Spellbound, by Cara Lynn Shultz

I almost always finish the books I read. Only when I absolutely cannot stand a book do I put it down in the middle, because even if I don't like what's going on, I don't want to stop without a sense of completion. Unfortunately, this book was so bad that I didn't even go past the third chapter. When I realized how corny, cliche, and superficial it was getting then I flipped to the end to see if maybe it's not worth putting it down. Nope, it was worth it.

The main reason why I hated this book was not the totally cliche story. Don't get me wrong-it was cliche, but I've read so many YA fantasy books at this point that I rarely find one that isn't cliche, and sometimes good prose or interesting characters can make up for that. This story was a typical one of a girl with a tragic past in a new school where she falls for the cool guy and there's some secret magical background connecting them. I was able to predict everything-exactly where all the blow-ups would happen, who she would be friends with and everyone's fate, but I didn't care enough to stick around to see if any of it actually happened.

What really upset me was how nasty the main character was. Emma mentions how she's gone through a lot, and how she doesn't want people at her new school to judge her but she doesn't hesitate in judging them. When the mean blonde girl was rude to her she answered with an excessive amount of unnecessary comebacks. It was slightly overkill. The girl gave her one small insult and she responded back with some nasty and insensitive words. Strangely enough, what pushed me over the edge was when she met Angelique. She took one look at her and decided she'd like her. I am extremely superficial, but even I don't look at someone's outfit and decide that I'm going to be her friend.

2.0 stars. Don't read this. Just don't.

  What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?
Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Connor, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to— Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.
But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives— visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

Envy, by Elizabeth Miles (Fury #2)

Skyler McVoy is new to Ascension, and she is determined to start over and forget her dark past. Soon enough, Skyler is friends with the beautiful Meg, as well as popular Gabby. However, Skyler isn't okay with just being friends with Gabby-Skyler wants to replace her as the queen bee, and has the help of Meg. Emily Winters, Gabby's best friend, recognizes the signs of the Furies around Skyler, and is determined to stop them once and for all and reclaim all they took from her.

Like Fury, this book was extremely dark, and also like Fury, was a blend of a teen fantasy novel with a psychological thriller. While I normally don't read those sorts of books, and prefer a little more light-heartedness in my books, I couldn't put Envy down. I thought Fury was amazing, but Envy only built on that. I ended up staying up way too late and almost having nightmares, but it was totally worth it.

The ending was absolutely crazy. It was shocking and I LOVED IT. It was the perfect way to reveal crucial information and leave the most amazing cliff-hanger that is leaving me panting for the third book to come out. There was also a lot of death in this novel, and the reality of people dying because of the Furies grounded the story in a way that most other fantasy novels aren't.

5 stars.

Spring is coming, and the ice is slowly melting in Ascension... revealing the secrets buried beneath.

Emily Winters knows the Furies have roots in Ascension, Maine—but she’s about to discover that they’re deeper than she ever imagined. With the help of her new friend Drea, she vows to dig them out. But it’s hard to focus when she’s desperate to make up with JD, and to figure out why Crow, a mysterious Ascension High dropout, seems to be shadowing her.

Meanwhile, new girl Skylar McVoy is determined to leave her own dark past behind. So she’s thrilled when popular Gabby takes her under her wing, and the stunning and sophisticated Meg offers to give her a major makeover. But everyone knows what happens to the vainest girl of all…

It’s tempting to be naughty. But beware: the Furies are always watching, and their power grows stronger by the day.

Etiquette and Espionage, by Gail Carriger (Finishing School #1)

Years before Alexia Tarabotti started getting in the middle of supernatural disasters, 14-year-old Sophronia Temminick broke a dumbwaiter. Sophronia is not quite the young lady her mother wishes she was. Sophronia spends her days taking things apart, putting them back together, and breaking dumbwaiters. Sophronia is a fun name to type and is apparently a real name because it isn't being underlined, so I shall be repeating it as many times as I can without sounding like an idiot. Anyway, when Madame Geraldine, from Madame Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality, offers to whisk Sophronia away, Mrs. Temminick couldn't be more relieved. What Mrs. Temminick doesn't know, is that the finishing taught here is not restricted to dance, dress, etiquette and the like, but also includes the fine arts of death, espionage, and being a lady in the most...interesting...of situations.

Set 25 years prior to the Parasol Protectorate, Etiquette and Espionage is the teen version of Gail Carriger's wonderful approach to steampunk, werewolves and vampires. This book was absolutely adorable, and I definitely recommend it to any fans of the adult series. This book is a fantastic start to the parallel series, and was connected perfectly so that it doesn't matter which series was started first. While there were several overlapping supporting characters, the main characters were completely separate from The Parasol Protectorate, so though I knew the fates of the overlaps, I did not know how the series would end.

Of all the things I could have taken away from this book, the one thing I chose to focus on upon completion was how young Sidheag must be in Parasol Protectorate. From her description I was convinced she was in her 50's or 60's, but if this book is only 25 years prior then she can be under 40! Of course, it is entirely possible that I missed one very important word revealing her age in The PP series, in which case I apologize for this rant.

One last thing: I love Madame Lefoux. She was awesome, even as a kid.

4.8 stars.

It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to Finishing School.

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners—and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's, young ladies learn to finish...everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but they also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage—in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.

Set in the same world as the Parasol Protectorate, this YA series debut is filled with all the saucy adventure and droll humor Gail Carriger's legions of fans have come to adore.

Tap and Gown, by Diana Peterfreund (Secret Society Girl #4)

My reviews of the previous books can be found here: Secret Society Girl, Under the Rose, Rites of Spring (Break)

Graduation is approaching and tap time has arrived. Amy and her brothers are searching for suitable Eli-ites to replace them in Rose and Grave and are running into a few more issues than expected. Amy's list of prospective Diggers is growing and shrinking, and while she's doing recon on her candidates she's also trying to finish her thesis and get closer to her new boyfriend. Everything comes to a climax when information is revealed about Amy's first choice that threatens to undo over 50 years of society history.

This book was a great ending to a great series. I was nervous that the last book would totally undo all the awesomeness of the previous books but thankfully it didn't. Funnily enough, all my predictions about this book were wrong. George and Clarissa did not end up together, Matthew did not get a Digger boyfriend, and the Diggers didn't redeem themselves. Though they did seem a lot less pathetic. My only disappointment was that Michelle wasn't in any previous books. She was awesome and had way too few appearances.

5 stars. The best of the series.
 
The countdown to Amy’s graduation has begun, and suddenly the perfect ending to a perfectly iconoclastic college career is slipping from her grasp. Her new boyfriend is considering an offer he can’t refuse, while Amy hasn’t even filed her fellowship applications. And the young woman she’s chosen to take her place in Rose & Grave seems to come complete with a secret life already intact.

Lunging toward real life in the world beyond the hallowed halls of Eli University, Amy finds trouble around every corner, from society intrigues and unlikely stalkers to former flames and mandatory science credits. Surely it couldn’t get worse . . . until Initiation Night explodes into a terrifying scene and into a final test of wits for a young woman just trying to make it out of the Ivy League in one piece.

The Rising, by Kelley Armstrong (Darkness Rising #3)

Links to my reviews of books 1 and 2 in the Darkness Rising trilogy:

The Gathering

The Calling

After running, getting caught, escaping and going on the run again, all while meeting up with various different friends, Maya is about to do that for another book. This time though, she has the company of her long-lost twin, who isn't quite as brotherly as Maya had hoped for. Maya and her friends want to go back to having a normal life with their parents, but will have to determine who the real enemy is before they make any final decisions. Along the way they meet up with some fellow teens on the run, but do the two groups have the same goals or are they willing to turn each other in for a quiet life?

There are books about almost every type of supernatural and books combining different types of supernaturals in every conceivable and inconceivable combinations. Yet despite this, or maybe because of this, I liked how these supernaturals were ones that I'd never heard of. Now that I think about it, I probably liked that because it didn't contradict any known legends about the supernaturals, but invented its own legends.

The ending was perfect. Don't worry-I won't give any spoilers here, but I will say that I had no idea how all the issues would be solved to give out happy ever afters. I was nervous there would be some totally improbable ending but instead it was one that made sense and made me content. It was a way of solving the problems without really solving them.

4.6 stars.

Things are getting desperate for Maya and her friends. Hunted by the powerful St. Clouds and now a rival Cabal as well, they're quickly running out of places to hide. And with the whole world thinking they died in a helicopter crash, it's not like they can just go to the authorities for help.




All they have is the name and number of someone who might be able to give them a few answers. Answers to why they're so valuable, and why their supernatural powers are getting more and more out of control.

But Maya is unprepared for the truths that await her. And now, like it or not, she'll have to face down some demons from her past if she ever hopes to move on with her life. Because Maya can't keep running forever.

Old secrets are revealed and unexpected characters make a surprising return in this stunning conclusion to Kelley Armstrong's New York Times bestselling Darkness Rising trilogy.