Review: The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle

Title: The Hallowed Ones

Author: Laura Bickle

Rating: 4 Stars 

The Hallowed Ones was one of those novels I remained skeptical about until I was a good half-way through the book. It had come recommended to me by all my most trust bloggers, so of course, I knew it had to be good, but I was still skeptical. You see, my mom went through a phase where she was enamored with the Amish culture and lifestyle and as such, we'd have novels with Amish women on the front cover and I'd often find her watching movies featuring men with long beards making butter. As her daughter, it was my responsibility to rebel against her strange new obsession - which I did quite obstinately, mind you - so when Amish people cropped up in YA Literature, I knew I'd be a tough cookie to convert. I respect the Amish and their culture immensely, but I've simply found it very boring. I didn't see it as something interesting, new, or fascinating in the least - although now I certainly do. The Hallowed Ones opened my eyes and gave me a new appreciation of the Amish lifestyle, all with a healthy dose of good 'ole vampiric fear.

Imagine this: You live in an isolated establishment, without any electricity or means of obtaining information when suddenly, out of nowhere, people are panicking. Everywhere. You don't know how, you don't even know why, but they just are. Now, a mysterious stranger enters your settlement, wounded, injured, and potentially dangerous. Outside, the world is in chaos. Inside, your world is ignorant. A stranger is unwelcome at this time; you know nothing about him after all. It is in this scary, terrifying realm that debut author, Laura Bickle, has placed us. Katie, our protagonist, has been eagerly anticipating Rumspringa, the time when Amish teens leave their homes to experience the normal lifestyle of other American teens, when a sudden epidemic - one that converts humans into vampire-like creatures - hits. With the crash landing of plane, bringing with it the arrival of a stranger, Alex, who Katie saves, Katie's biggest problem is no longer what dress to wear to church, but how to prevent vampires from breaking into her Amish establishment.

The Hallowed Ones is, evidently, a novel that took me by surprise. Katie is a strong, fierce, and independent protagonist. Far from the obedient and submissive heroine I assumed she'd be, Katie proves to have a mind of her own and follow her own heart. What I loved most about this novel was the fact that it exposed corruption, even in the heart of a religious establishment. The Elders don't always do what's in the best interests of the community and seeing Katie stand up to that, all while simultaneously going against her parent's wishes and all those she holds dear, was truly awe-inspiring. It takes a special type of courage to be able to stand up for oneself and for ones beliefs, and Katie has certainly earned my respect as an incredible woman. Furthermore, her inner vulnerabilities despite her outer strength made me instantly connect with her. Although Kate is Amish, she yearns for some of the simple luxuries those Outside have and that, combined with her complexity and depth, made her a protagonist to root for.

In addition to Katie, Alex completely stole my heart. Completely. I loved the slow burn of his romance with Katie and while not wholly unexpected, it still came as a surprise how well-suited these two were for each other. Perhaps best of all is the fact that it never detracted from the creepy - and utterly twisty - plot and only added to my enjoyment of the tale. Theirs is a romance I am excited to see play out in the sequel and simply thinking about it brings a silly grin to my face. Elijah, contrary to what we may think when we first begin the novel, isn't the primary romantic interest after all. Instead, he plays a rather different role in this novel, one which was unexpected and remarkably tied the plot together, making this tale all the more scintillating as I was unable to predict nearly anything.

Yet, what makes The Hallowed Ones stand out, for me at least, is Katie's inner musings of God. Bickle brings to life the Amish settlement that is the backdrop of her debut and while she has utterly changed my view of their simplistic - but satisfying - lifestyle, I enjoyed thinking through the tougher questions she probed about religion. Now, this isn't a religious book in the least. In fact, despite taking place in a religious setting, it never becomes preachy and never even touches upon religious aspects or undertones. Yet, we know, innately, that each member of this establishment believes in God and this belief, which comes to be tested with the arrival of a mysterious stranger and a deadly disease, is subtly alluded to and made the novel all the more interesting for me, simply because it made me think about my own faith. It is all very subtle, but Katie's own questioning of why, or how really, God could come to let this be only further made me connect with her. I think everyone at some point in their lives has thought this and to see it present in this novel, albeit extremely subtly and never detracting from the terrifying plot line focused on vampires, was satisfying to say the least.

All in all, The Hallowed Ones is a novel I can't believe I hesitated to read. It's a debut that it simply spectacular and I am already eagerly counting down the days till the sequel. Bickle writes with a skill that would surprise some for a debut author and her in-depth characters, well-constructed plot, and overall originality makes this a story any vampire or paranormal fan can't miss!

My First Interview!

Yes, that's right! I was interviewed! It was my first time and I was quite excited, to be honest. Amelia, at The Authoress, has a feature called Saturday Spotlight where she interviews a blogger every Saturday and this week, I was invited to visit her blog. While I am still posting a review for, you can also visit me over at Amelia's blog today, so I hope you enjoy! :)

Malachi's Journal Entries: Day Four

I am so excited to be showcasing an entry from Malachi's Journal on my blog today! If you recall, Malachi is the sexy, brooding, and utterly kick-ass male protagonist I fell head-over-heels in love with when I first read Sarah Fine's debut, Sanctum. (My review HERE.) Today, I will be excerpting one day from Malachi's journal, a prequel to Sanctum, and hosting an international giveaway for an amazing Sanctum prize pack. In addition to my blog, there are nine other blogs participating, so be sure to search around the blogosphere to check out all the (fantastic!) diary entries and increase your chance of winning!

“My plan: Get into the city. Get Nadia. Find a way out. Simple.” A week ago, seventeen-year-old Lela Santos’s best friend, Nadia, killed herself. Today, thanks to a farewell ritual gone awry, Lela is standing in paradise, looking upon a vast gated city in the distance—hell. No one willingly walks through the Suicide Gates, into a place smothered in darkness and infested with depraved creatures. But Lela isn’t just anyone—she’s determined to save her best friend’s soul, even if it means sacrificing her eternal afterlife.  As Lela struggles to find Nadia, she’s captured by the Guards, enormous, not-quite-human creatures that patrol the dark city’s endless streets. Their all-too-human leader, Malachi, is unlike them in every way except one: his deadly efficiency. When he meets Lela, Malachi forms his own plan: get her out of the city, even if it means she must leave Nadia behind. Malachi knows something Lela doesn’t—the dark city isn’t the worst place Lela could end up, and he will stop at nothing to keep her from that fate.

Now, a small quote from Sanctum, in which Nadia first sees Malachi's many journals:

Malachi’s quarters had no windows, no decorations. His room was just like everything else about him—nothing unnecessary, nothing wasted. His narrow cot rested in a corner, right next to something that looked like a hat rack. He walked straight to it and hung his bloody, stained armor over it. A small desk stood across from the rack, but the only things that sat upon it were a fountain pen and a single book, like some kind of journal. Neatly stacked in a corner rose a tower of identical books as tall as I was. A lot of journals.

If you want to get to know someone, reading his journal is the way to do it (though you should probably ask permission first). Malachi is no exception: his journals contain his thoughts, hopes, fears, plans, and adventures during his time in the dark city. Starting today, excerpts will post regularly throughout the publication of the Guards of the Shadowlands series at www.guardsoftheshadowlands.tumblr.com, but to get things started, you can read excerpts from Malachi's first ten days as a Guard NOW. And you can enter to win one of ten Sanctum swag packs, which include an exclusive bonus scene from Malachi's point-of-view!

Malachi's Journal Entry 
Day 4: Another Guard came to see me today. Takeshi is his name, and he brought Raphael to translate. Takeshi is from the Empire of Japan, but speaks several languages. We realized we both speak German. He wondered aloud how someone as scrawny as I am could manage to take down so many inhuman Guards at once. I took it as an invitation to show him. But as it turns out, Takeshi is even faster than Philip, and his baton extends to become a staff with which he happens to be devastatingly effective. Raphael healed my broken arm and suggested I refrain from attacking the other human Guards, as they are both capable of killing me before I land a blow. We'll see. 

Sarah Fine was born on the West Coast, raised in the Midwest, and is now firmly entrenched on the East Coast, where she lives with her husband and two children. When she's not writing, she's working as a child psychologist. No, she is not psychoanalyzing you right now. 

Visit Sarah: Twitter/Facebook/Website/Tumblr/Goodreads

International Contest!

Enter to win one of ten Sanctum swag packs, which include exclusive bonus scenes from Malachi's PoV! Just fill out the Rafflecopter below! Good Luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can check out my review of Sanctum HERE. It's one of the most remarkable debuts I've read this year, so even if you don't win, be sure to check it out! :)

Review: The Sweet Gum Tree by Katherine Allred

Title: The Sweet Gum Tree

Author: Katherine Allred 

Rating: 3.5 Stars 

The Sweet Gum Tree is one of those few novels I can honestly admit that you need to be older to fully understand the full emotional impact of. While it starts off detailing a teenage romance, it shifts fifteen years into the future to a broken relationship and the slow journey of its healing. It is this second portion of the novel that I loved, but never quite connected as much with. I can truly say that if I had been older, perhaps in my thirties and with kids, I would have instantly fallen head-over-heels for this story. Around a decade younger than the intended audience, perhaps, I was still able to appreciate and enjoy this story, but I wasn't able to thoroughly lose myself in it and forget about its flaws, although minor. Thus, while The Sweet Gum Tree isn't one of those novels that teens shouldn't read such as Fifty Shades of Grey, since it is rather chaste, it does cover topics that younger audiences may not be able to thoroughly empathize with, thus changing the reading experience ever-so-slightly from the rumored hype surrounding this book.

Allred's novel is split into two parts; the first, detailing eight-year-old Alix French's introduction and love story with Nick Anderson, the sweet and quiet son of the town drunkard, and the second, fifteen years after Nick leaves Alix in their teen years as he is accused of killing his father in self-defense. While The Sweet Gum Tree starts out rather slow, I encourage you to keep reading. Allred's novel is character-driven and while the majority of the first-half of the novel seems almost unnecessary, it isn't. It helps us, as the reader, gain a clearer understanding of Alix, our protagonist, and her relationships with both Nick and her family as she grows into a woman in the South. Although The Sweet Gum Tree is marketed as a romance, it's really a novel about family. Alix's relationship with each of her family members is unique and Allred's realistic and in-depth portrayal of their impact on Alix's life is remarkably written.

Still, don't let that fool you. The Sweet Gum Tree is, at its very heart, a romance. Alix and Nick meet as young children and their gradual love story as they grow is heart-warming to see unfold. Thus, the events that pull them apart are tragic and devastating and the journey they have to face to find themselves back to where they first began is one that cannot be missed. I've said it before, but novels that focus on the impact and repercussions of a love story more than the love story itself usually make a way into my heart, and this novel was no different. I simply ate up the heartache, the obstacles, and the careful manner in which Nick and Alix somehow found a way back to one another, despite their one-step-forward-two-steps-back approach. What I loved the most, though, is the fact that Alix and Nick are in control of their lives. Whatever issues they face, they themselves have caused and in learning to fall in love with each other all over again, they learn to fix themselves, their flaws, and live with them. It's all so realistic and touching that I couldn't help but become dragged into their admittedly angsty love story and somehow enjoy it, despite its drama, for the realistic moments of clarity, depth, and poignancy far outweighed the flaws in this love story.

What surprised me still further was how, despite a dominant love story, Allred continued to develop Alix's complex personality in the second-half of the story. We see Alix fifteen years later and it is startlingly touching to see how her relationship with her parents has changed, how certain events have shaped her, and how she's a completely different person, while still inherently retaining her nature. Just the manner in which Allred has written Alix as a dynamic character truly took me by surprise and she is easily one of the most fleshed-out characters I've come across, which definitely made this novel an emotional read as the reader was so invested in the story. Nick, as our other main character, is also remarkably life-like, as are Alix's parents, her grandfather with whom she has a beautiful relationship, and her best friend. Each one of these secondary characters play as large a role in Alix's life as Nick himself, which was refreshing and created an even more complete outlook on Alix's life. Even the flow of the story, despite being character-driven, was smooth and the growth was extremely realistic, so I certainly have to give Allred props for having such a strong hold on her characters.

Nevertheless, there were certain aspects of this story which grated on me. First and foremost, the narration. I thoroughly enjoyed Alix's voice, but the story is told from the future, which means we receive short interjections from Future Alix telling us that if she had ever known what was to come, she would have acted differently, etc. While at first this wasn't too bad - Karen Marie Moning employs a similar tactic throughout the Fever Series after all - it was continuous and repetitive and each chapter seemed to end on an ominous cliffhanger because of it. Ultimately, since it was so overused, it didn't work. It didn't create that element of fear or mystery and just became annoying. Moreover, in regard to the mystery surrounding Nick's sudden departure and the true circumstances of  his father's death, I didn't find it all that "mysterious." Once the half-way mark was passed, the pieces slowly began to come together and it wasn't a shocking reveal in the least. Thankfully, Alix herself finds out the truth with less than a quarter of the novel to go, so we get to see some of the repercussions and impact - all which was very well done - and overall, that small bit of predictability didn't impact my enjoyment of the novel, but it's just something to keep in mind.

One of the few things that did truly impact my enjoyment of this novel, however, were some aspects of the plot. Seriously folks, everyone in this town is having an affair with everyone else in this town. So. Much. Drama. While the plot concerning the character growth and development all felt very natural, realistic, and life-like, it sometimes felt as if the dramatic instances in this novel were forced. I never knew an eight-year-old's life could be so drama-filled, but apparently in the South, or at least in this town, it certainly is. Even as Alix grows up, we have drama story after drama story. In my eyes, most of them worked out well, were dealt with efficiently, and only furthered the plot. Others, however, could have easily been left out and didn't do much to the tale. Yet, I am grateful that no matter what Allred threw at us, she made sure to craft her characters carefully so that the eventual impact of that event was felt on them, and in turn us, no matter how strange its entry into the piece.

Thus, I can't really find too much fault with this book. Allred's narration may not have worked for me, but her characterization was spot-on and some of the issues she tackled in this book were remarkably dealt with. I do, however, feel as if I would have been utterly invested in this if I were older. Some of the events in Alix's life were ones I could only sympathize, not empathize, with so while I don't warn younger audiences away from this book, since there's nothing to censor or warn away from, I do think it will wind up being a much more powerful read a couple of years down the line. I certainly intend to come back to it in the future and see how my reactions change with age and experience. Ultimately, however, The Sweet Gum Tree is every bit as entertaining and romantic as I expected and when a contemporary novel surprises me with its depth, I can't possibly ask for anything more.

Showcase Sunday (#18)

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicki at Books, Biscuits and Tea. Its aim is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week.

For Review: 

The Cadet of Tildor by Alex Lidell

I'm on a blog tour for this one so I really can't wait to start reading it. I love fantasy, especially high fantasy, so let's hope this one lives up to my expectations! *fingers crossed* 

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

I've read so many positive reviews for this one lately that I figured I might as well just go ahead and request it on NetGalley. I loved it. It completely surprised me, but in a REALLY good way. You can read my review HERE.  

Lord of the Changing Winds, Land of the Burning Sands, Law of the Broken Earth (Griffin Mage, #1-3) by Rachel Neumeier

 The City in the Lake by Rachel Neumeier and The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier

If you recall, I reviewed House of Shadows by Rachel Neumeier a few weeks ago. Shortly afterwards, Ms. Neumeier herself contacted me and asked if I would like to receive a box of her books, to which I gladly accepted as I had already fallen in love with Neumeier's writing style and distinct fantasy prose. I cannot thank Ms. Neumeier enough for sending me copies of all her novels - signed! - and I cannot wait to read them! Fantasy is my favorite genre by far, so I'm really looking forward to these novels! :)

Borrowed: 

Someone Like You, A Lot Like Love, About That Night (FBI/US Attorney, #1-3) by Julie James

I wound up reading all of Julie James' contemporary romances within a week - they were just that addictive. As far as this series goes, I loved the first novel, didn't enjoy the second novel, and liked the third novel. Yet, all of them were fun and entertaining and while only the first one really wormed its way into my heart, the third one was close and I'm already eager for the release of the fourth novel next year! You can read my reviews for this series HERE. 

Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James

Yet another Julie James romance, Just the Sexiest Man Alive is a true page-turner. I sat up late reading this one and while I had a few minor qualms with it, I just loved it overall. Very fun, albeit the most chaste of all James' novels. 

Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James

This. Book. THIS. Goodness, it's...amazing. It's my favorite of all James' romances and it's one I'm going to re-read until the end of days. I just adored it SO MUCH. It's perfect. READ IT. ;)

Bared to You by Sylvia Day

Bared to You has been marketed as the next Fifty Shades of Grey, which is why I've avoided it, but when my mom brought it home from the library, she compelled me to give it a try. It's...not bad. While I hated FSoG with a passion, from its characters to its ridiculous sex scenes to my slow realization that BDSM just wasn't for me, I did like the psychological undertone of it and in some ways, that's what Bared to You has more of. It's also a healthy relationship, one where the characters TALK, and the protagonist is one I liked. It still had a lot of flaws and I doubt I'll pick up the sequel, but as far as erotica goes (and considering I don't enjoy it), it's not bad. You can read my review for it HERE. 

On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves

Yes, more contemporary. I've seen this one around a LOT and while the age gap between the characters threw me off, I've decided to give it a try. Let's hope it lives up to the hype! 

Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson

I've seen everyone talking about the sequel to this one, Quicksilver, which is available on NG and figured it was about time I started this. I simply cannot wait! :D

Touching the Surface by Kimberley Sabatini

I haven't heard too much about this one, but everything I have heard has been really good, so let's hope I enjoy this one! 

 Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Eeep! Yes, this is reality, not a dream! I actually received this one from my friend, Amelia, at The Authoress. I can't express how excited I was to pick it up in the mail since it is THE most anticipated read of 2013 for me, so thank you Amelia! You're the best! :D (Also, if you're wondering, the book was AMAZING! Duh! It's worth the wait...I promise you!)

Bought: 

A Straight Line to My Heart by Bill Condon 

I think it's safe to say that I'm in love with this Aussie gem. I've been meaning to read it for awhile now and decided to indulge myself and just buy it after all. It may be short, but it's deep, utterly sweet, and completely mesmerizing. I can't wait to read more by Condon!

Love-Shy by Lili Wilkinson 

I got tired of reading all the amazing reviews of this one and wallowing in my misery of not having read it, so I bought it. Err...I actually bought it for my friend, but I read it first! ;)

Traded: 

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi 

I've already read this one, but I wanted my own copy since I re-read it so often on my Kindle. I love it and I traded a copy of Throne of Glass for this, a worthwhile trade considering how much I disliked that novel and love this one. :) You can read my review HERE.

The Storyteller by Antonia Michaelis 

I've heard SO many good things about this book so I can't wait to read it! When I saw it on ARCycling two weeks ago, I knew I had to grab it and now...it is MINE! ;) I really hope I enjoy this one!

A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb 

Yet another novel that seems to have taken readers by surprise with its brilliance and I'm hoping it does the same with me. I'm not a huge fan of the cover, but it's a slim novel and flipping through it, I saw Jane Eyre referenced, so I'm sure I'll enjoy it! ;)

Wolfskin by Juliet Marillier 

I'll admit it - I was kind of disappointed to receive this in the mail. I had ordered Son of Shadows, the sequel to Daughter of the Forest, before this one and was dejected to see that I had to wait even MORE to read SotS! Still, I love Juliet Marillier and when I was offered a trade for this one, I couldn't resist. I loveeee this cover and my copy of the book has beautiful library binding on it and the pages are so PRETTY. I can't wait to read this - I've heard plenty of good things about this one as well, so I'm hoping it's another hit like DotF! :)

Well...that's my haul for this month! I haven't received a whole lot of review books lately, but considering I've barely touched my NG reads, I have a LOT of catching-up to do for sure. Anyway, I hope you all had excellent weeks in terms of books and I can't wait to see all the new goodies you received, so...link me up! ;)