the beginning and is still utterly invested in the story. It seems as if it’s a storyline that is doomed to fail, but really, the reader is only kept frantically flipping the pages to see how Evie manages to use her power and sharp wit to uncover that this murderer isn’t even alive, but a ghost. It’s a wonderfully spun tale and the cast of other characters who accompany her on this mission are just as heart-warming, well-developed, and deep as Evie is.

One of the most memorable side characters, who really is a main character on his own, is Memphis. While Memphis’ and Evie’s storylines don’t intermingle as much as we might like in this installment, his storyline perfectly sets us up for the direction this trilogy is taking. You see, Memphis is a young black man struggling to cope with the loss of his gift of healing – a gift which failed him when he most needed it to cure his mother. Thus, we are introduced to a second storyline in this tale, one of the diviners, a group of people who possess gifts, much like Memphis and Evie. In most cases, multiple storylines, narrators, and characters in general is a recipe for disaster, but yet again, Libba Bray pulls it off perfectly. Naughty John and his murders still remain to be our prime issue at hand, but the subtle manner in which Bray wove together the back stories of her characters and revealed to us the wondrous direction in which her trilogy was heading was all done with a talent that I must admit is unparalleled.

I could go on about The Diviners for hours if I really wanted, but I’ll let you discover the magic that this book contains for yourself. The Diviners is unlike anything you’ve ever read before. It’s original. It’s atmospheric. It's vivid and sparkling and jumps out from the pages. Its characters are thoughtful, deep, and full of their own human flaws. Its murder mystery is chilling and creepy. Its setting is beautiful beyond doubt. Its multiple perspectives are written flawlessly. Its plot is only thickening in this book and I can't wait to see where it goes. It is scary. It is funny. It is love. 

Review: False Memory by Dan Krokos

Title: False Memory (False Memory, #1) 

Author: Dan Krokos 

Rating: 4 Stars 

This past year has seen a re-emergence, not only in the fantasy genre, but also in the science-fiction genre concerning YA. While I'd need about a dozen hands to count all the new fantasy and sci-fi books published this year, I only need one to count all the good ones. False Memory, I am glad to say, joins the ranks of good fiction and just may be the only sci-fi novel I ever fall in love with this year. This is the book I wanted Origin and Eve and Adam to be - an fast-paced novel filled with action, plot twists, world-building and just the right amount of romance - not the romance-heavy and dull storyline I actually found within the pages of those two novels. Thus, it is with great excitement and truly bated breath that I recommend highly recommend False Memory.

When Miranda North wakes up in a mall, she has no idea who she is. Yet, when she unknowingly spreads waves of panic and destruction throughout the building, she is forced to turn to Peter, a teenager who not only claims he's her friend, but who also claims he can help her. In reality, Miranda - and Peter too - are products of genetic experimentation and as such, their bodies are quicker, lighter, and stronger than those of the average human. Furthermore, they can use their minds to spread fear and inflict pain on others. The catch behind these supernatural abilities? Memory loss. Unless the Roses, people like Miranda who are called such because of the rose-scent they emit when they put their powers to use, don't take daily shots, they'll begin to lose their memory. So now, the only question is who tampered with Miranda's memories - and why?

Even from the first page, False Memory is a fast-paced adventure that simply sucks you in. Miranda, for all her memory loss, is a kick-ass protagonist who we begin to understand just as she begins to re-learn herself. Krokos takes advantage of Miranda's loss of memory, not only to develop her into a three-dimensional character, but also to explore some of the more subtle nuances of memory and its inner workings. It is evident that he has done his research as False Memory goes into the necessary details behind the genetic mutations that Miranda possesses and explains it all in a concise and easy-to-understand method. Furthermore, the plot of this novel goes beyond Miranda's memory loss to tackle on scientific/corporate politics in an absolutely brilliant manner. It's a story that will keep you frantically flipping the pages until you've reached the end and even then, you won't want to stop.

In addition to Miranda, Peter was an incredible character, not to mention a sweet romantic interest. While we do have a hint of a love triangle in this novel as Miranda struggles between her mixed memories of ex-boyfriend Noah and current attraction towards Peter, it wasn't something that bothered me at all as it took a backseat to the more action-filled plot, which was quite refreshing. Furthermore, more than just the romance, I found that the friendships between Miranda, Peter, Noah, and Olive, four Roses who had grown up together, to be heart-warming. It was easy to feel both the strong bonds of friendship and the pangs of loneliness as Miranda battled to fit in once again with a group of people she couldn't recall but who already knew - and shared memories with - her. 

Yet, what really made this novel amazing was a huge plot twist at the end of this book which just about blew my mind! It's worth reading this book just for that incredible revelation and I was beyond impressed by the subtle hints and nuanced writing style that graced this story. While False Memory isn't a perfect novel and lacks some more of the connection I felt needed to be present with some of the secondary characters, it is a remarkable novel overall. I am eagerly waiting for the sequel and cannot wait to see what Krokos has in store for readers next. Believe me, this is one author you want to watch out for.

Review: Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Title: Unwind (Unwind, #1) 

Author: Neal Shusterman 

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Unwind is a novel that made waves in the book blogging community when it first released and has continued to do so even now, with the release date of its sequel looming ahead. Thus, I was sure I would love like this novel and while I certainly did immensely enjoy it, I do believe I am the most surprised out of anyone to find that this book - for all its brilliant concepts - failed to "wow" me in its execution or ultimate message, which I believe to be its downfall.

I find it difficult to summarize Unwind in just a few phrases, but long story short, this is a dystopian novel in which the issue of abortion has been solved by a new concept called unwinding. In this world, children between the ages of 13-18 can be unwound and their body parts used for medical purposes, thus, these children are not believed to actually be dead as some part of their body lives on in someone else. Unwind revolves around the stories of Connor, whose parents signed him up to be unwound after he got into one too many school fights; Risa, who is an orphan; and Lev who is a tithe and has been preparing to be unwound every since he was born. When Connor runs away to escape being unwound, planning to stay in hiding until he is 18 and a free man from the law, his life becomes inexplicably interwoven with that of Risa and Lev and the three must struggle to escape authorities or face - not death - but unwinding.

In all honesty, Unwind had a LOT to like. For one, I loved the concept and the pacing is phenomenal, making you flip the pages frantically and switch from Connor, Lev, Risa, and a couple of other perspectives as well. I think a lot of people have difficulty grasping the reality of this concept and while I agree that a war over abortion is a little far-fetched, overall I thought this was handled extremely well. If fathers in the Middle East can sacrifice their daughters to polygamous and cruel marriages, then surely parents are certainly able to sign up their children to be unwound - after all, they're not REALLY dead, are they? So you see, I loved this idea and found it to be so psychologically intriguing. Connor and Risa's perspectives were certainly interesting, but seeing what a tithe like Lev had to say after essentially being brain-washed his entire life or meeting characters who had a part of someone else's brain in their mind was all very imaginative and interesting and I loved it. Yet, for all my praise of this novel and its writing and its psychologically scarring elements - because there is one gruesome scene that may throw off other readers - what really brought down this novel was its ultimate message.

Every author has a point they're trying to make in their work and from the surface, the point of Unwind is quite obvious as a rebellion against this cruel and unnatural mode of living slowly begins. Yet, there were so many discrepancies that made me sit back and think after finishing this book and while I loved reading it, I don't think it's a book that deserves all the praise it receives. Yes it's a new and original idea, yes the writing is great, yes the characters are well-developed, but let's look at what this story ultimately says.

Note: Yes, there are spoilers ahead, but they will not ruin the story for you. In fact, if you haven’t read this novel, they will most likely not make much sense, so you can read them without any harm, but if you don’t wish to read them, skip below to wear the semi-spoilers end. 

First of all, Connor receives an arm from an unwound at the end of this novel which seems to take away the entire purpose of it. You see, Connor is running away from being unwound only to receive a part of that procedure because he's in trouble which is a huge irony and red flag for the ultimate message. I think the saddest thing though, is that this unwound arm he receives was only a part of the tale to further the romance, which isn't even that great to begin with. It's disturbing and bothered me immensely.

Next: Lev. I loved Lev because of the conflicting emotions he went through as a tithe, but ultimately, he never realized the value of life and living. For a tithe, being an unwound means doing a great service and once Lev understood the horror he was about to face, instead of embracing life, he became a human bomb to destroy an unwinding hospital facility. Okay, this is good...right? Yes, he's destroying these horrible facilities, but at the cost of his own life because he still does not see that being alive is better than being unwound or dead and it is his near-death and not near-unwinding experience which enables him to see the light which, again, contradicts the true message of this novel!

One last example: the Admiral. The Admiral unwound his son but wanted to stop it from happening at the last minute, but since he couldn't, he spent the rest of his life finding out where the parts of his son had gone and gathering them together. (Not the parts, the people who had the parts). On the surface, this seems very sweet since he’s just trying to be with his son again, but really, it isn’t sweet at all! What Shusterman essentially does is show us that yes, Unwinds are alive because even if their body parts are not all put together, by assembling a group of people who contain the same body parts as one person, that makes the person whole and alive once again. The Admiral was essentially speaking to his son's brain and seeing his son's lungs of asthma and hearing his son's voice so how was he not alive? The point of this novel was to show that there are things worse than death, such as unwinding and ceasing to be yourself, but then the author went and proved that unwinding really wasn't that bad after all! I think what Shusterman meant to do was something much different with this scene, but its execution and the way it is ultimately interpreted fails to really add to the message he’s building up with his story. 

End Semi-Spoilers 

I liked this book - I really did. It was such an original and creative take on a very pressing and modern issue, but there were way too many plot holes in it. Some of the rebellion mobs made no sense and many of the secondary characters were vastly underdeveloped too. I would still recommend this as most people seem to have overlooked or skipped the plot holes, but I simply cannot. I still don't know what this author planned to achieve with this book, only because so much of it was contradictory, but hopefully the sequel will be better! 

Review: Survive by Alex Morel

Title: Survive 

Author: Alex Morel 

Rating: 2/5 Stars 

I feel as if you need to be a certain type of person to really like Survive and somehow, I just didn’t fit into that role. Not only have I never been depressed, known anyone who has committed suicide, or known anyone who has died from cancer, I’ve also read more than my fair share of survival stories. For me, Survive was one of those novels where the author threw you head-first into the conflicted emotions of a character and almost expected you to understand them opposed to making you understand them, and that is where the majority of my problems lie with this story. While it has a fascinating premises, Survive simply does not work to create a rich and compelling novel about suicide and familial issues while simultaneously throwing in a plot of survival, which made my experience with this story far from exhilarating. 

I think the plotline of Survive is quite standard and predictable if you’ve read a decent amount of survival novels and YA Romance stories. Jane, our protagonist, is flying home to visit her mother after spending some time in a facility where she has been fooling her doctors into thinking she is no longer suicidal. Just when Jane is about to kill herself on the plane though, the airplane crashes, leaving her stranded on a mountain during a blizzard with only one other passenger – her flight-mate, Paul. As Paul and Jane struggle to survive, Jane also slowly begins to realize the beauty and gift that living truly is, but just as she is beginning to want to live, the question of her survival in the wilderness hangs over her head like a plague. 

I really enjoyed the premises of Survive, but I found the novel to be extremely hard to get into. In fact, the plane doesn’t even crash until nearly a third of the story is over and all we’ve actually learned in that time is that the only reason Jane feels compelled to commit suicide is because her father and grandmother and other members of her family have killed themselves too. Call me heartless, but I didn’t think that was enough of a reason to really want to kill yourself. I mean, generations of my family have had diabetes, but that doesn’t mean I’m stuffing myself with unhealthy food so I can get diabetes too! I just couldn’t connect with Jane on any level and found her narration to be difficult to read as well since my attention kept wandering. Furthermore, I couldn’t comprehend how Jane’s desire to kill herself evaporated once she realized that she and Paul were the lone survivors of their plane crash. While I do agree that life-threatening situations can really change a person’s outlook on the world, I felt as if her change of heart was too drastic to really be moving or realistic in the least. 

Jane aside, I thought the romance in this story was quite unnecessary. I’ll admit that I liked Paul and enjoyed many of his conversations with Jane, but I wasn’t invested in this whirlwind love story at all. Plus, I found the ending of this story to be too predictable, not to mention the actual survival feats to be lame and disappointing. I’ve read much better survival stories than this one and really can’t recommend this to anyone, unless you haven’t read any survival stories in the past. If you’re looking for a survival story, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for a deep and provocative read, also look elsewhere. I just don’t feel like this is a book I’d want anyone else to read – it was disappointing on way too many levels. 

Review: Losing Lila by Sarah Alderson

Title: Losing Lila (Lila, #2) 

Author: Sarah Alderson 

Rating: 3.5 Stars 

I think this is going to come off as really strange, but I was so skeptical about reading Losing Lila. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to – because I did – it was simply that I was wary of what I would find within its pages. I wasn’t exactly a fan of Lila, or her whirlwind romance with Alex, in the previous novel and I was dreading another bout of this underdeveloped love story, but I needn’t have worried. I liked this story much better than Hunting Lila and fans of the previous novel – and even non-fans – will really enjoy this sequel.

I’ll cut straight to the chase – I couldn’t stand Lila. Even from the first page of the novel, I felt like smacking her. I had written this in my review of Hunting Lila and after some thinking, I think the best way to write this review is to compare it to its predecessor and prove just how much better it is. While I didn’t like Lila at all in the previous novel and felt as if she was silly and completely obsessed with Alex, she really surprised me in this story. Lila is still Lila – she still retains her humor and her die-hard lusting after Alex, but she is also incredibly mature this time. I really loved the way Alderson showed us how much the past events affected Lila, making her a character who was more focused on saving her family than her romance. In fact, I thought the romance only added to the story and improved Lila’s character which was a nice change. Plus, Lila becomes seriously kick-ass in this one, which I adored!

I’m a sucker for best friend romances, but the one between Lila and Alex felt artificial at best. Guess who fell hard for this love story? Yup, me! I didn’t think I would actually like Lila and Alex together, but somehow I really enjoyed seeing them together in this one. Not only were their moments incredible sweet and cute, they also had a deeper sense of protection and loyalty to them which totally convinced me that these two, for all their lusting after one another, cared for each other very deeply as well. In fact, my only qualm with the romance in this novel is that Lila and Alex fight over something reallysilly. I’m glad that their argument only strengthened their relationship, but I still thought it was very silly, hence the reason this book isn’t getting a higher rating. Still, it was a much better done romance than the one in Hunting Lila. 

While it is evident that they aren’t very close, although Jack loves and cares for her [Lila] dearly, I thought that Lila brushed aside her brother for Alex more than was strictly necessary or normal. THIS! This was one of the biggest issues I had with Hunting Lila since I have a brother myself and was simply mad at Lila for forgetting about her brother so much, but I loved her interaction with her brother in this novel. Not only does she really put family ahead of herself or her romance, her relationship with her brother really gets much stronger in this too which I am so happy about. It was hands down one of the best parts of this whole story.

So, as you can see, Losing Lila was faaar better than Hunting Lila ever was. It had a strong, kick-ass heroine who had her priorities straight, a caring romance, fast-paced action, and Alderson still managed to throw in some really unexpected plot twists which I loved. Plus, I enjoyed being part of this world with Suki, Nate, Key, Demos, and the “gang” really once again. I thought their personalities were fleshed out much deeper in this one too and while I’m hoping for a small novella about them in the future, I’m pleased that we got to spend so much more time with them in this installment. Overall, Losing Lila is an incredible sequel – one that is far better than I ever expected – and I’d highly recommend it to those who have read Hunting Lila. While many follow-ups and sequels wind up being immense disappointments, this one most certainly is not!(:

Review: Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

Title: Hunting Lila 

Author: Sarah Alderson 

Rating: 3/5 Stars

I’ll admit it – I wound up liking Hunting Lila against my better judgment. Alderson’s novel is one filled with heart-pounding action, creativity, vibrant characters, plot twists, a thrilling pace,  and a plot that nicely holds the whole story together, yet I could not bring myself to love it. While I admired the originality behind the story and can’t wait to see what will happen in the sequel, my issues with the main character wound up trumping over most of the positives, leaving me unable to give this novel the 4 or 5 Stars it deserves for every other aspect of it.

When Lila nearly gets mugged on the streets of London and winds up using her special abilities to move objects to keep herself alive, she knows she a lot more dangerous than she thought. Thus, Lila moves to California to live with her older brother, Jack, and best friend, Alex, who she’s been massively crushing on for seventeen years. Little does Lila know though, that she may have gone from the frying pan, straight into the fire. Jack and Alex are Marines and are currently handling a dangerous case – one that has to do with the murder and death of Lila’s mother. Lila soon realizes however, just how life-threatening her brother’s job can be and the next life on the line just might be hers.

I’ll cut straight to the chase – I couldn’t stand Lila. Even from the first page of the novel, I felt like smacking her. I know. I usually don’t judge characters by my initial impressions of them and while I did grow to grudgingly have some respect for Lila, I still found that she annoyed me to no extent. Why? Alex. For a little more than the first half of the novel, the only thing on Lila’s mind is Alex, the guy she’s had a crush on since she was five years old. If we’re not getting long and detailed descriptions of his killer good looks, we’re being treated to what Lila wishes would happen between them, her insecurities over him having a girlfriend, and her jealousy crises. In fact, Lila is so obsessed with Alex that she worries about leaving California since she doesn’t think she can bear living far away from him and is constantly coming up with ways to fall into him or injure herself so that she has an excuse to touch him and vice versa. As the reader, Lila’s narration simply began to get too annoying. While she did occasionally think about more pressing issues such as the fact that her mother’s murderers were on the loose or that she had an ability she couldn’t control, her thoughts mostly revolved around Alex.

Unfortunately, I really do know girls like Lila, so I’m not saying her response isn’t unrealistic, but I think it is unrealistic for a seventeen-year-old girl who hasn’t seen her crush for nearly three years to still have such intense feelings for him. In my experience, teenage girls tend to move on within three years and even if they don’t, even if by some chance they do harbor long-lasting feelings for the same guy, I think their emotions would run a little deeper than Lila’s do.

I’m a sucker for best friend romances, but the one between Lila and Alex felt artificial at best. Alex winds up falling in love with Lila the day she gets back from London – or, in other words, three years after he last saw or was in any type of contact with her. I don’t know about you, but to me that was a huge red flag waving, “love-at-first-sight, not realistic, insta-love!” Not only that, but he’s only in love with her for a matter of days before he’s telling her brother to “deal” with their “love.” Essentially, Alex was willing to potentially jeopardize his friendship with his best friend for a girl he was only in love with for days. I’m not saying Alex shouldn’t have fought for the right to date Lila – by all means, he should. But to do that at a time when lives were in danger and when he had only recently realized his affection for Lila? I think not.

Furthermore, another issue that really grated on me was Lila’s relationship with her brother Jack. While it is evident that they aren’t very close, although Jack loves and cares for her dearly, I thought that Lila brushed aside her brother for Alex more than was strictly necessary or normal. First of all, it should be established that I think of Lila’s affections for Alex as being an obsessive school-girl crush. I don’t really think she loves Alex or vice versa and if they do, it’s the type of love teenagers tell each other is “forever” and isn’t. So, with that being said, I found it extremely odd and shocking really that Lila was always more concerned about Alex than Jack. I understand that the love between a sibling and the “love of your life” is obviously very different, but shouldn’t Lila at least be equally worried about her brother? I mean, he is risking his life for her! Hell, if Christian Bale were the love of my life and my brother’s life was in danger I’d run after my brother first and then check up on Christian Bale! Well, that and Christian Bale can take care of himself with the Batman alter-ego and what-not, but still.

In addition to that, I simply felt as if the bonds between these three were so weak. Lila, Jack, and Alex are supposed to have grown up together. Usually, this creates some kind of connection, but all I got was that Alex and Jack were best friends, Alex and Lila were supposedly in love, and Lila supposedly cared for her older brother. So, while I was told all of this in the novel, I was never really shown it. In fact, there were little to no actions that really convinced me that Alex and Lila loved each other. Cared? Yes. Loved? Give me a break. So, while I inherently knew that these three were close, I never really saw them interact much as a trio and never felt a bond or connection to any of them – not even to Lila, the narrator. I was concerned about Lila’s death, but only because if she died I wouldn’t know what happened next, so I hardly think that counts. 

All those qualms aside, I still somehow liked this book. I know – shocking! Hunting Lila is written with a strangely addictive quality in mind. It’s extremely hard to put down, fast-paced, and you constantly want to know what’s going to happen next. Furthermore, I loved the creativity of the plot idea and the multiple plot twists that were thrown into the end really sealed the deal for me on this novel. Plus, the secondary characters beyond Lila, Alex, and Jack were rather likeable and I loved the crew of characters introduced to us within the last 15-20% of this story.

Overall, Hunting Lila was a quick and original novel that I just couldn’t put down. While I had a plethora of qualms with its protagonist, the romance, and the main characters, I loved the plot, pacing, and cast of secondary characters that graced this story. I really hope Lila matures up, realizes the seriousness of some of the situations she’s in, and becomes more kick-ass in the sequel because if one thing is certain it is that I will definitely be reading it! 

Review: The Passion by L.J. Smith

Title: The Passion (Dark Visions #3) 

Author: L.J. Smith 

Rating: 4/5 Stars 

The Passion is such a fitting name for this last novel in L.J. Smith's Dark Visions Trilogy. In this installment, Kaitlyn is forced to travel to the Institute, take advantage of Gabriel's feelings for her, and destroy Mr. Z's evil plans. Having convinced Gabriel, Joyce, and most of the warped up members of the Institute of her loyalty, Kaitlyn must somehow plan to destroy the crystal and keep the shard of the Fellowship's pure crystal from falling into Mr. Z's power. However, little does Kaitlyn realize that it isn't just Gabriel's feelings she's playing with, it could be her own as well...

I absolutely loved this stunning conclusion to this brilliant trilogy. Although I definitely enjoyed The Forbidden Game more than this trilogy and appreciate the horror, despair, and creepiness of that series, I also found myself enjoying the wit, snarkiness, and complex relationships within this trilogy. Dark Visions is a lighter mix of paranormal, with more emphasis given on the blooming romances between Gabriel and Kaitlyn (I can hardly call what Kaitlyn and Rob had a romance) and the budding friendships between these five unlikely psychics. The Passion really puts this all to the test, strengthening the bonds between these friends and making them realize what they have.

Yet, what I loved the most about this installment was the romance. I have been a loyal Team Gabriel shipper since the first novel and although I hated that Kaitlyn was taking advantage of his feelings, I was thrilled seeing her changes in character as well. Furthermore, I think the relationship Kaitlyn formed with the other members of the Institute this time around were not only important, but they were also imperative to her growth and their development as characters as well. In addition, although we didn't see Rob, Anna, and Lewis as much in this installment, I think the changes that Rob and Anna went through were also remarkable and I was glad to see so much character development in this one. As with the previous two novels however, Gabriel steals the show in terms of personality growth. I loved his complex personality and only wished we could see even more of him.

Nevertheless, although I enjoyed this conclusion, I have to admit that I was expecting a little more of an earth-shattering finale. I felt as if the manner in which this situation was solved was a little too easy and I only wish it could have been dragged on a little longer to add an element of suspense to it. Yet, as far as last-books-of-a-trilogy go, this was a pretty darn good one. Thus, I would heartily recommend this series to fans of L.J. Smith, but I'd recommend starting with The Forbidden Game first. It may increase your expectations of this series to unnatural highs, but it'll definitely force you to keep reading to find the excellent writing quality that Smith's novels possess.

Review: The Possessed by L.J. Smith

Title: The Possessed (Dark Visions #2) 

Author: L.J. Smith 

Rating: 3.5 Stars 

After being thoroughly disappointed by the first novel in L.J. Smith’s Dark Visions trilogy, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the sequel to The Strange Power proved to be an engaging read. The Possessed picked up right where its predecessor left off with Kaitlyn, Anna, Rob, Gabriel, and Lewis fleeing from the Institute. This time, they were hoping to make it to the mysterious location they kept seeing in their joint dream and hoped that the people who lived in the giant white house in their vision would be able to help them. However, their journey there is anything but easy. Not only do they lack transportation, money, and food, but the greatest danger of all may be sitting in their midst.

In this middle novel of Smith’s Dark Visions trilogy, I was able to see the re-emergence of the familiar writing I have grown to love. Although this novel was by no means as haunting, terrifying, or scary as The Forbidden Game, it had its fair share of creepiness in it. Furthermore, the pace had picked up considerably, making the plot a lot more interesting from its predecessor. The most marked difference however between this book and The Strange Power, was the characters. Here, we were finally able to see some depth within Kaitlyn, Rob, Anna, and Lewis – characters who had remained flat and unchanging in the previous novel. Although they do not undergo a large amount of change, I definitely felt as if their demeanor and personalities had been affected by some of the situations they found themselves in.

Nevertheless, I still have to admit, that in terms of characterization, Gabriel stole the show. Gabriel still remains to be the most complex character within this trilogy and I love him for that. Because of his experiences with the crystal in the previous book, Gabriel’s power has manifested in dark ways which he struggles to control and live with. The relationship between Gabriel and Kaitlyn, which has always been rocky and a little uncertain, only becomes more so as the novel progresses. Yet, there is a distinct bond between them that is palpable as they are able to understand each other in a way no one else – not even Rob – possibly can. Even by the end of the novel, Gabriel’s changes are by no means permanent. He shifts with each scenario he is presented and his inner turmoil and battles between good and evil are remarkably evident.

Although I enjoyed this book a lot more than its predecessor, I still felt as if The Possessed lagged in some parts – some sections seemed to drag on and the journey this group faced while in their car driving seemed to go on forever. Furthermore, the ending felt rather rushed and abrupt, leaving plenty of loose ends to be tied up in the sequel. All in all, I feel as if Dark Visions is an interesting trilogy with a unique idea – that of psychic control – that sets it apart from other novels. I’ve definitely enjoyed reading Dark Visions, but it is no where close to the level of incredible that Smith’s Forbidden Game was. I only hope it manages to reach its full potential in what I hope will be a stunning conclusion to this admittedly original series. 

Review: The Strange Power by L.J. Smith

Title: The Strange Power (Dark Visions #1) 

Author: L.J. Smith

Rating: 2.5/5 Stars

My introduction to L.J. Smith started with her Forbidden Game Series – a trilogy which immediately hooked me in and forced me to fall in love with it – so color me surprised to find another one of her trilogies, Dark Visions, to be strangely lacking in comparison. Perhaps it’s not fair for me to notice these egregiously obvious differences not only in the writing style, but in the character development as well, but I was disappointed.

Kaitlyn Fairchild has always been different from other girls around her, but it is her haunting eyes and prophetic drawings which cause her to become an outcast in society. When she is given the opportunity to learn more about her mysterious powers and finish out high school in California, she cannot resist. Kaitlyn and four other teens – Anna, Gabriel, Rob, and Lewis – all possess some type of psychic power and are submitted to daily tests to see the limitations and growth of their powers. However, not all is as it seems at the Institute and Kaitlyn and her new friends may unknowingly find themselves in grave peril.

For some reason, Dark Visions constantly reminded me of Kelly Armstrong’s The Darkest Powers Trilogy. In both, the first novel serves as a set up for the upcoming series as the protagonist meets other people who possess similar powers as her. However, where The Darkest Powers cast a strong heroine, interesting romance, and complicated friendships, Dark Visions failed to do that.

Kaitlyn is a likeable protagonist, but she lacks human flaws. Furthermore, her friendship with Anna, Lewis, and Rob seemed a little too easily made and failed to have any type of depth to it. Her romance with Rob originally comes across as being unrequited and silly for she thinks she is in love with him when she actually only has a crush on him, and the development of it was weak. In addition, I was disappointed to find that the horror I had come to associate with L.J. Smith from her Forbidden Game Trilogy was completely missing from this series! In basic terms, I was sorely disappointed.

Yet, this novel had one redeeming quality: Gabriel. In Gabriel I was able to find not only the ever-so-common tortured male protagonist, but I was also able to find depth. Gabriel’s past makes him a complicated character and his interactions with the other characters were interesting and different. In fact, throughout the novel, Gabriel was the only character who seemed to undergo any type of change. I had always loved how Smith made it a point to show how the experiences of her characters changed them, but I found that to be lacking in everyone except Gabriel in this book. I am definitely looking forward to learning more about him and uncovering his inner secrets.

Dark Visions was, by no means, a bad book. It was interesting; it had witty dialogue, and was a lot more humorous than The Forbidden Game. Furthermore, it contained an interesting plot-line that was extremely unique and which I find myself to be rather curious about. Yet, in a novel with a primarily character-driven plot, the cast of Dark Visions was sadly lacking. Nevertheless, I am eager to see how this unfolds in the sequels and can only hope that this series continues to improve. If nothing else, Dark Visions has taught me that L.J. Smith truly is human and even the best of writers can have disappointing stories. 

Review: I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Title: I Hunt Killers

Author: Barry Lyga 

Rating: 5/5 Stars

For some reason, I ended up being completely surprised by this book. I knew it was going to be a good book even before I started it – the raving reviews had promised that much – but I guess I simply didn’t expect it to be the psychological thriller it ended up being. I Hunt Killers is a story that sucks you in, keeps you captivated, and makes you empathize with its tortured protagonist before you even realize you’ve given your heart away to him.

I think everyone is familiar with the plot of this story by now – Jasper Dent, son of notorious serial killer Billy Dent, has never been able to forget his brainwashed childhood or the fact that he could become just like his father if he tried. Thus, when he is given the opportunity to prove himself as different by solving a new series of murders that plague his small town, he’s willing to do everything he can to crack the case. Yet, what makes this murder mystery different from the norm is the fact that Barry Lyga forces us, as the reader, to truly reflect and think back on an age old question about what truly wins out in the end: nature vs. nurture?

I don’t think I can even begin to explain how impressed I am by this story. Lyga writes in a manner that mixes light with dark, making this novel intensely scary and ridiculously funny at the same time. Jasper’s narration is strong, raw, brutal, and honest in a way that most male protagonist’s are, but underneath that is a sharp taste of confusion, pain, and years of pent-up anger. Although this story’s main focus seems to be a murder mystery like any other, what it truly is about is a tortured character – a mere boy – struggling to find who he is amongst memories of who he can become.

I found Jasper’s perspective to be exceedingly chilling and haunting at some parts, yet I could not help but sympathize with him. Jasper knows everything there is to know about serial killing, he knows all the ways in which his father committed each murder, and his father’s charm that enabled him to trick others has worked in Jasper’s favor multiple times as well. Jasper doesn’t know whether or not he thirsts for death like his father, he doesn’t know whether his intentions are good or bad, and ultimately, he cannot figure his own self out. At its core, Lyga is writing about any confused teenage boy, but by making Jasper have a completely unique past, he manages to make this novel both original and exceedingly brilliant in its genre of work. Jasper’s development and growth is slow – so slow in fact that you still don’t know if he has figured himself out by the end of the novel – but you do know that he has changed, has gained confidence, and is ready to face his fears.

One aspect of this story that I loved and that very few reviewers have mentioned are Jasper’s friends. Howie, his best friend, is mainly there to prove a comic relief every now and then, but he also contributes immensely to Jasper’s internal growth, making him a person wholly different from his father. Yet, what really makes Jasper click is his girlfriend Connie. I’m glad that Lyga, instead of trying to balance a mystery side-by-side with a love story like many authors have attempted to do in the past, simply throws us into the midst of a relationship. Romance is not a large part of this novel, but Jasper’s interactions with Connie have depth. I loved seeing how not only their relationship played out, but also how their discussions gave rise to Jasper’s will to change and his determination to be a better person.

Finally though, this all brings us back to the question of nature vs. nurture. Jasper’s childhood has honed and trained him into becoming the perfect serial killer, but Jasper has traces of his mother in him too. Furthermore, after his father’s jail sentence, he has been closest to the cop who caught him – another relationship which I absolutely adored – and Howie and Connie too have allowed for Jasper’s true nature to win out against nurture. Jasper’s experiences, past, and memories keep propelling him to fall back on his childhood, but it is his will and the people around him who keep him anchored to sanity.

I Hunt Killers is a psychological thriller like no other. It takes on a unique look at serial killers and the psychological mindset behind not only their murders, but the lives of the people they interact with and affect as well. Jasper’s narration is moving, his story chilling, and his growth rewarding. Each and every relationship in this novel contained depth beyond imagination, filled with witty dialogue, realistic schemes, and heart-warming discussions. I am definitely going to be keeping my eyes peeled for the sequel and if Lyga’s other novels are anything like this one, you can be sure I’m planning to check them out.