Blackwood by Gwenda Bond

On Roanoke Island, the legend of the 114 people who mysteriously vanished from the Lost Colony hundreds of years ago is just an outdoor drama for the tourists, a story people tell. But when the island faces the sudden disappearance of 114 people now, an unlikely pair of 17-year-olds may be the only hope of bringing them back.

Miranda, a misfit girl from the island’s most infamous family, and Phillips, an exiled teen criminal who hears the voices of the dead, must dodge everyone from federal agents to long-dead alchemists as they work to uncover the secrets of the new Lost Colony. The one thing they can’t dodge is each other.

Blackwood is a dark, witty coming of age story that combines America’s oldest mystery with a thoroughly contemporary romance.

I think the real hook in this book is its premise.  I loved the idea of the people of Roanoke disappearing again.  The thought of Miranda and Phillips having complimentary powers and needing to help each other intrigued me too.  In the end, though, this was really a love story with the rest of the mystical plot as complications and road blocks.  It was well done, though, so I didn't really care.  I think that's at least partially because the missing people plot goes off into strange and sometimes nonsensical directions.  There was little I could predict about it, but that's because it was completely unexpected at many turns and often things came out of nowhere, while other things were completely stereotypical.  I think the author did a little too much to maintain the mystery and didn't build a solid base for her plot twists.  It didn't matter much, though, because the book flowed really well and the romance plot served to really bind everything together.  I thought Miranda and Phillips were well written, and they grew into their romance pretty organically, even if it was a bit quickly.  There were logical progressions to their feelings and they didn't have any strange insta-love issues or nonsensical triangles.  In the end it really kept this book going, and I'd be happy to read a sequel or other book by Bond.

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

From the very first page I fell in love with this book.  Kami is a wonderful character and I enjoyed being in her head.  I also really liked her connection with Jared and ((dude, most obvious spoiler EVER)) their shared mind-talk.  It was really nice to see how being a mind-reader made it HARDER to have a connection with a person, not easier.  The cast of characters around Kami is diverse and well fleshed out as individuals.  The book also had an amazing voice.  I thought it was hilarious that I was actually reading half the characters' dialogue in an English accent . . . it felt that real to me.  This is probably because the setting is very vivid and made me feel like I belonged on the English countryside (who am I kidding, I always thought that).  It's really good that this book has such great characters and setting, because the plot is seriously lacking.  Although there's a breathtaking conclusion the beginning is really slow and the pacing is atrocious.  The first half of the book seems to be "figured out something bad about Jared, Jared is blocking me out, can I trust Jared, find out what Jared's hiding, Jared is blocking me out . . ." ad nauseum.  It was so fun to learn more about Kami and Jared that I excused all these problems, but I can see how some people would be very annoyed with them.  Finally, just as the plot gets going there is a big crash-bang ending and then . . . nothing.  Talk about the mother of all cliffhangers!  I was left clambering for the second book, which I'll probably read in one setting just like I did this book.

The Blood Keeper by Tessa Gratton

Paranormal romance fans who are looking to up the ante will be drawn to this tale of horror, fantasy, and romance. For Mab Prowd, the practice of blood magic is as natural as breathing. It's all she's ever known. Growing up on an isolated farm in Kansas with other practitioners may have kept her from making friends her own age, but it has also given her a sense of purpose—she's connected to the land and protective of the magic. And she is able to practice it proudly and happily out in the open with only the crows as her companions. Mab will do anything to keep the ancient practice alive and guard its secrets. But one morning while she is working out a particularly tricky spell she encounters Will, a local boy who is trying to exorcise some mundane personal demons. He experiences Mab's magic in a way his mind cannot comprehend and is all too happy to end their chance meeting. But secrets that were kept from Mab by the earlier generations of blood magicians have come home to roost. And she and Will are drawn back together, time again by this dangerous force looking to break free from the earth and reclaim its own dark power.

I am Josephine Darly, and I intend to live forever.
 
I was so excited for this book after Blood Magic and I certainly was not disappointed. With an introduction like that how could I be? Although there is little intersection in the characters between Blood Magic and The Blood Keeper I didn’t feel lost for long, and this book turned out to be even better than the last! There is a gifted pacing to this book. It seems almost lazy, slow but not in a bad way, more in the way I feel when I go home to Kansas. Time just seems to run differently there, as if there is not the urgency the rest of the world feels. The plot builds more slowly but solidly, piece by piece, with each reveal informing the last as well as the next. There is a complication to it as well, with the multiple narrations and the diary to follow and keep straight. The romance is natural, without a triangle, and grows organically with the story, making it feel like there is really a connection between Mab and Will and not just an electric attraction. I really liked how Mab takes care of herself, too, and has a self-assurance and grown-up-ness about her that make you believe she is an experienced practitioner that can work her own way out of things without losing her teenage innocence. And I really can’t say much more without spoiling things! This is one of the best books I’ve read so far this year and I highly recommend you go out and get it!



I received a copy of this book free through NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. I’ve since purchased my own copy since I loved it so much. 

The Shattering by Karen Healey

Seventeen-year-old Keri likes to plan for every possibility. She knows what to do if you break an arm, or get caught in an earthquake or fire. But she wasn't prepared for her brother's suicide, and his death has left her shattered with grief. When her childhood friend Janna tells her it was murder, not suicide, Keri wants to believe her. After all, Janna's brother died under similar circumstances years ago, and Janna insists a visiting tourist, Sione, who also lost a brother to apparent suicide that year, has helped her find some answers. As the three dig deeper, disturbing facts begin to pile up: one boy killed every year; all older brothers; all had spent New Year's Eve in the idyllic town of Summerton. But when their search for the serial killer takes an unexpected turn, suspicion is cast on those they trust the most. As secrets shatter around them, can they save the next victim? Or will they become victims themselves?

This was a very difficult book for me to read. The discussions of suicide survivors hit me very close to home, and the difficult topic overshadowed a lot of the book. I also come from a very small, dying town in Kansas, so the struggles of Summerton were very relatable as well. The other problems I had were with the plot line. The first half or so of the book reads like a contemporary YA book about suicide, something I usually avoid reading because I dislike it. There’s also a strong disjoint in the front of the book because the switching narration between the three lead characters and the tenses that are used (Keri is first person, Sione and Janna are third) that makes it harder to identify and relate to them and thus get invested in the plot. In the second half they discover magic and the book starts turning into a fantasy story. At this point I’ve seen enough of each person to become invested in Keri, Sione, and Janna despite myself and the story starts to move quicker. Although I won’t spoil the magic in the book I will say that I loved how it was a modern twist on a very ancient tradition and the permutation is as logical and relatable as it is chilling. This makes the plot a little predictable, but it’s well handled so it doesn’t feel as foreshadowed as it could. There are parts, however, where the plot seems to drag, and it really messes with the tension in the story because by the time the kids get to a mini-climax the section before has taken all the drive out so the climaxes seem like a laundry list of tasks, not a real climax. However, at the end my heart still bled for Keri, and I can’t really say why other than her first person narrative and her development made me feel for her, and that was the true gift of this book.

Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

The adventures of Tam and Gabriel continue with more time travel, Talents, spy work, and of course, the evil Knights.

Since the gripping conclusion of Once A Witch, Tamsin Greene has been haunted by her grandmother's prophecy that she will soon be forced to make a crucial decision—one so terrible that it could harm her family forever. When she discovers that her enemy, Alistair Knight, went back in time to Victorian-era New York in order to destroy her family, Tamsin is forced to follow him into the past. Stranded all alone in the nineteenth century, Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady's maid in the terrifying mansion of the evil Knight family, avoiding the watchful eye of the vicious matron, La Spider, and fending off the advances of Liam Knight. As time runs out, both families square off in a thrilling display of magic. And to her horror, Tamsin finally understands the nature of her fateful choice.

Review of previous book in series: Once a Witch


This is a great follow-up to a great book. Tamsin hasn’t changed much between stories, but her family sure has! Their reaction to her reveal of a talent is very logical and nicely presented in the frame of Tamsin’s sister, Rowena, and her wedding preparations. I love the development of Rowena and the reveal of her moral compass. It was totally believable and a nice touch that really made her a real person in my head. Tamsin’s powers develop, too, and I like how Tamsin discovers the boundaries and drawbacks to her ability while developing her own morality while using it. Gabriel is back as well, and he really turns into a boy I could like. He supports Tamsin and her quest without demanding to take over, and he’s there for her when she needs him without seeming like he’s charging to the rescue or has all the answers. I think the only characters I would have liked to see a bit more of are the villains. I never felt Alastair was fully fleshed out, and the other Knights aren’t really either in this book. Their motivation is clear, but rather flat and stereotypical. I really like the ending, though. It was bittersweet, but logical and it wrapped up the remaining mysteries nicely and in a reasonable manner. This series is highly recommended.

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and she was supposed to be one of the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. Now seventeen, Tamsin attends boarding school in Manhattan, far from her family. But when a handsome young professor mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a lost family heirloom for him. The search—and the stranger—will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the sins of her family, and unleash a power so vengeful that it could destroy them all. This is a spellbinding display of storytelling that will exhilarate, enthrall, and thoroughly enchant.

Where to start with such a great book? Tamsin is delightful and her story is great. It flowed well, jumping around like a good mystery but never going overboard. Tamsin is a great character and she seems like any conflicted teenager in a bad situation. I like her reactions to the plot, she is proactive but she doesn’t always have the right answers (which, really, is half the fun!). My only complaint would be the scope of the world. It was a little hard to keep all of the family members straight as well as remember what time period Tamsin is operating in. Perhaps that is because the book didn’t really have any lulls to catch your breath, which is not entirely a bad thing. The action kept coming and I never felt bored or rushed. To be honest, the bare bones of the plot seemed a lot like Holly Black’s Curse Workers books. It doesn’t seem like the same book, though. MacCullough deals with the same premise in a totally different way, so if you liked White Cat I’d recommend this series as well.

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch. That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth. Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers. But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

Review of Previous Book in Series: Hex Hall

This review is so hard! I feel as though I’m spoiling anything in “Hex Hall” by even setting up the plot, and I don’t want to spoil you a bit because the books are so good! Ok, I’ll stop with the exclamation points. However, this book is a great sequel, and I really like how it’s a great story with a strong girl making all the calls. Sophie is still as sarcastic as she was in the first book, but she shows vulnerability too. I like that Hawkins is able to blend the two, it makes Sophie seem like a complete person rather than a stereotype character. The Sophie-Archer-Cal love triangle is still going strong, and it has some good twists along the way that tear up both Sophie and the reader. I like how there’s really no clear winner in this problem. I could really see Sophie choosing either boy and being happy with the result (or equally unhappy, depending). That makes the romance so much easier to digest than the typical since it really is a mystery. And, speaking of mystery, this book is a bit more of a cliffhanger than “Hex Hall” and it left me desperate for March 2012 and the final book in the series!

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shape shifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

I don't know why I waited so long to read this book. It was excellent, and I was disappointed when I had to wait a few weeks for the sequel. I think my favorite part was Sophie's sarcastic tone. It was very true-to-life, sounded like a lot of teenagers I know: a tone that sounds so put-upon, as if the whole world is out to get them, and yet still sounds young and fresh. Hawkins' gift is tone and characterization, because Sophie is not the only spot-on character. I think all the people in the book, from Sophie's mom to the villain, had excellent motivations and personalities that affected the scenes in great and surprising ways. That's not to say that the plotting of the book was bad, far from it. However, it did seem that at points the quality of the plot was sacrificed for a great characterization scene. None of these scenes affected the book incredibly negatively, however, I do think there are a few pacing issues. For me the characters more than made up for it, though. The worldbuilding was also a bonus. Hawkins has created a great parallel world for witches and denizens of magic, and it is totally believable and immersable, even if it is a little anglo-centric and imperial. In all a great book, and more than worth picking up.

Chime by Franny Billingsley

Briony knows she is a witch. She knows that she is guilty of hurting her beloved stepmother. She also knows that, now her stepmother is dead, she must look after her beautiful but complicated twin sister, Rose. Then the energetic, electric, golden-haired Eldric arrives in her home town of Swampsea, and everything that Briony thinks she knows about herself and her life is turned magically, dizzyingly, upside down.

This book was simply excellent. It's already my fave for the month, and it's up there with Across the Universe for one of my faves of the year. It's strange, though, because for the first few pages I was a bit confused. I thought that Briony's voice, especially, was flat and rather dead. However, as the book went along I realized that Briony had a distinct, beautiful voice, and that she had convinced herself that she wasn't allowed to feel. The lack of feelings contributed to the "dead"ness of her tone, but somehow Briony snuck through that dead tone, shining as a character even through all her attempts to stifle herself and her life. This subtlety of craft in writing really shone and made this book spectacular. Not that it needed a ton of help: the plot is very Grimm-esque with its darkness and its magic, the other characters are unique and believeable, and the plot twists are exciting and yet not insane. Billingsley is also excellent at portraying Rose, and her madness is dealt with in a very refreshing manner. Rose is a girl who is mad, not a madness that needs a name, and it is nice to see a mentally handicapped character 1) represented as a major character in a book, and 2) handled in such a human manner. The romance between Briony and Eldric is well-handled, and the love triangle provides a great contrast for the emotion that Briony tries very hard to bury. It's a great example of love, too, because it develops in a natural manner and we can see Briony's fondness growing even through her icy facade.


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I think my only downside to this book is that I figured out the final twist early, and not because of the writing, but because of the title. Please, no more spoilers in titles!