Book Review #737 - Raising Demons (Hex Hall 2) by Rachel Hawkins

Sophie Mercer's first term at Hex Hall turned out to be quite eventful. First the ghost of her evil grandmother haunted her every move, then her best friend was accused of murder and of course there was the discovery that Archer Cross, aka the boy of her dreams, was actually an undercover demon hunter - which would probably be something she could have worked on, if she hadn't also discovered that she was actually the demon Archer was hunting…

 
So, despite their issues, Sophie is actually relieved to be spending the summer in London with her father. But when your father is Head of The Council of Prodigium and your summer is being spent at the headquarters of everything magical, then a quiet holiday isn't really that likely. And, as Sophie struggles to come to terms with her new found demon powers, she finds herself thrust once again into a world of dark magic and conspiracies. The only thing that could possibly make things more complicated would be for Archer Cross to show up again, which of course he wouldn't, would he?

 

 

My Rating:  2.5/5

Having read Hex Hall back in 2011 its sequel Raising Demons is one of the oldest books on my TBR and so it was really satisfying to finally get around to reading it. 

I feel like I would have enjoyed this book a lot more had I read it back in 2011. I reread Hex Hall in preparation for finishing this series and did not like it anywhere near as much as I did back then. 

The amount of tropes this book contained showed just how much the YA genre has developed and matured over the last 7 years. I found I was a lot more aware of these than I had been in the past. 

Seeing as this book is somewhat oldish now it was fantastic to see LGBT representation in this book and this was given more attention than the first book.

The main issue I had with this book was Sophie's relationship with Archer. Sophie claims to be in love with him even though they have barely had any interactions with one another, he had a girlfriend for the whole of the first book and he tried to kill her. It was all a little to insta-love for me to believe. 

Sophie developed quite a lot in this book. She not only met her father for the first time but she also started to learn how to harness her powers that come with being a powerful demon.

 

I did find Sophie annoying at times though as she pined over Archer. I can see a dreaded love triangle forming in the third book which I am not looking forward to at all. 

I really liked the setting of Hex Hall in the first book but I liked the setting of the counsel headquarters especially as it was in England and we got to see a wider view of this world.

Book Review #595 - The Lovely and the Lost (The Dispossessed #2) by Page Morgan

My Rating: 4/5

Source: The Five Mile Press

Buy: The Book Depository

Goodreads

Gabby and Ingrid may have saved their brother, but their journey is far from over. Ingrid must learn how to control her powers before they begin to control her. She wishes Luc would help her, but he's refusing... Meanwhile Gabby has thrown herself into the Alliance, despite the eye patch she now wears thanks to a hellhound. But there are major changes afoot. When Nolan returns from the trials of the traitorous Alliance members he brings his father and his cousin, whose first order is to remove Chelle, Ingrid, and Gabby from their duties - women are no longer welcome.

But Paris needs hunters, especially now murder is sweeping the city again. Whole families are being slaughtered in their sleep, at the dinner table - even while out in the family carriage. Just who or what is behind these slayings? The action, romance, and devastatingly dark secrets revealed in THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE CURSED continue as Ingrid and Gabby fight for their loves, their lives and their city.

This is the sequel to The Beautiful and the Cursed. 

I loved this book so much more than the first. I decided not to re-read the first book before reading the sequel even though I didn't really remember anything other than the basics from it as I read it over a year ago. 

This book was written perfectly to refresh the reader of what occurred in the first book before diving into the next adventure. 

These books have a certain eeriness to them which lingers on every single page. It was definitely a perfect October read. 

The character development in this book was significant especially with Grayson. It helped that we had chapters from his POV. 

I love the mythology in this series. It seems really thought out and researched. 

The ending was amazing with an absolutely shocking cliff hanger and I cannot wait to get my hands on the third book The Wondrous and the Wicked. 

Book Review #578 - The Demon's Deadline (Demon's Assistant #1) by Tori Centanni

My Rating: 3.5/5



Source: iBooks



Buy: Amazon



Goodreads

Some teenagers deliver pizza, some deliver newspapers. My part-time job? I deliver mysterious envelopes for a demon. I don't even get tips. 

It seemed like a good deal at the time. I almost died in a car accident, and Azmos saved me... gave me a second chance. At first, it wasn't so bad. I got to live, go to high school, hang out with my boyfriend Cam. He's too cute for his own good, but he's getting tired of all this demon stuff. I hate lying to my best friend Melissa and my dad, who's still not over my mom's death. Neither am I. 

But now, this gig is getting dangerous, and it's not like I can quit. Even if I could, then what? I've seen things I can't unsee. I just hope I can figure out how to navigate the darkness before I do something I can't undo. 

It's time I face my own demons.

I got this book for free from iBooks and ended up liking it a lot more than I thought I would as it was an unique, fun and interesting paranormal story. 

I felt though perhaps too much had happened prior to this book and that we weren't getting the entire story. For example the relationship between the protagonist Nikki and her boyfriend Cam had already developed substantially to the point where they seemed like a married couple and also Nikki's unique job with being an assistant to a demon had been going on for years. 

The two demons in this book (especially Azmos) were mysterious, secretive and I just wanted to find out more about them. 

I thought that the author made Nikki feel nauseous too many times when she felt nervous as at one stage I wondered if there was going to be a surprise pregnancy plot twist. 

Overall, I really did enjoy this book and am looking forward to reading the sequels. 

Book Review #498 - Echo (Soul Seekers #2) by Alyson Noel

Daire Santos has already saved her grandmother's life and her soul. But at a cost: the Richter family has been let loose in the Lowerworld. Daire and her boyfriend Dace Richter must work together to find them before chaos ensues and the balance between good and evil is destroyed. As their relationship deepens, Dace's evil brother Cade grows stronger than ever, building his power and forcing Daire and Dace to confront the horrifying prophecy that has brought them all together. It will leave Daire no choice but to claim her true destiny as Seeker, but only by making an unthinkable sacrifice.

My Rating: 3.5/5

I received this book for review from Pan MacMillan Australia and it is the sequel to Fated. 

I was a little worried about this book because as it had been a while since I read Fated and for some reason I didn't take any notes whilst reading it, and I wasn't sure how much of it I remembered. 

As soon as I started reading this, Fated came flooding back to me and I found myself absorbed in the story once more. 

The first 100 or so pages were solely narrated by Daire as it was in Fated however after a small plot twist it changes into split narration. The only thing I didn't like about the split narration was the fact that Daire's chapters were significantly longer than Dace's. 

This book delves deeper into not only the characters and the whole prophecy saga but also Daire and Dace's relationship and the sacrifices they have to go through. 

Daire has grown so much since the first book not only as a character but with her capabilities as a Seeker. 

I predicted the major plot twist in this book really early which wasn't ideal but the amazing cliffhanger at the end made up for it.   

Book Review #455 - Nowhere Boys by Elise McCredie

Four teenage boys are hiking in the bush when they are caught in a freak storm. After surviving the night, the boys expect a hero’s welcome, but instead they find that nobody knows who they are. Not their family. Not their friends. They are faced with a town of blank faces and are trapped in a world where they don’t exist. Sam, Jake and Andy are desperate to right their lives. They need to figure out how to make things go back to the way they used to be. Only Felix is conflicted: there are certain things about this new world that he likes. But as they grapple with their situation, it becomes clear that other things have been disturbed. A dark force has been unleashed and suddenly the situation becomes desperate. The boys must find a way to right their lives before evil destroys them.

My Rating: 3/5

I received this book for review from Hardie Grant Egmont. 

This book is a novelization of a TV Show of the same name which I had never heard of prior to receiving this book. 

Given that the author of this book wrote numerous episodes of the show, I feel like this book probably shows a honest portrayal of the characters and the show as a whole. 

The four main protagonists had completely different  personalities and vastly different backgrounds which made their interactions very interesting. 

I liked the whole idea of their friends and family not knowing who they were but felt like more could have been done if the reason was more sci-fi related rather than witchcraft. 

The whole witchcraft aspect completely surprised me because it didn't feel like that kind of book up until that point. At first I thought it was a little over the top but once the characters became accepting of it I found I was as well. 

The book ends with a cliff-hanger so I'm not sure if sequels are in the works.

Book Review #450 - City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare

ΕRCHOMAI, SEBASTIAN HAD SAID.

I am coming.

Darkness returns to the Shadowhunter world. As their society falls apart around them, Clary, Jace, Simon and their friends must band together to fight the greatest evil the Nephilim have ever faced: Clary’s own brother. Nothing in the world can defeat him — must they journey to another world to find the chance?

My Rating: 5/5

This book was one of my most eagerly anticipated books of 2014.

In the lead up to its release, I decided to re-read the entire series. I definitely fell more in love with the shadowhunter world.

City of Glass is still my favourite book of this series, but City of Heavenly Fire runs a close second.

I loved the introduction of Emma as she reminded me of a mixture of Clary and Jace. I am definitely looking forward to reading more about her in The Dark Artifices series.

This book was a lot longer than the others because it deals with a lot more plot twists, action and characters.

I had numerous ideas on how this series would end, and whilst I wasn't completely accurate I was on the right track.

Possible Spoiler: Out of all the plot twists and endings, the Simon one surprised me the most.

This was the first time (probably because I re-read the entire series in under a week) that I felt a connection to both Izzy and Alec.

There was a significant more romance in this book compared to the others which will please a lot of people.

I have yet to read The Infernal Devices series so a lot of references to the characters from that series and their ancestors went a little over my head.

Book Review #449 - Fated (Soul Seekers #1) by Alyson Noel

Strange things are happening to Daire Santos. Crows mock her, glowing people stalk her, time stops without warning, and a beautiful boy with unearthly blue eyes haunts all her dreams. Fearing for her daughter’s sanity, Daire’s mother sends her to live with the grandmother she’s never met. A woman who recognizes the visions for what they truly are—the call to her destiny as a Soul Seeker—one who can navigate the worlds between the living and dead.



There on the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico, Daire sets out to harness her mystical powers. But it’s when she meets Dace, the boy from her dreams, that her whole world is shaken to its core. Now Daire is forced to discover if Dace is the one guy she's meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she's destined to destroy.

My Rating: 3.5/5

I have a love/hate relationship with Alyson Noel's books so I was interested in how I would feel about this one. I would say I fell somewhere in between.

The main thing I loved about this book was the whole seeker magic aspect. I thought that this was unique as it depicted the magical element in a more natural way.

The main problem I had with this book was the characters. There wasn't anything redeeming about them and their actions weren't believable at all.

Daire the protagonist was annoying from the first paragraph - although I did think she softened out towards the end. Her relationship with Dace was a little unbelievable simply because of the pacing of it.

I also really loved the idea of the spirit animals and hope that this aspect gets developed more throughout the rest of the series.

Book Review #448 - The Beautiful and the Cursed (The Dispossessed #1) by Page Morgan

Ingrid Waverley is a young woman to be reckoned with. Faced with her brother's mysterious disappearance after an abrupt move to Paris, she is determined to discover what has happened to him. Soon she and her sister Gabriella are drawn into a Parisian underworld more terrifying than they could ever have imagined, but watching over them are two impossible (and impossibly handsome) young men. Luc is a 'Dispossessed', an ancient gargoyle whose sworn duty it is to protect the humans who inhabit his abbey. Nolan has secrets of his own too. He is a member of the Alliance - a shadowy group dedicated to keeping Paris safe from the demonic forces that threaten to destroy it.




Secrets, danger and hidden powers stalk the girls in this beautifully imagined paranormal romance that will keep readers gripped from beginning to end - and one thing is for sure - you'll never look at a gargoyle in the same way again....

My Rating: 3/5

This was a completely unique and refreshing book to read. I really loved the depth of the mythology behind the gargoyles existence.

Because of the uniqueness of the gargoyles, there is a lot of explaining of terminology and whilst I thought the amount of it slowed the pacing down a bit I do think it was required.

I would have preferred there to have been one narrator as I've read a lot of multiple narrations recently. I really enjoyed all of the characters differing perspectives though. 

I wasn't that interested in the romance in this book. I'm not a fan of love triangles, so that might be why.




 

Overall, I loved the concept and now that the world building has been done am hoping that the sequel will be even better.

Book Review #351 - City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare

Jace is now a servant of evil, bound for all eternity to Sebastian. Only a small band of Shadowhunters believe he can be saved. To do this they must defy the Clave. And they must act without Clary. For Clary is playing a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. 

Clary is willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

What price is too high to pay, even for love?

 

 

My Rating: 4/5

 

 

This is my least favourite in this series so far. It had been around 3 months since I read book 4 and so it took me a while to get back into the Shadowhunter world.

 

 

Sebastian was the character that surprised me the most in this book. I actually felt sorry for him. Underneath his evilness, he actually seems quite vulnerable, innocent and very lonely. I wanted to believe that he had changed, but I knew that he would have had an ulterior motive.

 

 

Although I felt like the plot in this book was significantly weaker than the previous books, I still liked reading about the world and the characters.

 

 

I would have liked more interaction between Clary and Simon as I really like their friendship but am glad that Simon seems to have developed a romantic relationship of his own.

 

 

I didn't really feel the need for Jordan and Maia to be included. They were barely mentioned at all throughout, and whenever they were it felt like it was only to remind you that they still existed.

 

 

The ending of this book was completely not what I had expected. The cliff hangers in this series always seem to come out of nowhere.

 

 

Now while I am waiting for book 6 (City of Heavenly Fire) to be published, I might finally start reading The Infernal Devices series.

 

 

 

 

Book Review #339 - Falling In by Samantha R. Anderer

Now that summer vacation has begun, Peyton Cole wants to relax and enjoy the last book of her favorite Young Adult romance series. She reads as Gavin Forrester and Venus Angeletti notice someone watching them from the bushes, and Peyton realizes they mean her. Suddenly she is part of their world, and she doesn't know how she got there.

Hot-beyond-belief Gavin seems attracted to her, and she thinks it might be fun to pop in and out of the book at will. Then everything changes when someone tries to kill her. Peyton wants to return to the safety of her world, but she can't get out of the story. Her best friends, her sister, and the boy who loves her rush against time to save her, but the truth may be more than they can handle.

My Rating: 4/5

I received this book for review from the author. The author's website can be found here.

 

 

This book reminded me at times of Between the Lines. Like that book, I just really enjoyed the concept of a book within a book.

 

 

This book was a lot of fun to read. It had likeable characters, interesting plot and a paranormal twist at the end.
 
 
What was good about the characters was that it didn't just focus on the protagonist Peyton. Both of her best friends have their points of views portrayed for a solid portion of the book as well. 

Book Review #327 - Shadowflesh (Shadowflesh #1) by Shawn Martin

Torn from her home and fighting bouts of suicidal depression, seventeen year old Aileen McCormick lands in the small coastal town of Redcliff, North Carolina. Her first day of school promises to be the worst day of her life - until she falls into the arms of Addison Wake. Addison's otherworldly charm and drop-dead gorgeous face leave Aileen breathless, but only for a moment. Grim and painful secrets lurk in his dark soul.

Addison Wake isn't exactly like other boys. Far from it. He's dead and has been for 300 years, locked in an ethereal prison by a lethal enchantress named Donelle. When she hungers, she blesses Addison's tortured spirit with moments of freedom, allowing him to roam the mortal world as Shadowflesh. But that dark blessing comes at a price. He must deliver the souls of five unsuspecting humans to Donelle.

When four dead bodies pop up in Redcliff, Aileen asks herself is her love for the mysterious boy unconditional? Is the love worth the risk? And will she be the next victim?

 

 

My Rating: 4/5

 

 

I received this book for review from the author. His website can be found here.

 

 

I really enjoyed this book. It had a nice underlying gothic feel to it which really set the tone for the novel.

 

 

Aileen was an interesting protagonist. It took me a while to warm up to her, but once I did I found her really enjoyable.

 

 

I really liked Aileen's grandmother. I would describe her as a young adult version of Grandma Mazur from the Stephanie Plum novels.

 

 

I also really liked the paranormal aspect, as it was unique and I just found the whole concept of it fascinating.

 

 

The plot was a little slow paced, but I preferred it that way. There were so many awesome characters especially Addison.

Book Review #324 - City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare

The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And - most importantly of all - she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine's Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out that he's a vampire and now he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side - along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls - neither of whom knows about the other one.

When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: She herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

 

 

My Rating: 3.5/5

 

 

Given that the first three books were meant to be a trilogy, I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book. I thought that it was a little weaker in terms of plot than the original three but was glad to be back in the world of Shadowhunters.

 

 

When I first started reading this book and found out that Simon was the dominant character I didn't think I was going to like it as much as what I did. Simon just isn't one of my favourite characters at all, but I did quite like him in this book.

 

 

It was good how the vampire dynamics were explored a little deeper. It is also good to see how Simon is adapting to his new life not only as a vampire, but also as a daylighter.

 

 

Alec was a character that really irritated me throughout the entire book. He was really insecure with his relationship with Magnus.

 

 

Jace was another character that I liked less in this book. He wasn't as mopey as he was in book three but still annoyed me. His relationship with Clary was all over the place.

Book Review #322 - City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3) by Cassandra Clare

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?

My Rating: 4/5

This series is pretty addictive, and each book seems to be better than the last.

There seemed to be even more action in this book than the previous two combined. The final battle is where the majority of the action occured.

There were a number of plot twists, but I didn't feel like any of them were shocking. I saw the main one coming a mile away.

There seemed to less of Clary in this book, which in a way was a good thing because I thought that a number of other characters really developed because of that. 

I didn't really like how the book was no longer set in Brooklyn. I didn't feel like the new setting of Idris was developed enough.

Jace was a character that I liked in the first book, but he seems to be getting weaker and weaker as the series progresses. He was really mopey in this book.

Book Review #321 - City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare

 

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go -- especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil -- and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings -- and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

 

 

My Rating: 4/5

 

 

I honestly don't know why it has taken me so long to continue this series, especially when it seems to be as good as the hype.

 

 

I liked this book a little bit more than the first, and only because I thought it contained more action especially with the ending.

 

 

It was good how there was a stronger involvement from the werewolves, vampires and faeries. I have read enough of Young Adult literature though that the plot twist with Simon was not surprising at all.

 

 

The romance aspect is nowhere as dominant as is with most YA paranormal books which I am really enjoying.

 

 

I don't really know what to think about Clary's relationship with Jace. The chemistry between them is undeniable, but I couldn't overlook the fact that they are brother and sister. As for her relationship with Simon, I prefer them as friends.

 

 

I am interested in seeing what happens when Clary's mother wakes up as she will shed more depth on the Clave and Valentine.

Book Review - City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare

It's after dark in New York City, and Clary Fray is seeing things. The best-looking guy in the nightclub just stabbed a boy to death - but the victim has vanished into thin air. Her mother has disappeared, and a hideous monster is lurking in her apartment. With her life spiralling into darkness, Clary realizes that she has stumbled into an invisible war between ancient demonic forces and the secretive Shadowhunters - a war which she has a fateful role to play.

 

 

My Rating: 4/5

 

 

I don't normally write reviews for books that I have already reviewed here on my blog, however my views on this book drastically changed so I thought I should review it again.

 

 

My first review of this book from 18 January 2011 can be found here.

 

 

I read this book in one day, compared to three weeks when I read it in 2011. This is probably why I liked it considerably more this time around.

 

 

I connected with the characters instantly this time, and the only characters I didn't really like were Alec and Izzy.

 

 

There were some aspects of the book that reminded me of Harry Potter, which wasn't surprising given the author's past.

 

 

I really liked the world that was created, and I haven't liked the world building as much as I did with this book since Harry Potter. I also liked the variety of paranormal creatures as this book seems to involve almost all of them.

Book Review #192 - Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1) by Laini Taylor

"Errand requiring immediate attention. Come.

The note was on vellum, pierced by the talons of the almost-crow that delivered it. Karou read the message. 'He never says please', she sighed, but she gathered up her things.
When Brimstone called, she always came."

In general, Karou has managed to keep her two lives in balance. On the one hand, she's a seventeen-year-old art student in Prague; on the other, errand-girl to a monstrous creature who is the closest thing she has to family. Raised half in our world, half in 'Elsewhere', she has never understood Brimstone's dark work - buying teeth from hunters and murderers - nor how she came into his keeping. She is a secret even to herself, plagued by the sensation that she isn't whole.

Now the doors to Elsewhere are closing, and Karou must choose between the safety of her human life and the dangers of a war-ravaged world that may hold the answers she has always sought.

 

 

 

My Rating: 4/5

 

 

If I could have split this book in half, the first half would get five stars and the second half would get three stars.

 

 

The book started off really well, very fast paced and I was sucked into Karou's world instantly. I really liked how unique and independent she was.

 

 

I found Brimstone and the mysterious Elsewhere very facinating and wished they were explored deeper.

 

 

The book being set in Prague, was a very interesting aspect as I have never read a book set there before. It had a very unique feel to it.

 

 

The plot was alot to take in. It was very complicated and towards the end when it started to explain things more in depth I was a little confused at times.

 

 

The second half of the book, when Karou and Akiva fall in love was when I started to lose interest. I didn't feel any chemistry between them and I didn't like how their love became the sole focus in the story.

 

 

I am definitely going to be reading the second book in the series, but I just hope it is more like the first half of this book and not the second half.

Book Review #191 - Beautifully Broken (Spellbound #1) by Sherry Soule

Thirteenth daughter. Heritage witch. Demon slayer.

They say every town has its secrets, but that doesn’t even begin to describe Whispering Pines. The townsfolk are a superstitious lot and the mystical disappearance of a local teen has everyone murmuring about a centuries old witch’s curse…

Sixteen-year-old Shiloh Ravenwolf is a heritage witch from the Broussard family, a family both destined and cursed. After she takes a summer job at Ravenhurst Manor, she discovers a ghost with an agenda. That’s where she meets the new town hottie, Trent Donovan. But Trent may be the next victim on the supernatural hit list, and Shiloh is the only person with the power to save him.

Complicated much?

After receiving cryptic messages from a creepy wraith, and then frightening threats from a demon, Shiloh finally begins to understand the mysterious significance of the strange mark branded on her wrist. Now Shiloh must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to protect the other teenagers in town.

Unfortunately, for Shiloh, not all ghosts want help crossing over. Some want vengeance.

 

 

My Rating: 4/5

 

I would like to thank the author for kindly sending me a copy of this book for review. Her Goodreads page is here.

 

 

This book starts off with a bang and made me instantly interested in the story.

 

 

Shiloh is such a likeable, brave, strong female character one who I connected to instantly. Her family dynamics were also very interesting especially her relationship with her mother.

 

 

Shiloh's relationship with the male protagonist Trent progressed too quickly for my liking and I never felt the connection between the two of them, but I did like them on their own.

 

 

My favourite part of this book was Ravenhurst Manor. The way it is described was intense and I loved the whole gothic feel of it. I loved the history it had and the reason behind all the hauntings was intriguing.

Book Review #130 - Hell's Game by Teresa Lo

On Halloween night in Deer Creek, Kansas, Jake Victor, Ashley and Ashton Gemini, and Kristin Grace convince Ronnie Smalls to meet them at the town cemetery, which local folklore has always rumored to be the Gateway to Hell. Their intention was only to scare him, but soon the wicked prank becomes actual horror as the group learns the Gateway is all too real. After demons snatch Ronnie and drag him to Hell, the terrified foursome vow to keep what they had seen a secret.

Two years later, the group receives a mysterious letter, an invite to play a high-stakes game in Hell. If they win, they release Ronnie’s soul as well as their own from eternal damnation. If they lose, they are stuck in Hell forever. Choosing to play, they face nightmare after nightmare as each level escalates in intensity and forces them to face the seven deadly sins.

Inspired by the legends of the Gateway to Hell in Stull, Kansas, Hell’s Game explores the cruelty that teenagers can inflict upon each other as well as the horrors that exist amongst mankind. It is a dark, action-packed young adult novel that will both scare its readers and make them question the true meaning of evil.

My Rating: 4/5

I was given this book for review from the author. The author's goodreads page is here.

I found this book to be really fast paced. The plot takes off immediately and you feel like you already know the characters from the first page.

The best way I would describe this book would be the Hunger Games crossed with a video game with a Percy Jackson style adventure thrown in.

I liked how the characters backgrounds were incorporated into the challenges they faced in hell.

Book Review #50 - Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid #1) by Richelle Mead

Succubus (n.) An alluring, shape-shifting demon who seduces and pleasures mortal men. 

Pathetic (adj.) A succubus with great shoes and no social life. See: Georgina Kincaid.

When it comes to jobs in hell, being a succubus seems pretty glamorous. A girl can be anything she wants, the wardrobe is killer, and mortal men will do anything just for a touch. Granted, they can often pay with their souls, but why get technical?

But Seattle succubus Georgina Kincaid's life is far less exotic. Her boss is a middle-management demon with a thing for John Cusack movies, and she can't get a decent date without sucking away part of the guy's life. At least there's her day job at a local bookstore - free books; all the white chocolate mochas she can drink; and easy access to bestselling, sexy writer, Seth Mortensen, aka He Whom She Would Give Anything to Touch but Can't.

But dreaming about Seth will have to wait. Something wicked is at work in Seattle's demon underground. And for once, all her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won't help because Georgina's about to discover there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny.......

My Rating: 3.5/5

I liked this book from the very first page. Georgina was realistic and easy to relate to. I never really liked Roman from the first time he was mentioned and my favourite male character was Seth.

I thought that the writing was well done and the characters developed timely throughout. 

Although this book is the first in a series, I think it does more than just set up the story. It would still be an amazing book if it was by itself. 

The only thing I didn't like about the book was that some aspects were very predictable and easy to interpret. 

The next book in the series is Succubus Nights or Succubus On Top. There are currently 6 books so far in the series.

Book Review #19 - Hex Hall (Hex Hall #1) by Rachel Hawkins

When sixteen-year old Sophie Mercer discovers she's a witch, she imagines life will be full of magic, fun and.....well.....broomsticks! But her first attempt at a love spell goes disastrously wrong and, as punishment, Sophie is shipped off to Hecate "Hex" Hall, a reform school for witches, shapeshifters, and faeries.

By the end of her first day among her fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tag-along ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person on campus and the only vampire.

Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

My Rating: 4.5/5

I had been meaning to buy this book for a very long time. I probably put off buying it because I had such high expectations for it and was worried it wouldn't meet them. Well, I shouldn't have worried, because not only did it meet my expectations but it surpassed them.

This book is a very quick read thanks largely to the continual advancements with the plot. I read this book in under four hours.

The characters were well written, especially Sophie and Jenna.

I can't wait for the second book in this series called Demon Glass.